Thursday, March 29, 2007

The Beatles as a musical influence for my guitar videos?

I was 10 years old.

The TV was on but I wasn't watching it. Suddenly I heard this sound and it was 'them'. They were playing 'Love me do' and I have never heard anything like it in my life.

I couldn't afford to buy the records but I could listen on the radio, and on TV and I had an older next door neighbour who could buy the 'New Musical Express' and 'they' were all over the front page of every issue. I remember cutting out every picture I ever saw of the Fab Four.

But it was the music. I guess I was fortunate being at such an impressionable age when the Beatles hit the scene. A gang of us used to get cardboard boxes for drums and the handles off my sisters skipping rope for microphones, tennis raquets for guitars and with a dang-a-danga-dang we were there . . . . . 'living it' along with the lads from Liverpool.

It was natural then, for me when I started producing my guitar videos, that the Beatles would figure heavily in my product list.

I now have 5 guitar videos of the Beatles music. Some are clearer than others I'll admit but I thought it was time I put them out as a single purchase.

Have a look...if nothing else at least it may bring back a few memories

Mikes' Beatles Guitar Videos

22 comments:

Unknown said...

Same with, Mike, Though it hit me around Help, thanks to an older cousin, that was the same feeling. However, I nerver managed to REALLY try to get to learn the guitar until now, 30-40 years later...before that, only strumming...By the way, my fingers don't hurt anymore, and I like your Robert Johnson video a lt. NOw, can you get us "Layla", the electric one (part 2 acoustic solos) ?

Thanks

René Michaud

Doubledog said...

Mike, You certainly brought back some memories. We did the same tennis racket and cardboard box thing. In the States the first big song was,"I want to hold your hand." I will never forget their first tour of the U.S. I was eleven years old. They played at the local baseball stadium. My mother forbid me to go. I spent the night at a friends house and his mother took us.Tickets were $8. You could only hear the screaming. My life has never been the same.

Dan

PaulF said...

This post takes me back Mike. I was in kindergarten. I remember going to the ice cream parlor on Saturday mornings to buy an ice cream cone with my allowance.

We could pick songs for the juke box from the table. It seems that 9 of 10 songs that were played were the Beatles. As I type this, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is playing on the radio. Quite synchronistic!

for the next several years, we lived and breathed Beatles!

truckermorgan said...

Well Mike, my situation is a little different than others.
I had older brothers who listened to the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, Jim Croche and the like.
Over and Over and over and.... Well you get the idea.
I soon to learn NOT to love the Beatles and ALL the others..
Here's the sad part.. While I was hating the music I HAD to listen to when I was a kid.. I was NOT learning to play their songs.. NOW.. I wish I had.. so much influence on music today is from that era.. now I'm playing catch up..
The moral of the story.. even if you don't like a particular style of music.. still study it.. it may be important later... The Beatles, Jim Croche and the likes are influences I never realized till later, influence my music and songwriting.... I may not have a "LOVE" for them, but I still appreciate what they did for music...

jd said...

I was stationed on Okinawa when a friend I played in a rock'n'roll band with, who was in England with the Navy, wrote me and told me about this group he had heard. He said they were better than any pop group in the states and the best part was their name "The Beatles".
They were a phenomenal group in every way., and even to this day I'm impressed with their early and late work. They definitely had a huge influence on me........JD

Unknown said...

Yeah,the beatles really are too cool/some prefer elvis or mj but i can't believe any 1 band could have so many #1 hits(i have lots 2 learn/i'm such a beginner,i know after i get ur slo-mo deal it'll help)in a perfect world;i'd prefer to learn all their music(i'm trying)Thank you 4 all ur help!

Unknown said...

