Wow sounds like you really been through it. But welcome back and god bless you. Good luck with your music, love to hear it.

BTW...Thanks for the WARM WELCOME MIAMI MIKE..Chet has told me that you are one of the GOOD guys along with a list of other guys whom I can deal with .
It seem,s that MOST OF YOU who said hello were on that LIST OF STRAIGHT UP GUYS CHET told me that are FOR REAL!!!

You had asked if I was near NEW ENGLAND where Johnny A is playing...actually he just played not 5 minutes from my house a week or so ago.....The guys is amazing...TRUE BLUES !!!!!

We talked a bit after his show..he's pretty much a regular guy too.....not to big an EGO and LOVES to talk BLUES.

I'm from MANHATTAN...ALPHABET CITY, HELL"S KITCHEN THE LOWER EAST SIDE lived with DEE DEE RAMONE on 6th street and AVE C.
Neighborhood looks like SAIGON after the bombing.

But since 2000 when I became disabled with a broken back and neck I had to move to PA near my wifes relatives so someone could help take care of me...
I hate to be a burden on anyone but her family took great care of me and have been there all through 4 neck and back operations, many hospitalizations and then the 4 heart attacks and a STOKE.

It's been a LONG TRIP back but as a VIET NAM vet and a retired MARINE I never give up the fight !!!!

So basically I am a transplant.....I miss NEW YORK CITY SO MUCH...but I';m just 30 minutes by car and 20 by train.
Also a LOT safer here....to much DRUGS in that part of the city, and if I didn;t leave I am SURE I would NOT be here today....like a ton of my buddies.,

MAN you guys sure are courteous, intelligent and just plain ol nice.....it's a nice change.

Oh man this back and forth for practice is getting me worn out but in a GOOD WAY.

Practice again today for the Musicfest we're playing SATURDAY, BTW Jhn LEE Hooker JR...os a straight up young man who desperately wants to be known for HIS MUSIC NOT HIS DADS

AS ya know his dad was ROOTS BLUES and JOHN JR's is more like a MUDDY WATERS or a WILLIE DIXON..still roots but with a bit of HMMMPH in his riffs.

Talk to ya later guys.....

THANKS AGAIN for all the kind comments and warm welcome ..you guys really know how to treat an OLD MAN...LMAO @!!!!

ST JAMES

_________________
I got a good mind to give up living and go shopping instead........
And pick me out a tombstone and be pronounced DEAD
When I read your letter this morning that was in your place in bed
That's when I decided . that I'd be better off dead

Hey guys just wanted ya to know since the STROKE I am bad with my memory at times so PLEASE forgive me should I forget a name here or there....

Can anyone tell me how to post pics????

OR can ya use your own AVATAR for a pic?????

AHHHH and since the last poster was WILBURRRRRRR

THANKS for the welcome WILBUR...it's been a tough road...ALL UPHILL and NO SHOES !!!! lol !!!!!
St James

_________________
I got a good mind to give up living and go shopping instead........
And pick me out a tombstone and be pronounced DEAD
When I read your letter this morning that was in your place in bed
That's when I decided . that I'd be better off dead

Hi St James, don't worry about the memory, it happens to all of us at times! Johnny A is a great player, I agree.

I met him many years ago when he played with Peter Wolf (formerly of J Geils fame).

Glad that you found this great community man!

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Hi James, pleased to meet you. And a lot of fellow feeling to you about your recent trials of life.

As it happens, wilburcook (above) has been facing his own enormous challenges recently, and I'll just take this opportunity to let him know he's still very much in our thoughts in that regard.

Far as pictures are concerned, this current thread should tell you what you need to know, as soon as you've opened a free account with Photobucket.com:

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... hp?t=25618

There's no customizable avatars at the moment, but our number one moderator, Brad, has said that stuff is on its way in due course...

Cheers - C

THANKS CERI,
WILBUR I WISH YOU THE BEST IN ALL YOUR FIGHTING....DON'T EVER GIVE UP!!!

MAN trust me there were many times I wish I would not wake up again due to pain and the loss of being able to play but the fight made me stronger and kept my mind strong and when and t will pass you will be a better man for it much stronger and know that NOTHING can beat ya down again !!!!

It will also inspire your writing....keep that ax close it can be your best medicine !!!!

Should ya need someone to talk to privately who been through just about everything that can go wrong with ones body I would gladly lend you and ear and a shoulder.

