I have been playing since I was 12 (now 24) went through a couple of year's of not playing as much because of, like you said, life picks up.
I play mostly stoner rock/doom metal/sludge metal (think modern day Black Sabbath) but I also play alt. country and shoegaze. Been trying to get a current band together that will do stoner/doom stuff but I will settle for the latter genres. Right now been jamming with this local cover band that mostly does ZZ Top, Ted Nugent and Thin Lizzy covers, I like it that keeps my chops up to speed.
My current guitars are a 2002 Gibson Gothic SG, a 1987 Burny RLG50 Supergrade Les Paul, Martin D15, and a 1937 Gibson L50 I inherited from my Grandpa.
I plan to pick up a Reverend Six Gun or Buckshot, a semi-hollow with P90's and a Bigsby, a Framus acoustic, and a Gibson Explorer E2.
I have way too many guitar fx pedals and probably should sell some.
I run a 1982 Marshall JCM800 2204 through a '77 Marshall 4x12 straight with black back Celestions, thinking of trading out the cab for a vintage Orange I have seen in the shop. I need to get another back up Marshall, like a MV JMP dudemon has, as the 2204 blew a fuse recently. I also have a Epiphone Valve Junior combo I modded.
I would love get one of those silver face Fender Twins or Deluxe Reverb and stack it with a Fender 70's 2x15.
Influences are all over the place: in the beginning, like every other metal kid in Texas I was really influenced by Dimebag of Pantera and most kids were. As I got older I would say more Black Sabbath, ZZ Top, a lot of unknown 70's rock bands like Cactus, Captain Beyond. Also bands like Pentagram, Kyuss, the Melvins, Sleep, Spirit Caravan. Wilco and the Old 97's along with My Bloody Valentine are a big influence as well. There are so many bands that I find something inspirational about whether it be their drive, intensity, musicianship, etc.
I feel some of dudemon's comments are ones that just pertain to them, I think most girls find it admiring and attractive if you are passionate about it. Hell I find most women find you more attractive if you are passionate about certain hobbies. I see guys who just play at parties and pick up the chicks and I hate it too but I did it a couple of times and sure enough, girls do flock to you even if you are follicly challenged. They didn't flock so much if you were fat though.
I never really got into it because of chicks, so to speak, but more because it was fun instead of the usual sports and school elections drabble.
I think the most important things is to have fun. If it's not fun then why are you doing it then?
Another is to play with other people, I have learned just as much from playing with guys who just started playing to guys who have been doing it for over 20 years.
