MUSIC

THE EARLY YEARS

When I started "home recording" with a cheap keyboard, an electric guitar and a simple tape recorder, I didn't think that it would develop into something "bigger". Fortunately no material remained from these very first recording attempts... ;-)

But first things first. When I was about 12 years old (by the end of the 70s), I got an acoustic guitar, a cheap classical guitar. So I decided to learn this instrument and started to teach myself using three textbooks. It took some time to finish them (yes, I wasn't very diligent...), and now I knew some chords and was able to play a few folksongs.

But it was always more fun to play without notes. (That's why it took so long to finish the textbooks...) My heroes were guitar players like Tom Scholz (Boston), Brian May (Queen) and Mike Oldfield. Around 1980 I asked my mother to buy me an electric guitar, instead of a moped. I got a black-bodied Telecaster clone from Morris, together with a cheap transistor amp. Later I also got the moped.

From around 1978 to 1982 my mother owned an electric organ which I liked to play from time to time, although I never learned this instrument. In 1985 I finally bought that mini-keyboard with integrated accompaniment (cool!). Now I was able to simulate a "whole band" - which I did, as already mentioned above. My very first "music productions" have been created that way.

Oddly enough, I didn't play in a band when I was a teenager, although I would have liked to do so. Being an outsider I just didn't have the contacts, and probably I didn't have the courage, too.

FIRST HOME RECORDING ATTEMPTS

When I earned my first "real" money in 1986, I bought better equipment, like an Atari ST plus Steinberg's famous MIDI software "Twenty-Four", a Roland MT-32 sound module, a Casio synthesizer ("CZ..."), a Yamaha DX 11, a Roland D 550 expander, a Yamaha multi effector, and a 4 track tape recorder (Fostex, I think). With this equipment I made my first "real" recordings, and a lot of them are still available.

I also used a sequencer before I bought the Atari ST, and did some recording with it. There is no material left, though (thank God).

THE JAPANESE ERA

1990 was not only the year of the German reunion, but also the beginning of my over six years lasting stay in Japan. (BTW, I arrived in Tokyo exactly on October 3, 1990). Of course I continued home recording there. I bought a MIDI recording system from Roland, a Roland S 50 sampling keyboard, a Yamaha MU 80 sound module, a PC (486, 66 MHz) plus MIDI software, of course an electric guitar, a guitar multi effector, an 8 track tape recorder, and a minidisk recorder.

In 1996 I bought my first harddisk recording software, Steinberg's "Cubase Audio". So I didn't need the 8 track recorder anymore, and for the first time I was able to edit both MIDI and audio data with my computer. Everything was much more comfortable.

MUSICAL INFLUENCES

Of my musical influences, rock and metal are probably the strongest. But I also enjoy listening to many other genres, such as movie soundtracks, classical music, etc. From the late 80s to the early 90s I used to listen almost exclusively to electronica and disco music. In 2019 I began to delve into the depths of jazz music - a genre that has never been my favorite, but began to impress me with its sophisticated harmonies and musical complexity.

My favorite guitar players are, in chronological order: Tom Scholz (Boston), Brian May (Queen), Mike Oldfield, Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen), Yngwie Malmsteen, Paul Gilbert (Racer X / Mr. Big), John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Guthrie Govan (The Aristrocrats), and many more. The bass players that influenced me the most are Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big) and Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers). This doesn't mean, however, that I'm anything near the level of virtuosity or musical ability of these guys - just want to say that I like to listen to them a lot.

LIVE MUSIC

Since end of 1993 I use to play bass or guitar, since 2023 also drums in various rock bands; I'd like to mention "Runswell Mary" (hardrock, bass) from Tokyo, "Taranis" (rock/metal, guitar) from the Mayen-Koblenz district, "Fingers" (punkrock, bass) from Limburg, "Velvet Saw" (rock/metal, guitar) from the Koblenz district, "Sol de la Noche" (progressive rock, bass) and "Punto y Aparte" (Cranberries tribute, drums) from Tenerife.

So if you want to have a listen to my tunes, here are a few links:

AmadorA @ soundclick.com
Electronica music from the 80s and 90s

Gerry Tentler @ soundclick.com
Melodic Rock/Metal since 1996

Taranis @ soundclick.com
Rock/Metal, 1998 - 2001

Velvet Saw @ soundclick.com
Rock/Metal, 2006 - 2020

Gerry Tentler @ youtube.com
My YouTube channel