A line from the Jon Butcher song, "99 (May Be All You Need)": "A barefoot messiah tries to beg a dime."

Now, any artist can produce, distribute, spin, sell and even collaborate on music without the expense or hassles and frustrations of trying to go the obsolete, traditional route.

Never. My music is MINE to share with the world. It is never to become the property of a corporation that neither understands nor appreciates it or me.

Barefoot Messiah is the solo recording project of Chicago-based bassist, Shawn "Bud" Lyte (Chill Factor-5, Havent, The Statistics, Ystu Elee', Teenage Voodoo).

Released in 2000, and still circulating today, 'The Acid Controversy' is an effectively eclectic and inviting all-instrumental collage of hard rock, jazz, Latin and new age music. Barefoot Messiah has captured the ears and minds of progressive music fans via airplay and webcasts as far away as Amsterdam, Australia, Lebanon, Romania, and Thailand.

'This Side of Heaven' was to be released in 2002, but Bud put the project on indefinte hold to pursue interests in sports and e-commerce. After re-connecting with Maurice Oliver to record with Chill Factor-5, his interest in recording and performing was (eventually) renewed and the second Barefoot Messiah album is back in production.

In addition to Barefoot Messiah and Chill Factor-5, Bud is active in projects with techno artist Sammie Lee and Chicago guitarist Dave Austin.

Barefoot Messiah, Rhythm Method, The Fixx, Lee Ritenour, Rossini, Stan Kenton Orchestra, Zebra, Peter Mayer (both), John Tesh, William Orbit, Patrick O'Hearn, Bobby Lyle, Stewart Copeland, Nile Rodgers, Fourplay, Susumu Hirasawa

My favorite city is Kyoto, Japan, but I have yet to gig there.

Rogue LX-305 bass: Jay Turser JTB-445 bass: M Audio Delta-66: Zoom BFX-708: Joemeek VC3Q: Yamaha MT4X: Sonic Foundry/Sony software

The only thing I love more than music is life.