Topic: 10 years in 10 minutes

10 years ago on December 3, 2004, I walked into the Raue Theater in Crystal Lake, IL to see some guy named Joe Bonamassa...it was a pure fluke. I had no idea who he was, had never heard a single note of his music, and was only there because some poor sap cancelled at the last minute.
I walked out of the theater in disbelief at what I had seen and heard. The next day I visited Joe's old website and then bought tickets for a show in Wisconsin the next month, and began a 10 year journey averaging 5 shows a year. I did crazy stuff, like going to shows by myself when I couldn't find anyone to go, like traveling to London (twice!), New York, Denver, all through Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin...oh yeah, I forgot Florida.

And I met all these amazing people who were doing the same thing. So as 10 years approached, I decided to make a short montage of the last 10 years. I didn't take a lot of photos those early years, so this is pretty heavily weighted from 2009 through now.
Sorry its a bit long, but I figured a minute per year was about right. I hope you enjoy it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onVzb2R … e=youtu.be

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"

Re: 10 years in 10 minutes

Great job it was great to meet you a t Red Rocks
Cheers Ron

"Joe B saved my soul, forever grateful Ron"
"Some people dream of worthy accomplishments while others stay awake and do them"
Skinner #1,JBLP 145(aged),252, (unaged),#285HM, Bburst #026, Joes 052 BCC black LP, Strat> RT,EC Gilmour,Beck,Lenny LP> PK 83,CC#2,3,4,9,Amps>Carol Ann RAH JB-100 SN 001,JB100 Red SN02,OD2, OD3,Tucana 2&3 Triptix,Twinkle land, Plexi ,JB Jub, Jubs,Plexi,Satch,Two Rock>others

3 (edited by Wooders 2014-12-03 11:20:48)

Re: 10 years in 10 minutes

Bill, it was a pleasure to meet you at both the London events you came over for in 2009 and 2013. You certainly are fortunate to have been on the ride with Joe for 10 years and seen all the changes that have happened and how Joe has progressed to being almost a household name. I've no doubt Joe will be held in the same reverence as EC and the other guitar greats in the years to come.

To have been in on the "secret" from early on must be a cool feeling. I wonder what the next ten years holds for Joe and his legions of followers here? I hope it gives us the opportunity to meet up again at some.

I haven't seen your video yet (verboten at work), but will try to catch it at home tonight. Something to look forward to all day. smile

Here's to the next 10 years.
Cheers
Phil

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis

“The guy who has helped the blues industry the most is Joe Bonamassa and I would say he is more rock than some rock stuff, so to me blues is whatever you want it to be!”
Simon McBride in my interview with him in Blues Matters! Issue #56

Re: 10 years in 10 minutes

Bill, that is one fantastic video....kudos to you.

I am a new fan, only about a year....I really cant believe I only recently just discovered Joe.

Watching you video, I sure wish I could have been on this wonderful journey for 10 years myself.

I will be listening to Joe for the rest of my years now.....so I am happy for finally discovering him.

Again....great video.....that has to have been a wonderful ride for the last 10 years.

My Favorite Bonamassa Songs
Happier Times... Sloe Gin...Last Kiss...Lonesome Road Blues...Blues Deluxe...No Slack
Equipment For Listening To Joe
Sennheiser HD800 Headphones & Mad Ear+HD Headphone Amp

Re: 10 years in 10 minutes

Bill, thanks so much for sharing your video.  That was fantastic!!  It's really cool not only to see the maturation of Joe through the years but also how his fans have grown into a close-knit "family".   Very cool, very special.

Re: 10 years in 10 minutes

Great video Bill! For some reason the thought of this and the RCFP best Ten Minutes of Your Life popped up in my head lol.
Anyway it was a pleasure meeting you many years ago when I was a new Bonafan.Heres to the next ten cheers!!!
Gary

Your rock candy baby
Your hard sweet and sticky

7 (edited by wvgirlinky 2014-12-03 10:34:41)

Re: 10 years in 10 minutes

Sweet Bill, Your video brought tears to my eyes.  All the fun and joy you have had because of a young man named Joe.  Hope Joe and J&R see this and share it with the Bona-world at large.  I could feel the love.  Excellent choice of music with your fab photos.  May I say as a fan of only 3 years or so that Folks like you and Michael and Patty and Rhonda etc etc make it much easier for those of us that are late to the show.   Your posts and info are a mine of information and help us realize how far Joe has come and How hard you early fans worked. Thank so much.

