Longtime Music Picks
These are in no particular order other than when I thought of
them. These are all bands or solo artists that I absolutely
love. There really is no one particular reason for any of my likes
other than I'm just a music nut. :) Yeah, I know this page is a
little heavy on the "hair bands," but what can I say? I was a
teenager in the '80s. :)
Petra
I discovered Petra in 1987 with
the release of their This Means War! album. The band has been
around since the early
70s and have undergone many personnel changes. Currently, their
line-up is John Schlitt, vocals; David J. Lichens, Guitar; Ronny
Cates, bass; Jim Cooper, keyboards, and Louie Weaver, Drums. Their
former guitarist and still main songwriter is Bob
Hartman>
Petra's
Official Site
The
Petra Webring
Bon
Jovi
I've been
listening to Bon Jovi since I saw them on American Bandstand
in 1984 or so. A long time. Their members are Jon Bon Jovi, vocal;
Richie Sambora, guitar; David Bryan, keyboards, and Tico Torres,
drums. Their CDs as a band are Bon Jovi, 7800 Farhenfeit, Slippery
When Wet, New Jersey, Keep the Faith, Crossroads (Greatest Hits),
and These Days. Also check out solo albums by Jon Bon Jovi
(Blaze of Glory, Destination Anywhere) and Richie Sambora
(Stranger in This Town, Undiscovered Soul).
Bon
Jovi Online Webring
Bon Jovi. com
Meat
Loaf
I first discovered Meat Loaf in 1988 when my roommate started
playing Bat Out of Hell.
I've been hooked ever since. He even performed in my hometown a few
years ago. He's one of the few musicians I have seen in concert
twice. :) To fully appreciate Meat Loaf's music, you have to see him
live in concert. He is known for his stage theatrics. Talk about
bringing the song to life. Meat Loaf is one of the few artists out
there who actually does in a major way. I think his best works are
the two Bat Out of Hell albums and Welcome to the
Neighborhood. He's also got quite a movie career going.
The
"Official" Unofficial Meat Loaf Fan Web Site
Meat
Loaf Web Ring
Queensrhyche
I bought Operation Mindcrime from a record club at a sale
price because I loved 
the
song "I Don't Believe in Love." I was hooked. This is an awesome
album that is actually a rock opera. The band members are Eddie
Jackson, Kelly Gray, Geoff Tate, Michael Wilton, and Scott
Rockenfield. Check out their albums Queensrhyche (EP), The
Warning, Rage for Order, Operation Mindcrime, Empire, Operation
Livecrime, Promised Land and Hear in the Now Frontier
The
Queensrhyche Campaign
Screaming
in Digital
Garth
Brooks
When I student-taught in 1992, my students got me hooked
on
Garth Brooks which in turn made me actually start listening to some
country music in general. His albums includeGarth Brooks, Ropin'
The Wind, No Fences, The Chase, The Hits, Fresh Horses, and
Sevens.
Officially
Garth Brooks
Ring
of Garth Fans
Van
Halen
Well, I'm kind of picky about likeing Van Halen. I've listened to
them since 1984 when "Jump" broke into the top 10. But I didn't
really like 
them
until Sammy Hagar became the lead singer. And I really don't much
care for their most recent material. But that is just my opinion. :)
The albums released with Sammy Hagar are 5150, OU812, For Unlawful
Carnal Knowledge, Right Here Right Now, and Balance. You
should also check out Sammy Hagar's latest solo album, Voodoo
Lounge. It's awesome. :)
The
Official Van Halen Web Site
Van
Halen Web Ring
The
Official Sammy Hagar Web Site
Aerosmith
I first discovered Aerosmith in 198 when they teamed with Run DMC
to remake "Walk This Way." 
This
was like the second coming for the band and have since been more
successful than they ever were the first time around. It's amazing
how much better the music is when its written while you're clean and
sober. :) Their albums the second time around include Pump,
Permanent Vacation, Get A Grip, Big Ones, and Nine Lives.
The band members are Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Joey Kramer, Brad
Whitford, and Tom Hamilton.
The
Official Aerosmith World Web Site
Full
Circle: The Original Aerosmith Webring
Kiss
I have liked Kiss longer than probably any other band. 
My
oldest brother (one of the few things we agree on) got me hooked on
them back in the mid 70s when Kiss Alive and Kiss Alive
II were new. They have way too many albums to name here. But I
have continued to follow them and am glad to see the original line up
back together. Their latest, Psycho Circus is an excellent
album.
