Happy Holidays Friends! Well, it's been a week since we arrived in California for our two week Christmas Vacation. Wow, what a blast...family, Hollywood, Venice Beach, Big Sur, Haight Asbury, Dylan's first snow - and we still have a week to go! Here are some pictures (in no particular order), hope you enjoy, more to come soon. Merry Christmas! "Java" John
Hello Friends, I've been inspired since our candidate for change has been elected 44th President of the United States! So, I thought you might be interested in taking a look at a few of my new OBAMA pieces that I've posted on EBAY....and hear The Dead perform at their first Obama Rally! I've now got three of my original LIMITED Edition BARACK OBAMA Posters available. Also - there are four "DEADHeads For Obama" Buttons designs, and one "PHISH Phans for OBAMA" Button. I may have a few more other designs soon - since the demand has been very kool! So check back often....samples below....
By the way, If you bid on this item, you'll be helping to fund a Christmastime trip to San Fransisco for my family and I to see our niece get married. It's been a lifelong dream of my wife and I to visit the city of lights, and home of The Grateful Dead! Thank You! click here to bid on EBAY: http://myworld.ebay.com/javadack
Thanks for looking, and please tell your friends! GO OBAMA!! Peace, "Java" John
CHEAP TRICK’S BUDOKAN!: 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION, 5.1 SURROUND SOUND DVD + 3CD PACKAGE CELEBRATES LANDMARK TOKYO CONCERT OF 1978
CHEAP TRICK’S LIVE AT BUDOKAN NOW BECOMES A “SIGHT & SOUND” EVENT AS 1978 CONCERT FOOTAGE IS RELEASED FOR THE FIRST TIME, ALONGSIDE NEWLY MIXED AND MASTERED AUDIO OF THE ORIGINAL CONCERT ON 3 CDs
DVD features original concert that aired once on Japanese television in 1978 – never aired in U.S. and commercially available for the first time in this package,plus new 2008 interviews with the band members and other people involved with the landmark concert...Follows historic Cheap Trick concert return to Budokan in April 2008
Box set available starting November 11, 2008, through Epic/Legacy; 180 gram audiophile vinyl pressing of original LP in stores October 28th
(SEE VIDEO CLIP BELOW)
I've been a huge fan of Cheap Trick's fun lovin' rock n roll since the first time I heard "Surrender" for Budokan...as are I'm sure millions of folks that were teenagers in the late '70's are. That album was just pure energy! And having grown up a fan of "The Dead End Kids", the look of Rick Nielson and Bun E Carlos was just perfect!
The first time I had the pleasure to see the band was at the FLORIDA WORLD MUSIC FEST April 1979....what a line up! Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, Cheap Trick, Brownsville (Station), and Mahogany Rush. The news that night reported that Ted Nugent could be heard 8 miles away from the Tangerine Bowl! What a show!
I saw the band once or twice in the eighties, the not again till this decade. First off, Robin Zander showed up at Rick Derringer's "Musicians 4 Disaster Relief" at Universal Studios Orlando in February '05, a concert to help Hurricane and /Tsunami victims (sadly, Rick had to cancel out). Others on the bill that night: Eddy Money, Dickie Betts, Loverboy, Michael Bolton, Twisted Sister (first night reuniting), and Mark Farner. All whom autographed my commemorative artwork (other signed copies were auctioned off for the cause).
M4DR poster by Java John
Then in 2007 Cheap Trick put on an awesome free concert in downtown Orlando promoting their latest release "ROCKFORD" - an awesome concert, and awesome cd. It was the first time my 11 year old son saw the band, and he loved them. I painted the below Ukulele with the artwork from Rockford, with hopes to get it autographed by the band, sadly no luck - yet!
And lastly, we got to see Cheap Trick with Heart and Journey this past July in Tampa - they were awesome as ever, and the stage set looked great (see top picture). Can't wait till next time!!
Hello Friends! I just wanted to give you folks a heads up (because I know that some of you collect my artwork, and some collect Obama memorabilia) that for the first time I'm offering several high quality reproductions of my original OBAMA designs on EBAY!
I designed the above poster commemorating the first time we saw Senator Obama in Maitland, Florida, in hopes of getting Barack to autograph it for me. Well, with many thanks to our dear friend (who helped coordinate the event) for getting it to him, our next President indeed signed it for me. And the report is that he truly loved it and was grateful for the copy I gave to him, and gave his blessing for me to sell copies of it.
This poster "Yes We Can!, Yes We Can!" is based on the same design, only for those who would not nessisarily care for the title "Florida Welcomes" at the top.
This past Saturday saw the public unveiling of the guitars (36 in all) included in ORLANDO GUITAR TOWN at Orlando's City Hall. The event featured many of the guitar artists, the Orlando Mayor, along with a free concert featuring Big 10-4, John Frank, Gerry Williams Band, Christian Wilson & the Wayward Sons and Thomas Wynne & The Believers.
It was a beautiful day for the event, there was a very nice crowd, and the music was great. I was even interviewed by several members of the local press!
Below are some pictures from the event...and check back later - some of the musicians are going to send songs for me to add to this blog.....
By the way, I want to send a special Thank You to Tiffany, Angel, and "Tattoo" Bill for helping me out, and for for their patience with all my questions!
My first view of the event.
We were issued these kool passes.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer poses with my guitar, my son, and I.
"Tattoo" Bill Roberts and his tribute to Aerosmith.
A few groovy pieces.
Mark Hadley and his "Envy".
Some of the small guitars that were displayed inside City Hall.
Rick in Tampa 2008 photo by Java John
