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.
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.”
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.
Michael Monroe has long been at the forefront of breaking music barriers from singing in Hanoi Rocks to his successful solo career. He now returns with his highly anticipated new CD, Sensory Overdrivedue out in the U.S on August 23rd which is produced by Jack Douglas of Aerosmith, John Lennon and Cheap Trick fame.
It’s still hard to believe that almost 30 years have past since Queensryche’s first EP with “Queen of the Reich” and “The Lady Wore Black”. I can remember like it was yesterday purchasing their EP and being blown away by it originality and amazing guitar work. Fast forward a few decades and Queensryche is still making great music with their 13th release Dedicated to Chaos.
You know George. He’s that gravely-voiced madman who sings about bein’ bad and drinkin’ alone. He would like, no, he demands one bourbon, one scotch, and a beer, and screw you if you don’t have it. He’s bad to the bone and has been since he started playing blues standards and his own dirty originals with his band The Destoyers in the mid ’70s.
In May 2002 I was honored to interview a true musical legend, as an artist and as a guitarist, the Kinks’ incomparable Dave Davies. At the time, the six string virtuoso and innovator of the infamously raunchy “You Really Got Me” guitar riff had just released, and was touring the U.S. in support of, his first studio album in nearly twenty years, the imaginative, socially conscious, and critically acclaimed Bug.
The Motor City Mad Man is on the loose and touring the US for his summer I Still Believe tour. While most people are more familiar with Ted for his political candor, music fans know Ted from where it all began, back in 1975 on his first solo CD Ted Nugent.
The Arc Angels, their sole 1992 self-titled international release on Geffen Records, and the epic, incendiary musical maelstrom that they divined in their short lived body of work, ignited fireworks of accolades from both the public and the music industry, further propelling Sexton’s career and renown into the stratosphere to this very day. But personal problems and creative differences among the band’s members forced The Arc Angels’ dissolution in 1994, just as they were only beginning to fulfill their promise.
In October 2002, I was honored to interview Texas singer, songwriter, guitar virtuoso extraordinaire, the incomparable Charlie Sexton. Sexton was, at the time, taking a few hours break from his extensive and very esteemed gig as Bob Dylan’s tour guitarist, which after some three very high profile, prestigious years’ tenure from 1999 to 2002, was coming to an end, due to Charlie’s stellar and in demand forays as a producer. Also getting in the way was writing and crafting his fourth solo album, 2005’s Cruel And Gentle Things.