Kiss
Online
The
Kiss Webring
Def
Leppard
I have liked Def Leppard since I first heard "Rock of Ages" in the
mid 80s. The 
band
is incredible after everything that they have gone through and they
still make great music. The members are Joe Elliot, Rick Savage,
Vivian Campbell, Phil Collen, and Rick ALlen. Albums include
Pyromania, Hysteria, Adrenalize, Euphoria, Slang, Retroactive,
and Vault
Def
Leppard Home
The
I Support Def Leppard! Webring
Guns 'N
Roses
I
loved Guns 'N Roses since the very first time I heard "Sweet Child 'O
Mine." However, I think their very best work is "November Rain." The
Use Your Illusion albums were the last great works from this
awesome band. Since, pretty much everyone but Axl Rose has left the
band. Axl is supposed to be releasing new material with a revamped
lineup later this year, but it won't be Guns to me without the
original lineup. That line up was Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagen, Izzy
Stradlin, and Steven Adler (replaced by Matt Sorum). The albums I
like are Appetite for Destruction, G N' R Lies, and Use
Your Illusion I and II.
Guns
'N Roses at Geffen Records
Guns
'N Roses Webring
Sawyer
Brown
I first saw and heard Sawyer Brown in 1987 when they performed in
concert at the college I was attending. I 
was
bored on Friday night so I went to the concert and I was hooked. The
leader singer was a wildman on stage. The members of the band are
Mark Miller, Greg "Hobie" Hubbard, Duncan Cameron, Joe Smyth, and Jim
Scholten. Albums by them are Sawyer Brown, Shakin', Out Goin'
Cattin', Somewhere In the Night, Wide Open, The Boys Are Back,
Greatest Hits, Buick, The Dirt Road, Cafe on the Corner, The
Outskirts of Town, Greatest Hits 1990-1995, This Thing Called Wantin'
and Havin' It All, and Six Days on the Road
Down
the Road with Sawyer Brown
Sawyer
Brown at Curb Records
Prince
I
first heard Prince in 1982 with the release of "Little Red Corvette."
I have been hooked ever since. The part I like best is that no two
albums sound exactly the same. He is constantly reinventing his style
and sound. Since then, he has changed his name to an unspellable
symbol, but the music is still great. His albums include 1999,
Diamonds and Pearls, Purple Rain (sndtrk), Batman
(sndtrk), Sign O'The Times, and Around the World in a
Day
0(+>
Cafe
The
Beautiful Experience
Tina
Turner
I first knew of Tina Turner when Private Dancer was
released in 
1984.
"What's Love Got to Do With It?" is still one of my all-time favorite
songs. She has had an amazing life and career. Check out the movie of
the same name if you want to know what I mean. :) How can you not
love that voice? She is truly a great artist that has only gotten
better as time has progressed.
Tina
Turner at Virgin Records
The
Original Tina Turner Webring
Madonna
"Borderline"
is the first song that I ever heard from Madonna. She is another of
those rare artists that has reinvented not only her sound but the way
she looks. She manages to raise eyebrows, some intentional, some not,
basically everything she has done. But at the heart of it all, the
music has always been great--the best being her last release, Ray
of Light. I'm still wondering what the next album will be like.
:) Her works are Madonna, Like A Virgin, True Blue, Like A Prayer,
I'm Breathless, The Immaculate Collection, Erotica, Bedtime Stories,
Something to Remember, and Ray of Light.
Madonna
at Warner Brothers
The
Original Madonna Webring
Alice
Cooper
I saw Alice Cooper in concert on TV in the late 70s. I was
absolutely fascinated by his stage show. My love
of the music was not far behind. He is still a performer that I would
love to see in concert. Maybe someday. He was ther predecessor for
the hair bands of the 80s (why do they call them hair bands anyways?
I just call it great music.). To see what I mean, check out any of
his CDs.
Alice's
Attic
Sick
Things: The Alice Cooper Webring
Warrant
The "Down
Boys" got my musical attention with their first single which also
became one of their nicknames. I got to see them live in concert a
couple of years later and they quickly became one of my favorite
bands. The band members are Jani Lane, Jerry Dixon, Erik Turner, and
Rick Steier. Their albums are Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich,
Cherry Pie, Dog Eat Dog (my personal favorite),
Ultraphobic, and Belly to Belly.
The
Down Boys Lounge
The
Down Boys Webring
Cinderella
Cinderella first came to my attention in 1986 with "Nobody's
Fool." I loved the song 
and
the video. I've bought everything they've produced musically ever
since, without ever hearing a song off the albums. I have never been
disappointed. Now if Tom Keifer would just sing in his normal voice,
I would be ecstatic. He's got a gorgeous voice, but we hardly ever
get to hear it. I still love them. Their albums are Night Songs,
Long Cold Winter, Heartbreak Station, Still Climbing, and Once
Upon A . . . (Greatest Hits). The band members are Tom Keifer,
Erick Brittingham, Jeff Labar, and Fred Coury.
CINDE-friggin-RELLA
Cinderella
Webring