Phil Jones

 

I took an interest in music on 8 track tapes, riding  in the van, in the 1970's.

It was the Eagles greatest hits that probably sparked the interest in "listening" to music.

 

I tried school band, I absolutely hated it, I wanted to play guitar!  My parents wanted me to give the trumpet a shot, but reading sheet music and playing what I was assigned didn't exactly match my rebel personality.

I was soon trying to figure out how to play "The Gambler" on the trumpet, and finally had enough. I talked my way into a horrible rental guitar for $10.00 a month, and it was required I HAD to do the lessons. I didn't really like that much either, so not much happened until one summer afternoon at the neighbors house. I was 13, and up to no good. 

 

We decided since we were doing the things his older brother did, we may as well listen to his albums. We cued up Led Zeppelin II and when I heard "Thank You"  I absolutely knew I wanted to play guitar and sing like that!  I was immediately mesmerised, and went on a quest for every album I could afford, and soon got my first electric guitar.

 

The bands that have influenced my style the most are Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, CCR, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Iron Maiden, and Kiss. I spent countless hours listening to records, and then cassete tapes, and playing guitar with black lights and incense. I was not the video game or tv  or sports kid, I was almost always listening or playing music.

 

I spent most of my childish adult life writing songs and playing covers, but not really in a public setting,.  It was the summer of 2013, when a neighbor kid asked me to play at the neighborhood party, I had recently lost my left lung to cancer and politely declined.

At that juncture of my life, I didn't believe I was going to be able to sing again but  for some reason, I agreed to perform the next summer.

 

The following year, Brett joined me and after our performance, we met our new neighbor , John, who said,I want to play too. The following year, Ra88 was formed, and we played our first show for all 7 people. We recruited our "sometimes" sound man Mitch into a full time bassist, which completed the band.

 

The song "Thank You" means a lot to me, I am a very grateful person, not only to have survived, but to be able to do what I always wanted to do, with the right people, and most importantly, for the people who appreciate us for what we share. If it weren't for that sorta annoying kid, constantly asking me to play at that party, when I didn't think I could, Ra88 may not have happened, thank you Z.