Need a Bassist?!

Well after 5 years with the Gears it looks like it may be coming to a conclusion. It's been an honor playing for these cats and even more getting to know everyone as family and life-long friends! I joined the band as a last minute replacement in 2005 and besides one gig that Brian Redz made it down to that same year, I've played the last 50 shows with the Gears and loved every minute of it

The truth is the climate for these kind of bands to get the respect they deserve is cold and shows no gratitude for the old-souls that make up the sacred rock n roll brotherhoods! You can only blame the economy to a certain point. People turn to entertainment in these economic conditions , but it's not rock n roll they're turning to. Maybe Rock Band but not rock n roll!

Axxel is considering rock n roll retirement even as a new release is set to come out on Zodiak Killer Records. I can't blame him for his loss of interest as we have all this new material and no gigs to promote it. Our record company doesn't support with bookings and shows are fewer and farther between. If Axx decides to continue to perform then I am right there ready to go as I take being a Gear very serious! So hopefully we'll have some shows next year but bigger shows instead of fly by night bookings!

So if anyone needs a bassist hit me up and we'll talk about it!

Peace! +-

MY VALENTINE and I

Boss HM-2

Got my new calssic pedal, time to  jam!

Useless - Start , Negativity, Day After Day Live 1996

Useless 1995 w Mike Ahmandson

Useless 1997 w Paul Saenz on drums

Useless 1998 w Paul; Reyes Andy Rivera and George Diaz

Useless 2005 w Sean Antillion

Usless 2006 w Mike Ahmandson back in the band.

This video shows the original version of Useless. Recorded at Benny's sister's house in Highland Park. This band kicked ass! It featured Benny Seigel, Mike Ahmandson of Weedwhore and The Seeds and Myself. This band was fun and very unpredictable. We have went on to play without Mike A. for years before he rejoined the band in 2005. Useless has been shelved for the last 3 years but who knows. Benny where are you!!!!

Promoting shows!

Kevin Alvarez (1968-2004)

Fig. 8 Slo-Mo "Originator"

After saying I would never promote shows again back in 2000, I found myself back at the helm in 2005, throwing a B-Day bash with Useless, The Gears, The Sirens, The Hellions and The Scrid Hunters. 

Joining the Gears put me back in touch with people I hadn't seen in years. I hadn't even touched a bass for two years before I joined the Gears(except for a short side project with C12. It's funny because Axxel thought I was a huge Gears fan, but in reality I hadn't heard the band in 10's of years and I really only remember the single, as the record was very hard to find. But that's a different story. back to promoting...

Once I saw how successful the show was I started booking shows at Mr T's again. At first only Gears show, but then restarting fig 8 at Mr T's bowl with bands like Prima Donna, Inazuma and others. Shows were hard to put on as the bands wanted high minimums and I would wind up losing money,because honestly in this current economy people would rather stay home than go see a band and pay 5 bux a beer. Then somewhere along the line I think the bands realized people aren't gonna come out just to see them and a bunch of lame opener, so I figured I'd start packing the bill with top notch bands and splitting the cash according to draw, which seems fair anyways. I had most of my shows this way to end 2008 and they were all picks of the night in the L.A. Weekly( thanks, Falling James)!  So far in 2009 we haven't had any shows as our venue has closed for who knows how long. Mr. T's bowl is another story I'd like to get into some day. But check out our next show in April at American Legion Hall, with The Deadbeats, The Gears, Carnage Asada, Inazuma, and Million Kids!

My Love

This is my wife Cindy. You may have seen her take your money at the door for fig 8 shows. She is awesome. Plays guitar and all. She is my partner in crime and I love her!

Zenbugi!

Gremory President George "Real" Diaz

Zenbugi Live at The Goodbar 6/2000.

Hopefully George wont be too mad that I uploaded this video. Its a Gremory Production. He gets full credit. I added some cheesy text to the vid. This was a band Benny formed after Useless broke up for the second time. I joined the group after they were already recording and playing for a while. Delano, Benny, Maurice and I would go on to for NOS after the disbanding of Zenbugi.

ZENBUGI (cir.2000)

Delano Clarke- Bass, Voc

Chuck- Voc

Jason- Voc

Jacob- Voc
George Diaz- Guitar
Benny Seigel- Guitar
with...
Mike V - Drums
Maurice Fitzmaurice- mini-moog

3 zoners!

