MIKE ISENBERG of The JETS profile picture

MIKE ISENBERG of The JETS

The Kid From Coolidge Street

About Me

MyGen Profile Generator MyGen Profile GeneratorMike 'zAZ' Isenberg and the zAZtones - Red House

Add to My Profile | More VideosThe JETS ( The NEWS ) television special

Add to My Profile | More VideosMike Isenberg and the zAZtones Live - Paper Girl 11-03-05

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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 1/19/2006
Band Website: hollywoodhangover.com/mike_isenberg.htm
Band Members:A child of the 50's, Mike Isenberg grew up in Pekin, Illinois. His musical journey began in 1962 with a student Champ guitar. It was only a few years later that he joined his first band The BLUES FEELING. The first three songs he ever wrote hit the local airwaves in 1969 on Chris Antonio's Captain Cosmos radio show. Though rarely ever credited for it, his ideas and accomplishments had an indelible effect on the midwest music scene and beyond. Without question Pekin, Illinois' most noteworthy rebel and one of the midwest's most original songwriters and guitar heros, Isenberg's musical outfits were always at the vanguard of 60's guitar based bands during the Golden Age of Garage Bands. Those old enough to remember vividly recall him sitting on the front steps of the house at 1301 Coolidge Street in Pekin, endlessly playing guitar. His love of guitar took a serious turn after watching a film of The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show performing their hit Rain. Shortly after that Cream, Blue Cheer and Jimi Hendrix solidified what would become a lifelong love of psychedelic blues. Since the mid 60's and to this day, he has shared the stage with the icons of the music business, from The Shirelles, John Cale, XTC, Mountain, Sam Andrew of Big Brother and the Holding Company, Foghat, The Association, Arthur 'Killer' Kane of the New York Dolls, Joey Santiago of The Pixies, The Turtles and countless more, dazzling crowds with his unorthodox guitar style. He once played 'Blue Suede Shoes' for Mr. Blue Suede Shoes himself, Carl Perkins, and on Carl's guitar! Carl turned to Mike's father standing next to him and said 'That boy knows how to make a guitar rock!' The late great Father of Rock and Roll, Bill Haley stopped in to see Isenberg play with The Jets in 1973 because he'd heard the young guitarist could nail Danny Cedrone's famous guitar solo ( the first real rock and roll guitar solo ever, and THE most famous rock and roll guitar solo ever recorded ) on his signature rock and roll anthem 'Rock Around The Clock.' The very young and very drunk Isenberg impressed the rock and roll legend, who shook his hand's and said "That was way out man! Gonesville!" Mike and fellow midwest rock warhorses Craig Moore ( from 60's classic garage band GONN who appear on Rhino's NUGGETS box set ) and Ilmo Smokehouse drum master and Ginger Baker understudy Dennis Tieken did a concert tribute to jam icons CREAM in the early '90's called Disraeli Gears that stunned young fans of the jam genre. His band THE JETS originated in 1972 with childhood friends and fellow 60's musicians Graham Walker, Gregg Clemons, Randy Kohtz, Greg Wilson and later Tom Walker and Darin Bloomfield, forming the definitive version of the band. The band's success was instant and overwhelming, playing to wild capacity crowds. Newspapers reported crowd reactions that mirrored Beatlemania. THE JETS had several charted records, a regional top twenty hit with BE FOR ME ( one of those first three songs he had ever written ) on the Marigold label in 1974 on WIRL's charts, and two big hits, LOVER BOY and PAPER GIRL ( both penned by Isenberg ) appearing on Twin Tone's famed double album set 'Big Hits Of Mid America Volume 3'. In 1982 Isenberg took top honors at WWCT FM 106's Basement Tapes Awards. His song THIS IS FOR YOU became another regional hit. The song appeared on 106's Basement Tapes LP and on WWCT's charts in the Hot 100. Mike Isenberg released an independant album called EVERYONE'S TURNING TO STONE on the Ed Records label in 1991. Mike Isenberg will also release his autobiography called 'The Kid From Coolidge Street' sometime this year.
Influences:
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Something songwiters can REALLY get excited about!

Those of you who have read any of the blogs about my history know that I've had some popular records, but I never got paid for any of them. In the last forty some odd ( and I DO mean odd! ) years, I'v...
Posted by MIKE ISENBERG of The JETS on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:19:00 PST

Instant gratification always leaves you wanting

It seems a little hypocritical to deliver a column on the downside of technology as I type away on a PC. I have a real love / hate relationship with computers, and technology in general. But to be a b...
Posted by MIKE ISENBERG of The JETS on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:11:00 PST

What makes a great musician?

I've been asked many times what made me the musician I am, and further - what makes me continue to press to be an even better one. It's a very interesting line of thought, so I'll share it with you. I...
Posted by MIKE ISENBERG of The JETS on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:07:00 PST

This far down the road

Another year of my life has passed. Tomorrow I'll be 55 years old. Frankly, I had no expectations of making it this far. Not that I'm a pessemist, it's just that I never could see it happening. But, h...
Posted by MIKE ISENBERG of The JETS on Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:36:00 PST

Theyre coming - and soon!

In the midst of all of the political rhetoric and bloviating, the flowery speeches the speech writer provides, the snipes the joke writer's supply, the gaffes that inadvertantly occur on bot...
Posted by MIKE ISENBERG of The JETS on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:59:00 PST

All you are given is a time and a place

In the original 1960 version of the movie The Alamo, there's a scene where the Parson reflects on the coming battle that he knows will end the lives of every last man woman and child inside the relati...
Posted by MIKE ISENBERG of The JETS on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:39:00 PST

Gas prices - the TRUTH and whos to blame - like it or not

Just remember as you read this, there's a great big difference between desputable opinion and indesputable fact. Don't jump up with your pitchforks and torches to crucify me just because of your polit...
Posted by MIKE ISENBERG of The JETS on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:38:00 PST

Induct Grand Funk Railroad into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!!

I saw my first real rock concert at Exposition Gardens in Peoria, Illinois. We saw Paul Revere and the Raiders. They were a total riot back then, and from all reports, their every bit as outrageous no...
Posted by MIKE ISENBERG of The JETS on Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:22:00 PST

TV Jones Classics in the Dark Horse!

Sounds like a damned mystery novel doesn't it? Well, Dark Horse is the name of my Gretsch Country Gentleman electric guitar. A lot of people think it's a Black Eagle model because the guitar appe...
Posted by MIKE ISENBERG of The JETS on Sat, 31 May 2008 10:07:00 PST

My book is FINISHED!

Yes, I've been away from the MySpace fray for a spell, but for good reason. My autobiography 'The Kid From Coolidge Street' is finally finished! We've spent the last few weeks doing out loud read thro...
Posted by MIKE ISENBERG of The JETS on Mon, 19 May 2008 01:34:00 PST