Some people are lucky enough to have killer bands, record deals, and generational talent. But what if you don’t, and you still want to experience the unbridled joy of making and recording your own rock music? Then DIYRockAndRoll.com is for you! On this website, I’ll be sharing my own adventures in trying to create and record original takes on classic rock idioms…. from my home and without a band. I’ll share the music history that inspired me, the techniques and equipment I used to make my version, and the original songs that result. I’ll also review tools of the “trade,” that is, music gear I’ve found helpful (or not) in creating my own projects. DIYRockAndRoll.com is less a how-to or recipe or instruction manual, and more of a humorous, personal journey through rock history and the creative process. I hope you’ll join me!
Does DIY mean that you never have collaborators or outside help?
Nope. Under a strict construction of DIY, I would be making my own electric guitars by felling timber and hand hewing the lumber to the right shape while pedaling a homemade exercise bike that powers a generator for my amps and recording gear. But strict adherence to rules isn’t very rock and roll. DIY means I’m making songs at home without a band, although I will sometimes call in a favor from another musician.
How do you use AI?
In an age of artificial intelligence, I am proud to announce that DIYRockAndRoll.com is powered exclusively by genuine human stupidity. I believe that rock and roll demands no less.
Is this sponsored content?
Ha, I wish! But no. If that changes, I’ll let ya know. In the meantime, if by some miracle you want to support this fledgling project, you can purchase my original songs on band camp. Just click on the “songs” drop down above. Any money I take in will help in offsetting website expenses or obtaining new gear for projects and reviews. Or at the very least, it will help in maintaining my self-esteem.
Does your dog really know how to play piano?
Marvin is a dog genius, but he has no fingers.
Speaking of dogs, what is Dog Hill, and why does it keep showing up on DIYRockAndRoll.com? It’s confusing me.
Dog Hill started life as a radio program on WRUR FM’s online radio station The Sting, before moving to the station’s FM programming and eventually to the morning “rock block” on WHUS FM. The program featured the best of classic rock from the fifties on up, coupled with a healthy dose of blues, R&B, old school country, cajun, and zydeco. The Dog Hill mission is to explore the close relationship between those American musical genres and their international extensions. Dog Hill became a blog, which was a forerunner of DIYRockAndRollcom. That archival Dog Hill content is still stored here for our loyal fans (hey mom & dad!). And who knows, maybe I’ll add something to that section of the website here and there.
DIY Rock and Roll 