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Hi, my name is Andy
Craven and I am Co-Host and Associate Editor of the Dinosaur Rock Guitar
website.
I was born in 1978, and although not a Dinosaur in age,
I am definitely a Dinosaur by taste and trade. I first got
into the primeval powered world of rock guitar when I was
around five. Luckily, my Dad is a Dino rocker from the late
60's/early 70's, so I was fed a staple diet of Deep Purple,
Black Sabbath, Rush, Budgie and Led Zeppelin amongst others.
My first musical memory is Ritchie Blackmore positively slaying
everything in his path via his intro to Speed King
on the Deep Purple's In Rock album. This heavenly sound
and attack didn't make much sense at first, but it spoke to
me eventually and came back to haunt and reward me. My first
rock album purchase came at the age of nine — Def Leppard's
Hysteria, despite being a relatively pop-drenched album,
the guitars where enough to get the blood pumping. Subsequent
acquisitions included Guns N' Roses Appetite For Destruction
and Aerosmith's Pump. This in turn led to the (re)
discovery of rock guitar's history, and to this day I'm up
to 700 albums and counting....
But what made me become a fully fledged Dino was the desire
to learn to play this weapon of destruction — THE ELECTRIC
GUITAR. This dream became reality Christmas 1990 when I received
a Kay Les Paul copy and an 8 watt Starfield amp (I still have
both), and despite not being the best quality gear, it
fed the beast . . . and fed it well. My gear has progressed
rapidly since thse early steps and to read more see my
gear page.
I have been in various bands over the years and whilst not
achieving any major success, I have not compromised my beliefs
of 'loud and proud' and 'from the gut and heart'. Music to
me is not rocket science — it's about conveying your
feelings as best as you can, denying all trends and generally
being at one with the instrument. My style incorporates
many of the favorite aspects of the long line of influences
but I'm told I sound like me. I believe vibrato, taste,
grit, tone and pitch make a true player. My ears detest musicians
who do not learn to play the instrument properly; those that
disregard their audience by playing out of tune, and those
that bow to the latest trends just to succeed. Give me an
honest earthy, attentive musician who plays for the love of
the instrument first and foremost. Do not assault my ears
with garbage! I am not denying their are musicians in
the modern day mainstream that are good players — there
are — they just don't have the aspects of what I believe
makes a great player and therefore I have little interest
in them.
What do I hope to contribute to this website? My own opinion. It is also
my intention to bring you interviews with many of the players discussed on this
website, when this happens you will be given the chance to ask some questions.
Stick around for the ride, we think you'll like it!!
So, bring on the music . . .
My other sites:
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