3- Zoners at The Dragon(now the York) in Highland Park July 1991

3- Zoners last gig in S.Pasadena July 1994

My man Vince Earl Simpson is Back after we lost touch for 8 years. I tracked him down through the internet, (of course)! We are already preparing for a project to record his blues songs. These songs need to be recorded as they were only performed in the 90's. Currently, Vince has added some more songs to his repertoire.
Back in 1990 Vince asked me to be his bass player in his blues project. We did many shows and our first being "my" first show ever opening up for speed metal band Tormentor and Evoke. The cops came and kicked everyone out but not before we ripped through a set of killer blues and Hendrix covers which was received well by the metal crowd. Greg Saenz was in the audience and was also my roommate at the time and liked what he saw. Our Drummer sucked but we took care of that problem when he missed our first club gig by getting arrested for drunk driving on the way to the show! Greg sat in (see video link) and Third Stoners were born. Greg, Vince and I decided to start "Third Stoners" a Hendrix cover band. We quickly Changed the name to 3- zoners and snatched up all the parties to be played in the neighborhood. Greg's involvement in his primary band Excel would not allow the band to continue but how far can a party band go? Although I must say this was a "special" band that I will always hold fond memories. One of those you had to be there things!
Today we will attempt not to recapture yesterday, but instead to make a new way of doing things in a place that is much different than when we started this 18 years ago!

Be Stronger!

That's my goal for today! Take it day by day and be stronger. I went for my 40 year physical and I m a strong as an ox. An ox with high cholesterol. Besides that I'm good. I gotta be strong for my Gramp, My Family an My Friends. Most of all I need to be strong for myself. It's gonna be a trip getting used to this New Age! The Age of Aquarius, like that old 70's tune from that Musical Hair. kILL tHE hIPPIES!

The Gears

For those of you wondering just how I wound up in the Gears...here's the story in a nutshell.

The Gears who were Axxel, Spike, Sean Antillion and who ever they could find to play bass, needed a bass player for a show in Long Beach at Que Sera. For those who know me, know that I was in a band called Useless for many years with longtime friend Benny Seigel. Sean asked Benny if he knew anyone who could learn all 15 Gears songs in 5 days or less. Benny called me and put Sean on the Phone. Sean asked if I were interested. Without telling him I hadn't heard the record in probably 15 years at least, I accepted the offer. I passed the audition/gig with flying colors and let the guys know I was available anytime they needed me. Kidd Spike and Sean were convinced I was Brian Redz replacement but Axxel needed more convincing. I wanted to have a B-day show at Mr T's but I wanted to play bass for the Gears. Axxel wanted Tracy Skull of The Undertakers, but once Sean told em I would forfeit the money since I was already making money as the promoter got me the job. I like to think it was my playing but who am I kidding. I guess Axx, figured it be a good idea to have a promoter as a bass player. lol . But seriously, once we connected back with Dave Drive in Aug '06 we knew there was more of a connection then we had gathered at the time. Well I knew, being that Drive was a family friend from before I was born. So here I am still the bass player and the Gears are playing more than ever and to more people so Fuck It! Lets Rock N roll!

Santiago G. Villalobos

Santiago G. Villalobos is my Grandfather. He is really my Dad, as he raised me from a toddler. He has been the biggest influence in my life an I love him with all my heart. My grandfather was diagnosed with Metastatic Gastro-Intestinal Cancer a week before Thanksgiving 2008. They didn't give him much of a chance as 90 percent of his stomach was need to be taken out and the cancer had spread to other organs. After the surgery he went through 7 months of chemo and the cancer stopped growing. 6 months later the cancer has returned and things are back to critical. My Grandfather has not given up and neither has my family or I. We will fight this to the end and my Grandfather will as well. It's his choice. He has lived 83 years and he is the strongest person I know. Some people wait until it's to late to tell their loved ones how they feel. I will not make this mistake. I have told him before and I will tell him again how important he is in the continued development of my character and strength as a human being. I love my grandfather! I love you Gramps!

It was a new day yesterday but its an old day now!

I start this new blog today as a way to cope with things,a way to vent, but mostly as a means to express myself in a way as to not bother anyone not interested in the random things that interest me from day to day. For those who are interested, I welcome you with open arms, open ears and an open mind! Hopefully you can extend the open mind in return , but that is not expected.