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Rose is known for his rants during concerts, and for the riots that he caused for deliberately cutting off shows and concerts ahead of time. He was also notorious for several arrests due to alleged possession of drugs and being intoxicated with alcohol. Rose is also currently controversial due to the decade-long delay in the release of his album Chinese Democracy.

Childhood Years

Born William Bruce Rose, Jr. in Lafayette, Indiana, Rose was a product of a broken family. His father, William Rose, abandoned them when he was but two years old. According to Rose, therapy has revealed to him repressed memories of sexual abuse at the hands of his father.

His mother remarried to L. Stephen Bailey, which resulted in Rose carrying his step-father’s family name. At the hands of Bailey, Rose witnessed domestic violence inflicted on his mother even though the household was a deeply religious Pentecostal household.

Even though Rose expressed his musical interests through Church, he would later on speak of being disillusioned of his religious upbringing. In an interview, he would claim to “[teaching] Bible school while… being beaten and [his sister] was being molested”. Rose also said that his church was full of hypocrites suffering from self-righteousness, who abused and molested children.

As a child, Rose and his two siblings sang in church as the “Bailey Trio”. He also studied classical piano, on which he would later on write the famous GnR song “November Rain”.

Teenage Years

Axl Rose found out about his true family background when he was 17. He learned of his birth name, William Bruce Rose Jr., and his father’s name. As a result, Rose readopted his birth name but refused to be called “William”, as he did not want to be identified with his biological father.

Teenage years were rebellious times for Axl Rose, with over 20 counts of public drunkenness as well as assault in his record. However, it was also when he was 17 that he first met Izzy Stradlin, the future rhythm guitarist of Guns and Roses. The two bonded for a while, before Stradlin left Indiana and moved to Los Angeles. Rose followed suit later on, as per legal advice.

Guns N’Roses

After arriving in Los Angeles, Rose started playing in several bands, most significant of these being L.A Guns and Hollywood Rose while retaining several jobs. In 1985, Rose and Tracii Guns formed Guns and Roses from the remnants of L.A Guns and Hollywood Rose, along with Ole Beich and Duff McKagan, who would form part of the line-up that the world would later on know.

Several changes in lineup occurred until 1986, when the Guns and Roses that the world knew was formed. Guns and Roses was born with Saul “Slash” Hudson on lead guitar, Izzy Stradlin on rhythm guitar, McKagan on bass, Steven Adler on Drums and, of course, Rose on vocals.

Although they released a four-song EP “Live Like a Suicide” in December 1986, it was not until the release of “Appetite for Destruction” on July 21, 1987 that Guns and Roses would be officially recognized by the mainstream. The success of the debut album continues until this day, being certified 15 times platinum with sales of upwards of 27 million copies.

From 1986 onwards, Guns and Roses released several albums, most notable of which were the two Use Your Illusion albums. It was in the recording of these albums that Steven Adler was kicked out due to drug abuse and replaced by Matt Sorum. It was also during the tour for these albums in 1991 that Axl Rose wrestled ownership of the Guns N’ Roses name from the bandmates, from which strained relationships occurred between Rose and the other Gunners.

By 1997, Sorum, Slash and McKagan had left the band. Stradlin had also left the band in 1991. Only Dizzy Reed — who had joined as keyboardist during the recording of the Illusion albums — and Rose remained as original members.

Current Events

After the departure of the original members, Guns and Roses underwent several lineup changes. The band now currently consists of Reed, Rose, Robin Finck, Tommy Stinson, Chris Pitman, Richard Fortus, Frank Ferrer and Ron Thal.

The world also currently awaits the release of Chinese Democracy, the band’s first original album since the two Illusion albums, which had been constantly postponed since the late 1990’s.

Attila Z Jancsina is a freelance copy writer. He occasionally writes for Indiana Real Estate FSBO. Website offers Free FSBO advertisement.

How many songs do you know on the piano? Would you like to have a larger repertoire at your command? How about entertaining friends and acquaintances at a party with a staggering knowledge of popular songs? From Chopin to Gershwin, from Thelonius Monk to Tori Amos, piano music in a variety of popular styles is increasingly available in music stores and online outlets.

For the beginning piano student, the variety of popular piano music is staggering. A simple search will place the sheet music for “Pomp and Circumstance” and Mahler’s funereal variations on Frere Jacques in his Symphony No. 1 in D Major directly on your computer monitor. Download the pieces, print them out and practice until you’ve mastered them. Soon you will be an expert at many diverse kinds of piano music.

