I have addressed this at length in other comments, but few people are seeing it, so let's break down my thoughts on the EVH smoking/metal pick controversy a bit further, as some people don't seem to understand the points I was trying to make, and to be fair, I didn't communicate them as articulately as I could have... 1: Eddie Van Halen put forth a hypothesis that his metal pick had something to do with the onset of his cancer. 2: Some doctor dismissed him out of hand without a single TEST of that hypothesis. 3: I said in the video I would not be so cavalier about dismissing Eddie's hypothesis out of hand and would even more readily accept it over the "expert" opinion. 4: Some have accused me of eschewing science (to put it mildly). Well, let's address that. If you dismiss someone's hypothesis without any testing, that isn't "science". It's just conjecture. It might be educated conjecture, but it's still only conjecture and we should be honest about that. This is not the way science is conducted, my friends. That's the way gate-keeping is conducted. Therefore, the so-called "expert" in this scenario has shown himself to be, in fact, just a parrot of the conventional wisdom, not a serious, critically thinking person interested in the rigors of scientific experiment. Now conjecturing is fine, if we're honest about doing it, but it's not scientific. Doctors have a terrible track record of understanding the root causes of cancer, and they sure as hell have a terrible track record of treating it successfully. So why should I dismiss Eddie's hypothesis since he clearly understands his own body and habits better than any "expert"? Furthermore, I never said smoking didn't play any role, I said perhaps Eddie is right and the metal pick he claims to have used did play a role. But again, without a proper TEST or experiment, we will never be able to say whether that might have been the case or not, or what the odds of that being true are statistically. It's funny how few people criticizing me for saying what I said have thought this through. Some who claim the mantle of "science" are about the furthest thing from it. Science is about posing questions (hypotheses) and then testing those hypotheses. It's isn't about simply standing on conventional wisdom or blindly trusting gate-keepers of knowledge.

So I completely misread the title: "Steve T FAILS as a man, trips 9 hours after touching hippie junk."

But Jess Greenberg comes equipped with 2 personal flotation devices, drowning for her is an impossibility.

If that metal pick caused cancer then stop using forks and spoons immediately!

I have been a "bedroom" guitarist my whole life. I would play once a year when my family was all together at Christmas, T-Giving, etc. One time when my nephew was bragging how good he was playing Barracuda on Guitar Hero, I played it on a real guitar for everyone. There's a bar in my town that has an open mic night every Thursday. The owner really doesn't care what you do, as long as it's entertaining and around 15 minutes. Most karaoke, some do a comedy routine, a few will play an instrument...which is what I done. I got three backing tracks on my looper pedal. I'd Love to Change the World from Ten Years After, Sister Golden Hair from America and just a basic 12 bar blues track I improvised over. There was eight people in the audience. I thought I was going to pass out from the quart of adrenaline my brain dumped into my system when they told me I was on next. My "fight or flight" response kicked in for some fucking reason. I got through it just fine, got some scattered applause, two free drinks (I still had to pay the cover for some reason) and now I look back on it, I don't know if I could walk out in front of 30,000 screaming metal heads. Some things are best left to the pros.

With Eddie, it's a matter of how plausible is it that the coke, booze, cigs and constant trips through early airport x-ray machines caused his cancer. Also HPV exposure. Also has anyone ever gotten skin cancer from picks? Say in the fingers that held them?

Yes, a guitarist like Eddie would certainly know more about medicine than a trained doctor. For sure. Certainly not from smoking nearly half a million ciggies. For sure.

Sometime when i am alone playing in my bedroom, I choke choke choke, I totally get it... lol

I don't know if it's fair to say Steve "laughs" at other performers failing because that sorta implies some level of underlying maliciousness there. I think he just makes light of things that are completely fair to make light of. Plus he's technically a comedian of sorts so he obviously needs to get his material SOMEHOW. Being scrupulous over the ethical implications of joking about the failures of others and judging whether it's hypocritical to do so would probably severely stunt the flow of his content. I don't know.

I’ve learned to be comfortable in front of people displaying my lack of of talent.

I love Junior Brown's Sound. Sad thieves hope they get theirs.

