November news

I recently mentioned that I had been working on some guitar instrumentals. This project first came to my mind about a year ago and then got pushed aside by work. In the past couple of weeks I’ve managed to write another six pieces, so I’m a fair way now toward having the 12-14 pieces needed to make an album. Talking to John Doan was certainly an inspiration. They’re not particularly difficult to play but explore the resonance of certain altered tunings on acoustic guitar. I hope to post a couple on youtube, and then record them with a few overdubs.

I recently recorded a set of video clips for my publishers to promote my songwriting books. They should be posted at some point on the Hal Leonard website.

I’ve completed a 5,500 word essay on the Led Zeppelin O2 Arena gig that will be published in book form next year as a contribution to the book Dave Lewis is working on (details on the tightbutloose website). There may be more writing to be done on Zeppelin next year following the announcement that Jimmy Page is currently working on remastering the albums with additional tracks. What exactly these turn out to be we will have to wait and see. I’ve come across some suspicious-sounding tracks in connection with other bands’ archive releases, which have been offered as alternate takes when they sound like mere remixes or monitor mixes. I hope the Zeppelin catalogue is treated to some SACD / 5.1 high-definition audio treatment.