I can hear music, sweet sweet music...

Who have the biggest influences been on your musical tastes?

I would love to say that my parents have not influenced my taste in music. Right throughout high school I swore that I would never listen to Credence Clearwater Revival, The Stones would not taint my CD collection and there was no way in hell I would ever listen to The Beach Boys.
Of course, I was deluding myself. I actually secretly already liked Credence Clearwater Revival, already owned a handful of Beach Boys songs, and would play my parents Stone Records when they weren't home.
It's funny but my parents taste in music has heavily influenced my own taste. I grew up grinding my teeth to The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Cream...even Kiss. Every single one of those bands mentioned are in my music collection.
I'm proud of my parents musical tastes, even the ones I sometimes are dubious about like Neil Diamond. Although to this day I will never understand how my father could actually like The Seekers. But then that is a sentiment that my mother, herself, fully agrees on.

So, looking at my CD collection which has many, many albums from an era I was not born in, and an era I was born in, and wished I had been a teenager in. I can't help but think how amazing it is that our parents can influence us without realising it.

I may never have discovered the joys of Eric Clapton if my mother hadn't played me Disraeli Gears when I was younger.
I may never have discovered Ozzy Osbourne if I hadn't heard Paranoid as a seven year-old.
I certainly would never have understood the simplicity and beauty of lyrics that actually mean something if I hadn't been introduced to the music of John, Paul, Ringo and George while my mother was pregnant.

And the truth is, I may not enjoy the music of current artists if it weren't for the fact they were heavily influenced by the music of yesterday's heroes....many who would be in my parents record collection.
It's funny even just thinking about this, how deeply my musical influences have run through my parents own tastes and their actions. It also says something as to why I probably love music so much.
When I was younger my parents used to always throw parties, or were playing music. Friday, and Saturday nights were music nights. They would pull out their old records, or even their cassettes and play them. Meatloaf, The Stones, The Beatles, Credence, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Rod Stewart and Queen were amongst the favourites.
Again, all who are now in my CD collection, even if for just a couple of songs.
When I was younger, I'd dance around the living room with my parents rock n rolling. Of course, those were days where my parents were raving lunatics and the alcohol flowed freely.
Since my dad gave up drinking about ten years ago, their playing of music also died down considerably to the point where my mother only plays music when my dad is at work because he doesn't listen to it at home much, save for on a rare ocassion or Christmas time.

Musically, my grandfather also inflicted my love of all things Stage and Musicals, in particularly the Phantom of the Opera. It was my grandfather, who copied me ( on cassette) the Phantom of the opera in 1988.
I was 12, and blown away by a man, who until then I had only known as Frank Spencer, could have such a powerful and evocative voice. My love for the Phantom lives on to this day, and so does his. It is something that I share with him.
But then my Grandfather should have a passion for all things Stage, and musicals since he was an English Stage Actor for many, many years.
He also encouraged me to play the piano, and brought me my first keyboard when I was 9.
I also can not remember a time that he did not sing. We would stay with him, and he would always be singing in those strong, powerful voice. Sometimes it was Opera, sometimes it was some cockney ditty from his childhood. Either way, that memory has always stuck with me. It is one that always will. My grandfather, is one of the most joyeous people in the world, forever laughing and smiling.
Even now, at 92, he's still the consummate performer who will get up and sing for someone just for the hell of it.
It's beautiful really. But yes, even he had a marginal influence on me musically.

I can not,not give credit to my brother though. He was the one who introduced me to Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, AC/DC, and all things heavy. He was very much the metalhead, as opposed to now just being a dickhead.
A long, long time ago we were very close. In fact we were best friends.
We went to concerts together, shared the same taste in music and had a similar view on life and it's approach.
He introduced me to so many wonderful bands, and from there I discovered others that had been influenced by them.
Sometimes when I slip on Deep Purple, or hear Ian Gillan singing "No laughing in heaven", I can't help be saddened by the great rift that has developed between my brother and I.
Never again we will be close, and never again will we influence each other's taste in music.

So, there we have it, the people who have influenced me musically in one form or another. It's actually surprising to realise that it has more or less been my family. I can't think of one friend who has really influenced me musically. I've generally avoided most of my friends taste in music, or already enjoyed it.

So, who has influenced your musical tastes?

Pornograffiti

Does anyone remember Extreme, and their smash album Pornograffiti
This album is, without a doubt, Extreme's best album. It was also their most popular, and features the smash hit, "More Than words". If memory serves me, they also had a hit with "Get the Funk Out" and the bittersweet "Hole-Hearted".
Pornograffiti was released circa 1990, and could be defined as glam metal/funk rock.

If you listen to it, it's not hard to see why the band was influenced by Queen and Van Halen.

What really appealed to me about the album was Bettancourt's guitar-playing, which was showcased throughout the whole album whether it be the acoustic talent on "More Than Words" or his mix of pop, glam and funk riffs on the rest of the album.The three songs that really drew me in where the funk-adelic "When I'm President", "Get the funk out" and "He-man woman hater". I also loved "More than words", for it's sweet, melodic vocals and the fact all to the song was an acoustic guitar and harmonies.
I've always felt that it was such a shame that Gary Cherone couldn't bring as much oomph to Van Halen when he made the disasterous "3" with them, also know as one of my coffee coasters.I can recall buying "3" for $2, only to discover it wasn't even worth that much. To this day, it is still one of the biggest pieces of crap I have ever heard. It's right up their will the bluegrass catastrophy that is Jesse Dayton's "Raisin' Cain".

The album was created so effortlessly, and really opened the world up to Extreme's talents. Not only could they perform hard rock, but they added an element of blues, glam metal and funk to their music. It was a supreme masterpiece, and I would still consider it one of the best albums of that hard rock era.
However, like so many before and after them, they were unable to follow up the success of Pornograffiti. Extreme III was a great disappointment after Pornograffiti, and Waiting For the Punchline just left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Obviously Extreme felt the same and Cherone and Bettancourt disbanded Extreme. From there Cherone, went on to destroy the credability of Van Halen with the hideous "3". Van Halen had just made the mistake of parting ways with the delightful Sammy Hagar.

Note: You would think Van Halen would have learnt their lesson after getting rid of Diamond Dave. They got very lucky with Sammy. Unfortunately their luck ran out with Gary.

From what I've heard Extreme have actually reformed and recently performed at a tribute concert in Boston. I'm not sure if I'm ready for Extreme to make a comeback.
Either way, it is doubtful that they will ever imitate the success of "Pornograffiti", so the best way to remember is their brilliance is to close your eyes, put on "Porno" and take a step back to 1990.