The bitching about kids thing reminds me of the feeling I get every time I go to my favourite record store, which is always full of kids with dyed hair wearing Slipknot hoodies and chains and ****.....one time a load of them were talking to the guy behind the cash register about how 'wicked' they thought nu-metal was, and then I came along in my plain clothes to queue up to buy a Led Zep album. After getting the CD for me the cashire tells me its the best album thats been bought that day...none of these opinionated little boys with fake attitude problems could believe he said that. They were like 'f**k man we thought you were cool, like...' so I asked them

'Have you even heard Zeppelin?'
'Well not much.....'
'Has anyone ever told you that if zep hadnt arrived on the music scene we may not even have the metal we've got these days?'
'Huh?'

I can understand if people dont like a band but its attitudes like that which piss me off. Kids often dont stay open minded.

I'll admit I like some Nu-metal but most of the time I just stick to watching it on TV rather than buying the albums....after so many times of hearing the songs I grow tired because for me they dont improve every time I hear them, I find nothing new after about 4 or 5 listens. I put nu-metal on to have pure attitude when I need it, rather than to have a serious composer or a die-hard lead shredder. When I listen to nu I get into 'This kix ass!' mode and feel good, but other times I can hear it and feel nothing at all and there's nothing worse than listening to music you're not in the mood for.

Metal's always been a part of my music, but I feel myself drawing away from it at the moment and back into blues and some classical guitar....at the moment composing is more important to me that a few power chords and attitude. And as far as solos go, I like to solo....its pleasureable and rewarding but my lead playing is also about melody. I dont have a great voice for singing so I let the guitar sing for me to comensate. Thats another thing I miss in todays music is the guitar playing a melody.