This is some general information and inside details about the production of the show.
"Make The Dots Dance On It"
Was a quote Mikhal would say at the end of the show. We incorporated this saying in our correspondence."
"The guests in the 2nd open in order are: David T. Chastain, Billy Sheehan, Michael Angelo, Paul Gilbert, Steven M. Graves, Jimmy Reed, Victor Williams*, Craig Tyner*, David Harbour. * not 100% sure until I can watch the shows that are on Betamax to confirm."
"The Rick Craig reference you see in the Bloopers is pertaining to Rick Craig of the Detroit band Halloween. We've tried numerous times to have him on the show but he never would come on, so it became a inside joke between Mikhal and me and we both loved the reggae beat Mikhal did poking fun at Rick. So when you hear Mikhal asking George Neal of the band Halloween, you now get it. We both still liked Rick and hoped he would eventually come on the show."
"After George Neal of Halloween was on the show, George, Brian and I talked and I was able to make their music video for their song "Kings". I also taped 2 live concerts for the band. The first was at the Premier Star in Sterling Heights and the other at Harpo's in Detroit. They both aired."
"We had Michael Angelo two times on the show. The first time was taped at Blondies. The second time was at Motor City Guitar. At the Motor City taping after the show Mikhal and Michael was talking music and Mikhal made reference that he had perfect pitch. Mikhal tossed his set of keys on the ground and called out what key it was in, Michael then got his guitar and found the chord it was and it was same, Michael asked how he did that, Mikhal then points at me smiling and said I learned from him. This was too funny since I know how to play guitar but no way even near the caliber of Mikhal nor Michael. They both are schooled musicians with degrees and that made it all the funnier."
"We had a scheduled interview set for Saturday 1, 1989 at our studio in Ferndale with Cacophony Jason Becker and Marty Friedman, but on the way to Michigan they had an accident and the interview did not happen. We later tried to get an interview with Marty Friedman when he was with Megadeth, but was turned down."
"There are typos in some guest names that I missed, so sorry guys. 24-7Spyz, not 24-7 Spys. Dave Feeny, not Dave Feeney. and others I think."
"We tried two times to get Geoff Tate and Chris DeGarmo of Queensryche and was turned down both times."
"We tried to get "Dimebag" of Pantera, Jake E. Lee of Badlands, Rory Gallagher, Billy Cobham, Pat Metheny, Larry Carlton, Stanley Clarke, George Duke, Ice T, Lee Ritenour, David Lee Roth, Stanley Jordan, all interviews were denied."
"The first time we was declined by Al Di Meola, but the second time we got to interview him at the Attic Theater in Detroit."
"We had an interview scheduled and all our gear set-up for Eric Johnson, but due to his sound check running long, we was not able to interview him, but we got to stay for the show. It was amazing. We tried to get Eric the 1st time but was denied because his itinerary."
"There are a few guests that we had on the show and I have no clue who or when or where it was done at. All my paper work had was a signature that I can't make out. Sometimes things happen so fast and time running short that formalities are thrown out the door to get the interview done."
"We had a drummer named Steven M. Graves from Mikhal's band called "Clinic" on the show. After talking with Steve, he agreed to do a 14 part Drum instructional show named "Rudimentions." Today Steve and I are still great friends. The band "Clinic" was recorded live in the studio and aired on public access channel 52 in Oakland County. If I can find a working 3/4" deck, I still have the masters of that footage and will add it someday. Clinic consisted of Mikhal Caldwell (Guitar), Steven M. Graves (Drums) and Mike Hollister (Bass)"
"Mikhal had a band named "Earth Circus" that I taped live from Twenty 36 (2036 Woodward avenue) in Detroit and it also aired."
"When we interviewed Larry Coryell in studio, it was cool that right after Larry played at in store performance at Sam's Jams which was located at 9 Mile and Allen in Ferndale, we all walked to our studio one block away at 344 West Nine Mile at the corner of 9 Mile and Planavon and did the interview."
