There may have already been a thread about this but the question is pretty self explanatory. In this thread we will discuss not only our earliest musical interests but the conditions around us that maybe nudged us in a particular music direction. Please include any non rock early or recent influences as these are as or perhaps more important to list than rock bands because any non rock you are into will certainly paint a clear picture of your tastes and background.
I'll start:
The earliest influence I can remember are heavy rock songs brought in as 45s (singles) by my older sister. My parents both loved music but the music they listened to didn't really reach me until I was passed my teen years and an amateur musician myself. I didn't really hate the Jonny Mathis or Elton John I heard and I distinctly remember being fascinated by my fathers blues and especially jazz records. I also adored classical from a very early age but it was so ubiquitous in those days I assumed everyone did.
But what really grabbed ahold of me right away the first time I heard it was Black Sabbath. I also really loved the record 18 by Alice Cooper and particularly the small organ part at the end of the tune. Also notable was Edgar Winter and a few others I really can't remember now but I do remember hogging the headphones so I could crank numerous records up to the volume I wanted to hear them (a volume that would have made my parents turn it down or off).
It was the very early 70s when I first became obsessed with music and I remember pop radio being played in the kitchen by my mom pretty much all day every day. My dad tolerated a lot of it and I later learned he was a Beatles and CCR fan as well as being into old people music like Mathis and Nat King Cole but he was less enthusiastic about pop radio with some notable exceptions.
I remember some tracks from those days including One by Three Dog Night, Lorili by Styx, Stronger Every Day by Chicago, a **** ton of Zeppelin but especially No Quarter and some 'weird ****' nobody really liked to play from Zep 3 - The Immigrant Song etc. And by the time the 70s were at a mid point I was into Zappa (kind of), Sweet, Crack the Sky, and my new obsession Kiss.
We must have heard Kiss when the Alive album was brand new or possibly earlier because I remember their new studio album being Dressed to Kill. Weirdly enough it was one of the priests from our church who introduced us to a lot of Kiss. I distinctly remember Hotter Than Hell because although I didn't completely understand the lyrics it was the darkest most gritty thing I had heard to that point (no really) and it hit me like a ton of osmium.
Through the mid 70s Kiss was #1 to me and it wasn't until Love Gun that my enthusiasm slowed down or was sidetracked by a new interest (actually several but one that would replace Kiss as my favorite band) Rush.
I remember that Edward Furlong movie where one of the kids says 'Kiss would never do a disco album'. I swear I wrote that line in the ether if not on actual paper.
When Dynasty came out I was done with new Kiss and in fact was so ****** off I stopped even listening to the older stuff for a few years.
Anyway, that was I guess part 1 of my musical journey. Feel free to relate yours.
I'll start:
The earliest influence I can remember are heavy rock songs brought in as 45s (singles) by my older sister. My parents both loved music but the music they listened to didn't really reach me until I was passed my teen years and an amateur musician myself. I didn't really hate the Jonny Mathis or Elton John I heard and I distinctly remember being fascinated by my fathers blues and especially jazz records. I also adored classical from a very early age but it was so ubiquitous in those days I assumed everyone did.
But what really grabbed ahold of me right away the first time I heard it was Black Sabbath. I also really loved the record 18 by Alice Cooper and particularly the small organ part at the end of the tune. Also notable was Edgar Winter and a few others I really can't remember now but I do remember hogging the headphones so I could crank numerous records up to the volume I wanted to hear them (a volume that would have made my parents turn it down or off).
It was the very early 70s when I first became obsessed with music and I remember pop radio being played in the kitchen by my mom pretty much all day every day. My dad tolerated a lot of it and I later learned he was a Beatles and CCR fan as well as being into old people music like Mathis and Nat King Cole but he was less enthusiastic about pop radio with some notable exceptions.
I remember some tracks from those days including One by Three Dog Night, Lorili by Styx, Stronger Every Day by Chicago, a **** ton of Zeppelin but especially No Quarter and some 'weird ****' nobody really liked to play from Zep 3 - The Immigrant Song etc. And by the time the 70s were at a mid point I was into Zappa (kind of), Sweet, Crack the Sky, and my new obsession Kiss.
We must have heard Kiss when the Alive album was brand new or possibly earlier because I remember their new studio album being Dressed to Kill. Weirdly enough it was one of the priests from our church who introduced us to a lot of Kiss. I distinctly remember Hotter Than Hell because although I didn't completely understand the lyrics it was the darkest most gritty thing I had heard to that point (no really) and it hit me like a ton of osmium.
Through the mid 70s Kiss was #1 to me and it wasn't until Love Gun that my enthusiasm slowed down or was sidetracked by a new interest (actually several but one that would replace Kiss as my favorite band) Rush.
I remember that Edward Furlong movie where one of the kids says 'Kiss would never do a disco album'. I swear I wrote that line in the ether if not on actual paper.
When Dynasty came out I was done with new Kiss and in fact was so ****** off I stopped even listening to the older stuff for a few years.
Anyway, that was I guess part 1 of my musical journey. Feel free to relate yours.
.
. Even though I was too young to appreciate the rock then, I love it now, Nirvana. It pains me know that I can never see them in concert. I was 13 when I discovered Linkin Park. It was childhood dream to see them but alas I can't see them either. Kinda sad all the talent of my generation are gone. I'm hoping to see Green Day before I go.