Best excuse ever... Coming in to work monday morning. - Hey man. They're drugtesting the staff today! - Oh, shit. I had some acid last night... think, think. - I got it! Well, you see... I was cleaning this syth module aaaand....

Consequently, the instrument repairman was arrested for synthesizing LSD.

Why didnt Van Halen get cancer in his fingers🤔 After holding his pick

For those of you defending Stevie T, there is no doubt that he is a talented player. The issue is that he has made a "comedy" career making fun of other people playing poorly live and when he had the chance to do so, he chose to use "anxiety" to avoid the same type of criticism that he dishes out all the time.

I think some people are taking this the wrong way. I got to this channel for general guitar world news and info while I watch Stevie T for a laugh. Both these channels have something to offer as far as I'm concerned. Brad is just having some fun the same way Stevie T messes with everyone else. With the world around us burning in flames, these channels provide a welcome and much needed respite. I feel the same way when I'm playing, setting up or modifying my guitars. I also like that Brad is not afraid to offer his opinion or offend others...he calls it like it is. Although in the case with Stevie T, it's just some lighthearted fun. Lighten up, you'll live longer.

I have suffered from severe anxiety my whole life. Playing sports in my youth and high school I would focus on the field and court. I would not look at the people in the stands. When I became a musician I would do the same thing until I got a few songs in and relaxed. Could’ve been the drugs and alcohol kicking in too.

I used to play in my own band doing live shows. Last year I did a paying country gig. Not a real country player but it was fun and money is nice. I try to get out once in a blue moon. Otherwise I do the dad thing, repair my guitars, build new ones, and record songs. Some of them are on my KZfaq channel.

First Stevie T vid I watch: "This dude is more irritating than hemroids." After binge watching his entire channel: "OMG he's a genius."

Kicking a dude while he's down, that's cowardly.

I feel for Steve. While I never really have stage anxiety when playing music (kinda blows my mind still:) I can have some pretty terrible social anxieties. I can't speak in front of any sort of crowd, I don't like being within a large crowd of people, and am increasingly agoraphobic these last few years. The last to note keeping me from seeing friends and family at times. It sucks. He seems like a good dude (and obviously a great player) even if his clickbait-y videos are a little cringe-worthy at times. Props to him for being honest.

Eddie got his cancer the way Michel Douglas did.

Andy Partridge of the band XTC developed stage fright so much that the band stopped playing live, and just made albums in the studio for the remainder of their existence. You'd never think it, watching him.

I'm in a Mom and Dad band; played top 40 mellow classic rock tunes a few times recently at a Canadian Legion. Can't really rock out like I want to, but I always enjoy it.

Turns out keeping my tabs in the freezer wasn't needed after all!

LMAO at the zoom in to Jess Greenberg :-)

I am what we call "Rampensau" in Germany, what may translate to "stage pig". But it describes individuals that love performing on stage, may it be the smallest audience like the bartender and two roadies, or a packed venue, or even a stadium. After taking a break because me and my wife having two kids, the singer of a former Band called me and said "lets have a new Band. You and me, we have to be on stages!" I didn't think twice, just said yes, and here we are, another 20 years of playing live shows. This adds up to 44 years of live experience, because while the Kids were small I still played now and then, I just had no touring Band over this time, but coffeehouse gigs with friends. I know and understand people with krippeling fright, as I once had a singer that was a great musician, rehearsal was great every time, but he stood there, looking at the sky, barely able to breat, as we tried it first time with a small audience. Second time he left the venue as he realized that it is about to happen, he had to sing in front of an audience. The rhytm guitarist and I had to jump in and doubled down with instrument and singing. Or the guitarist of my second band, who was only able to perform while showing his back to the audience. He never ever looked at the audience. I am sure there are more great musicians that have severe problems when performing. And I am sure that there are lots of vocalists that suffer of this anxiety. Because guitar and bass players have an instrument to hold and to hide behind. But singers stand there like naked in the rain, no place to run and hide.

I deal with Bipolar disorder, OCD, anxiety, ADD, and insomnia. I'm just a bedroom player but I've wanted to start recording my own music but my OCD wants everything perfect and my anxiety just fills me with dread because I know I can't get everything "Perfect", so anything I do work on gets scrapped. The same has been similar in my writing. I'll think of something and I end up pushing my head into overdrive in order to get it right and I never can. It doesn't help matters that my thought process is very mechanical. I need things in a certain order or it just doesn't work. I've always been a why and how of the mechanism type person.

