Richard Kendrick -- News

LES Paul, the guitar virtuoso and inventor who revolutionised music and created rock'n'roll as surely as Elvis Presley and the Beatles by developing the solid-body electric guitar and multitrack recording, has died aged 94.

Guitarist, engineer, inventor, entertainer and hit-maker, Paul was one of the most influential figures in the history of popular music.

His influence extended far beyond his fluid, distinctive guitar style and the use of his signature Gibson Les Paul electric guitar by the likes of Duane Allman, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Bob Marley, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page, Slash and others.

Paul pioneered the use of multi-track recording, essentially inventing the precursor to today's recording studio. His style of playing with special sound-shifting effects and overdubbing established a school of guitar playing that shaped rock and jazz.

Known for his lightning-fast riffs, Paul performed with some of early pop's biggest names and produced a slew of hits, many with wife Mary Ford. But it was his inventive streak that made him universally revered by guitar gods as their original ancestor and earned his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the most important forces in popular music.

Musicians from all over the world paid tribute to the musician. Keith Richards, the Rolling Stones guitarist and a friend of Paul, said that his influence was total. "We must all own up that without Les Paul, generations of flash little punks like us would be in jail or cleaning toilets."

Saul Hudson, the guitarist better known as Slash, of Guns N' Roses, said playing with Paul was humbling. "Les Paul was a shining example of how full one's life can be," he said. "He was so vibrant and full of positive energy. I'm honoured and humbled to have known and played with him over the years. He was an exceptionally brilliant man."

Born Lester Polsfuss in 1915, Paul started playing music at eight and played guitar semi-professionally. But his Gibson Les Paul, along with the Fender Stratocaster, became the defining instrument of the 20th century.

Paul first attempted to overcome the problems of amplifying an acoustic guitar by stuffing his instrument with rags, and then plaster of paris, to muffle feedback. He then built a guitar out of a railway sleeper and by 1941 had refined his invention to resemble the first guitar made of solid wood. In 1951, Gibson put the idea into production.

Paul said: "The electric guitar was laughed at. They called me the character with the broomstick with pick-ups on it. It was terrible. Before we came along the guitar was an apologetic wimp -- the weakest, most unimportant guy in the band. As soon as we put a pick-up on him, and a volume control, he became the king."

Paul, who also pioneered multi-track recording and echo effects, was a significant figure in the jazz world, and has been cited as an influence by George Benson and Stanley Jordan.

Pat Metheny, the jazz guitarist, said Paul's influence on pop and rock was hard to overestimate. Rock guitarist Joe Satriani called him the "original guitar hero". "Les Paul set a standard for musicianship and innovation that remains unsurpassed," he said.

His success as a recording artist lasted well into his old age. In February 2006, while in hospital, he learnt that he had won two Grammys for Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played, an album he released after his 90th birthday. Paul died in White Plains, New York, of complications from pneumonia.

Last month my grandfather, Robert D. Ireland Sr. passed away in Pensacola, FL at the age of 88. He was one of my heroes. Words would not do him justice... so I will just say that I loved him very much and he will be missed by everyone that ever had the good fortune to know him. I'm so thankful that Regan got to spend a bit of time with him.

I recently joined a local rock band here in VA. For a while I've been needing to get my guitar chops together... a good reason to play standing up... and these guys offered the perfect opportunity to do just that. Everybody has families and careers so it's a low-pressure gig. We will be getting together a few times a month to play out. The band is called Hellenback.

Nothing new on the SJS front. Still plugging away on the upcoming CD. Ross Stephens is supposed to fly up this way in July to record a big chunk of his lead vocals. It's all coming together pretty well. I'm sure everybody is going to be pleased.

I'll be in Ohio in April mixing songs for upcoming tributes to Buckcherry and Stone Temple Pilots. Artwork soon to come.

And on a lighter note.... Just say NO to socialism. Check out your local "Tea Parties" and let's take back our country from the social-engineers that would pit class warfare against the populace by "victimizing" the ignorant in order to punish the hard-working contributors to our society. FUCK YOU Mr. Obama!... Nancy Pelosi... Harry Reid... Chuck Schumer.... Chris Dodd.... Barny "Fag" Frank (....why don't you stop sucking cock and learn how to talk, you mush-mouthed douche?). You should be ashamed. You're all scum bags! Enjoy the power while you can. You're on your way out!!

'Misty Mountain Hop: A Millennium Tribute to Led Zeppelin,' which features current/former members of Megadeth, Kiss, Black Sabbath, Dio, Badlands, the Circle Jerks, The Cult, Ratt, Lillian Axe, Deep Purple, L.A. Guns, Warrant, White Lion, Robert Plants The Honeydrippers, Iggy Pop Band, Hanoi Rocks, Alice Cooper Band, Slashs Snakepit, Dangerous Toys, Johnny Thunders Band, Zebra, David Bowie Band, Ace Frehley Band, Rainbow, Billy Idol Band, Roger Daltry Band, Quiet Riot, Circle II Circle, Riot, ECW, and others including Richard Kendrick, Strikeforce, Chris Catena, Marko Pukkula, Harry Slash & the Slashtones, Rose Reiter, A.J. Caruso, Sergio Yetta, Blayne Coupel, Debbie Landry, Lee Thompson, Charlie Bonnett III and Jason Andrews, Snowblynd, and Chris Heaven- as well as liner notes by legendary record producer Ron Nevison (Led Zeppelin/The Who/Heart, etc)- celebrating the bands greatest hits! The tribute also features a bonus CD Sampler featuring millennium rock/metal bands influenced by Zep!!

