Everyone has rules eh?  Or are there no rules?  What say you?  Anyways, these are 15 things I've learned from my 25 years as a full-time music professional.  I'm keen to hear your take:

15. Never talk to an…

I guess I should start at the beginning: Lo those many years ago, when I first picked up an instrument, my main desire and goal in life was jazz and to one day be good enough to play on a…

Music has always been a soothing force in my life, from childhood until now. Even in the darkest depths of despair and even drug addiction the only thing that would calm me down was music. It can put me to…

I've produced a lot of records. I've written a lot of songs and been fortunate to work with some tremendous artists. I've also used a great deal of recording gear in the last 25 years trying to get "that sound"…

I've been mulling this post over for quite some time. I'm not here to sell gear. I've stopped making demos of new gear I get or stuff I own because it's not my business. However, musicians spend a ton of…

My Janet Reno 

As the eulogies roll in you'll be hearing a lot, kind and unkind, about my dear Aunt Janet in the coming weeks but please let me tell you about the person, not the public figure, that…

Okay, so I get asked about guitar pedals all the time because I guess I'm known as an aficionado and purveyor of all things wild and wacky in effects. Yeah, I own a lot of guitar pedals. To me they…

I've never openly discussed this, because I didn't think it needed to be, but recently since I moved to London I've met and bonded with an incredible group of like-minded free improvisers; free in spirit, mind and most importantly expression…

Yeah, I stood in line.  Again.  I missed last year because I was in Norway but scored some of my choices via some wonderful, goofy, committed friends who stood in line for me but this year I got up at…

The Skin Game 

For musicians, there is nothing more important than our creativity and our ideas. It is our lifeblood. Even if the wider audience never embraces us, we know “I did this,” and can point to our accomplishments…

Best of 2012 

Number 1:Beck-Song Reader (I know it's a book but check out the Portland Cello Project's version of the album. It's incredible and the whole idea is brilliant) 
Top 22 
Mark Lanegan Band-Blues Funeral 
Rufus Wainwright-Out of…