Rock & Roll Fantasy con.

Well after much thought we came up with out 2 Lead Guitarists for our Fantasy Band. It was tough and I hope we gave you a lot to think about and consider. Every time I thought we had reached a decision, a certain song would remind of someone special from the past and the grey cells would work overtime again! Cruising through town and "Stairway to Heaven" or "That Smell" would come on stirring up memories for instance.

We hope we gave you a lot to think about, here is what we went through...for one thing there were some "greats" there were taken from us too soon, James Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Duane Allman, Marc Bolin, Tommy Bolin etc. Some of this group, especially the first two mentioned still are and always will be the best Lead Guitarists of all time, shorten career or not! Some greats we feel were hampered by doing dual duty as singers in their groups---seems like a small detail but how else can you explain that Ted Nugent, Alvin Lee and Robin Trower are usually forgotten "at first" in such a discussion? Other guitarists may have had a personality that prohibited them from connecting with a wider audience, Jeff Beck and Ritchie Blackmore come to mind. They belong in the discussion as do countless others. It comes down to who YOU think should be the best, and we've allowed you to pick 2!

Now we could go on for hours and mention hundreds of ax-men and still miss somebody, so please don't feel slighted, just let us know who you would choose. But let me say this right now, I feel blessed that I was able see Stevie Ray and Frank Zappa before they passed on. But we went back with out "gut" feeling, the emotional pull from within. So for the Lamocu Productions Rock and Roll Fantasy Band, our 2 Lead Guitarists are...Gary Richrath from R.E.O. Speedwagon and Pete Townsend from The Who.

I know a lot of you are saying "REO? They're too pop." but hey, if you saw them before HI-Infidelity you'd know what I'm talking about. After that album Kevin took over with one mushy ballad after another and it was tough for Gary to even get a solo in. A couple albums after HI-Infidelity Gary even left the band he helped create. But "Guitar Player" magazine once called Gary the "purest" guitarist there was and if you could ever see him play you would agree. Gary's fingers (like Beck's and Blackmore's) were in constant motion and the emotion in his face brought you into the music. To experience Gary Richrath check out "You Get What You Play For" and "You Can Tune A Piano But You Can't Tuna Fish".

As for Pete, many of you know the Who is my favorite band of all time, but it has always been Pete's attitude towards playing that has captivated me. He plays with abandonment until his fingers bleed and jumps, runs, dances around the stage as the emotional leader of the band. Sometimes he sings as well but not enough to hinder him from his other duties. Pete has written almost everything the Who has ever performed and has been the direction and inspiration for one of the greatest rock acts of all time! Again, Pete is an emotional choice, but one we are very proud to have.

Now let's hear from you. I know we rambled here so thanks for following along, stay tuned for more postings this week.

The Lamocu Fantasy Band

Joe Bouchard, Bass from Blue Oyster Cult

Keith Emerson, Keyboardist from Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Neil Peart, Drummer from Rush

Gary Richrath, Lead Guitarist from R.E.O. Speedwagon

Pete Townsend, Lead Guitarist from the Who