Well, this is how it all started.
Riding home from school on my dragster I could hear this guitar playing next door. It was loud, but I loved it. His name was Guy Mitchell - a big influence on my playing. He had a Baez 100 stack that Mick Sampson from Baez built him. Mick and his dad are still legends. Just about all of Newcastle was using these great amps. That’s when a stack was 2 quadies.
Newcastle has had so many talented muso’s. When I drive to Newcastle, my GPS says “turn left – great guitar player in 500 meters”. If you want to check on some great muso’s go to Newcastle data base bands.
My influences
I think when you first start playing an instrument, guitar, drums, violin, piano, it’s like being a baby again because you take in so much at the start.
My mum was my main influence, also Guy from next door, and my good friend Dave Swift.
My favourite musicians would have to be Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy who I got to see front of stage at Lambton Park. Thanks to my mate Steve Mac, Vocals - Steve Perry – the voice of an angel, I remember supporting Uriah Heap at Newcastle Workers when I walked up to Mick Box (guitarist from Uriah Heap), and asked him if he knew Eddie Van Halen. What a silly question to ask, I missed out on the chance to talk to a rock star.
Some bands I have been in
Baracuda (photo here with my SG that my mum got me from Baez, I would kill to get that guitar back!) Guitars are just amazing things – hold the neck feel the strings under your skin, the chrome of the pick up under your palm It has been my passion, my love in good and bad.
I wasn’t allowed to use the big electric bench saw in the shed that my dad built, so the week he died I took my custom SG Ibanez three pickup into the shed and sliced it into three pieces. The good thing is, I got to use my dad’s saw. Can’t have the good without the bad – it makes you a better guitar player I think.
I once shot a guitar with my Winchester rifle, - played it for years after. I’ve thrown them, I’ve snapped necks in two, and set fire to one. Fox Studios filming a movie in my house one day and one of the production crew said “You love playing that guitar don’t ya?” I said when I die I want to be put inside a pickup off a guitar - garage band or arena I don’t care who plays me.
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Songs, I like all our songs
Jimmy’s Song hit me at 6.30 in the morning, - all in my head – Bang!
Cherokee Indian – me and my boy Jesse have a dog called Cherokee - dinner time we used to sing Cherokee Indian. Then when Paul joined the band we wrote all the verses and made it about real Indians, and how we, the white man have stuffed up big time.
We have had so much fun writing; these songs and if you think we will run out of ideas – there’s no way – I have so many riffs in my head it’s like a mobile phone SIM card, as long as it doesn’t crack.
Miscellaneous
APRA Award, Roar Boar – “Up you”
Paul Mario Day
For years I’ve been hearing people say good things about this singer from Maiden days and The Sweet always thinking I would love to be in a band with this boy. Now I pinch myself every time I hear him sing. Wanna know what class is? It’s not a Rolls Royce, or having your own helicopter – it’s Pauls voice. Every time I hear him sing I look at Stu and Mark, and we all know that’s one of the best voices in the business. I remember Paul coming and listening to the band for the first time and I had to sing. It was like “holy cow” but I think with all of his knowledge and experience he could see where we were at.
Definitely a world class player, sitting in the front seat of the plane.
Played with him in a cover band many years ago. He has just got better and better. Awesome drummer, great technique. I think he plays Pearl drums but they should be called “Pearler” after him because he is a “Pearler drummer”.
My final say
I know it’s great to go and watch the best bands in the world. But get outside, hop in your car, drive down the road and catch a local band in your town Newcastle, Australia or Arizona, USA.
Daniel ‘Guitar’ Jackson
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