'Glory Rock Vol. 1&2', features current/former members of such Christian rock legends as BRIDE, Petra, Guardian, Neon Cross, and Liberty N' Justice, as well as mainstream rock legends including Aerosmith, Motley Crue, Cinderella, Ratt, Lillian Axe, Quiet Riot, Dangerous Toys, Billy Squier Band, Rod Stewart Band, The Scream, and Grammy-winning pianist Randy Cantor, as well as Grammy/Dove Award winner Bob Carlisle (of Butterfly Kisses fame)!

Double Talkin' Jive: A Hard Rock Tribute to Guns N' Roses

VERSAILLES RECORDS TO RELEASE STAR-STUDDED GUNS N' ROSES TRIBUTE AUGUST 5:
On August 5th, 2008, Versailles Records will return to stores with Double Talkin' Jive: A Hard Rock Tribute to Guns N' Roses, whose roster features current/former members of Guns N' Roses, Ozzy Osbourne Band, Deep Purple, Heart, Motley Crue, Dio, Poison, Ratt, L.A. Guns, Zebra, Riot, Brides of Destruction, Riot, Rainbow, Lita Ford Band, Keel, Rockstar: Supernova, Dangerous Toys, Ace Frehley Band, Uptown Horn, Grammy Award winning keyboardist Randy Cantor, as well as millennium rockers including Richard Kendrick & A.J. Caruso of Straitjacket Smile, Corey Craven, Chris Catena, Marko Pulluka, Artie Dillon, Chris Heaven, Urban Preacher, Katet, and Lee Thompson & the Sidewinder band.

With the release, the label will also release the 'Surf Rock Vol. 1/2' Sampler, which features some of the millennium's coolest up and coming rockers, including Voytek Duv, The Swamp Coolers, Voodoo Johnson, Wicked Charmer, Exit State, ICON, Masterknob, Mismatch, Urban Snake, Bub Zulu, Ready the Destroyer, Blind Shades, Anodyne, Slick Bishop, The Bloody Turncoats, Crow Court, Michael Turner, Nyki Lindsay King, Aaron Morse, Note to Amy, Rob Owen, Puritan Rodeo, Loaded Dice, The Dingos, Disasteroid, Temple of Dush, Mongrel Band, Suicide Circus, The Tall Hush, Tension Head, Wookie Johnson, Blame It On Cain, Joesephus and the George Jonestown Massacre, Stark NYC, Disarray, Barry Shelton, Lee Thompson/The Jones, Katet, Andrew Santagata & A Breed Apart, Kore Rozzik, Leigh Silver, Deprived.
In November, Versailles Rcds will return to retail with 'Misty Mountain Hop: A Millennium Tribute to Led Zeppelin', as well as a christian-rock new band comp., 'Glory Rock Vol. 1/2', and in the mid-spring of 2009, 'Wicked Garden: A Millennium Tribute to Stone Temple Pilots.' To learn more, check us out online at www.myspace.com/versaillesrecords or www.versaillesrecords.com.

By the way, WE finally made it back to the USA... Now living in Ashburn, VA for the time being. I'm very happy to be back. Very busy too. Hopefully, I will find some time to give the site a proper update pretty soon.

In a new twist it looks like I might be playing with Lillian Axe for a few shows after all -- starting on Oct 20. Stay tuned...

Well, I guess I've been busy for the last few months. The summer left me stuck watching Regan full time -- as her daycare, that she attended one full day and two half days per week, was closed. Any spare time I managed to find was filled with trying to record music for the SJS CD and some assorted tributes. Busy busy busy... I also took a couple of small trips.... Germany, London etc.

Right now I'm on a two-week cruise to Greece, Egypt and Turkey. I'll be going to see the Pyramids and the Sphinx tomorrow. Awesome!! The weather has been terrific and with the exception of the difficulties that can be associated with traveling with a two-year-old, I'm having a pretty good time. I'll try to post some pictures when I get back.

I was supposed to be flying to the USA in a couple of weeks to play a gig as a fill-in guitarist for Lillian Axe. The gig was to be held in San Bernardino California at the EuroRock Festival being held at the 65,000-seat Hyundai Pavilion. Needless to say, I have been really psyched to play the gig for the last couple of months and I've been learning and practicing the songs a lot (instead of recording or sleeping). Well, as it turns out, Alice Cooper offered Lillian Axe a seven date (reduced to four dates) run opening for him in Birmingham, Mobile, Houston and Dallas starting on the same date that I was supposed to play EuroRock with them... As a result, Sam the guy I was filling in for, cancelled the other stuff he had going on -- so my services will no longer be required for that gig.... I guess I'm going to have to eat my non-refundable air-travel -- as I now have no reason to head to The States at this time. LOTS of money and time wasted... Story of my life it seems... What can I say?

I added some NLE live videos (via youtube) to my myspace profiles. You can check those out at http://www.myspace.com/rochardkendrick or http://www.myspace.com/rochardkendrickmusic. While you're there, add me as a friend. You can also view the videos by going to youtube and searching for Near Life Experieince, Lillian Axe or Straitjacket Smile.

Okay class, your homework assignment is to find yourself a copy of a recent BBC show called The Great Global Warming Swindle. Do yourselves a favor... and then do me a favor and share it with your friends and family. Spread the word... I do believe I shall be giving copies of the DVD away for Christmas this year.