Sometimes, you have to speak up, even if it’s only a few words. This is my forum, so I’m going to say what I want. I understand that I’m running the risk of making things worse, but I’ve been thinking about this for a few days now, and decided that it’s time for me to speak up about current events. I’ve been reading about Tower of Power’s guitarists, as of late. Well...those that have ears can hear. I’ve read about how dishonest we are, and that we’re “yuppies”, etc. Folks, we’re running a business. Say what you want, but don’t expect me to be quiet. I wish I could let things go...oh well...

Whoever is in our band, is there because we want them there...they play the music the way it’s supposed to be played. Guess what? We’re the ones who determine what that standard is. We’ve been doing this for 39 years, and know what we want. I love big band music, especially bands like Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Woody Herman...now I’m going to show my age...if I wanted to be in Woody’s band, I better be able to play “Caledonia” or “Woodchopper’s Ball”.

These are signature songs..all of these great bands had signature songs. I have to know this material, and play it correctly, no matter how well I might play the rest of the book. As with any job, there’s a probationary period...it’s your chance to prove you belong. “OK”,you might say, “you’re not Woody Herman.” True...we’re Tower of Power though (for better or for worse). Anyone who wants to be a member of our band, MUST be able to play our signature songs. For example, you can be a great player, but if you can’t play “So Very Hard To Go”, correctly, you won’t be allowed to stay.

That being said, we’ve had challenges finding the “right” fit for us in the guitar chair. When Trey came in, he was given EVERY opportunity to be one of us...EVERY opportunity. We bent over backward to try to help him learn our music. We have a steep learning curve...just because you grew up listening to us, doesn’t necessarily mean you qualify for membership, and it doesn’t matter how many great bands you’ve been in. I’ve been in the band for a long time, and helped to develop the band’s sound...along with Mimi, Doc, and Rocco, we KNOW what we’re looking for in new band members.

This is serious business to us. Trey Stone is great, great player, and I hope that someday, we can play together again. Trey and TOP couldn’t come together...this doesn’t mean he’s no good, it means he didn’t work for us. When he first joined the band, I spoke about him doing a great job (which he was), and that he was enrolled in “Tower 101”. Every new member has to take this course. Not only that, we were VERY honest with him about how he was doing...he’ll tell you that.

Hiring band members is like casting for a movie. Many great actors have been considered for roles they never got. Folks, we know what we want, and that’s what we strive for. Bruce was NEVER in the picture until it was evident that Trey wasn’t working...for anyone to say otherwise is an outright lie...there, I said it...the person who says he knows otherwise is a LIAR, and is trying to start trouble. No matter what you might think of Bruce Conte, he IS one of the architects of the sound of TOP. He was there when we recorded all of those great songs that people remember us for. Not many guitarists have accomplished what Bruce has. He deserves respect. No one was more hurt about Trey being let go, than us. He’s a really fine person...but, let’s be real...you have to do your homework.

As long as we’re being real, let’s be right too. If you don’t like our music, cool, you don’t have to attend our shows. But it’s another thing to take all of this personally, and say things about us in public forum and you don’t even know us. I, as well as all the TOP members, hate the fact that Trey was hurt by this experience...we’re very accessible...anyone that wants to talk to us in person can.

I appreciate all of the kind people who I meet at our shows...this means a lot to me...but so does Tower of Power and the guys in it. Make fun of us, say what you want, it’s your right. This is my family, so I feel compelled to speak out at times. You would do the same.

OK...enough for now...my email address is on the homepage of this blog, should you need to contact me about this, or any other issue.

From La Famiglia Garibaldi...buon natale e tanti auguri...!!!