Category: Guitar World Interviews

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Guitarist Brad Gillis Talks New Night Ranger Album, ‘High Road’

BradWhile several Eighties rock bands have gone the “human jukebox” route — touring behind their catalog of hits without releasing new material — Night Ranger continue to buck the trend.

For the band’s new album, High Road, which will be released June 10, Night Ranger take us back to their roots — a time when inspired songwriting, huge guitar riffs and harmony solos and vocals ruled the airwaves. It’s a formula that never gets old.

High Road will be available in two formats — standard CD and a deluxe version, which includes a bonus instrumental track and a DVD featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the album, plus video clips.

Night Ranger is Jack Blades (bass guitar, vocals), Kelly Keagy (drums, vocals), Brad Gillis (lead and rhythm guitars), Joel Hoekstra (lead and rhythm guitars) and Eric Levy (keyboards).

I recently spoke with Gillis about High Road, his early years and his biggest career highlight. I also got an update on his upcoming solo project.

GUITAR WORLD: How does a Night Ranger album project begin?

There are three factors we look for whenever we make a new record: big vocals, the sound/song structure and the harmony guitars and vocals. I think it’s great for a band to stick to their roots and what made them famous instead of always trying to delve off into too many new territories and confusing their core audience.

You can read the rest of my
gw_logoInterview with Brad Gillis by Clicking Here!

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Mushroomhead’s J Mann and Church Discuss New Album, ‘The Righteous & The Butterfly’

RighteousButterfly-MushroomheadMushroomhead fans can rejoice! The influential industrial metal band are celebrating their 20th anniversary with a new studio album, The Righteous & The Butterfly. The offering also features the return of vocalist J Mann and the debut of new guitarist Church and bassist Dr. F.

Recorded in Cleveland and self-produced by the band with longtime co-producer Bill Korecky, the album is a fresh twist on a familiar vibe. Consisting of 14 tracks ranging from songs about survival and balance (“Devils Be Damned,” “Qwerty”) to emotionally charged anthems (“For Your Pleasure,” “Worlds Collide”) and even a riff-heavy rendition of Adele’s Number 1 hit “Rumor Has It.”

Mushroomhead features drummers Skinny, Robert Diablo and Stitch, vocalists J Mann, Jeffery Nothing and Waylon, guitarist Church, keyboardist Schmotz and bassist Dr. F.

I recently spoke to J Mann and Church about The Righteous & The Butterfly.

GUITAR WORLD: How would you describe the sound of this record as compared to some earlier Mushroomhead albums?

J Mann: When you’re in a band that’s been around for 20 years, it begins to define you and becomes a huge part of your life. For this album, we wanted to encapsulate all of the eras the band has been through over the years and also add a new one. We never wanted to lose sight of our roots. We just wanted to take the strengths from all of those eras and consolidate them into one thought.

Why the title The Righteous & The Butterfly?

J Mann: It’s actually a tribute/dedication to two people we lost who were huge parts of the Mushroomhead family. The “Righteous” being J.J. Righteous, our initial guitar player who unfortunately passed away a few years ago; the “Butterfly” being Skinny’s wife, Vanessa Solowiow, who just passed away last year. She was the photographer for the band and was with us everywhere we went. She was a sister to us all. So half of it was named for him and half of it for her. The whole record is dedicated to them.

Check out the rest of my

gw_logo
Interview with J Mann & Church
By Clicking Here!

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

‘In My Soul’: Robert Cray Discusses His New Album, Seeing Jimi Hendrix and the Power of the Blues

InMySoulWidely recognized as one of the greatest blues guitarists of our time, Robert Cray has pretty much done it all in his four decades of making music. Cray has written songs or shared the stage with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Copeland and Eric Clapton.

For Cray’s 17th studio album, In My Soul (released April 1), the five-time Grammy winner once again reasserts himself as one of the great musical storytellers with an inspired collection of original blues/soul material as well as takes on songs by Otis Redding, Mable John and Bobby “Blue” Bland.

I recently spoke with Cray about his new album as well as some of the highlights from his 40 years in music.

GUITAR WORLD: How would you describe the new album, In My Soul?

Everybody knows we’ve been dabbling in the soul vein for the longest time, but I think this record has more soul on it than any record we’ve ever done. It’s got a lot of different flavors of soul on it.

