Ask the Experts: Music

I received an email from Christine yesterday:

Hi Andrew,

My brother put a song in my head a couple of months ago while he was trying to find out who sings it, and now it keeps nagging at me because I can sing parts  the chorus in my head over and over, but that is all that I remember.  I believe that the song is from the 80’s, but it could have been the late 70’s.

It goes like this…

Meet me in the middle,

Give me half a chance,

Meet me in the middle,

Give us half a chance, oh baby!

I could be wrong to come on strong,

I should be feigning some nonchalance…..

Well Christine, after some research I found that the song in question is called “Meet Me In The Middle”, and was performed by Arrows, a 1980’s New Wave band from Toronto. The song can be found on their 1984 album “Stand Back”.

I received this email over the long weekend:

“Slash from Velvet Revolver is considered one of the best guitar players ever, but I know tons of guys who can play as good as he can, is it because he was in famous bands or his top hat or what that makes him so famous?”

This is one of those relative questions that’s hard to answer. As a technician, it’s not like Slash reinvented the wheel. Guys like Eddie Van Halen and Eric Clapton were more innovative. But when he first hit the scene with Guns N Roses in 1987, Slash’s technique went totally against the grain of the times. Whereas speed and tapping was a big deal in the various hair bands that dominated radio, Slash was more blues-based, taking the influence of the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith to a new level. Add in his iconic image and you have one of rock’s great guitar heroes.

In 2005 Esquire magazine awarded Slash their Esky Award for Best Guitarist and wrote the following blurb, which helps explain why he’s so beloved and respected:

“He’s who we see ourselves as every time we strap on an air guitar. The top hat. The hair. The dangling cigarette. The near-death experiences. He’ll always be Slash of Guns N’ Roses to us, but we also congratulate him for beating the comeback odds with a surprisingly legitimate and vital outfit, Velvet Revolver.”

Welcome to the new “Ask The Expert” Blog. I’m Andrew, here to answer all your music queries.

The inaugural question comes from Michael O’Donnell, who writes:

Hi Andrew. I have heard a new (?) version of American Woman on Jack a few times. It is great! Do you know who the artist is? Thanks for your time.

The version of American Woman we’ve been spinning comes from the 2007 Bachman-Cummings album ”Jukebox”.

 We also occasionally play the late 90’s Lenny Kravitz version too, but personally I’d rather here Bachman-Cummings rip it up. Check it our live below.

Andrew Burns can remember the first concert he ever went to. October 3rd, 1990. Maple Leaf Gardens. The Black Crowes opening up for Robert Plant. That show was followed a month later by ACDC at Skydome on The Razor’s Edge tour. Hundreds of shows later, and thousands of cd’s in his collection, it’s safe to say Andrew loves rock and roll. And knows a thing or two about it.

From August 2001- November 2007 Andrew worked as the writer for Q107 in Toronto, where he was the acknowledged rock expert. In 2006 he brought the station’s Rock Report online and back to the air, appearing on the air weekly to discuss the latest rock happenings. Throughout those 6 years, Andrew was the writer and researcher for syndicated series The Legends of Classic Rock, penning close to 150 episodes and creating the “40 Most Influential” and “Beginner’s Guides” series of shows. He’s also worked on specials featuring Alice Cooper, The Allman Brothers Band, Rush, Three Days Grace, Pearl Jam, and many others.

Andrew’s interviewed legends including the Beach Boys Brian Wilson, Alan White and Chris Squire of Yes, Supertramp’s Roger Hodgson, Todd Rundgren, the members of Triumph and more. His work has appeared in The Toronto Sun and in September 2007 he appeared on the MuchMoreMusic series “Listed”.

Andrew knows a thing or two about rock and roll. And he’s happy to answer your questions.