Mike Campbell used one of those electric sitars when the Heartbreakers played 'Don't Come Around Here No More' live.

18:50 Longtime metal guitarist/bassist here... in the last 25 yrs I haven't gone very long without playing some type of gig. Sometimes I honestly hate the venues and trying to park and load-in but I can't stay away... I am also a diabetic with pain issues, being on stage is the ONLY time I am not annoyed by or completely consumed by some sort of pain issue. Never had problems performing... but I was in a band for the longest time with a drummer with major butterflies who wouldn't play unless he could take a shit before the gig - true story.

My buddy calls me the other day interrupting my grandpa nap, he never calls so its strange, he says he is anxious about the gig, I said don't worry about it, use it. Jimmy Page apparently said "If your not scared there is something wrong with you". I said to add to this, you've got to ride the dragon. Luckdragon Falcor, ride that dragon! He went on that night and did an awesome performance full of energy. I also spoke to a flautist later who had the same problem and I told her, to get another real anxiety like I have. Evertime I get on a plane I think I am going to die, so when I go on stage I just think "well, at least I'm not going to die". Seriously though boys and girls, you have fear? Use it, harness it, tell yourself it's and it will be, in fact it will be more than ok, it will be amazing and amazing for you. Your spirit wants you to experience this, this is why you somehow found your way to a life of music, it wasn't really a dream of fame, it was a spiritual choice by your soul.

I was a well-known guitarist in my area once upon a time. The last band I was in disbanded in 2008 when I didn't show up for a show because of anxiety. I was too worried about what other people thought of me, to be honest. I have not played live since then, and prefer my home studio. Maybe someday I will be in another band.

I thank you sir for the heads up on Stevie T. I've never heard of him before and have been binge watching him since. He's not only super talented but ridiculously hilarious. Thanks again.

Metal pick possibly caused cancer? Of course. Probable? I think not. Different types of mouth and throat cancer have been linked to cigarette smoking. Not to mention HPV can also result in cancers. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that EVH caught HPV from several busted ravioli taste tests. I go with Occam's razor on this one.

Lifelong anxious person here. Played guitar since I was a kid but never dreamed of playing to an audience. In my quest to get to the bottom of why I am so anxious I discovered I'm on the autistic spectrum which was actually quite a positive discovery. I'm not a broken normie anymore and the anxiety has dialed way back, it's still there but actually manageable now. I've since set myself the goal of playing on a stage at least once in my life :)

Performance question response: I've been performing off and on for the past 45 years (started really young) in theater and music. Later years have ditched theater and only performed musically as a vocalist, guitarist, or percussionist. The frequency is about once a year. I find it more nerve-wracking to get up on a stage and sing or play guitar because of how I feel about my own capabilities, and concern that I'll screw up some how. I'm still working on the skill of how to recover from a mistake and make it sound intentional. I start nervous, but then start getting into it. I always need to convince myself that this is cool, fun, and everyone will enjoy it so I should too. The largest audience I've had the privilege to play in front of is about 2000 at the corporate campus where I work (a fortune 50 company) including my leadership team, CEO, CFO, COO, and former CEO. We KILLED IT!!!! I have no fears or anxiety speaking and demonstrating martial arts as an instructor during seminars to a group of up to 50 black belts, and I teach 3 times a week...but put a guitar in my hand or ask me to sing in front of people and I get a little queasy.

anxiety is a real thing I've had to sit in my car and just do deep breathing by myself before shows when the bandmates are whooping it up. not because of performance but because of work issues. I gig once or twice a month. the show is never the issue for me. you asked, I'll tell. thanks for what you do Brad

If you haven't seen Jr Brown you need to watch him he is great.

Anxiety has prevented me from so many things, however although it seems unlikely I have no problem being on camera.

Eddy didn't get cancer from his metal pick. The idea that he know better then a doctor is a very stupid statement.

