Thread: How did you first find out about your favourite band(s) ?

I'm bored so I'll fill out the original questionnaire. Maybe someone will find it interesting or something.

Band = Tesla

How old were you when you first found them?
13-14, now 21.

What were the circumstances in which you found hem?
Was listening to the Music Choice "Rock" station on my TV and their new single from their comeback album "Caught In A Dream" came on. I liked the album cover so I listened and ended up really digging it. Saw the song a couple more times and then saw/heard the follow-up "Words Can't Explain." Bought the album after, thought the singles released were very mis-leading (Lol) and ended up loving the album anyway. Listened to some stuff on YT, fell in love with it and bought all their older albums.

Are there any special people connected with the find ?
Nope.

What attracted you to the band?
At first it was their album cover for "Into The Now" which I thought was cute. As I delved further into their catalog I began to really appreciate not only the vocals of Jeff Keith, and the "dueling" guitar sound of Frank Hannon and Tommy Skeoch, but also the lyrical nature of their songs and the little nods to Nikola Tesla in songs, album names, album covers and their logo. I like my music to have some substance. :)

How has your admiration for the band developed over the years?
As the years go by, I find the more I like ALL the members. Tesla is one of the few examples, in my mind, where the parts are greater than or equal to the sum. Tesla as a unit is fantastic in my opinion with their blues-rockishy sound, but they really shine with their ability to create great music in side projects. From Frank Hannon's short-lived southern rock band Moon Dog Mane to his guitar-blazing Frank Hannon band to his somewhat country-storytelling "Gypsy Highway" album its all good in his discography. As is the Bar 7 "The World Is A Freak" album that Keith and Skeoch worked on, as well as Skeoch's current solo career, Brian Wheat's "Soulmotor" and new guitarist Dave Rude's "Dave Rude Band." The band makes great music together and separately, in my mind of course, and I respect that quite a bit.

What is the story of your exploration of their catalogue: Did you queue to get the releases on their day of issue?
For the few albums that I've been around for, I've pre-ordered them all. I tried buying "Forevermore" on the day of its release, but I couldn't find it in any store around me, so I gave up and just pre-order online now.

Have you sen them live ? If so how often and what were your impressions?
I wish. They played Jones Beach out on Long Island last summer with Whitesnake and Sebastian Bach that I was really excited about going to (Tickets were fairly cheap) but I couldn't convince anyone to go with me. Nokia Theater's too big for my liking to go alone, so I'm hoping they make it back out and I can work my charm on some other people. <_<

Are there any other anecdotes you can share about them.
Not from personal experience.

How do you feel about them today , have you attitudes changed?
One of the things I love about them is that I'll often stop listening to them for a while thinking I've moved on, throw in an album of theirs and find myself liking it even more than I used to. Like a fine wine, every listen to every song + album of theirs makes me like them more, despite the evolution of my tastes overall. Their song "Modern Day Cowboy" still ranks as my favorite song of all time.

[/autobiography]

nice post LMD

keep 'em comin'

Yes indeed, very nice personal post LMD ! Strange how we think we've moved on so to speak and always go back to our favorite(s) and are still amazed with pleasure !

I've heard of Tesla but with so many bands and so much music in my to listen to queque (which I am slowly giving up on and listening to whatever I want to on the ipod), I have never listened to them. Perhaps I will now.

Thanks for the positive words guys. Thought it might be too long and put everyone off from reading it (Which would be totally understandable). I was just bored.

I always feel bad for the guys (of Tesla) because of their timing. They came in at the time of Hair Metal and got classified as hair metal, which led to them dying out with the shift to grunge and today still being looked at as hair metal. They've always been more than just typical hair metal though, despite their sound having similarities to that genre. They always seemed blusier and more-rock oriented than glam-oriented and I would have hoped that their "Five Man Acoustical Jam" album/video would have helped eliminate that thought. But, alas it was not to be.

I hear you on having so many artists in the que. Too much music out there. Could spend a whole life dedicated to listening to music and artists and still not find it all. Music is truly incredible in that sense. :)

I hope you get bored more often, LMD ....LOL !!! That way you'll post often !!!!

Heh, thanks. Shouldn't have to worry about me being bored, I'm an insomniac and frequently bored. You guys'll be stuck with me, unless you all decide you hate me, for a while.

Just trying not to overstay my welcome too quickly here. So many good conversations I want to join or revive, I could probably have around 50 posts or so by now. <_< Just trying to space 'em out so you don't grow too tired of me. ;)

My very first favorite band was the Beach Boys (don't laugh.) My dad would play the Beach Boys constantly and his love for the band made us kids love the band. It was contagious. I was probably only about 2 when I realized I loved the band. I still love the band. They were definitely a band that paved the road to modern music. I never got to see them live, but would have loved to. Of course, my musical taste has since expanded greatly, but they were the beginning of my love of music!

No worries, LMD ! Looking forward to your posts !

Originally Posted by LMD

Heh, thanks. Shouldn't have to worry about me being bored, I'm an insomniac and frequently bored. You guys'll be stuck with me, unless you all decide you hate me, for a while.

Just trying not to overstay my welcome too quickly here. So many good conversations I want to join or revive, I could probably have around 50 posts or so by now. <_< Just trying to space 'em out so you don't grow too tired of me. ;)

I heard Linda Ronstadt's version of Tumbling Dice in 1977 as a teenager and saw it was written by Jagger and Richards. Amusingly, I asked my best friend the next day if The Rolling Stones were very popular?! He couldn't believe I asked. Well I went out and bought the Love You Live album and the rest is history. I have all of em.

I could say that my all time favourite artist is Italian singer Alexia. Her first solo single was released in 1995 and I was like ok, sounds quite good. Then 1996 came the next two singles. "Summer Is Crazy" blowed my head and I was like damn I really want to hear more. Then came the second single of 1996. It was called "Number One" and after that I've been following her career and have had a the pleasure to meet her many times.
I could say that one thing that catched my attention was the fact, that she has an amazing voice, if thinking about the fact that she started with dance music. There's really something in her voice and I think, that it has been the key, why I've kept following her even though her music style has changed during the years.