My life as a fan of The Ventures

BACKSTAGE at The Ventures’ Dusit Thani concert last year (from L): bassist Bob Spalding, rhythm guitarist Don Wilson, RJ, drummer Leon Taylor, lead guitarist Gerry McGee

As a young man, I learned to play guitar by listening closely to the early records of an American band called The Ventures.

In December 1960, The Ventures scored its biggest hit, “Walk Don’t Run,” an instrumental number that landed No. 2 on the Billboard chart. This was the song, said Joe Walsh of The Eagles that changed the lives of many guitarists.

Around that time, I formed a high school band at the Ateneo de Manila University – first named Ramon and the Riots and, later on, RJ & the Riots.

In the past 50 years, The Ventures have recorded over 200 albums and is still active performing – often in Japan, where the band has a cult following. In 2008, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Ventures first played in the Philippines in 1962, at the Araneta Coliseum. Only Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the founders, could come, so they had to “borrow” Riots drummer Bernie Evangelista and bassist Alan Austria.

In September last year, to help celebrate my 50th year in the music biz, the band came back with the full lineup for a concert at the Dusit Thani Hotel ballroom. The magical evening was witnessed by the country’s movers and shakers.

Rock roots

On Tuesday, January 17, at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, The Ventures will have another concert that I will open with a six-number set featuring my own instrumental hits and medley of Trini Lopez tunes.

The Ventures’ playlist of upbeat electric and acoustic guitar pieces may be expected to help earnest fans discover the roots of rock guitar music as they know it today.

RJ and The Ventures founder Don Wilson in last year’s concert.

Wilson, acknowledged pillar of the band, will play with Nokie Edwards, original lead guitarist. I had several concerts with Edwards in 1996 at Bistro RJ, Cebu Plaza Hotel and Music Museum.

Possibly the last

This could be the last time that the band, which I consider the greatest instrumental group in the world, will be playing in the country with these original members.

The audience is expected to be swept off its feet, as were major bands and individual musicians, like me, who were influenced by The Ventures. Consider this prestigious list, put together by Wikipedia, quoting official sources:

Jeff Baxter (Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers), The Beach Boys, Blondie, Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac), Stanley Clarke;

Jeff Cook (Alabama), Dave Davies (The Kinks), Ray Davies (The Kinks), Rick Derringer (The McCoys and The Edgar Winter Group), Al Di Meola;

Elliot Easton (The Cars), Roger Fisher (Heart), John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival), Peter Frampton, Roger Glover (Deep Purple);

WITH Nokie Edwards in 1996

Art Greenhaw (The Light Crust Doughboys), The Go-Go’s, Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith), George Harrison (The Beatles), Billy Idol;

Billy Joel, David Johansen (New York Dolls and Buster Poindexter), Elton John, Eric Johnson, Terry Kath (Chicago);

Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Robby Krieger (The Doors), Cyndi Lauper, Steve Lukather (Toto), Jeff Lynne (Electric Light Orchestra);

Brian May (Queen), Roger Mayer, Keith Moon (The Who), Ted Nugent, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin);

Walter Parazaider (Chicago), Joe Perry (Aerosmith), The Pretenders, The Ramones, Gene Simmons (Kiss);

Paul Simonon (The Clash), Chris Spedding, Stephen Stills, Jimmy Vaughan, Stevie Ray Vaughan;

Joe Walsh (James Gang and the Eagles), Max Weinberg (E Street Band), Alan White (Yes), Ricky Wilson (The B-52s), Johnny Thunders.

Critics have credited The Ventures sound as the one that “presaged” The Beach Boys’ signature surf music.

THE ORIGINAL RJ & The Riots band with The Ventures and Bobby Vee (right)

More than a handful of the guitarists on the list have gone on record to say their techniques were honed by listening to The Ventures. Baxter and Simmons proudly recount joining The Ventures Fan Club when they were youngsters.

I myself have always been more than proud to be a fan. Having played on the same stage as these living legends has branded me with a rare stamp of accomplishment as a musician and, as a person, immeasurable joy.