"We interviewed Tribal Techs Scott Henderson and Garry Willis in studio when they played at the Magic Bag then owned by Sams Jams owner Steve Milgrom."
"I recently found a VHS tape of Mikhal playing live in our studio with a band I have no clue as to who the name of the band or when it was taped. It never aired. I think it was a rehearsal for Mikhal to review or send as promo for gigs which we was not to do unless it aired."
"I have to give some credit to those who helped with the taping of Fretboard Frolics. My brother George Lungu (listed as a Producer in name mainly with his permission so we could enter competitions since I was an employee and could not do so otherwise) George helped out a lot with camera and audio for tapings. A good friend and co-worker at the time Brad "Bubba" Whicker. Brad and I would do a lot of band related stuff and help each other out. He has an awesome list of bands he knows and had a show that featured them playing Live. They both helped often on in studio and field interviews, and with live concert recordings. Thanks."
"Most of the shows I have of Fretboard Frolics are on Betamax and some on VHS. The reason was that I would make 2 copies at a time (1 for me and 1 for Mikhal) and usually on SLP speed. That is why most look like crap. So if you ever see any out there that is why they look like crap. The masters of the shows was recorded on 3/4" tape very good quality and only key guests was kept. When you are doing a production this long and for free, you try and do it as cheap as possible. Note to others: Do not skimp on copies (tape is cheap) - you never know when you will want to revive them memories in the future."
"Mikhal entered the inaugural Motor City Best Rock 'N' Roll guitarist contest on April 30, 1989 held at the Ritz in Roseville. He did not win, in fact Mikhal did not really care about the contest, he did not go to the rehearsal to set up the equipment. When he was due up to play, the guy asked for his settings, Mikhal told the guy just to give him anything he felt like settings wise. Mikhal's segment aired on an episode of Fretboard Frolics. It was still cool."
"It's funny and sad that I do not have any pictures of me and Mikhal together. Most times I was the one taking the pictures. But you sure hear my name a lot on tape - LOL."
"Make The Dots Dance On It"
Was a quote Mikhal would say at the end of the show. We incorporated this saying in our correspondence."
"The guests in the 2nd open in order are: David T. Chastain, Billy Sheehan, Michael Angelo, Paul Gilbert, Steven M. Graves, Jimmy Reed, Victor Williams*, Craig Tyner*, David Harbour. * not 100% sure until I can watch the shows that are on Betamax to confirm."
"The Rick Craig reference you see in the Bloopers is pertaining to Rick Craig of the Detroit band Halloween. We've tried numerous times to have him on the show but he never would come on, so it became a inside joke between Mikhal and me and we both loved the reggae beat Mikhal did poking fun at Rick. So when you hear Mikhal asking George Neal of the band Halloween, you now get it. We both still liked Rick and hoped he would eventually come on the show."
"After George Neal of Halloween was on the show, George, Brian and I talked and I was able to make their music video for their song "Kings". I also taped 2 live concerts for the band. The first was at the Premier Star in Sterling Heights and the other at Harpo's in Detroit. They both aired."
"We had Michael Angelo two times on the show. The first time was taped at Blondies. The second time was at Motor City Guitar. At the Motor City taping after the show Mikhal and Michael was talking music and Mikhal made reference that he had perfect pitch. Mikhal tossed his set of keys on the ground and called out what key it was in, Michael then got his guitar and found the chord it was and it was same, Michael asked how he did that, Mikhal then points at me smiling and said I learned from him. This was too funny since I know how to play guitar but no way even near the caliber of Mikhal nor Michael. They both are schooled musicians with degrees and that made it all the funnier."
"We had a scheduled interview set for Saturday 1, 1989 at our studio in Ferndale with Cacophony Jason Becker and Marty Friedman, but on the way to Michigan they had an accident and the interview did not happen. We later tried to get an interview with Marty Friedman when he was with Megadeth, but was turned down."
