Peace and love to you all. It has been really great having a few weeks off so I could get into my songwriting and recordings.

Besides new songs, I have been digitally re-mastering all the albums I have been on for the ANTHOLOGY Collection. All the songs you all have told me are your favorites, which also happen to be mine, are getting re-energized and vitalized. I couldn’t resist putting some new vocals and guitars on these songs. They really take on a whole new identity. I like to call it “CONTEMPORARY CLASSIC ROCK.” Or “NEW CLASSIC ROCK.”

It’s funny when sometimes the band is checking in at an airport or jumping into a van and someone walks up and says “you guys in a band?” We say yes and then they ask “what kind of music
do you play?” I simply reply “original classic rock hits.” They

usually have no idea what that means. I’ve never had anyone say “you mean you play your own hit songs?” Usually they just nod, clearly confused and say “oh, uh huh.”

As most of you know, for years now I’ve been shooting and editing videos of my tours, studio footage, at home, jamming with other musicians, interviews and so on. I’m now in the process of editing highlights of those videos and doing something rather unique… I take the concert video of us of a classic rock group everyone knows, performing their songs live and then I shoot new conceptual video footage of those same artists interacting with actors and storylines, to go along with the song. I call this “CONTEMPORARY CLASSIC ROCK VIDEOS.”

You know RIDE CAPTAIN RIDE never had a conceptual music video, just us performing it in concert, on TV or out on the beach just standing there. So I’ve taken concert video footage and special effects, along with actors and real life shots, making a video that conveys the various meanings the songs lyrics have. I get so much email from people who tell me the weirdest stories they heard about the meaning of RIDE CAPTAIN and want to know if it’s true. IN A GADDA DA VIDA is another great song worthy of a full scale video production.

A recent highlight for me was getting back in touch with my good friend John Cornett. He is one of those special kind of people you feel you known all your life when you first meet him. John’s an excellent guitar player and writer. He has been working as a network engineer and developing his own software. We are in the process of putting together a state of the art Rock Event Production to perform in China. John and his associate Tim Pate, a concert promoter and more…. have some great ideas and contacts there. Also I must thank John for helping me get this web site back up and running after Windows Vista and Microsoft phased out much of the software programs I used for creating and updating RealRock.com pages.

Next week we’re going to be playing in the Palm Springs California area. We are so ready to jam! This band is truly a delight to be in. The guys are all very gifted players and singers and when we get in front of an audience, sparks begin to fly! We play for crowds of up to a million people all the way down to a few, like when it’s raining, thundering and freezing, but it doesn’t dampen our spirits. We play at the same intensity no matter what.

Lastly, I’ve never written too much here about Ramatam, that great band I was in with Mitch Mitchell of the JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE and April Lawton who I recently learned had passed away. April was a truly gifted guitarist and was often called the female Hendrix. So coming soon will be a Tribute To Ramatam complete with my personal stories and music from the band.

Take care friends,
Mike Pinera

Hi gang!

I bet you thought this web site would never get another update. I've been writing and recording new songs and really did not have time to do much else.

The All-Stars are alive and well. We just played some great dates. The Soaring Eagle Event Center in Lansing Michigan was a highlight.

There will be a new page coming soon with info on how to download my upcoming album set entitled "THE PRESENT." It is a 3 CD set which includes two Anthology/Best Of CD's and a third with all new songs.

I am very happy how this came out and I know you will like it. The songs on the Anthology are the ones you all have requested through the years. They are my favorites as well.

The new songs have finally captured an original sound and feel I've been wanting to express for quite some time. Songs like "I NEED MORE" and "TIME TRAVELERS" are all about this new sound. If you like Led Zep, Santana, Hendrix, Aerosmith and The Beatles, you just might like "THE PRESENT" Disc one.

I also have added some new tracks to the songs on Best Of/Anthology Discs two and three. Gives those vintage gems a new light!

Next week we're playing in Indiana. looking forward to seeing our friends and meeting new ones.

Peace and love to you all, your pal,
Mike Pinera