I remember a lot of the music from my child-hood and teen years. Nazareth “Hair Of  The Dog”, was the first rock album I ever heard. There was Joe Tex with “I Gotcha”. James Brown was wild. Jerry Le Lewis was crazy. Little Richard was wild and crazy. Elvis Presley was listened to mostly when he was doing gospel. There were the odd-ball comedian tunes like “Convoy”, “Along Came Jones”, and a few others I forget. There was Parliament and P-Funk, George Clinton, and Bootsy, the Isley Brothers with “Ride On-O-Rocket”, the Ohio Players with “Brick House” and “Fire”, and B.B. King. It was rare to catch B.B. King on the tube, but whenever he came on I couldn’t help but watch and listen. I’ve learned there was a lot of music going on back then. I discovered much of it in my teen years. Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Triumph, Rush, April Wine, Hendrix, Cream, Jeff Beck, and more! I like to keep the memories all jumbled together without much regard to when they happened. The truth of the music is its timelessness.

That it (the music) happened at all and made it to my ears is the proof of its power.

  Sitting there on the floor in front of the TV when Hendrix’ obit came on was a pivotal point for me. The burning of his guitar during his first US appearance, and then his “Star Mangled Banner”, (pun intended) set the wheels of my mind in motion. Six years later I was learning to play guitar by teaching myself. The first tune I ever “wrote” is still a favorite though I’ve not ever properly recorded it. From My eager and meager vantage point, I caught snippets of music from TV and radio. I tapped along with commercials every time. I’d pay attention to who ever was on. I heard Albert Collins, man he was smoking! I heard Buddy Guy, powerful! I heard Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, and an occasional “salvaged” piece of Charlie Christian.

  Between the 70s and 90s, I listened to more differing styles of music than ever! I was at home listening to classical, blues, rock, country, pop, funk, punk, and heavy metal! Andre’ Segovia had as much of my respect as Carlos Santana. Randy Rhodes swept my mind off its’ proverbial feet with “Crazy Train”. Dokken had a uniqueness all their own. Ratt came “Out Of  The Cellar” and raised the bar. Who can forget Twisted Sister?

  Metal made MTV! Look what “mtv” has become. It’s sad to see it flooded with reality shows. I’ve had enough reality all my life. I choose to escape into the music, no matter what style or genre it comes from. Some inspiring excursions from the past are:  RUSH-XANADU, THE TREES, RED BARCHETTA, BY TOR AND THE SNOW DOG, 2112.

BLACK SABBATH-THE MOB RULES, SIGN OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS, SLIPPING AWAY, NEON KNIGHTS.

RANDY RHODES-CRAZY TRAIN, OVER THE MOUNTAIN, S.A.T.O., DIARY OF A MADMAN, DEE, (and his live cadenza!!!!!)

The old BLACK SABATH-IRON MAN, CHILDREN OF THE GRAVE, PARANOID, N.I.B., SWEET LEAF.

DOKKEN-PARIS IS BURNING (LIVE), BREAKING THE CHAINS, ALONE AGAIN.

RATT-LACK OF COMMUNICATION LAY IT DOWN, BACK FOR MORE, ROUND AND ROUND, WAY COOL JUNIOR.

JIMI HENDRIX-HEY JOE, ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER, MANIC DEPRESSION, TAX MAN, RED HOUSE, IF SIX WAS NINE, CASTLES MADE OF SAND.

VAN HALEN-TORA! TORA! TORA!, ICE CREAM MAN, EVERYBODY WANTS SOME, ERUPTION, AINT TALKIN ‘BOUT LOVE, RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL, I DON’T WANNA HEAR ABOUT IT LATER.

IRON MAIDEN-THE LONLYNESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER, ALEXANDER THE GREAT, STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND, RUN TO THE HILLS, ACES HIGH, 2 MINUTS TO MIDNIGHT.

I could go on forever and then some, but I hope you get the picture.

  I love music that takes me somewhere. If it makes me daydream as I listen, it’s good. Music that moves you in some way is what I crave. The act of immersing oneself as deeply as possible is what I live for. I hated to be at parties where people perked up to the “latest” tune when it came on, and then started talking when the guitar solo came around! I was trying to figure out how to play it! I spent a lot of time figuring things out, but eventually got into writing my own songs. I took notice of the crowd whenever I played at a party. People actually seemed to listen when I did a solo. Those parties cemented my mindset into place and I still yearn to “entertain” as much as possible when I solo.

  The music I write comes from inside of me. There’s some place deep inside that holds all the emotions that make up my personality. Things that happen, have happened, and look like they are about to happen are always pulling these emotions out into the open. Listen to the older stuff I’ve done. If you find something there that affects you (in any way at all, and I mean that honestly), chances are you’ll find something to compare it to in the newer stuff. Being the individual I am, the character with which I write will always be “Me”. Poetry, rhythm, and emotion are a few of my brushes and colors.

  I’m digging a great deal of the “New Music” out there these days. The Metal scenes are exploding all over again. The Blues, Pop, Country, and a whole host of fusions of many, many different genre are keeping my whistle wet so to speak. Dragonforce, Trivium, Mastadon, Killswitch Engage, and a whole plethora of new acts are crowding in for their close-up. The mainstream of the music industry seems to be reacting to the perceived threat posed by the independents. The music business as a whole is in a flux. When the dust settles, much will be changed. But rest assured the good music will keep coming. Good music is like a freight train. I intend to charge down the tracks with everything I’ve got! LOUD-N-PROUD!!!!

 Jose’ Diaz

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