Whether you invest time in learning every note and trill involved in a piece or you’re simply looking for a chord progression for accompaniment purposes, sheet music is likely available. Mesmerize onlookers with your knowledge of the entire Beatles catalog! Serenade sweethearts with a flawless take on Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies.” Why stick to practicing dull scales over and over when friends will be more impressed with a hot rendition of “My Heart Will Go On?”

Jokes aside, the ease of obtaining popular piano music is making an extensive knowledge of entire song catalogs a breeze. The fake arrangement, which is a piece of sheet music outlining the basic chord progressions and melodies in a song, is invaluable to those wanting to play piano with modern ensembles. This kind of arrangement enables the pianist to know what is coming at him. It gives him the basic melodic theme with which to improvise, play behind another instrument or just play straight from the paper.

Perhaps a more thoroughly written piece is what you’re after. Don’t want the fake arrangement of Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata?” Piano music for popular pieces such as Claude Debussy’s “Clare de Lune” and Frederic Chopin’s Prelude in C Minor is a handy tool for the beginning pianist or the tutor to have on hand. The longevity and popularity of pieces such as these makes them fun to learn for any pianist, great or small.

So your skills on the instrument aren’t up to par with the virtuosos? Is that any reason to not enjoy a relaxing stay at the piano bench with the ivories at your fingertips? No, it’s not. Piano music doesn’t have to be difficult to be enjoyed. It shouldn’t always require a degree in music theory and performance. There are multitudes of pieces in the lexicon of popular piano music that are stunningly beautiful, yet don’t require years of rigorous practice. Elton John, one of the greatest pop composers in modern music, has songs that come in easy piano translations. Feel free to find a nice version of one of his songs, or perhaps a standard like “Singin’ in the Rain.” Plunk out the melody, find the bass line and play until your heart’s content.

Piano music is one of the most enduring forms of art and entertainment in the world. With the instrument’s multiple octaves and singular ability to produce melody, harmony and underlying chord progressions, the piano is a timeless wonder. So invite some friends over, find some great sheet music and have a sing along to some of your favorite songs.

Duane Shinn is the author of the popular online newsletter on piano chords, available free at “Exciting Piano Chords & Chord Progressions!”

Live concerts and gigs are great fun for all ages and for all tastes. Live concerts and gigs can cover a wide spectrum of interests and doesn’t necessarily have to be live music. It can be live comedy acts, live children’s shows, musical theater and so much more.

The reason why they are so popular is that it gives us all a chance to see out favorite pop stars, rock bands and shows that we all love. It also gives us a chance to be in reaching distance of our favorite famous people. A live concert and gig is a great way to spend a few hours of the day or night.

So, where do you go to buy concert tickets? Some of them are in great demand especially if the concert is a highly anticipated one or a huge star. Being quick when buying popular tickets is a huge advantage and keeping up to date on all releases and sale dates is essential. One of the best ways to get a heads up on the sales on concert tickets is to subscribe to your favorite bands and acts websites and mailing lists. This way, you will receive emails or letters through the post detailing when tour dates are going to start and when tickets are going to go on sale.

Another way to learn about concert tickets and tour dates is to join the official fan clubs of the particular act or show that you would like to see live. You may even get money off tickets for certain shows, entries into competitions to win tickets to a show and to backstage, and you will also get early sale dates for tickets that are not available to the general public.

Other ways include signing up to ticket websites. These websites can usually get tickets to you for a cheaper price than if bought direct from the concert venue and you may be able to get tickets sooner than the general public. Signing up to these services is free, quick and extremely easy.

You will just enter your details your personal preferences, which shows and acts that you would like to keep up to date with and so on. This is a great way to keep on top of who you want to go and see and where. You will usually get emails or post when ticket dates are announced and maybe a list included all the available tickets for what shows at that time of press.

Concerts are great fun for all the family. If you are ever stick for what to do one weekend, but you know you want to make it special, why not treat the kids to a live show. There are many Disney on Ice shows that are a fantastic hit with the kids and for the adults! The kids can see their favorite characters from their favorite Disney films and have a fabulous time.

Perhaps you and your partner, or you and your friends would like to go and see your favorite band. Buying concert tickets is easy and fun and the shows are even better. You can spend the weekend at a festival or maybe just a one off live performance. Whichever you choose, you will have a great time with the people close to you.

