stgaz

David Knopfler - I love his stuff bubbling away underneath his brother's playing on those first two albums. Also reckon Alex is a great rhythm player.

It's also why I've now moved to buying new music on vinyl. The cost makes me think twice about outlaying (like the old days), and the medium makes me sit down in front of the stereo and actually listen to it. I have so many CDs that I have barely listened to.

Yeah, at the risk of sounding like a boring old fella, this is how I feel too. We had a show here called Countdown that was on every Sunday. I can remember the excitement when Kiss were touring in '80 and they were appearing on Countdown. You knew that every rock fan in the country was glued to the screen at 6pm on Sunday night. And you had to make sure you seared that vision to your brain, because you would never see it again! No repeats, no VHS, just 6pm on the advertised Sunday. Now, I have that vision on an extra from a Kiss DVD that cost me a relative pittance.

Animate - it was the highlight of the show for me. (among many highlights of course!)

Pick Withers Phil C plus Chester T and I quite like Don Henley.

I love Coheed. My kids love them too - my young guitar slinger claims he can play all of 'In Keeping Secrets ... 3'. Maybe not a Rush replacement, but they'll keep you warm at night.

I wrote a fan letter to Neil in the mid-80s and he answered with a postcard. His reply even addressed a couple of things I had written!

Hey guys, sorry I didn't make it to see y'all. I lost internet-ness so couldn't keep up with the conversation. I did see Huge - met him at Amoeba records and again at RushCon. I probably saw you - I was wearing my Rush/Kiss mash-up shirt which turned out to be quite appropriate! Oh, and the gig? This little Aussie just saw the best gig ever!

... THEN time can stand still ...

Aaughh!!! I can't stand it anymore! Time Stand Still my ass - I want it to be Saturday night!!!!!!

You got Stgaz's name wrong, man. ;) What happened to Christo from Sydney and heavy(kiwi)kev? Thanks mate! Yes, it is St Gaz - the ST is in honour of Simon Templar, The Robin Hood of modern crime! Kev's already over there wreaking havoc, and I think Christo leaves soon. I leave Thursday. 30+ years of waiting are almost at an end!!!

... I'll be at RushCon too ...

I'll be there. Excitement building ...

I've been thinking about these guys today. I'm pretty sure I saw them in the 90's with Rick Wakeman on keys. And I'm pretty sure he cracked the old 'There's nothing like a great rock drummer ... and he's nothing like a great rock drummer' gag. Check them out Segue. They were an instrumental pop classical band with the awesome Aussie classical guitarist John Williams. They also had Francis Monkman. Some good stuff. Toccata was their 'hit'.

My family had their first four records, and we went to see them live a couple of times. Very enjoyable. My fave is Sky 2 - although I often wonder how good it would have been with a better drummer. I'm sure he was a great percussionist but can you imagine that record with someone like Simon Phillips? I remember the theater we saw them at first had posters up for the following weeks Iron Maiden'Number of the Beast' tour.

Karnivool have another album called Asymmetry. I have it here on loan from a friend and this copy has a live DVD as well. They are good - I saw them a couple of years ago.

Rush are my number one, but for longevity and sustained excellence (for the most part) I also have to mention Marillion, Deep Purple and Manic Street Preachers. But with Rush at #1.

I think that's the best thread title I've ever seen! Well played sir! Four of the best bands on the planet.

Thanks Earl. Had a great moment earlier this year when I had a jam with an old bass player friend and my son. We played Trooper by Maiden and killed it! The kids have a band called Sonic Death Monkeyz (name borrowed from Hi Fidelity) and they do a great version of Working Man. Now they want to form a power trio. Soccer gals, eh? Don't you just love kids!

He's 13 and his older guitar playing brother is 14. They're on the lookout for a prog loving bass player. Mr Guitar has taught himself Limelight, Far Cry and Tom Sawyer in the last couple of weeks. Off topic, but I took them to their first big gig last year - Biffy Clyro. They were awesome.

Dude, you've got to start checking out the credits! Although I might be wrong about Fellini - if he's not on that he's on Field Of Crows. I have a set of Octobans which my son now uses. Proud much!

Ah, see ... I don't go around hob-nobbing with the semi-rich and famous so I wouldn't know!

I loved Vigil and also Fellini Days is very good. Fish for me. Love Mark B from Big Country who I think is on both of those records.

Well there are plenty of Hogarth fans who will be along shortly to disagree with you, but I think we can agree about old Rothers - he's right up there. And versatile too - you may not like the later stuff, but he still plays beautifully on it all.

You're right! You wouldn't know this, but he kept playing that fill with the syncopated china crashes until the last few albums where he finally put it away.