Hi Jeff: no idea whether you know who Rolf Harris is, but either way - don't click on this link. It's going to hurt too much!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPOIy4Kb ... 1&index=37

On the other hand, I quite like this one. But you may feel it is sacrilege too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNc5o9TU0t0

Talking of sacrilege, Bill Bailey's country banjo version of Stairway seems to have been taken down from YouTube. Shame - that one's the best of the lot!

Cheers - C

Hi again jeff: slightly funny Stairway related story. I was mooching around in a large guitar shop and from the demo booth came the sound of Stairway played more appallingly badly than you'd have quite thought possible. It truly was painful!

I caught the eye of the guy behind the counter and remarked: "I haven't heard Stairway in a guitar shop for a long time."

Without the hint of a smile he simply replied: "I have."

And right there in those two words that fella's entire miserable working life was summed up in all its terrible druggery.

Be nice to guitar shop assistants, folks. They suffer for us...

Cheers - C

I know your feelings toward them and I can understand them completely but when I hear a cover of my favorite song I try to think of a couple things:

1) I think that the artist who is covering it is trying to their best to tribute both the former artist and the song itself regardless of whether we like them or their genre.

2) The new version will make even more people seek the old version and make that one current again and keep it alive.

That won't comfort you but hopefully it helps. I think that in 2010 it is cool that Led Zep and Hendrix are still being covered. I also think that having Vai on board will help keep the songs timeless sections amazing. I'd rather have a player like him with the project to make it good.

I really tried to enjoy the playing on the second link... but after listening to the first, it was difficult as I believe my ears to have been bleeding at the time.

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You're only as strong as
the drinks you pour,
the tables you dance on,
and the friends you roll with.

the definitave cover IMO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7DqjyNGHJU

Dread Zeppelin was the bomb

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Well that was interesting. But after hearing many songs butchered on Amercan Idol and every talent competiton out there I don't think Mary J. could inflict too much damage. She is a professional after all. But I can understand how a song you've come to love could be ruined by one careless rendition. Kind of like William Hung's "She Bangs". I don't think Ricky Martin will ever be able to sing that song again. Or Weird Al's Nirvana and Madonna covers. Unfortunately that didn't stop the radio stations from playing the originals over and over throughout the 80's and 90's. For a while I thought there was no other music except Madonna's.

Mary K Bilge's version would most likely sound like hell. I haven't seen old Rolf for years I used to love his TV Show,it was a hoot,corny but a hoot none the less.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Well I totally dug the Rodrigo Gabriella version, that was way cool. Mary J is going to do what Celine Dion did to You Shook me All Night Long.

I love the second version you posted.

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"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them."-John Wayne