Lenny Burkett
"The Squid""
"The Squid""
Born in 1967,the summer of love, into a low middle class family with a
love of music, my father played guitar my mother sang in church and my
sisters would play the piano and sing. I remember my father joined a record
club when I was around nine or ten years old and told me to make two
choices, what I chose was Steve Miller and a compilation of 50’s hits.
Although I loved music and was surrounded by instruments I was never able
to choose one to pursue.
Through the seventies I sought different types of music, groups
like Styx, Journey, Scorpions and Van Halen were among the bands I
gravitated to and realized the sound of the electric guitar is what got my
heart pumping. I toyed with the idea of playing drums after hearing Rush
and Iron Maiden but ultimately chose the guitar to pursue
My family didn’t read music and only played by ear so this was
the path I took. I was completely self taught, never had a lesson and also
realized I was a left hander trying to play right-handed. It was very
frustrating and slow going, the thought of quitting crossed my mind more
than once.
During the hair band era of the 80’s my cousin and a few friends
were doing the “band thing” and here I was a “short-hair” with limited ability
and by this time found out I was suffering from an anxiety disorder. I kept
plugging away for a few more years not sharing my playing with anyone and
convinced myself that my playing was just an “at home hobby”.
And if I wasn’t haven’t a hard enough time, I caught my finger in
an industrial sander and almost lost my left index finger. THAT WAS IT!
Although the love of music stayed with me I put the guitar in the closet and
there it stayed for eight long years. During this time the only thing I
accomplished is physical therapy for my finger and growing my hair.
The urge to play returned and after building up my calluses, I
sought people to jam with just for the fun of it and for the first time was
getting compliments from even more experienced musicians. I started
getting phone calls with offers to join local bands but declined fearing my
anxiety disorder would be a hindrance and still very insecure about my
ability. But there were these two guys who kept calling even after I turned
them down, I finally relented and auditioned for there band, they liked what
they heard and I was in. After a few incarnations of the band and placement
and replacement of members we’ve come to the present line up called
“SLAP MAGGY”. And if I forgot to mention it, those two guys who kept
calling were Mike Baker and Tommy Haviland, I owe these guys a big
thanks, if it wasn’t for there persistence and belief in me I wouldn’t have
gotten as far as I have.
So all you future guitar players out they’re who think you have
too many obstacles to follow through I hope you can take something from
my story and ROCK ON!
love of music, my father played guitar my mother sang in church and my
sisters would play the piano and sing. I remember my father joined a record
club when I was around nine or ten years old and told me to make two
choices, what I chose was Steve Miller and a compilation of 50’s hits.
Although I loved music and was surrounded by instruments I was never able
to choose one to pursue.
Through the seventies I sought different types of music, groups
like Styx, Journey, Scorpions and Van Halen were among the bands I
gravitated to and realized the sound of the electric guitar is what got my
heart pumping. I toyed with the idea of playing drums after hearing Rush
and Iron Maiden but ultimately chose the guitar to pursue
My family didn’t read music and only played by ear so this was
the path I took. I was completely self taught, never had a lesson and also
realized I was a left hander trying to play right-handed. It was very
frustrating and slow going, the thought of quitting crossed my mind more
than once.
During the hair band era of the 80’s my cousin and a few friends
were doing the “band thing” and here I was a “short-hair” with limited ability
and by this time found out I was suffering from an anxiety disorder. I kept
plugging away for a few more years not sharing my playing with anyone and
convinced myself that my playing was just an “at home hobby”.
And if I wasn’t haven’t a hard enough time, I caught my finger in
an industrial sander and almost lost my left index finger. THAT WAS IT!
Although the love of music stayed with me I put the guitar in the closet and
there it stayed for eight long years. During this time the only thing I
accomplished is physical therapy for my finger and growing my hair.
The urge to play returned and after building up my calluses, I
sought people to jam with just for the fun of it and for the first time was
getting compliments from even more experienced musicians. I started
getting phone calls with offers to join local bands but declined fearing my
anxiety disorder would be a hindrance and still very insecure about my
ability. But there were these two guys who kept calling even after I turned
them down, I finally relented and auditioned for there band, they liked what
they heard and I was in. After a few incarnations of the band and placement
and replacement of members we’ve come to the present line up called
“SLAP MAGGY”. And if I forgot to mention it, those two guys who kept
calling were Mike Baker and Tommy Haviland, I owe these guys a big
thanks, if it wasn’t for there persistence and belief in me I wouldn’t have
gotten as far as I have.
So all you future guitar players out they’re who think you have
too many obstacles to follow through I hope you can take something from
my story and ROCK ON!
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