Weird sound: Ohhhwwnnnn. Interviewer: Go ahead. Would you repeat that again? Ken Kesey: Ohhhwwnnnn.. (chuckles) PRICELESS!! hahahahahahh!

RE: Live performance - I cut my teeth with marching band when I was a kid and got to perform at the Indiana State Fair in front of about 14,000 people. Played in the first-ever Cincinnati Reds High School Honors Band in 1983 in front of 40,000 people. I toured the Midwest through the late 70s and early 80s with a few bands. Moved to California in the mid-80s and played a variety of instruments with a number of bands. Got to play every significant venue on the Sunset Strip on guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards. Had a TOTAL blast! But now, I do an occasional open mic at the coffee shop when I feel like it. I had a ton of fun, but now I prefer to make music for myself or go to a musician's house for a fun living room jam. It feels like I'm still exploring the ever-increasing recording possibilities for the at-home musician. Through it all I never had any stage fright. With regard to Stevie T, I am a bit disappointed that he bailed on this incredible opportunity, but I try to understand his perspective on it. My disappointment is rooted in the belief that ALL musicians should get themselves on the stage in front of others. The experience brings a unique type of inspiration that cannot be replicated or purchased. It can be tense, dramatic, and is fueled by the energy of the audience. I could go on, but I do recommend that everyone get themselves out there. Even if you're afraid, and even if you fall on your face the first few times, you won't regret it.

Brad, I played (well sang) occasionally in high school, '77 and '78, and very often in college for about 2 years, back circa 1980 through early 1982. The drummer and I co-signed for, believe it or not, a small business loan to buy the PA and lights for the college band, so we had to play. We did 4-5 nights per week in local bars, but got the loan paid off ahead of time. That band blew up in spectacular fashion, with two factions that took years to heal the rift. In 1994, I heard some folks playing drums, guitar and bass across the street here in suburban DFW. Being a shy fellow, I went over and banged on the door until they took a short break and heard me knocking. That led to a couple of years of what amounted to the equivalent of a guys' night out once a week, but after a couple of years, starting in 1996, we started gigging local bars. Weekends, mostly, and usually no more than a couple of weekends per month. By around 2000, we'd added keys and horns, and the gigging picked up during the summer (horn players were all middle and high school band directors, so they had more time.) And that led to about three summers where we became a defacto house band at a local bar actually built on a dock in Lake Lewisville. Personnel changed a bit over the years, but eventually, about two years back, it just kind of died. But this one went with no one pissed off at all, and a few went on to form a new band. There are several videos posted out on KZfaq that folks took in various venues, so if you do a search on Justin Exit Cold Sweat, or Justin Exit Vehicle, the fat ass hat singing on those is me back circa 2012.

I have had panic attacks, stage frights, crippling anxiety. But I'm not a guitarist/bassist. Just a former mouth artist. But when that shit hits, it's fucking horrifying.

Yeah not the cigarettes but the guitar picks. Sure.

Poor Jr Brown. That really sucks to have your instrument stolen essentially a complete custom. I hope it turns up.

I played out until I had a stroke (after decades). Played all over the northeast, the midwest, and the southwest. I loved it! I fed off of the vibe from the crowd! There's always butterflies beforehand depending on the show. But, we had some crazy adventures. Plenty of Blues Brothers moments of playing behind a cage as well!! Haha!

Way back in the late '80's I was servicing mixing consoles in Brisbane AU. A friend from Sydney AU came to visit and told me about a SSL studio console in a Sydney recording studio that had been giving problems and he was called on to assist. Channels going down, weird pops and buzz's, etc. He ended up removing all the modules and hosing them down with contact cleaner outside, and using a banister brush and tray to clean the "dust" remaining in the bottom of the empty chassis. Near half a kilo (over one pound) of mostly white dust from predominately under the faders was removed. He was careful not to touch it as he knew quite well what it was likely to be.... Most consoles this size have a cushion to rest the palm when adjusting the faders, a cushion that can serve other uses. He took a sample and gave it to a mutual friend who took it to a forensics place and had it assayed. It was a heady mix of quite pure versions of Speed, coke, LSD, plus trace amounts of heroin, weed and other illicit materials. The forensics place also warned to not ingest the toxic combination as results may be catastrophic and or fatal. Due certain circumstances the police at the time had little to no interest in the 'fault' or the dust. The removed toxic dust was dissolved in a bucket of water and flushed down the drain....

