NAMM 2012: Talking to Guitar Stars

By: Rob Cavuoto

As always, NAMM 2012 was jam packed with new gear, huge promotion, and of course, major celebrities. GI’s own Rob Cavuoto was on the scene at this year’s conference to check out the big names that were on hand to promote their new gear, demonstrate products and meet the fans.

Here are some of the highlights from Rob’s run-ins with some of the biggest names in the guitar world.

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Mike Inez – Alice in Chains

Rob: What is the status of Alice in Chains’ next CD?

Mike: We just got back from South America and have been busy writing. We are going into the studio real soon and just waiting on our producer to finish with Rush in Toronto on their new CD. With us, we try and not put a date on it since we never seem to hit it, so it will come out when it is ready.

 

Mike Inez

 

Paul Crook – Meatloaf

Rob: What type of songs should we expect from the new Meatloaf CD – Hell in a Hand Basket?

Paul: It’s due out March 13th and it’s a little bit of departure from what we have done in the past. We have Chuck D from Public Enemy doing a rap, we have Little John doing some hip hop and we have Trace Atkins also on the CD. It’s Meat’s most personal CD to date and was a lot of fun to make. There are also some rock songs with some good guitar playing.

 

Paul Crook

 

Richie Faulkner – Judas Priest

Rob: When we last met in NYC, you and Glenn were working on the next Priest CD. How is it going and when can we expect it?

Richie: It’s in the process and we don’t want to rush it. We haven’t put a timeline on it, so if it takes a year or so we want it to be right and make a statement. We want it to be a good as it can be. When we get back from this leg of our European tour we will carry back on with it. We have about four rough tracks written. Whether they will change it to the CD, I don’t know.

 

Richie Faulkner

 

Neal Schon – Journey

Rob: Can you tell me about your new Paul Reed Smith model?

Neal: It’s an amazing instrument, I test drove it on tour last year with Journey. The one that I used was only solid under the bridge as well as the treble and bass pick ups. The rest was hollow. I had very little feedback problems at all. The newer model that I haven’t had a chance to plug in on stage yet but its solid all the way down the middle.

Rob: Are you happy with the tones you are getting? The PRS Press Conference demo was really impressive.

Neal:  It’s killer, I can tell you it sounds better than in the demo. I had a lot of friend tell me this new one smokes what I was playing every night.

 

Neal Schon

 

Uli John Roth

Rob: Any plans to jam with the Scorpions while they are on the last leg of the farewell tour?

Uli: Nothing is planned for the States put I will play with them in Paris, in June. Not sure what we will do, guessing a few songs, maybe “We’ll Burn the Sky.”  We won’t decide until the last moment.

 

Uli Jon Roth

 

Doug Aldrich – Whitesnake

Rob: What has the Whitesnake been up too after the last CD and tour?

Doug: We’re currently working on two new live CDs and hope to have one of them out this year.

Doug Aldrich

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