Professors and Rock Stars

Professors or star scientists in a sense are rock stars (without sex, drugs, and rock n roll)! You can’t agree more if you think of past or future Nobel laureates in Economics like Joseph Stiglitz, Amartya Sen, Michael Spence or Paul Krugman (whose as sharp mind as his words), Steven Levit, and Daron Acemoglu. More abstract sciences, like physics, also have their rock stars, think of Richard Feynman, the 1965 holder of Nobel Prize in Physics for his works on quantum electrodynamics. He’s famous far beyond academic circle, handsome, and tall. Hey, Mr. Feynman has thick rather long hair too, no less sexy than one of Tommy Lee, Bon Jovi, or Dave Navarro.

But what about real rock stars who also have very good university degree?-so that they are literally also scholars and have potentials to be university professor? Top of the list must be Brain May, Queen’s founder, guitarist and song writer. He holds PhD in astrophysics. May’s works with and contributions to Queen have been very good, but with PhD on his hands and being an active Visiting Researcher in Imperial College, UK? It’s really amazing. The next should include Tom Morello (guitarist and leader of many innovative bands like Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave, and Axis of Justice). Morello is a Harvard graduate in political science and an outspoken political activist. Some names must also be mentioned. Steve Vai (David Lee Roth Band, Frank Zappa, Alcatrazz, and Whitesnake), folks from Dream Theatre (John Petrucci, John Myung, Jordan Rudess, and Mike Portnoy), and Paul Gilbert (Racer X, Mr.Big). They are all graduates from Berklee College of Music, NY (except Mr. Gilbert who were graduated from Guitar Institute of Technology) and frequently give clinics in their almamater.

Is there any correlation between cognitive ability and the ability to play a musical instrument? Yes, some new researches, like the one of Stanford’s Keith Devlin confirm it. Getting good assignment in either music industry or academia is already difficult. Both worlds are very competitive. Yet, once someone makes it in either industry, he/she must enjoy some privileges, recognition, or enjoyment just like those in the other industry.

Rock stars and professors are both very good substitutes and complementary, as well. Professors can be very well known for their seminal papers, while rock stars can gain fame and respect for their innovative music and amazing techniques.

Arrrghhh...(2)

Somebody please tell me
Why one’s faith on “KWI” and “TFUIHAM” can start shaking
When it appears that politics and balancing game rule
If it were actually hell, instead of heaven
(As one might previously believe)
Everyone could convert to be (another) devil

Loyal? I have been…
Voice? I did…
Exit? ...Why not?

Arrrghhh...(1)

Been sick....one week for bed rest, one week for recovery...can’t take “the machine” right to the top speed yet...what a waste of productive time...so much to do, so little time…I’m wondering if people need no sleep and all those activities/situations that make us idle…and dull.

Guitarists Hall of Fame...and Shame

Surely the list below is not exhaustive, way too many to mention. Nor does it imply ranking.

A. Guitar players whose playing, signature sounds, and attitudes shot through my heart.

1. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen). He is a complete package. It often happens that a guitar virtuoso fails to write song as a whole song, not only deadly on the solo part, or a good song writer is just an average guitar player. Eddie has best of both worlds.
2. Akira Takasaki (Loudness). I was in the junior high school’s first year, hanging around with a friend in a music store next to Bratang Bus Terminal, Surabaya. We’re interested in a cassette with a Japanese sunrise on the cover, labeled “Loudness. Thunder in the East”. We had no idea about it, so we asked the shop attendance to play it for us (Dated back at that time, you are allowed to do so). It only took the first bar of Takasaki’s riffs (later we knew that the song was Crazy Nights) to blow our faces away. We went home with wide grin and with Loudness in our shorts’ pocket.
3. Jimi Hendrix. He doesn’t play guitars, he’s making love to guitars. Guitars are his alter ego, guitars are the extension of his personality. His long screaming licks on Purple Haze makes you fly, his bluesy riffs on Hear My Train Comin’ (accoustic version) make you feel like crying.
4. Stevie Ray Vaughn. He has mojo in his guitars. It’s like that he’s doing a voodoo ritual on stage. His playing steals your soul.
5. Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne). Small guitar player with BIG talent, sound, melody, and learning attitude. When every other members are on party after the show, he used to stay in hotel room doing self-evaluation on his playing. On the road during the tour, he used to find local classic guitar teacher to sharpen his techniques, even though it often ends up that it was him who eventually gives lessons to the invited instructor. With Randy on guitar works, Diary of A Mad Man and Blizzard of Oz are widely acclaimed as Ozzy’s solo career masterpieces.
6. Jake E. Lee (Ozzy Osbourne, Badlands). He’s the one who succesfully fits Randy’s shoes after Randy died on the airplane crash accident. His work with Ozzy, Bark at the Moon and The Ultimate Sins, brought him to the elite league. Later with his own band, Badlands who produced three albums, he showed how to beautifully blend heavy metal and blues.
7. Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Pride & Glory, Black Label Society). He was 21 when picked by Ozzy himself among hundreds of guitarists. Already infamous Brad Gillis of Night Ranger was among the few short-listed candidates. It’s a big jump from playing in a bar band to coming along with Ozzy. But Zakk didn’t care. He’s fearless.
8. Yngwie Malmsteen (Steeler, Alcatraz, Self-title band). The grand daddy of neo-classical rock and shredding guitar playing. Faster than the speed of light.
9. Steve Vai (Frank Zappa, Alcatraz, David Lee Roth Band, Whitesnake, Self-title band). Unbelievable techniques and sounds. A Berklee graduate. A Grammy nominee for rock instrumental. With Joe Satriani, he’s the founder of G3.
10. John Sykes (Tygers of Pantang, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Blue Murder, Self-title band). Master of vibrato. His work with Whitesnake, 1987 album, will always be heavy metal anthem of all the time. Either storming solo on Still of the Night or vibrating solo on Is This Love will squeeze your heart.
11. George Lycnh (Dokken, Lynch Mob). Hot and groovy riffs that peel your face and twist your feet, hot licks that scream like demon.
12. Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme, Mourning Widows). Hot and dangerous, clean, fast, and funky. Together with Vernon Reid of Living Colour, he’s regarded as the creator of funk-metal.
13. Greg Howe. He can shred and play neo-classical (listen to his works with Vitalij Kuprij, a keyboard virtuoso), he can play contemporary heavy metal (listen to his self-title band, Howe). Hey, he can play fusion and jazz too (listen to his work with Tetsuo Sakurai, a former Casiopea’s bassist and listen to his collaboration with Victor Wooten and Dennis Chambers).