"There are typos in some guest names that I missed, so sorry guys. 24-7Spyz, not 24-7 Spys. Dave Feeny, not Dave Feeney. and others I think."
"We tried two times to get Geoff Tate and Chris DeGarmo of Queensryche and was turned down both times."
"We tried to get "Dimebag" of Pantera, Jake E. Lee of Badlands, Rory Gallagher, Billy Cobham, Pat Metheny, Larry Carlton, Stanley Clarke, George Duke, Ice T, Lee Ritenour, David Lee Roth, Stanley Jordan, all interviews were denied."
"The first time we was declined by Al Di Meola, but the second time we got to interview him at the Attic Theater in Detroit."
"We had an interview scheduled and all our gear set-up for Eric Johnson, but due to his sound check running long, we was not able to interview him, but we got to stay for the show. It was amazing. We tried to get Eric the 1st time but was denied because his itinerary."
"There are a few guests that we had on the show and I have no clue who or when or where it was done at. All my paper work had was a signature that I can't make out. Sometimes things happen so fast and time running short that formalities are thrown out the door to get the interview done."
"We had a drummer named Steven M. Graves from Mikhal's band called "Clinic" on the show. After talking with Steve, he agreed to do a 14 part Drum instructional show named "Rudimentions." Today Steve and I are still great friends. The band "Clinic" was recorded live in the studio and aired on public access channel 52 in Oakland County. If I can find a working 3/4" deck, I still have the masters of that footage and will add it someday. Clinic consisted of Mikhal Caldwell (Guitar), Steven M. Graves (Drums) and Mike Hollister (Bass)"
"Mikhal had a band named "Earth Circus" that I taped live from Twenty 36 (2036 Woodward avenue) in Detroit and it also aired."
"When we interviewed Larry Coryell in studio, it was cool that right after Larry played at in store performance at Sam's Jams which was located at 9 Mile and Allen in Ferndale, we all walked to our studio one block away at 344 West Nine Mile at the corner of 9 Mile and Planavon and did the interview."
"We interviewed Tribal Techs Scott Henderson and Garry Willis in studio when they played at the Magic Bag then owned by Sams Jams owner Steve Milgrom."
"I recently found a VHS tape of Mikhal playing live in our studio with a band I have no clue as to who the name of the band or when it was taped. It never aired. I think it was a rehearsal for Mikhal to review or send as promo for gigs which we was not to do unless it aired."
"I have to give some credit to those who helped with the taping of Fretboard Frolics. My brother George Lungu (listed as a Producer in name mainly with his permission so we could enter competitions since I was an employee and could not do so otherwise) George helped out a lot with camera and audio for tapings. A good friend and co-worker at the time Brad "Bubba" Whicker. Brad and I would do a lot of band related stuff and help each other out. He has an awesome list of bands he knows and had a show that featured them playing Live. They both helped often on in studio and field interviews, and with live concert recordings. Thanks."
"Most of the shows I have of Fretboard Frolics are on Betamax and some on VHS. The reason was that I would make 2 copies at a time (1 for me and 1 for Mikhal) and usually on SLP speed. That is why most look like crap. So if you ever see any out there that is why they look like crap. The masters of the shows was recorded on 3/4" tape very good quality and only key guests was kept. When you are doing a production this long and for free, you try and do it as cheap as possible. Note to others: Do not skimp on copies (tape is cheap) - you never know when you will want to revive them memories in the future."
"Mikhal entered the inaugural Motor City Best Rock 'N' Roll guitarist contest on April 30, 1989 held at the Ritz in Roseville. He did not win, in fact Mikhal did not really care about the contest, he did not go to the rehearsal to set up the equipment. When he was due up to play, the guy asked for his settings, Mikhal told the guy just to give him anything he felt like settings wise. Mikhal's segment aired on an episode of Fretboard Frolics. It was still cool."
"It's funny and sad that I do not have any pictures of me and Mikhal together. Most times I was the one taking the pictures. But you sure hear my name a lot on tape - LOL."
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