This guy is not a band member, because, well... I don't have a band, but he is the co-producer of Another Always.
His influence and input helped make that song become what it is today. It was his ideas for the percussion and his
strings that gave that song the boost it needed. He deserves all the credit coming to him, so stop by one of his
pages and say hello. He is also my younger cousin and his name is Justin Lee Richardson. Thanks for the help
dude, it will never go under appreciated.
Influences
Currently I am being influenced by a collaboration project with one of my top friends, Steve Murray, from the
other side of the very large pond in the UK. We our putting our rockin' heads together and coming up with some really cool stuff. It promises
to be well worth it and I can't wait to share it with you when it gets done. Patience, though... it may take a little time...
I have also been working on at least one solo song and hope to add more. I'll keep you posted on that, so stay tuned.
So, all kidding aside, I have been influenced by most classic and/or hard rock and/or punk bands. I grew up in the 70's, 80's and 90's.
In latter years I have been influenced by my wife's musical tastes which brought in mellower influences and more.
Basically, if it has energy, passion and is done well, it influences me...
Sounds Like
...I'm having fun with music.
I've read many articles that say I should write something here. And I did have that here at one time. And it may have been true to some and crazy to others, so I
decided to just let you decide. You let me know. I've heard many differing opinions over the years and now I'd like to hear yours. Cuz, basically, I just think I sound like me, using my
influences as my guide...
Welcome, everybody, welcome to my page. My name is Darren Lee. I am a rock musician/songwriter. I live in the San Francisco Bay area.
I hope you will check out my music, video and pix from past and present. I even more hope that you will get some enjoyment out if it.
While you are here please feel free to send me a message, leave me a comment or add me as a friend. I'd love to hear from you.
And I'd love to visit your page as well and let you know that I've come by. Hope to hear from you.
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I hope you enjoy these pictures from a gig I did on August 17, 2008 at the Dublin Sports Pub and Grill in Dublin, CA.
I opened up for Michael Nappi. He is the other guy with the guitar in the pictures. We had a great time sharing a Sunday
afternoon with old friends, new friends and family. I hope to do it again soon. Hope to see you there when I do.
In August of 2008 I had the pleasure of performing a dual gig with Michael Nappi from New York.
We played in my home town at the Dublin Sports Pub and Grill on a late Sunday afternoon.
Thanks to my wife for hooking up this venue for us and getting me on the bill.
First real venue type gig I have done in a long time and it was a good time. I have been asked
to return and hopefully will do that sooner than later. The video to the right is from this show.
The song is called Another Always.
This picture montage is from a show I did in September of 2007. There are more in my pics section if you are interested. Hope you will check it out.
Also there is video from the show in my videos section. Hang out, check it out and let me hear from you. Please leave comments if you like.
Early in 2007 I finished and released my latest CD entitled, Not The One, which is available on CDBaby.com for download or purchase.
Please see the links below if you're interested. Or just check out my songs with the other links below and let me know what you think.
I always enjoy getting feedback.
In September of 2007 I had the opportunity to play for my colleagues at our summer BBQ event. This video is from that event. The song is called
Picnic Interlude. I wrote it specifically for a previous company picnic so I could get my guitar-solo-jollies off. I hadn't played a show in nearly ten
years and wanted to make sure I had a chance to cut loose. This video is that same song, but I had more time to practice and prepare. Hope you like it. See my video
section for more videos of this show. And please feel free to comment.
This picture show captures some moments in my life. Some band stuff, some family stuff, some Not The One stuff and basically memories being shared. See my picture section
for more pictures that I have shared. Please comment on them if you like.
Here is some history and facts about me. My full name is Darren Lee Richardson. My first instrument was the accordion at the age of six.
I played it until I was around twelve. After that I took some short guitar lessons but couldn't stick it out then.
I grew up with such rock heroes as Aerosmith, AC/DC, KISS, Led Zeppelin, Scorpions, Ted Nugent, and the so-many bands and artists of that era and eras to come.
My first rock concert was KISS at age twelve, the day Elvis died. At age nineteen I bought a bass guitar and decided to learn how to play it.
I had a couple of friends that bought guitars at the same time. We were going to be a band and all that. I kept playing and they didn't.
I was in my first band that year, Seducer. We were raw garage. We played a lot of parties and even opened up for Warrant (before their fame) at Rock On Broadway in San Francisco.
That was our only true club gig. We split up for typical reasons. After that I bounced around a bit, jammin' with different people until I started Mankind. We were a three-piece,
heavy, hard-hitting, rock band. We had an awesome drummer. We played a huge party
at my place in Hayward, CA and had a very loud gig at a local pizza parlor/club. Things fell apart again due to directional differences.
After this I started getting more into guitar, drums and keyboards. I really started liking the guitar. I turned into my studio and started
experimenting with producing my own stuff. Back then it was good efforts, but not necessarily good results. Eventually I joined up with
an old band-mate from Seducer and we formed Aces Wild. This band gigged around quite a few of the Bay Area bar/club scenes. We were
getting pretty popular and having more return fans when the bottom fell out on that band as well. This is the one band I wish I had handled
differently. Perhaps. ;^) Oh, well. That's water under the bridge and into the ocean now. LOL. Anyway, I immediately rallied some
new band members and formed Rush Hour. We quickly got together and were able to get back onto the scene. We had a decent following
building up when, due to personal life changes, such as a move that wedged us, we fell apart. I would have liked to have kept this one together, too, but by this time I was tired of all the work
ending in destruction. I chose to work harder at the studio stuff and try to work on my songwriting and playing. I also started a family during this time.
Eventually I created what I call my first decent production, a CD entitled, One Point Oh. Some more years go by and I end up here after
finishing my newest and best produced CD, Not The One. I just recently performed a solo performance and hope to do more as time
and life permits. I also hope to improve upon my production skills and release more and better music. Currently, I am in process of
collaborating with a new friend from around the world. Looking forward to that and whatever the future presents. Hope you all will come back
and visit from time to time. Check out my picture and video section for past and present views on my life and music. Let me know you were here.
By the way... Why did I name my new CD Not The One? Not because of the song with nearly the same title...
Here's why:
I have found that it in life it is easier to define what I am by what I am not. I'm not the one who reached youthful dreams, but I'm also not the one who sacrificed family
to chase such endeavors. I'm also not the one who gave up dreaming due to life's worthy sacrifices. So here I am, living both dreams. Family and music.
I am fortunate to have a supportive family. It would have been easy to quit dreaming and move on to the later years of life, but that's just not the one I am,
and my family knows I would not be the one I am, if I became the one I am not. Therefore I dedicate honoring the continuation of the dream to my wife, Monique, and my son, Dustin,
who love me enough to ensure I do not become the one I am not. So in that, I am wealthy. Thank you Dustin and Monique for continuing to love me through this
creative journey, even though I'm not necessarily the one who always makes it easy. It is challenging to work a day job, love your family and have musical passions and aspirations, too.
But they give me that space and I want them to always know how much I appreciate that gift. And that is why I called my latest CD, Not The One.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you again and again.
Yes, I listened to the song with Joe. Sounds like you are making good use of your new studio! The song reminds me of 80s rock - it has that feel to it. Now where is your tie?!
