Music - The Light Of My Life

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As far as I can remember, I have always been interested in music. When I was a child, my mother introduced me to The Beatles - music. During my childhood years in Sofia I attended at a lot of classical concerts. I was thrilled by the beauty of the classical music and especially the operas.

Later on I was drawn towards more popular music. The music of Roxette, Queen, Tina Turner, Mike Oldfield... followed my early teenage years.

In the summer of 95 I was introduced to Deep Purple (when I borrowed their "Machine Head" album by mistake). It was not long before I was "hooked" on other hard-rock/metal bands from the 70s( Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep, Rainbow, ... ), the 80s (Van Halen, Def Leppard, Iron Maiden, ... ) and the 90s (Guns 'N' Roses, ... ).

During my summer-holydays in Bulgaria, I somehow (re)discovered the beauty of Bulgarian folk-music (not the vulgar and cheap "chalga" music). I am proud of the music my forefathers created and masters like Teodosi Spasov, Ivo Papazov, Valia Balkanska, Angel Dimitrov...

Another late discovery was the progressive music. I did not like (understand) that music when I was a teenager. In Narvik I gave it a second chance. Bands like Yes, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Genesis... have inspired me ever since.

The journey continues...

Guitar

At the age of 17 I bought a classical guitar (Cremona) and started playing. Year later I bought an electric guitar (Epiphone SG). Since then I have played for a short period of time in several college-bands. I enjoy playing with a bass-guitar as well.

My guitar gear can be seen here:

Guitars: Fender American Stratocaster MN, Yamaha APX700, Epiphone SG

Amp: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Texas Red

Effects (in chain order):

Favorite Musicians

This section is designed to give you some idea about the music I like.

It contains a list of some of my favorite musicians and some of the bands they play / played in.

N.B. This list is not complete and never will be. Neither is it meant to be an encyclopedia. And yes, I know who Kirk Hammett is. I just don't think that he belongs here.

Classical Music

Composers: Giuseppe Verdi, Wolfgang A. Mozart, Gioacchino Rossini, Frederic Chopin

Conductors: Herbert von Karajan, James Levine, Riccardo Muti, Zubin Mehta

Tenor singers: Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti

Baritone singers: Piero Cappuccilli, Sherrill Milnes, Leo Nucci, Vladimir Chernov, Matteo Manuguerra

Bass singers: Boris Christoff, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Cesare Siepi

Soprano singers: Raina Kabaiwanska, Gena Dimitrova, Aprile Millo, Mirella Freni

Mezzo-soprano / alto singers: Fiorenza Cossotto, Dolora Zajick

Other

Guitar players (blues): BB King, John Lee Hooker, Albert King, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour

Guitar players (rock): Jimi Hendrix, Ritchie Blackmore, Steve Howe, Trevor Rabin, Alex Lifeson, Steve Lukather, Ivan Lechev, Gustavo Cerati

Guitar players (metal): Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, Eddie Van Halen

Guitar players (jazz): Django Reinhardt, Joe Pass, Stochelo Rosenberg, Jimmy Rosenberg

Vocalists (men): David Byron (Uriah Heep), John Payne (Asia), David Coverdale, Freddie Mercury, Bernie Shaw (Uriah Heep), Steve Perry (Journey)

Vocalists (women): Tina Turner, Celine Dion, Candice Night

Bass players: Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, Yes, Pink Floyd), Chris Squire (Yes), Geddy Lee (Rush), Pete Trewavas (Marillion), John Myung (Dream Theater), Glenn Cornick (Jethro Tull), Donald ”Duck” Dunn

Drummers: Neil Peart (Rush), Simon Phillips (Asia, Toto), Jeff Porcaro (Toto), Manu Katche (Peter Gabriel), Michael Sturgis (Asia), Phil Collins

Keyboard players: Rick Wakeman (Yes), Tony Kaye (Yes), Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater)

Other musicians: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Mike Oldfield, Michael Cretu (Enigma), Roger Waters (Pink Floyd), Jon Anderson (Yes), Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Stevie Wonder, Per Gessle (Roxette, Gyllene Tider)

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