And off course, the trio living legends. Enuf said:
- Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmore’s Night)
- Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
- Brian May (Queen)

B. Criminally underrated guitarists I favor

1. Warren DeMartini (Ratt)
2. Adrian Vandenberg (Vandenberg, Whitesnake, Manic Eden)
3. Blues Saraceno (solo artist, Poison).
4. Mick Mars (Motley Crue)

C. Bassist who stands equally with the frontman or the axeman (because of his T=technique, SW=song writing, BL=band leadership, A=all of the three)

1. Billy Sheehan (David Lee Roth Band, Mr.Big, Steve Vai Band) (T)
2. Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) (A).
3. Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue) (SW, BL).
4. Rachel Bolan (Skid Row) (SW, BL).
5. Geddy Lee (Rush) (A).
6. Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Ozzy, Whitesnake, Manic Eden) (A).
7. Randy Coven (Ark) (A)
8. Tony Franklin (Blue Murder) (A)

D. Heavenly Voice With Whom Guitarists Would Love to Work

1. Robert Plant
2. Ian Gillian
3. Dave Coverdale
4. Freddie Mercury
5. Ronnie James Dio
6. Jorn Lande
7. Rob Lamothe
8. Geoff Tate
9. Joe Lynn Turner
10. Chriss Cornell
11. David Lee Roth
12. Sammy Hagar
13. Ray Gillens
14. Axl W. Rose
15. Sebastian Bach
16. Gary Cherone
17. Rob Halford
18. Bruce Dickinson
19. Jeff Scott Soto
20. Don Dokken

E. Indonesian Guitar Heroes or Indonesian Guitarists I Simply Like

1. Edi Kemput (Grass Rock)
2. Totok Tewel (El Pamas)
3. Eet Sjahranie (Cynomadeus, Edane, God Bless)
4. Ian Antono (God Bless, Gong 2000)
5. Rama Satria (Jacque Matte)
6. Fadlil Iswahyudi (Phytagoras, AIC (Arek ITS Cuk) Band)
7. Odink Nasution (Cockpit)
8. Andra Ramadhan (Dewa, Andra and the Backbones)
9. Abdee (Slank)
10. Ridho (Slank)
11. Pay (Slank, BIP)
12. Eros Chandra (Sheila on 7)
13. Bujana (Gigi, Trisum)
14. Donny Suhendra (Krakatau)
15. Tohpati (Trisum, Simak Dialog, solo artist)
16. Iwan Hasan (Discus)
17. Balawan (Trisum, solo artist)
18. John Paul Ivan (Boomerang, U9)
19. Baron (Gigi, solo artist)
20. Coki (Netral)

F. SHAME List: Indonesian Guitarist I Simply Don’t Like (Sorry Dudes, nothing personal)

1. Piyu (Padi)
2. Moldy (Radja)
3. Peterpan’s guitarists (I don’t know their names)
   

Famous (and smart) Womanizer

I'm talking about Milton Friedman, Thorstein Veblen, and James Bond. Friedman is short, the other two are tall. Bond is just a fiction character, the other two are the real deal in economic thoughts. Friedman and Veblen are both genius economists, but the former has earned himself a Nobel Prize. No matter how you draw the graph (x and y as tall and short, fiction or real, Nobel laureate or not), the three are in the same indifference curve of being famous and smart womanizer. Wait, really the same? Well, if you'd like to do the rank, perhaps, Bond's curve is highest, Veblen ranks two, and Friedman follows.

Who Am I?

I'm just a normal jerk
who happens to love
economics and social sciences, guitars, and family.
As long as my brain and fingers work

(and there're no bastards around)...
...I'm Cool !!!