Navigation Main Crashocaster thumbnail page (all 50 bodies) CRASH’s Guitar International journal Crashocasters 11-20 Crashocasters 21-30 Crashocasters 31-40 Crashocasters 41-50 #1. Journal entry. #2. Journal entry. #3. Journal entry. #4. Journal entry. #5. Journal entry. #6. Journal entry. #7. Journal entry. #8. Journal entry. #9. Journal entry. #10. Journal entry.
From the book review by Rick Landers: Guitar – An American Life, by National Public Radio commentator Tim Brookes, carries readers along the bumpy trail the guitar travelled before becoming one of America’s most fascinating icons and the country’s most popular musical instrument. The book is a wonderful tapestry of history and daily life with the author weaving together the evolution of the guitar with his personal story. Read review »
by Tom Guerra.
Guitarist Mark Easton has been a mainstay on the East Coast club circuit for more than three decades. A fiery rock and blues player and talented songwriter, Mark and Sweet Daddy Cool Breeze (one of his many bands), were just named Best Blues Band in the Northeast in a recent Advocate poll. Now in his early 50s, he’s playing at the top of his game and continues to stay busy both on the road and in the studio. Guitar International caught up with Mark in October, 2006, as he was preparing for another winter tour with Sweet Daddy Cool Breeze…
by Tom Watson.
Tish Ciravolo is well known in the music world not because she’s recorded great guitar instrumentals but because she’s been instrumental in creating great guitars for an underserved segment of the guitar buying market: women. Ciravolo claims that in the year 2000, female buyers accounted for only 5% of total new guitar sales and the odds are she’s done her homework. Tish Ciravolo is the founder and president of Daisy Rock Guitars, “The Girl Guitar Company”…
by Rick Landers.
Cliches sometimes ring or twang true it seems, as the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree when talking about the leader of the Jay Kaye Band. The son of legendary Hawaiian First Lady of Rock ‘n’ Roll guitarist Mary Kaye (Mary Kaaihuei) and grandson of Johnny Ukulele, Jay Kaye’s musical heritage is close to the bone when he roams the stage with his black Strat and a swagger. Jay told Guitar International that he grew up on the road, sleeping in the back of his parents’ car as they toured the U.S., surrounded by some of the hottest musicians on the planet. More often than not, he watched his mom wow the crowds with her “White Beauty”, a white Stratocaster with gold hardware that would later be known as the “Mary Kaye” Strat by Fender fans around the world. Mom was also named one of the outstanding jazz artists of the year (1957/1962) by Playboy magazine…
by Mary Ellen Gustafson.
I’ve known the people involved in creating what has become this massive entity called Trans-Siberian Orchestra and the core rock band they started with, Savatage, almost since they started in 1996. Over the years I’ve had the opportunity to have conversations and interviews with Paul O’Neill, Bob Kinkel, Jon Oliva, Chris Caffery, meet John Lee Middleton and Jeff Plate and at least see Al Pitrelli play live with both bands. And, after all these years of attending the TSO’s West Tour and feeling like I know Al as well as all the others involved, I’ve never actually met or talked to him. When I hooked up with the guys in Savatage in 1998, he wasn’t around at the moment, but I still remember him and Chris playing off each other to the songs on the Wake Of Magellan Tour and thinking it was one of the most awesome guitar duos I’d ever seen. Actually, it’s still right up there at the top to this day. Bottom line; I’ve got a lot of history with and respect for Al Pitrelli and I finally got a chance to meet him…
From the interview by John Foxworthy: Not many bands had Skid Row’s impact on the scene in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Between several monster hits, a volatile yet charismatic front man and adversity in the face of grunge, it’s amazing any of the members even lived to tell the tales. Now, with a new record on the rack and a renewed sense of self, it looks like the guys might have the power to reclaim their place in the annals of rock stardom.
Skid Row guitarist Scotti Hill isn’t looking back to the old days. Even though there’s a lot of history behind him and the band, his focus is on the here and now – and the future. Interview »
by Tom Watson. « Page 1 Page 2
by Tom Watson.
Janet Robin is a working musician. She plays guitar, sings, writes, produces, records, promotes and spends time on the road. She’s a professional. Music pays her bills. It feeds her stomach and her soul. Robin’s career reflects the decades it’s been through: garage bands in the ’70s; rock (mild to heavy) and a touch of glam in the ’80s; touring with Lindsey Buckingham, a shift to singer-songwriter mode and Lilith Fair in the ’90s; and now, in the ’00s, a commitment to DIY writing, producing, recording, promoting, and purusing new opportunities in those fields via the digital revolution. She’s born (1966) and raised in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley, so I have to wonder: What turns a potentially straight-up Valley Girl into a music business…
by Tom Watson.
Call it serendipity. I’ve followed the Gibson digital Les Paul guitar story since 2002 when I read in a press release what I think was the first official word from Gibson about the instrument. Over the four years between then and now I’ve read more press releases and media stories about the digital Les Paul, several of which included market release dates that didn’t materialize. Prototypes would be displayed at NAMM and various electronics shows but it never came to market. Until now. Following is the digital Les Paul portion of today’s interview with Gibson Chairman and CEO, Henry Juszkiewicz…
