A child of the 50's, Mike Isenberg grew up in Pekin, Illinois. His musical journey began in 1962 with a student Champ guitar. It was only a few years later that he joined his first band The BLUES FEELING. The first three songs he ever wrote hit central Illinois airwaves in 1969 on Chris Antonio's 'Captain Cosmo's Traveling Light Show' radio show. Though rarely ever credited for it, his ideas and accomplishments had an indelible effect on the midwest music scene and beyond. Without question Pekin, Illinois' most noteworthy rebel and one of the midwest's most original songwriters and guitar heros, Isenberg's musical outfits were always at the vanguard of 60's guitar based bands during the Golden Age of Garage Bands. Those old enough to remember vividly recall him sitting on the front steps of the house at 1301 Coolidge Street in Pekin, endlessly playing guitar. His love of guitar took a serious turn after watching a film of The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show performing their hit Rain. Shortly after that Cream, Blue Cheer and Jimi Hendrix solidified what would become a lifelong love of psychedelic blues. Since the mid 60's and to this day, he has shared the stage with the icons of the music business, from The Shirelles, John Cale, XTC, Mountain, Sam Andrew of Big Brother and the Holding Company, Foghat, The Association, Arthur 'Killer' Kane of the New York Dolls, Joey Santiago of The Pixies, The Turtles and countless more, dazzling crowds with his unorthodox guitar style. He once played 'Blue Suede Shoes' for Mr. Blue Suede Shoes himself, Carl Perkins, and on Carl's guitar! Carl turned to Mike's father standing next to him and said 'That boy knows how to make a guitar rock!' The late great Father of Rock and Roll, Bill Haley stopped in to see Isenberg play with The Jets in 1973 because he'd heard the young guitarist could nail Danny Cedrone's famous guitar solo ( the first real rock and roll guitar solo ever, and THE most famous rock and roll guitar solo ever recorded ) on his signature rock and roll anthem 'Rock Around The Clock.' The very young and very drunk Isenberg impressed the rock and roll legend, who shook his hand's and said "That was way out man! Gonesville!" His band THE JETS originated in 1972 with childhood friends and fellow 60's musicians Graham Walker, Gregg Clemons, Randy Kohtz, Greg Wilson and later Tom Walker and Darin Bloomfield, forming the definitive version of the band. The band's success was instant and overwhelming, playing to wild capacity crowds. Newspapers reported crowd reactions that mirrored Beatlemania. THE JETS had several charted records, a regional top twenty hit on WIRL's charts with BE FOR ME ( one of those first three songs he had ever written ) on the Marigold label in 1974, and two big hits, LOVER BOY and PAPER GIRL ( both penned by Isenberg ) appearing on Twin Tone's famed double album set 'Big Hits Of Mid America Volume 3'. In 1982 Isenberg took top honors at WWCT FM 106's Basement Tapes Awards. His song THIS IS FOR YOU became another regional hit. The song appeared on 106's Basement Tapes LP and on WWCT's Hot 100 charts. Mike Isenberg released an independant album called EVERYONE'S TURNING TO STONE on the Ed Records label in 1991. Mike Isenberg will also release his autobiography called 'The Kid From Coolidge Street' sometime this year.
Mike 'zAZ' Isenberg and the zAZtones - Red House
Happy RocK'N Thanksgiving Holidays! Are you stuffed?! I had to get up and do some cardio this morning otherwise I think I might explode. Made the cast for the NEW 2010 reality show X-TREME TEAM http://www.xtremeteamtv.com, still adding names on my guitar for $10 and racing dirtbikes! http://www.heather-williams.com/blog Remember Thanksgiving is a word of ACTION! :-D Have a Rock'N Day!
Yeah Mike, I like the fruits of you labor! Great guitar sounds. Are you recording at home? What system are you using? Are you micing your amp? Good work. Darren
Enjoyed listening - even though my only access is at the library right now. Your new song is very good - and I love that Sam Kinneson type of ending. Looking forward to the album!
![OverloaD - [Holes in the Ground]](http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/4/s_f0d35fb15db948059d9a23c4315a807d.jpg)
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