Uncle Tom

Tonight I joined a new band. While playing my SG I was thinking about all my inspirations, and all the obvious were there: James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Synyster Gates, Tom Delonge and Billie Joe Armstrong. After I was done practicing I gave my guitar it's weekly cleaning and got to thinking to about 2 years ago when my Uncle Tom came from Arizona to visit my family, he was informed that I was learning to play guitar and asked to hear me play. I got out my cheap & crappy gear and played him the 3 chords I knew. I had heard how good he was but never before heard him play so I handed him over the guitar and he made my horrible gear sound like a top notch setup. He played the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and other guitar legends, after he was finished I was astonished. As a beginning guitarist, to see and hear a great performance like that was obviously a humongous inspiration.


A lot of great artists have named there guitars, there is B.B King's Lucille, Frank Iero's Pansy, Billie Joe Armstrong's Floyd and many others. Tonight, December 17th 2007 I have officially named my guitar Tom. As I think about my new band, I realize that without Uncle Tom's visit that night I would probably have given up guitar. After his visit that special night, I promised myself that I would push myself to become the best guitarist that I could be.


Thanks to My Uncle Tom I have found my interest, the one thing that I am truly gifted in. As I reflect on that wondrous night, I have come to realize that without Tom's visit I would not be half the guitarist I am now and I wouldn't have the skill to be in a band. I consider myself to be a pretty good guitarist for my age, but I am always looking to improve and find ways to become a better guitarist. So Tom if you ever get the chance to read this, I would just like to thank you for helping me find my talent, skill and maybe even career choice if I'm lucky enough.