Walk, don't run

First of all, congratulations to The Ventures for being nominated to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They should have been voted in years ago but they don’t have the sort of back catalog sales that the Hall of Fame votes for. I hope they make it in this year, very few groups deserve it more. How many times have you heard somebody say they learned guitar by playing along to a Ventures LP? Do yourself a favor and go get a copy of the Venture’s SURFING album.

Since I’m on the subject of acts that should be in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. Link Wray. Jeez. The only guy I can think to ever have an instrumental banned for “promoting teen gang warfare” isn’t in there. I don’t think Link has ever even been nominated. Billy Miller put it best: “Alla these guys could make a guitar talk, but face it – if you wanna dig talkin’, listen to a conversation. Now if you wanna hear a guitar sound like a GUITAR, Link Wray is yer boy.” Pete Townshend said "He is the king; if it hadn't been for Link Wray and "'Rumble,'" I would have never picked up a guitar." How’s that for influential?