I always loved entertaining folks, seeing them let loose and have fun. That was my drug. Health issues shut me down about 7 yrs ago...we averaged around 70 shows a year, the most we played was 140-150 shows in one year...it was BRUTAL, to say the least, but looking back, I loved every minute of it...

I'm exactly the same. I've done 7 demo CD's to date and I would freeze on stage.

Started to learn (at 64) earlier this year after never having played a note on the guitar. Probably too late to ever consider playing it on stage, in front of people. I don't believe it would be a problem for me, though, as I did play my first gig for money in 7th grade, years ago...on the drums. Largest crowd I've played for...13,000. I drummed for 30 years with bands, then just quit. Sold the drums, had none until about 18 months ago when I was gifted a set. What a joy it has been getting back on 'em & trying to knock the 'cobwebs' off the ol' chops, here at the house. No intention or desire to ever play for people or work with musicians again. This time it's just for me! Oh, and because it didn't make your news 'cut' Brad, RIP Ginger Baker.

Yep, crippling anxiety sucks. For me getting in front of a crowd is one of the few places I can usually handle my anxiety, often it's been a level of therapy for the depression side of things. I've gotten to the "weekend gigs band" stage but usually it's just open mics and house parties.

Junior Brown is an extremely entertaining player. You should check him out if you haven't before. Anyway, regarding the stage: I've always loved it. I spent a few years of my life doing it. Actually, for a long time, if I wasn't actively touring I wouldn't play my guitar at all. I thought to be a "real" player, you had to play gigs. This was before the internet was what it is now and it was the only real way to perform for others. It's now that I'm older that I find joy just playing at home.

Stevie T isn`t so much about mocking People for failing. He is more exposing People faking onstage, "playing" an instrument to a prerecorded track thats supposed to look like what the performer is miming.

My wife is a registered nurse and she was EVHs recovery room nurse and she said he was smoking cigarettes in the bathroom in his recovery room. He autographed her SG.

The early 80's Guitar World article I read said he used white Fender Thins because he liked feeling it flex,AND the solid white plastic made it easier to see on stage. You can see it on the Live Without A Net solo.

I preform live 3 times a week, in my game room and my cats don't even like me, so you know,,,,

I used to love playing live when I was in my teens, twenties and younger 30's. Then i got to a point i hated to travel. I loved playing live just hated everything that went with it. Maybe i got lazy as I got older. Driving for hours to play for 30-45 min. lost its appeal. So now i just write music and record at home. And jam with friends at each others houses in town of course.

Vinnie was a friend of mine, as is his wife Bonnie. I had the pleasure of visiting them at their home in New Jersey two years ago. Unfortunately I was unable to attend the "clearance" sale. I was able to see Vinnie's guitars, and hi amplifier prototype. Hi was an original inventor/creator, like Les Paul. He was very humble and sweet. I've heard Vinnie on records and radio my entire life (as have many others). Every time U hear a Four Seasons song, or a commercial recorded in New York-countless recordings for that matter-I will miss him even more. RIP Vinnie!

copper, silver and said alloys have oligodynamic effect that kills any bacteria that comes into contact with it. Many people get skin irritation from low k gold that has copper and silver in it. This in itself is not known to cause cancer, but smoke coming into contact with cell membrane that is already damaged may have increased toxicity.

Damn Brad you've never heard Jr. Brown? He's a badass that you need to check out. I'd heard someone stole his guit/steel but luckily there was another 1 he had to replace it. That's a 1 off rig for sure that should be easily found if the thief don't get scared and bury it or throw it off a bridge. He's a great artist though, he bounces from guitar to steel and he's hell on both.

I'd have no problem jumping on stage even playing bad. Unfortunately I'll probably be bedroom player because of lack of playing ability. Stevie has an actual job he said he considers making content his job. Being crippled by anxiety can't be fun though so maybe he needs a little stage time as exposure therapy

It's probably documented someplace in the comments, but Junior Brown called his instrument a 'Guit-steel'. Even though it's very unique, I'm surprised he didn't have a back-up.

