November 4, 2005

What is the FUNK? >>>

Well in My Educated yet Humble opinion it’s got alot to do with attitude, Style, Sex~Appeal & the Passionate NEED to be Different, Exciting & COOL!!! >>>

In Music, the FUNK plays an essential part in My Working day, defining Who I AM & WHY I do what I do! >>>

Super Heroes have got the FUNK!!! >>> There is absolutely NO QUESTION about this! >>>
I have been an AVID Comic Book & Super Hero FaN since I first started buying Comics as an 8 Year old boy in the town of My birth~ Wimbledon in South~West LoNdoN, way back in 1973! >>> The seed of the “Daddy Funk Vibe” was sown being BLOWN AWAY by AWESOME Marvel Comic Book Genius! >>>Such unforgetable Characters as “Conan the Barbarian”, “Spiderman”, “Nick Fury agent of S.H.I.E.L.D”, “Thor”&”The Fantastic Four”. >>> Fabulous, Magical, Modern Titans to fill My Young Mind with Passion, Joy, Excitement & Hope! >>>
I was inspired enough to Draw many of My own Comic Books & Write regularly to Marvel in the UK asking all sorts of Questions which filled My Young Brain to bursting point! >>>

In later Years as an Art Student at the Arts Institute of Bournemouth & Poole, Super Heroes again affected & Influenced My Art, Design & Early Music Making & Song Writing >>>

I Visited & Subsiquently Lived iN the Mighty New York City in 1986 as a 21 Year old MaN where Music, Culture, Art, Women & Super Heroes were an important part of My every day exsistance >>>

Moving back to Live in the thick of LoNdoN in the late 80s, My passion became an all consuming Obsession with the discovery of the “Graphic Novel” >>> Holy Bat~Funk Robin!>>> This Shit was INCREDIBLE!!! >>> Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns” re~Invented The Batman (a DC Character) in a way that seemed SO RIGHT, GRITTY & REAL & was the PERFECT Mind~Fuel for My Song Writing, Drumming, Latin Percussion Playing, Clubbing….. Infact EVERY element of My Life at that time in My Life! >>>

& OH MY GOD that LOGO!!! SO COOL, SO SEXY!!! & a HUGE influence on the Daddy Funk “DF” Logo I use, in ALL My Business today.
The Batman became My MAN in the 80s & I had every GREAT title by ALL the ground~breaking Artists & Writers during that period >>> BATMAN was Dark, Driven, obsessed, COOL & above all SUPER~FUNKY!!!!!!!!

These Days with Many Hollywood Movies on the subject of Comic Book Heroes ~ Some GREAT, some TRUELY AWEFUL!!!! My LOVE of Comics & Comic Heroes is as Fresh as EVER! >>> As an adult I have More Money to spend on the subject (YIPPEE!!!) & My Passion grows & GROWS!!! >>>
I’m reading X~Men Comics at present & LOTS of Daredevil & Witchblade >>> So I seem to have Returned (with the exception of the Witchblade) to My original LOVE AFFAIR with ALL THINGS MARVEL! >>>

&&&&& I wish to state INFATICALLY that “Batman Begins” ( Directed by the Brit, Christopher Nolan & Starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine & Gary Oldman ) is without a doubt THE BEST Batman & Super Hero Movie EVER MADE!!!!! >>> There I’ve said it! >> Panther Kitten & I saw the Movie twice in New York this July & were COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY!!!>>> May all Blogging Hell break Loose if You disagree!!!!! >>> >>>>> I DARE YOU ! < <<<<

Well, must get back to Drum Teaching & BEING PHAT & FUNKY!

Peace & Hero~Love from Daddy Funk & the Panther KitteN,

***<<<<< SiMoN the FuNk >>>>>***

October 28, 2005

Hello Daddy Funk People!
So…RUNNING!>>> I RuN 3 times per Week for approximately 40 to 45 Minutes at a time.
I have been RUNNING consistently for the last 3 and a Half Years>>> WHY do You do this Daddy Funk, I Hear You cry! >>>

Well, STAMINA! >>> Stamina for playing Drums, Stamina for Love~Making & STAMINA for getting through each & EVERY TOUGH Working Day!!! >>>
I RUN, I don’t JOG (!) >>> This is the real thing! >>> I used to Run “Cross~ Country” when I was at school, in London & to be quite honest, I enjoyed it but I just didn’t UNDERSTAND it >>>

Running does SO MANY things for You as an Adult (or “Young~Adult”) in real, tangible terms:
Firstly it gets the blood flowing! >>>
It is GREAT for the HEART & LUNGS >>>

With the blood Pumping, breaking into a sweat YOU FEEL ALIVE !!!!! >>> Personally I Feel like a Super Hero EVERY time I Run, regardless of what I’ve been up to the Night before! Whether I’ve been in the Studio Recording Funk or Jazz or Teaching solidly for 5 Hours or Making PASSIONATE Love to Panther Kitten… it really doesn’t matter >>>

A Good RUN in the Forest or on the Beach is GUARANTEED to make Me feel FANTASTIC!!! (Please be VERY careful not to Run on too much tarmac or concrete as this can be EXTREMELY Bad for Your hip & knee Joints) >>>

Secondly it is ALL about developing the ALL IMPORTANT STAMINA! >>>

Running releases ENDORPHINES into the brain which will Motivate Your sense of Well Being (this is a known factor in combating Depression) & will pump Adrenalin around Your System & clear Toxins from Your Blood stream & skin >>> COOL HUH!!! >>> It will also focus & calm Your Mind, bringing Relaxation & Peace to Your busy, Modern Brain.

From a Drumming perspective ALL this is ESSSENTIAL!!! If You wish to play that 2 Hour Rock Gig or be a driven Studio~Rat for 5 Hours persuing the “Perfect Take” You’re gonna need to do SOMETHING to keep Your Body FIT & STRONG >>>

Which brings Me neatly on to… Thirdly, RUNNING will strengthen Your MUSCLES !!! >>>

& not just Your Legs for Your Bass Drum & Hi~Hat Work But ALSO Your CHEST & ARMS in the ANAEROBIC Motion >>> ALL Perfect for Your Drum or Percussion Work & Play!

There is some VERY COOL Gear to get into if You are SERIOUS about Running, produced by both well known & lesser known Companys such as Nike, New Balance, Helly Hanson, Run Speed One etc.

& Don’t take My word for it either!! >>> MANY other Drummers use Running to keep them at Full Power >>>
Such as TRAVIS BARKER, BUDDY RICH, THE KODO DRUMMERS, NEIL PEART….. the list is endless!!! >>> So You’ll be in good company if You decide to give it a try! >>> You know it makes sense!!!
Well, I’ve gotta get some much needed shut~eye now My Friends , so I’ll bid You Farewell for tonight…

Keep it Phat & FUNKY & Keep on Running!

Peace to the PlaNet,

*** <<< SiMoN the Daddy Funk >>> ***