Information about rock the mansion tickets and playboy mansion tickets for upcoming music events.

If you absorb information faster with the aid of visuals, then piano videos online are for you. Using these in association with other music learning tools, you can make progress with the keyboard in no time.

A simple search with the phrase “piano videos online,” “piano videos” or “piano lessons online” reveals many sites that offer these videos. From the comfort of your home, free personal instruction is available at any time of the day. You have no gas expense driving to a lesson and certainly no wasting of your valuable time fighting traffic to get to a lesson. Just pull up a chair, perform a few mouse clicks, and you are on your way to a valuable learning experience.

What are the benefits of using online piano videos? They afford the opportunity to watch a lesson repeatedly. While there certainly is nothing wrong with having a lesson with an instructor at your side, there is the time factor. With private lessons, you pay a specific price for a specific period of instruction. If you spend a good portion of a lesson going over one certain fundamental repeatedly, that’s fine; it’s just going to cost you more money. To reach the level of proficiency you desire, you will require more lessons to advance through the required number of learning stages.

This is not so with free piano videos online. You pay nothing and can play them as often as you require. When you’re ready to move on to the next fundamental, you do. It doesn’t matter how much time you spend on one video because it’s free.

Online piano lesson sites offer many lesson choices. You can start with the basics or choose an idiom to study. You can select a site that offers basic blues piano instruction. You may desire lessons devoted only to chords and their variations. Whatever you want, there is a piano video online to fulfill that need.

An online piano video is a great way to develop your musical “ear.” You learn to recognize sound patterns as you listen to and play along with your lessons. Combining your reading and aural skills allows you to progress faster in your playing. Developing your “ear” for notes and chords will aid you down the road if you choose to explore the art of improvisation.

When selecting a piano video online, you want a site that offers you a clear picture with a close view of the keyboard. You also want clear audio. Some piano teaching websites display just the performer’s hands at the keyboard - with voiceover explaining what they are playing. Others present an instructor in full view talking directly to you. This gives the online piano lesson a personal touch.

It’s best to choose sites that offer additional resources to go along with the piano videos. These may be text accompaniment available for printing helpful tips and musical terms. They may also include chord charts and keyboard diagrams, which show chord combinations and finger placement techniques.

Piano videos online have revolutionized personal piano lessons. They are now an indispensable part of the music education landscape. You can use these free piano videos to improve your piano playing now.

Duane Shinn is the author of the popular online newsletter on piano chords, available free at “Exciting Piano Chords & Chord Progressions!” where you can also watch many free piano videos.

It seems as though pop music sometimes gets a bad rap. A glimpse at three of modern pop’s most famous pianists may dispel the myth that pop is an inferior genre. Their skill and level of musical expertise rivals that of pianists of other genres.

Sir Elton John: Born in England in 1947, his illustrious career has spanned three decades. John’s talent for playing the piano became apparent before the boy even entered school. He was often overheard picking out difficult classical pieces on the piano by ear as young as four years old. In fact, he was considered a prodigy. John entered the Royal Academy of Music on a scholarship award at the age of 11 and outshone most of the other students.

His professional career began like that of many musicians. John spent several years playing in pubs. Eventually a chance opportunity led him to partner with Bernie Taupin. Taupin and John write songs together to this day. Songwriting eventually led to the release of his first album in 1970. Shortly thereafter he became known as “the father of piano rock,” a title that still befits him today.

Billy Joel: Though he is often associated with his first big hit, “The Piano Man,” Joel almost didn’t learn to play. It was with great reluctance and upon his mother’s insistence that he began piano lessons. He excelled in proficiency, despite taunts from classmates about his preference for music over sports. Joel even took up boxing in high school to quell those taunts. Though he won many boxing championships, he gave up boxing after a nose injury and focused on his musical pursuits.

Joel began playing professionally at age 14. He played with various bands from 1964 until he recorded and released his first solo album in 1971. Though that first album didn’t gain much acclaim, but his second did. “The Piano Man” single was an instant success. The album “The Piano Man,” which was released in 1973, went gold. To date, over 4 million copies of this recording have been sold.

Joel went on to make several more albums in his career. His works include an album of original classical piano pieces.

