Posted October 4, 2011 at 7:27 pm | 7 comments
In May 1994, a popular cultural phenomenon swept the nation when the motion picture adaptation of The Crow was released. A brilliant and starkly vivid visual realization of the adult underground cult graphic novel by author and illustrator James O’Barr, it became something of an instant legend due to the tragedy of it being the final performance of the truly gifted and eloquent actor, Brandon Lee, (son of martial arts actor and legend Bruce Lee). Lee was accidentally killed by a malfunctioning prop gun on the film’s set during the making of the film.
Posted in: Industry Interviews, Interviews
Posted October 3, 2011 at 10:26 am | One comment
9 Chambers is a collaboration between two respected hard rock veterans – producer/singer/guitarist Greg Hampton (who has worked with the likes of Alice Cooper, Bootsy Collins, Lita Ford, and recently unearthed Tommy Bolin recordings), and former Monster Magnet guitarist Ed Mundell. They crossed paths when they ran into each other at a flea market buying Mahogany Rush, Free, or Jimi Hendrix bootlegs as well at NAMM.
Posted in: Interviews, Rock Interviews
Posted September 28, 2011 at 12:51 pm | One comment
Stepping into Paul Reed Smith’s office, my eyes immediately were drawn to the framed photos on the wall nearest the door. There were shots of Smith with Carlos Santana and the legendary Ted McCarty, past president of Gibson Guitars. To the right stood a small troop of electric guitars without pups and a PRS acoustic nearby. It wasn’t the pristine office one might expect to find in the corporate headquarters of an internationally known senior executive, but one of a working man. The pickup-less electric guitars appeared to be projects in mid-shift, waiting for Paul and his PRS team to rummage through their collective mind and come up with new ideas or solutions to creative challenges. Smith appears to be a restless man, who’s never quite satisfied and always has something cookin’.
Posted in: Blues Interviews, Industry Interviews, Interviews
Posted September 26, 2011 at 8:19 am | One comment
Chickenfoot – the supergroup featuring guitarist Joe Satriani, drummer Chad Smith and former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony and frontman Sammy Hagar will be releasing their long awaited new CD on September 27th simply entitled – Chickenfoot III.
Posted in: Guitar Hero Interviews, Interviews, Rock Interviews
Posted September 20, 2011 at 6:29 pm | No comments
In July 2001, I was deeply honored to interview roots music legend, the late, great Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown before he passed away just a few years later. At some 77 years young, the virtuoso guitarist, fiddle player, and multi-instrumentalist had been blessed with a luminous, storied career and had shared the live performance stage and recording studio with the likes of Eric Clapton, Ry Cooder, Leon Russell, Roy Clark, and a glittering who’s who of music icons who have all tipped their hats to Gate’s musical gifts and immeasurable influence on them.
Posted in: Blues Interviews, Country Interviews, Instrumental Interviews, Interviews
Posted September 17, 2011 at 4:00 pm | 2 comments
Legend, music pioneer, and amazing blue-eyed soul stylist Gregg Allman can proudly lay claim to being one of the all time great, influential, landmark artists in rock history. Some thirty years ago, at a lull in America’s artistic pride when The British Invasion swept her by, Gregg, along with his brother, legendary slide guitar virtuoso Duane Allman, came out of the pastoral southern foothills and co-founded the now mythic, Allman Brothers Band. Their brilliant, astonishing hodge podge gumbo of boogie woogie blues rock, took the world by storm and gave the country back a sense of musical pride, while taking their permanent place in the firmament of music theology.
Posted in: Blues Interviews, Interviews, Jam Band Interviews, Rock Interviews
Posted September 12, 2011 at 10:04 am | No comments
Authentic, classic rock sounds are needed now more than ever, and those sounds are in no short supply on The Stone Chiefs’ debut album Drive On.
In an era when more and more musicians rely on electronics and software to get their art across, it’s refreshing to discover an up-and-coming act that hasn’t forgotten the foundation that rock music was built upon – the electrifying, rip-roaring sound of a real, live band playing together. That’s the exact approach The Stone Chiefs, adopt on their recently-released debut album.
Posted in: Interviews, Rock Interviews
Posted September 6, 2011 at 9:00 am | 5 comments
In 2007, a Jason Hook-less Five Finger Death Punch released their debut album, The Way of the Fist, and immediately won recognition from the metal community. When gearing up to write and record their follow-up, co-founder and guitarist Zoltan Bathory finally got the chance to bring in guitarist Jason Hook, who took over the majority of lead duties.
Posted in: Interviews, Metal Interviews, Shred Interviews
Posted September 2, 2011 at 7:03 pm | 6 comments
This has been a momentous and fortuitous year for Ryan Rabin. The amazingly gifted co-founder, drummer, percussionist, songwriter, and producer, of indie rock band, Grouplove is poised for the September 13, 2011 international release of Grouplove’s stellar eponymous debut album, Never Trust A Happy Song.
In barely a year’s time, Ryan and his Grouplove band mates, Christian Zucconi, (lead vocals, guitars), Andrew Wessen, (lead guitar), Hannah Hooper, (vocals, keyboards), and Sean Gadd, (bass guitar), have released a critically acclaimed EP last January, they’ve been heralded by NME Magazine as one of the “Best New Bands of 2010.”
Posted in: Indie Rock Interviews, Interviews, Rock Interviews
Posted August 29, 2011 at 8:00 am | One comment
In May 2001, I was deeply honored to interview the late, great, legendary Bo Diddley before he passed away. At the time, some 72 years young, he was still vibrant, regaling me with nostalgic creative stories and even scat singing to me. Bo was imbued with such a playful sense of humor, and a lifelong love for music and the guitar.
Posted in: Blues, Blues Interviews, Interviews