I played in bands for years as a singing drummer then 15 years as a solo singer with an acoustic then suddenly developed extreme anxiety and can`t even go shopping alone anymore. I haven`t played guitar hardly at all in the past 5 years. It`s very strange.

I played on stage several times beginning in a small town in Arkansas and then on to several gigs on the Memphis scene. The pay was shit for the amount of work you put into it. Setting up, sounding and tearing down. I didn't particularly enjoy it so resided in just playing for fun. I have no regrets. Great video Brad 👌

1977 I did a tour with Richie Havens, by the third date I was so bored I couldn't take it. Never played live again... It's not for everybody

In the early 2000's i was the vocalist of a metal band and played local shows infront of hundreds of people. At 17 years old i was never nervous or anything. Then had kids years later and kinda lost my vocal abilities so now ive took up guitar the past year and wished i decided to play all those years ago. Im 30 now with not really any ambitions to start a band but if the opportunity ever came my way i wouldnt pass. But your right. Some people just arent made to be on stage or in the spotlight.

Plumbers of which I am one have always had high rates of cancer. Working with lots of materials from copper to zink to asbestos....

"Guitar picks gave me cancer it was not the smokes because my lungs are clear" is just classic old man excuse making. You would listen to that over an actual medical professional? Jesus dude.

What would Jess Greenberg, or anyone else for that matter, wear pink pajamas "in vain"?🤔

I'm playing live for 35 years now. I was touring all over Europe when I was younger. I was out of Austria for at least six months a year. My Son, now 27 missed me a lot, but was proud of his Rock 'n Roll Dad. My Daughter is 10 and I didn't want to miss her childhood too. I still play locally quite often. I remember being nervous as a Kid. But nowadays I just wanna sleep before stage time. I'm tired from carrying gear, setting it up and Soundcheck. It takes 3 to 5 Songs to get in live playing mode. I keep saying to myself 'c'mon Tom, you're on Stage, wake up'. Motivation is the bigger Problem after thousands of Gigs.😅

I was in the Marine Corps. and in top physical condition when I was taken out to sea by an undertow at Leguna Beach in "82. It took me 13 hours to swim back and I had to rub cramps out of my legs three times during the ordeal. When I finally made it back to the beach, I barely had the strength left to crawl onto the sand. The average person could not have survived that. And if the cramps had hit me in both legs at the same time, I would not have survived it either. The experience affected me deeply and kept me up at nights for many years.

Unfortunately I live in California where everything can cause cancer according to proposition 65, but every time I cross into Nevada or Arizona my cancer miraculously goes away🎸💉😎

Yea, Jess Greenboobs, but did you hear that Rod Stewart had to get his stomach pumped?

I started on drums when I was 4. I got formal lessons on them when I was 5. By the time I was 7, I was playing out with my dad's band and other bands. By the time I was 9, I had a a steady gig playing drumset for a jazz combo.... I have anxiety problems as well, but when I'm on a stage, it's always felt like there was separation from me and the audience. I actually feel more comfortable on stage in front of a big audience than I do out in the audience itself. I don't mind being in front of a big crowd, but I certainly don't want to be in one.

It actually took me until age 30 to realize that I had been dealing with anxiety issues, by then I had became a very functional addict. I only say addict without being drug or alcohol specific because I did almost whatever to help me cope, preferably downers of sorts because I had always had problems sleeping which I found out only 5 years ago I was diagnosed at age 8 with ADHD and never given meds. I played guitar and other instruments and had been on stage in front of crowds and it bothered very little. It wasn't until I tried slobbering up that I realized I had the issues that I had and because I was undiagnosed for some and un-medicated for all that I had chose to self medicate with whatever since age 15. Anxiety truly can be scarey as hell, I've been hospitalized for what they thought was a possible heart attack but was Anxiety/panic attack which came on , middle of the day and during work, heart rate had got to 197bpm, my resting heart rate should have been around 70bpm. So it is a real thing and can be debilitating at times and effects each person in different ways depending on the level of anxiety

Call me crazy but I remain convinced that Paul McCartney is still alive.

Brad the Guitologist: "I'm like the Beatles" FLEX!!!

