Here is a little about the founder of Buxstock (me). I first had a desire to play guitar when my parents took me to a birthday party at their friends house. I didn’t really know the birthday girl as she was some years older than me so I retreated to the house while the main party commenced in the back yard. In the house I found a large record player (better known as a gramophone) in the main lounge.
Next to the record player was a “Matel record holder” with approx 20-30 records. Flicking through the records I stumbled on one that had a picture of some crazy bodgies in a lounge room with a drum kit, amplifiers, guitars and a bicycle.
The parents of the girl encouraged me to put spin it on the table and cranked up the volume. The first track instantly mesmerized me. Called “Ramble Tamble” and the album being, Cosmo’s Factory by Credence Clearwater Revival . I listened to the album and over and over. When I got home I could not get the sound out of my mind.
At the age of 12 my uncle handed down to me his Aria TA50 guitar, guitar case and a handful of black diamond strings. I tuned it open to whatever sounded good. I broke several strings and it was a steep learning curve until I learned how to tune the guitar. Since I had persisted my parents bought me a Coronet 5W amplifier a year later. I loved the Tremolo and struck a friendship with a music teacher at school called Mr Westrup. I often took the guitar to school while riding my bike (no hands). Mr Westrup tought me how to play the 12 bar blues in E. I mastered the rhythm and he played lead over the top with his American Telecaster. We would play during lunch time in the school portables and often having an audience. It was a blast.
In the late 70’s I was a member of one of the first punk rock bands in Melbourne called ‘The Innocent Bystanders’. I was heavily influenced by The Angels, Ed Kuepper and Chris Bailey from The Saints. No MP3 players in those days, I played my Eternally Yours album until it had no more grooves left learning all the chords.
Somewhere in the early 80’s I sang and played for a solid rock outfit called “Petty Sessions” where we started to work the pubs experimenting with some original songs supporting The Rocket 88’s, The Stockings and The Radiators at places like Bombay Rock, Bananas and Club Chevron.
In the late 80’s I joined “Merging Traffic” a local rock band with legendary guitarist and friend, the late Robert Lamos, who I grew up with. I listened to too many bands at this stage who had influenced me to buy many effects to change my raw sound. The 80’s stuffed around with my mind and our music went in some direction that was deep and dark with reggae influences. I found however, that I drinking beer and listening to Mental as Anything suited me down to a T.
I took a break for a while focusing on recording while I built my own studio, mixing desk, amplifiers and effects. I was recording my own songs and wrote lots of lyrics. Neil Young was my mentor.
I came back to the live music scene in the late 90’s playing with Los Wages with Adrian Tesoriero (another legendary guitarist). We mainly focused on standards that people can drink to. When we were not playing we were drinking. We had many great gigs and good times with special guests including Ross Wilson, Chris Doheny, Lindsey Fields and Australian Idol rejects…
Today I’m found in various muso crowds playing at parties, clubs, bbq’s, corporate venues and ski resorts and with various muso friends. So, even when the lights are off and the music has ended, the inspiration continues!
My aim is to share some of the relationship I have with music through this website.
Thanks to everyone for your support, comments and feedback.