Thanks fr the link CERI ...I do belong to PHOTOBUCKET so I'm 1`/2 way there

Later,
St James

_________________
I got a good mind to give up living and go shopping instead........
And pick me out a tombstone and be pronounced DEAD
When I read your letter this morning that was in your place in bed
That's when I decided . that I'd be better off dead

Johnny A is amazing, his style and licks are TASTY. haha. But he really is a cool dude. By the way, welcome St James. You sound like a very accomplished musician, good to have ya aboard.

YES JOHNNY A IS A REGULAR GUY WHO LOVES THE BLUES...treats his fans like brothers.....

Thanks for the welcome brother

St James

_________________
I got a good mind to give up living and go shopping instead........
And pick me out a tombstone and be pronounced DEAD
When I read your letter this morning that was in your place in bed
That's when I decided . that I'd be better off dead

Welcome to the forum James.

Firstly, I thank you for your service in that horrible war that our government so politically correctly dubbed a "police action." God only knows what carnage you witnessed in that $#!+hole.

Secondly, my prayers go up for you in your trials and tribulations. I had ONE spine surgery (fusion w/ instrumentation) at age 14 with the benefit of being in the middle of growing to help me heal, and still it was quite possibly the most awful thing I've ever experienced. I can only attempt to imagine what you have been through.

And finally, I find it nothing short of incredible that you were able to regain the ability to play a guitar again, after not being able to use your hand properly.

Again, welcome.

-Dave

DAVE ,
Thanks so much for the WELCOME HOME....you've no idea how much it still means to hear that.

IF nothing else it gave me great inspiration to write the BLUES...

OUR FIRST NYC HIT was song named PRODUCT OF WAR !!!!!!
But as we know political songs do not make it well in the top 40....not that I would even want a song in the top 40 !!!!lol
We lost so many good young men in that POLICE ACTION, I hope to GOD that our NEW PRESIDENT will put an end to the middle east problems.

I have 4 broken vert's in my back and 3 in my neck , went through the whole thing with the HALO in my head and the BOLTS through my head....and then a year of a full body cast !!!!

WHAT FUN !!! NOT ~!!!!

You've no idea what it means to a VET to be THANKED for his time..I got a PURPLE HEART and a BRONZE STAR...I would have preferred to see more guys go home alive....

So I figure I owe it to those who did not come home to live my life to the fullest !!!!!

I try to help out Volunteer at the local VA hospital when I can....they really appreciate it when they see a disabled VET from another WAR come in and THANK THEM !!!!

THANKS AGAIN...YOU MADE MY DAY !!!!
St James

_________________
I got a good mind to give up living and go shopping instead........
And pick me out a tombstone and be pronounced DEAD
When I read your letter this morning that was in your place in bed
That's when I decided . that I'd be better off dead

St James i gotta tell you Deedee was my all time messed up hero. Infact i wrote a song after his death called 'no more ramones' that did quite well among the punks here in the uk. Initialy it was Johnny that grabbed my attention and kickstarted my guitar interest, only later did i learn that deedee was the man in that band. They couldnt write a decent song without him.

You didnt live near the 53rd n 3rd corner with him did you .

Seriously theres a lot of crap and lies about deedee half of which he perpetuated. If you ever want to set things straight, you'll have a captive audience here.

Let us know about your upcoming releases too. I'm a great believer in abolishing the constraints that business puts on the music industry and love to hear more leftfield stuff that i wouldnt usually be exposed to.

Anyhow i'm off to put bonzo goes to bitburg on my record player. Its time to annoy the neighbours:oops:

_________________
No no and no

Well I guess as you guys heard the MAIN MAN in HIS newest band passed away THURSDAY NIGHT.

WILLY DeVille whom we had just begun recording his newest release passed away THURSDAY night from complications to LIVER DISEASE....apparently it spread to his pancreas.

I just saw him MONDAY and he looked fine and said NOTHING TIME ABOUT having any pancreas problems.....

I feel so lost and ALONE NOW.

ALL my friends from the ERA of music have either passed away or faded away.

WHAT AN EMPTY FEELING

ST JAMES

_________________
I got a good mind to give up living and go shopping instead........
And pick me out a tombstone and be pronounced DEAD
When I read your letter this morning that was in your place in bed
That's when I decided . that I'd be better off dead