Harvey Danger

Harvey Danger

I received a Mix Tape from someone labeled as “the Classics” that made me think about the fact that each person’s version of “the Classics” would be completely different.

The contributor said, “I still like the Classics,” such as Harvey Danger, Eve 6, Smash Mouth, OK GO, Third Eye Blind, Violent Femmes, Stripes, Pixies, Pato Fu, 311, Goo Goo Dolls and the Cranberries. (He indicated this was only the beginning of a long list for him.)

Most of those bands are from the 90s, which if you are near my age means “the Classics” could be bands you grew up hearing.

I decided to come up with a “Classics” list of my own, which went on and on, so I’m going to try and shorten it for you. Since I attribute my music education to those around me, I’m going to say where my band exposure came from.

BROTHERS: Tool, Led Zeppelin, Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, Michael Jackson, Bjork, Korn, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots and Blind Melon.

I know there are so many more, because my brothers were a big part of my musical education, but these were the ones I could remember off the top of my head.

MOM: The Eagles, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Merle Haggard, Stevie Ray Vaughn, David Alan Coe, Janis Joplin, Aerosmith, Alabama, Carole King, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Billy Idol, blues genre in general and many more.

My mom is the biggest contributor to my vinyl collection.

Allman Brothers

Allman Brothers

DAD: Allman Brothers Band, Lynrd Skynrd, Marshall Tucker Band, Outlaws, Charlie Daniels Band, Hot Tuna, Bill Monroe and John Hartford and bluegrass in general.

My dad attended the Ozark Music Festival in Sedalia, Mo., in 1974, which by some is considered the largest rock festival ever held (estimated attendance is 350,000 people) even more than Woodstock which was held in 1969.

STEP MOM: The Beatles, James Taylor and musicals “Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Miserables.”

She took my brother and I to both musicals, and at one point I was addicted to the “Les Miserables” soundtrack.

OTHERS: Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Heart, Pattie Smith, Weezer and so many more.

• RANDOM SIDE NOTE: In 1978, my parents saw Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker at the Aragon Ballroom. In 2002, I saw Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains and Nickelback there when I was about the same age my mom had been in 1978. Let’s just say I definitely follow somewhat in their footsteps.

P.S. Don’t judge me for seeing Nickelback, at least it was before songs like “Rockstar” and “Something In Your Mouth,” which I consider a travesty to modern rock. Also, Cantrell was there and legitimizes the experience.

Black Flag

Black Flag

PERSONAL INTERESTS: My love for late 70s and early 80s punk comes from my initial interest in the culture and a little from the pop version of the genre, such as Billy Idol and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, which turned into liking Black Flag and Apocalypse Hoboken (I saw Apocalypse Hoboken’s reunion show at The Note in Chicago on Dec. 28, 2006).

The reason I enjoy metal started with early Metallica and Tool and went deeper as I got older to Lamb Of God, Walls Of Jericho, Misery Signals and more. I attribute my open-minded musical interest to my family.

I would like to thank my family for their help in steering my musical education, especially since most of what came out when I was in school was bubble gum pop like New Kids On The Block, Paula Abdul and later Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys and N’Sync.

I will not confirm nor deny owning anything from the bubble gum pop genre. Let’s just say that I like to hear and learn everything about music whether I like it or not. Plus, what girl didn’t like New Kids On the Block at least a little?

Now it’s your turn. Tell me what influenced the music now streaming from your iPod. Tell us what songs you made mix tapes and/or CDs with to listen to on your way to school. Or, in my case, the songs streaming through the record player’s speakers while my mom cleaned and I danced around.

Contact me at jmartin@whig.com.