Things may have stepped up a level...

**mike_baugh** · 02-01-2012, 04:08 PM

Hey all!

Sorry for not being around much, been insanely busy! I was able to hang out with Uli Jon Roth for two days and I even got the chance to jam with him, what a musician! he is a master.

And now for the shocking news, I have been asked to open for Paul Gilbert in September

and will also get to jam with him and his band at the end of the show

...right, well... I'm going to go and practice for a bit, maybe for 8 months or so...

**ScoobySteve** · 02-01-2012, 04:49 PM

Ummmm.... I'm trying to find the jealous button on my keyboard and spam it. Jk hahaha. Have a great time.

Stories when you get a chance please!

**TSHOW** · 02-01-2012, 07:05 PM

Congratulations, I am glad it is you!!!! I would never want to play next to Paul Gilbert.....!!! Just kidding...I am happy for you....!!! Rock on!!!

**ozzyrules** · 02-01-2012, 07:40 PM

Wow,
If Paul Gilbert asked me to pick up his guitar pick off of the floor, I would have to say " I'm not worthy"......
Congrats.

**mtrejo** · 02-01-2012, 11:06 PM

Holy geez. That has got to be a moment to take in, let it settle and then freak out! Ha. That's a great invite. Paul Gilbert is one serious monster. As for hanging out with Uli Roth…speechless.

**BartB** · 02-02-2012, 12:02 AM

That is great news!! Congrats!!

**DrKev** · 02-02-2012, 01:11 AM

Well done, Mike! Awesome news!

**mike_baugh** · 02-02-2012, 03:09 AM

Originally Posted by ScoobySteve

Ummmm.... I'm trying to find the jealous button on my keyboard and spam it. Jk hahaha. Have a great time.

Stories when you get a chance please!

LOL

I'm freaking out a little (a lot).

I have loads of stories! Uli was hilarious, he phoned me on the morning of the show, and when I say morning, I mean VERY morning, he is an early riser, so my hand is aimlessly searching for my phone while my eyes are are trying to open and when I finally find it the first thing I hear is "HELLO MIKE! THIS IS ULI, I HAVE A PROBLEM THAT I NEED YOUR HELP WITH" (in a german accent) I' thinking to myself, what could he need help with at this time in the morning? ..he continues, "I'M TEACHING A MASTERCLASS TODAY BUT ALL OF MY EQUIPMENT IS LOCKED AWAY AT THE VENUE WHICH DOESN'T OPEN UNTIL 7" so, basically he was asking me to find a way to break into this venue, grab his blackstar HT-5 and the power supply for his guitar (his guitar will not function without it and he only has one!)
so mission impossible was to begin, THEN I had an idea, Facebook is a wonderful tool, I was able to find the guy who is the sound engineer at the venue, I found his address and drove there banging on his door, he was a mess! he had drank a fare bit the night before and was up all night, but he was a real cool guy and jumped in the car went to the venue and helped me get Uli's stuff.
If we couldn't have gotten the gear, he would have had to cancel the sky guitar masterclass, he was so appreciative, at the end of the show that evening after I jammed with him he hugged me and said to the audience "this man has done a lot for me, he's a good guy" which was a really cool moment, I even got to play two of his sky guitars, one was a 7 string worth over $17,000.

**mikeller** · 02-02-2012, 03:24 AM

Awesome news!!! Congrats

**mike_baugh** · 02-02-2012, 03:25 AM

Guthrie was a great guy to hang with, six of us went to the harvester for a meal in a friends VW van playing Chet Atkins music really loud and Guthrie said all we need is some straw hats and a shot gun and we'd look awesome. Once we got to the harvester the guy driving the van smashed it into a concrete pillar in the car park, fortunately there was no damage to the van as the tow bar completely demolished the concrete, we were shocked, we didn't know what to do, I said shall we tell the guys in the harvester what we did? we looked at each other for an answer, Guthrie was looking like he was having a LOT of fun and said nah lets just eat.

I got to jam with him that night, which was incredible, he was awesome. He also gave me an hour guitar lesson!! just Guthrie and me, it was really inspiring. One of the coolest parts of that day was when I was driving him back after the show (cool huh?!) he was telling me about a band he had secretly formed (later to be named the aristocrats) I was one of the first to hear about it!

He is so humble and very educated, he is seriously smart, yet so down to earth.

I got more stories about Andy Timmons, Christophe Godin, Kiko Loureiro, Jennifer Batten and Tom Quayle if you want to hear 'em :-P

**mike_baugh** · 02-02-2012, 03:26 AM

Originally Posted by TSHOW

Congratulations, I am glad it is you!!!! I would never want to play next to Paul Gilbert.....!!! Just kidding...I am happy for you....!!! Rock on!!!

Neither would I! but how can anyone say no to this?? :-o

**smd24fan** · 02-02-2012, 03:30 AM

Wow! That's awesome, congrats and best of luck to you!

**mike_baugh** · 02-02-2012, 03:38 AM

Some pics!

This is me with Uli's guitar!
Michael Baugh's Photos | Facebook

group shot!

Michael Baugh's Photos | Facebook

Jamming with Andy Timmons!
Michael Baugh's Photos | Facebook

Michael Baugh's Photos | Facebook

^^this was at Heathrow airport, we had a 5 hour drive so he played me the peppers album, the whole thing! before it was released, I heard it before the world! (with the exception 3 other people)

I have a lot to tell you about Andy Timmons, he is one of the greatest guys I have ever met.

Me with Tom Quayles lovely guitar, the neck on this thing is STUNNING.

Michael Baugh's Photos | Facebook

after show with Kiko

Michael Baugh's Photos | Facebook

Mr Govan!

Michael Baugh's Photos | Facebook

and friend

Michael Baugh's Photos | Facebook

Jamming with Chris! in my friends living room!

Michael Baugh's Photos | Facebook

Jamming with Chris at another show a few months earlier

Michael Baugh's Photos | Facebook

hahaha

Michael Baugh's Photos | Facebook