Music From Rick Melbihess Surfnorthwest.com

Biography
I started playing guitar at the age of 9 while my father was stationed in Germany. My teacher was a older German lady who was very strict and disciplined.

At the age of 14 I was back in the USA and took up playing bass for our Jr. High Jazz band. This took me into my first rock band as a youth playing bass.

As I entered high school my family relocated to Washington State and once again I found myself playing both bass and guitar in a new band. Once I graduated from High School I got more serious with a couple of bands playing hard rock and 70s rock. The era was 1979-1983 and we all know what those times were all about.

As time went on into the eighties I found myself married with kids and all that goes with that, so my playing days were over. Dreams shattered but happy to be a father and choose the family life over late nights with hangovers. I did not play with a band for about four years. In about 1992 I regrouped with the band Rickashay and rocked hard for about 3 years, however the demands of work and family forced me to bow out of the band scene once more.

As time went by I found myself turned off by playing cover tunes and started to focus on writing my own music, it was some years later (2002) that I started recording in my home. Technology and software had advanced where one guy could do all the music in a song himself. It was then I took up playing the keyboards which I enjoy as much as playing guitar.

Beginning in 2004 I released my first CD called "Yesterday Pass" which was a collection of songs I wrote while playing in Rickashay. Since then there have been four other CDs released with my music with the sixth to be released in December of 2007. My style has started to move away from hard rock more into New Age (I hate that term) or Alan Parsons type music.

I hope you can take a moment to check out some of my music and post comments with any suggestions harsh or otherwise. My days of being in the limelight are way over and I simply have songs coming out of my head everyday, until that gift from God stops I will continue with my love of music and record my ideas.

Music and the Internet
The internet with the ability to download music, burn CD's and essentially create your own collection has taken away the profits to the musician who might of otherwise started a band and made CD's for profit. The only people making money anymore are the record labels and big bands on tour. I think sites like this will become the norm in the next 5 years.

My influences
Robin Trower - Richie Blackmore - Michael Schenker - David Gilmore - Alan Parsons - David Arkenstone - Tangerine Dream - Journey

Favorite spot
Playa Del Carmen Mexico

Hobbies
ATV riding, my German Shepherds, and any water sports

Equipment used:

- Fender Custom Shop 50th Anniversary Deluxe Stratocaster
- Gibson Les Paul Custom
- Carvin Ultra VC
- Godin LGX-SA
- Carvin ICON 5 Bass
- Roland Fantom X6 Keyboard
- Yamaha MOTIF ES Rack
- Korg TR88 Keyboard
- Yamaha Drums
- Fender Super Sonic 60 watt
- Marshall Vintage Modern 2466 Amp
- Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100
- Marshall 4x12 cabinet w/Lead 80s
- Carvin 4x12 cabinet w/G12K-100s
- Carvin 4x12 cabinet w/Vintage 30s
- Carvin PB 200 Amp
- Cakewalk SONAR 6
- Digitech GSP 1101
- RME Fireface 800A/D Converter
- Digitech Vocalist Live
- Mackie MR8 Studio Monitors
- Roland GR-20
- All cables used are Monster Cable
- Fulltone OCD, Deluxe Clyde Wah - Voodoo Labs MicroVibe - MXR EVH117 Flanger
- Digitech Multi Chorus - MXR Phase 100 - MXR Carbon Copy

Anything else...?
I am still a sinner but through the blood of Jesus I have been saved and forgiven.

Regards, Surf

Look to the Sky (Currently Being Recorded)	CD 9
	Dusk Misty Morning Savannah's Wedding Super Cell
Streets and Beats	CD 8
	West Coast Funk Hi-way 101 Sunday Drive Stopping for Gas Back Roads Top Down Streets and Beats Hitchhike Sally Laguna Drive Pedro's Driving
From the Heart	CD 7
	Remembering You Giving Back Seeing You Again Johnny oh Johnny Home Again Days Gone By The Place Alone Again A Moment with God From the Heart
Still Burning	CD 6
	Southern Heat Still Burning Into the Flame Hot for Jesus Desert Ride Radiant Glow Woman is Hot Green Flame Blues Afterburner Lava Flow

Change in Season	CD 5
	Light of God Elevation 10 Red Sky Night Tears of Mother Nature Change in Season Winter Solstice Alpha Summer Sun Lunar Harvest Spring Melt Winds of Fall
Northern Passage	CD 4
	Captains Log God's Comfort Ice Breaker Eagles Warning Native Legend Midnight Sun Nutook Canyon Northern Passage Wolf River Journey's End