I played in a band with Buchla's son Ezra called the Mae Shi. Ezra says the LSD was 100% meant for smuggling.

I think it was the pick. Because he touched it with the same fingers he used to hold his cigarettes.

Stevie Ray Vaughn's birthday would have been today.

I love playing on stage with a band. To me once the show starts it's like being on a roller coaster without any safety harnesses. Play your part correctly or you're going to fall out!

My very first paying gig with a band was at a packed tavern on a New Years eve. I was so terrified that I played the entire night with my back to the audience.

Believing a musician (who is looking to blame anything other than himself) rather than a doctor.. about medical issues.. WHAT?!

Love the trip from 1966 story. Long live Owsley! He was a brilliant engineer, inventor and chemist. Check out "The Wall of Sound" from the Grateful Dead's tour. He was central to the design!

I thought the title was meant to be read so: Steve T fails as a man, trips 9 hours after touching hippie junk

From Leo: I have never fixed and amp with LSD residue. Lots of rodent feces, cigarette butts and crumbling power cords, but no LSD.

I have played in front of people, both drums and guitar. Drumming never bothered me, but I was always very self-conscious of my guitar skills. I don’t play anymore, but for the last several years just played guitar at home.

Whiskey and weed helped me when I first started playing out. Now I just excited

The amount of people who get their knickers in a twist over a bit of ball busting is astounding, pansies

That electric sitar is what Steve Miller plays on Wild Mountain Honey for some really cool effects.

Hi, yes I play actually in a band, as bass player, I'm also guitarist, I started playing both instruments when I was 15, in the past for some bands I played bass, in some others, guitar. We play in some restaurants here in France, also marriages, private events, birthdays, etc..kind of things, around once or twice a month, we have rehearsals every friday night, we do rock, pop, jazz, blues, bossa, songs in english, french, spanish, portugese, lot of different stuff to please everybody. We all have "normal" jobs, very hard to eat with music here. I'm 57 now, so I don't feel any anxiety any more, even in front of numerous people ! But when I was younger, yes, I was really sick before playing a gig ! But generally after the first song, I felt better..

Stevie T is a hoot. And a killer guitarist

I like Stevie T. Even if he thinks Nickelback are OK. I would have joined that band in a heartbeat. Not a fan but they can rock a gig. Anxiety.....That's a big one. It used to crush me. Stagefright? Real. Really real. To take my mind off having to be faultless in front of an audience I had to get myself really pumped up. I had to pick a fight with someone, just to get me in the mood. I had a mate who noticed this and would always goad me into have an argument with him just before going on stage. It worked every time. Anxiety is a real mental issue. For some folks it's an easy fix. For others, it takes a while.

Carpenter who hold galvanized nails in their lips commonly develop similar mouth tumors or tissue necrosis. Metals and their alloys are absolutely no joke.

Im a touring stage tech with considerable agoraphobia. I just got off a 15 week run with only 3 days off. Everyone who knows me, know my affliction well and doesn't understand how l do it. How l can operate well in crowds of sometimes up to tens of thousands. The only way l can explain it is the fact that, in spite of being around 1000s of people, l operate within an small, isolated cloister of other techs, riggers and loaders. I just focus on the guys around me and the job at hand. Im able to totally ignore tge presence of the huge crowd. Maybe a similar approach by artists on stage with similar anxiety might help them.

Ain’t talkin bout lymphoma

Stevie T is perfect in his zone .

I played bass in a band for two years. I didn’t intend on joining a band in the beginning but my friend was also learning guitar at the same time. We were getting together and basically learning our instruments together. He mentions he knows a guy who plays guitar and who has been in some local bands and wants to get together and jam with us. Another acquaintance we knew played the drums (who I didn’t even know played drums) and he got involved. Next thing you know I’m in a band. Nothing like the prospect of playing live to get you off your butt to practice. But I wasn’t too nervous playing live because I knew we were prepared. Of course I did always have to take my pre show nervous dump! We played out for about a year locally and it was a blast. There were some really good shows and some not so great shows. Buy it’s live music. Happens to everyone. Point being you just need to get up and do it.

the price of old grateful dead gear just went way up