Q&A

Q: azu40
Is that your natural voice or do you try to sound like Robert Plant?
A:
More than trying to sound like Robert Plant, I make an effort to have the same approach. Many have attempted to bring new character into Led Zeppelin's music, but the best covers of Led Zeppelin songs are always the ones which keep true to the character of the song, like the Stone Temple Pilots "Dancin' Days" and some of the Black Crows covers of Led Zeppelin's material.

Q: deadbeatdad:
Why aren't you in a Led Zeppelin tribute band?
A:
Mostly because tribute bands recreate the visual experience of the band they are paying tribute to. I am only interested in recreating the music.

Q: TheJBassistM
Have you ever considered going on "American Idol"?
A:
Haha, I think people would think I was trying to be another Daughtry.

Q: kafcin
I would like to learn how to sing. Is it something you are born with or is it a learnable skill?
A:
Maybe it is a bit of both. I know people who have gone to a vocal coach and say they learned a lot. I taught myself to play guitar and to sing, but I would imagine it is like any other instrument and a good instructor could help you achieve the results you are looking for.

Q: LMDeCuollo
How long does it take you to learn a song?
A:
When I hear a song I understand what chords are being played as I am listening to it unless an alternate tuning was used. In those cases it can take a moment or two to figure out what tuning was used. It can take me many run-throughs to remember lyrics so I sing nonsensical sounds until I remember the words.

Q: DanMK2007
Have there been any exercises, study habits, teachers, or courses that have helped you develop your ear or playing skills?
A:
I learned by trying to play "Day Tripper," by the Beatles. I remember torturing my family and neighbors, playing that riff over and over again. The first million times I played it, I did it with one finger and couldn't figure out how to reach one of the notes using only one finger so I hit a bad note, knowingly, in the middle of the riff. Hahaha. Later I progressed to playing chords. I did not know traditional chord forms when I first started so my chords were unorthodox. As I got pretty good at playing riffs I started taking apart fast, complex stuff by listening carefully and starting/stopping the song over and over until I could be certain of the notes and find them on my guitar.

Q: thecrunge420
Has "Virtual Zeppelin" ever performed together live?
A:
Our geographic locations make that difficult, so we have not performed together live.

Q: SanDiegoDeliChick
When did you loose your hair?
A:
My hair started thinning when I was around 33, so I knew I was going to shave it at some point. I ended up doing it sooner than I expected when one of my kids brought lice home from school.

Q: Initium0
Would it be cheating to play a song in a different (lower) key?
A:
I think what is most important is to choose a key that is suitable for your voice.

Q: lsdman14
I'm not that great at singing and I was wondering if you could give me some advice.
A:
I listen to the music many times and as I become familiar with it, I also understand the soulful magic that makes it happen. My advice is to listen closely to the original recordings. Listen to the approach, accents and emphasis of the lyrics and try not to pay too much attention to the literal content because knowing what the words are makes you produce them in the way that you are used to. I mostly focus on the vocal articulation and less on the actual meaning.