Jerry Lee Lewis: Much of the credit for advancing the role of rock music in society must be given to this artist. In fact, Lewis is considered a pioneer in the industry. He began playing the piano in childhood and had a clear gifting for music. Fascinated by “negro music,” he began to develop his own style based on it. It was a mix of gospel, which he had grown up with, and country, R&B and boogie woogie. What emerged was the earliest form of rock and roll.

Lewis was often publicly condemned for playing in a style that had not been heard before. Even his own family denounced his work. This criticism seemed to only fuel his artistic nature even more. His fame spread, and even Elvis Presley took notice. He is quoted as saying “If I could play the piano like that, I’d quit singing.”

Lewis’ life, like that of many artists, was fraught with personal problems and scandals. His marriage to his 13-year-old cousin in 1953 (while still married to his first wife) nearly plummeted his career into obscurity. Soon after, his fame became limited to being the butt of jokes and public ridicule. Health problems, alcoholism, drug addiction and family tragedies nearly did him in. But after a movie about his life was released in 1989, his career made a comeback. This included another hit album in 2007, his first since 1973, and his induction into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame the same year.

Duane Shinn is the author of the popular online newsletter on piano chords, available free at “Exciting Piano Chords & Chord Progressions!” where you can also watch many free piano videos.

The pleasure of being able to play a song on the piano is something that must be experienced. And playing piano does not have to be difficult — there are methods for easy piano that get you started with just 3 or 4 simple chords.

Repetitive songs are great for beginners to get used to the keys while still being able to create a pleasant melody. Beginning piano players often start out with easy piano classics, such as “Chopsticks,” which is a great building block for more complex arrangements.

The first and easiest piano song to learn, for kids and adults alike, is “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” This song is a simple three-note tune that allows beginners to practice the key and get used to where their hands and fingers go. This song acts as a stepping stone for more complicated piano classics.

Other songs that are great for kids and beginners are “Jingle Bells,” “Ode to Joy,” and “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” These easy piano classics require little or no knowledge of piano keys and don’t entail the player to be able to read sheet music.

A great way for adults to get started quickly on the piano is to take an online course such as “How To Play Chord Piano” that teaches 3 or 4 chords and shows how to play a simple melody with the right hand while harmonizing it with those 3 or 4 chords.

Learning to Play Easy Piano Classics

The idea of playing Bach can seem unrealistic for new students who are learning to play piano, but in truth, Bach offers simple compositions that prepare students for more complicated songs. The same is true of Chopin and Beethoven songs. Seek easy arrangements for classic piano favorites, and you may surprise yourself with the types of songs you can play.

Timeless Piano Classics

If you are drawn in by the timeless piano tunes that have been around for centuries, some easy classics to start with include “Ave Maria,” “The Wedding March,” “The Emperor Waltz,” “Swan Lake,” and “Sweet Low, Sweet Chariot.” A collection of piano songs that include one or more of these titles will feature timeless music that never goes out of style. The nice thing about learning these types of songs is that they are appropriate to play for almost any occasion.

Easy Contemporary Songs

In addition to timeless classics, beginners enjoy learning to play contemporary songs on the piano. There are equally as many contemporary collections of piano music available as well.

Some contemporary titles for piano to look for are “When I Fall in Love,” “My Heart Will Go On,” “Stayin’ Alive,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Terms of Endearment,” “You Light Up My Life,” “The Way We Were,” “Somewhere Out There,” “Yellow Submarine,” “Unchained Melody,” and “What a Wonderful World.” Obviously this is just a small sampling of what is available. Collections are available based on movie titles, specific decades, children’s movie hits, easy listening, jazz, rock, and more.

Where to Find Easy Piano Classics

Many collections of classic piano songs exist, and there are plenty of places to find them. The format of music you choose will depend on how you intend to learn the easy piano classics.

1. Online: Popular classic piano music is widely available for free download on the Internet. Learning to play piano for free is possible with the help of piano websites.

2. CDs: Easy classics for piano are also available on CD. CDs are nice because they offer a collection of similar melodies and are all at the same level of difficulty to play. A simple online search will provide hundreds of listings for music CDs available that feature piano classics.

3. Sheet music: Easy classic music for piano, of course, can still be found in the basic form of sheet music. You can find sheet music through websites, music stores, and any place that sells pianos or offers piano lessons.

Duane Shinn is the author of the popular online newsletter on piano chords, available free at “Exciting Piano Chords & Chord Progressions!”