The Beatles...What can I say. I love them. They are so much part of my life, While everyone was listening to Ted Nugent and Styx (here in Atlanta, Ga in the 70's) I was listening to my Boy's from Liverpool, songs like Rain, Paperback Writer these songs I identified with!!! So what if they were not together anymore they are still Rock Monster's!!!!
And Mike.... You'r pretty cool yourself. I loved leaning Classical Gas off your video. Your one cool cat man! How about some Rockabilly sometime. The Beatles love it, you know!!!

billyboggins said...

Hi Mike ,
Thanks for all the free videos and timely reminders just when my enthusiasm starts to flag you remind me to keep going...I'm about your age and 'LOVE ME DO' was also my first musical influence and i remember being the first person in my town (Hemel Hempstead)to order their first album(please please me) and taking nearly my entire class to the record shop to collect it..happy days..BTW most of my classmates thought it was sh...lol little did they know,strangely when everybody else began to like them I switched to The Who once again thanks for all the help

Unknown said...

The Beatles were from a time when there were some actual "artists" that understood how to play an instrument,and could actually "sing" some meaningful "lyrics"... I truly feel sorry for this generation of kids being conned by punks who think that talking filthy swear words while scrathing a needle over an album is art...

Unknown said...

Beatles weeeeeeeeeeee who cannot love those guys ? They ruled ..Oh don't get me wrong I love hank willaims johnny cash roy acuff rolling stones the who etc but no one can beat the Beatles sorry .. And i agree with Mike about that crap that is "music ' now ...especially the vuglar language that spews forth ...Music should reach deep into ones soul , have meaning and then one becomes whole ...smilez

Anonymous said...

The first time I was exposed to them I was a 17 year old kid in the navy in 63.

I was in Tiajuana for the first time. Went into a bar with what I couldn't believe was happening I thought I went to heaven and blasting I mean really blasting was "I saw her standing there"
Imagine a 17 year old in that situation especialy the she was just 17-

My first real Beatles memory and a great one

Unknown said...

I enjoyed the Beatles, one reason was probably because many others did. I was sad when they broke up but the susequent music of John Lennon and also George Harrison were phenomenal.

Unknown said...

thank u

Dndu said...

Well....
I wasn't really in to "The Beatles"
and I really didn't know anything about them but then I realized that almost all the songs I'm listening to lately was their songs and I really love the guitar solos...
I found a CD in my brother's room and the CD was called "Guitar Legends"
I got so excited when I found it and then hurried to my room and turned the CD on.That's how I ran in to a song called "Layla" by Eric Clapton so can you please teach us the song? I'm having a hard time reading the Tabs and what does this "(0)" mean in guitar tab???

Thank you...

Dndu

Anonymous said...

I have always been a Beatles fan ever since I saw them live in Toronto Ontario Canada, 1964. I have also appreciated your lessons they have been a great help to get me back to playing. Thank You M Gurney

Anonymous said...

Mike

You are the best and I really appreciate your lessons. They may not be note for note but the feeling and the songs essence is there. Your lessons also lead one to explore the song and apply the teaching to other songs. Thank You

M. Gurney

dipendra040 said...

now you are my inspiration. I have got to learn a lot from you.

Anonymous said...

hi mike and jerry .to aneyone who wants to learn the guitar you cant find better teachers ,and their prices for the videos and stuff cant be cheaper, jerry and mike will get you playing from learner to pro in know time ,but you have to do your part by doining what they say and do, then your on your way to beining a great guitar player.10 out of 10.thanks guys you put the love of playing back into me ,for that im SO greatfull.cheers richie.......

Wilfred said...

When my guitar gently weeps...Harisson and Lennon...awesome legends...

Wilfred said...

Hi Mike & team ..TQ for your emails , words of encouragement that u send to all of us..God Bless

Unknown said...

Great stuff Mike,and thanks for all the help you give,I have improved loads considering at 60 I am just learning to play

Unknown said...

I was 10 as well..... my brother is a drummer and the whole family was waiting to see the british band The Beatles....
Never forget the new sounds of harmony coming from the three lead singers with accents.

Found memories... Now I am 60 watching Paul do concerts at 72. Wow!