Re: 10 years in 10 minutes

awesome Bill, Dec 20 will be my 5th Joe show and my First meet & greet cant wait to get my guitar autographed.

Re: 10 years in 10 minutes

Awesome Bill! It's crazy how much has changed in the last 10 years. To think you saw Joe when he was 27, that's crazy! I'm sure it's been a great ride, filled with great friends and music. Hope there are many more to come for you! smile

Re: 10 years in 10 minutes

That was such a cool video Bill! Felt like I was looking at my own family album, so many familiar faces of people I love. Really made me miss Rocket. Hope he's lurking here and sees it too. You've definitely had some wonderful experiences during those 10 years. Congratulations, and here's to many, many more years of fantastic music and wonderful friendships.

11 (edited by RoadcaseBoy 2014-12-03 11:20:04)

Re: 10 years in 10 minutes

Very nice Bill.  Thank you for sharing! 

Great to see some of the other venues whose name I recognize from BHistory.  I added your slide show link to Dec BH ... and put all of the Dec 3rd back up to an active post today.  (You were cool enough to hit me up last year marking your Bonabaptism ... and had the set list!!)

Congrats,
Sam

"I was in Space for less than 2 weeks … and suddenly Jeaniene’s back … half the Band is off the gd wagon … we have comedians opening for us … and the nice kid that ran our website is now a kleptof’nmaniac.  Boy ... did you guys miss me!!"  Phil Valentine - Road Manager - Staton House Band

JBLP#251 (unaged) ... thank you Ron.

Re: 10 years in 10 minutes

A very cool retrospective you assembled Bill. Glad to have met you on the road.
Rick

Free download from Vienna! http://mbsy.co/bNLR
Lots of unique videos of Joe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwd5vL8fXTw
Buy Joe's merchandise here. http://www.jbonamassa.com/affiliates/id … hp?id=1381

Re: 10 years in 10 minutes

That's pretty good Bill!

Re: 10 years in 10 minutes

Well done, thanks for sharing!

Play some cards & drink black coffee,
How I’d love to see you smile....
JBLP Std Goldtop
2015 R9 LP

Re: 10 years in 10 minutes

You and I discovered Joe around the same time (my ten years was in September), and we have both watched and helped Joe grow.  We've only met in person a few times, but all of them were memorable "Joe occasions."  But the best part, and you capture this perfectly in your marvelous video, are all the wonderful friends we have made from around the world, friendships that, for the most part, have stayed strong.  I am typing this sitting in Maggie's kitchen in London, a wonderful friendship that never would have happened if not for that memorable night in May of 2009.  This is my fifth trip over since the first RAH (I had a real fear of flying that I made myself get over so I could go to that show) and my love of this area and my friends here has only grown stronger.  I did a movie like this when I reached Boname(n)tal  in 2011, and will probably do another when I hit 2000 (which may take five more years).  Yours made me cry - in a good way.

It may have started with the music, but we stayed for the friends (and the music is still quite excellent).  Big hugs from me and Mr M - wish you could be here with us in London to deliver them in person.

Sandy

"There's a lot of people that are in so much of a hurry to be, I guess, to be famous or that they don't want to take the time to learn to play and do all that.They'd rather just knock it down off a computer and maybe get on a game show and get famous..That's fine if that's what you want to do.
"We're more old school than that. We like creating the sounds."  - Tom Petty

Re: 10 years in 10 minutes

Envy!  That's the only word I can think of watching your video.  Very cool.  We will be in Ft. Meyers, two weeks from Saturday, to see Joe.  This is the perfect kick-off for the next two weeks.  It will be all Joe, all the time.  This will be our 5th time seeing Joe.  One of our dreams is, when we retire in a few years is, we can travel around in our motorhome, see the country and see Joe 5-6 times a year.  Every one needs a dream to hold on to.  Hey, isn't that the title to a song?  If not, Joe could use it, no charge.

The only thing we deserve, is an opportunity.  Everything else has to be earned.

Re: 10 years in 10 minutes

Awesome Bill!

I've watched it three times .. lol

A wonderful compilation Brother .. u lucky bastage  big_smile

I have to admit .. was gettin a lil emotional watchin it myself (till I saw the Blackhawk banners .. lol)

Now I can add u to the list of folks who dint email me 10 years ago to tell me about this JB dude eh  tongue

Well done my friend .. most enjoyable trip!

Cheers!  cool

The BonaMaritimer .. All Dials To The Right!

Re: 10 years in 10 minutes

Thanks everyone.
It was great fun to re-live some of these moments as I pulled the photos together.

Buzzy...Go Hawks! Lol

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"