Tell me about a few of the recent personnel changes to the band.

In addition to our longtime bass player Richard Cousins, we recently added Dover Weinberg back to the lineup playing organ and piano. He used to be in the band in the late Seventies, and he rejoined us in late November just before we went into the studio. We also added Les Falconer on drums. He’s been in the band for about a year.

What was it like working with producer Steve Jordan?

Fantastic. This was my third time working with Steve, and he’s such a great organizer and gets everyone totally involved in the project. He treats every song as an individual and puts 100 percent-plus into every tune.

When you start a new album project, do you ever go in with an idea of what you want it to sound like ahead of time?

We never do. With this record, no one in the band even knew what the others were going to bring in until a week before we went into the studio. When we presented our material to each other as a band, everyone was pretty much on the same page: We had a lot of soul tunes. Steve also offered a few suggestions for songs — Otis Redding’s “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” and the Mable John song, “Your Good Thing Is About to End,” the one Lou Rawls made famous. We also decided to do a tribute to Bobby “Blue” Bland, “Deep in My Soul,” because we just lost him last year.

Read the rest of my
gw_logo
With Robert Cray By Clicking Here!

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Song In My Head: String Cheese Incident Guitarist Bill Nershi Talks New Music

SongInMyHead

It’s been nearly nine years since the String Cheese Incident released their last album, One Step Closer.

While the jam band may not have “technically” released any new material during that time, they’ve continued to write and perform new music for fans who’ve been following them since their formation in the Colorado ski towns of Crested Butte and Telluride in 1993.

The title of the band’s new album, Song in My Head (produced by former Talking Head Jerry Harrison), could be taken quite literally, as the material found on it is sure to spark the imagination of new and longtime fans. Songs such as the title track and “Colorado Bluebird Sky” showcase the talents of all six members of the band, while “Struggling Angel” pays homage to a fallen fan.

While it might be a long-overdue album in terms of timing, Song in My Head proves the wait was well worth it.

The String Cheese Incident features Bill Nershi (guitar), Jason Hann (percussion), Kyle Hollingsworth (keyboards), Michael Kang (mandolin, guitar), Keith Moseley (bass) and Michael Travis (drums).

I recently spoke to Nershi about Song in My Head.

GUITAR WORLD: What spawned this new record?

I’ve actually been trying to get the band to make an album for a few years. There’s always an argument to be made against putting out a CD because it’s not the same market as it used to be. But we’ve been accumulating a backlog of great songs and felt the time was right to record.

gw_logoRead the rest of my Guitar World
Interview with Bill Nershi by Clicking Here!

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Framing Hanley Guitarists Brandon Wootten and Ryan Belcher Discuss New Album, The Sum of Who We Are

FramingHanleyFraming Hanley’s new album, The Sum of Who We Are, is an inspired collection of modern alternative rock infused with inescapable pop hooks.

Funded entirely by the band’s loyal fan base via a Kickstarter campaign, the new album also is the band’s boldest artistic statement to date. From the anthemic “Criminal” (Hear it below) to songs like “Twisted Halos,” “Crooked Smiles” and “Crash & Burn,” the album takes the listener on a journey of struggle and triumph, weaving those feelings into every track.

Framing Hanley consists of Kenneth Nixon (vocals), Brandon Wootten (guitar), Ryan Belcher (guitar) and Chris Vest (drums).

I recently spoke to guitarists Wootten and Belcher about the new album and more.

GUITAR WORLD: It’s been four years since Framing Hanley released a new album. Why the long wait?

Belcher: It wasn’t something we expected. After our last album came out in 2010, we went through a lineup change and a few other things. But we’ve always been writing, recording and going out on the road. It’s an incredible feeling to now be able to put out an album we’re all proud of after all of this time.

Wootten: The long wait wasn’t the plan. We had a change of label and management, and with that came a little down period. We actually started recording the record in August 2012, but being the perfectionists we are, we kept writing and demoing tracks until we had the best record we could release.

gw_logoRead The Rest of my Guitar World Interview
With Brandon Wootten & Ryan Belcher by Clicking Here!

Books, Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Honestly: Stryper Guitarist Michael Sweet talks New Autobiography, Solo Album

Honestly

In his new autobiography, Honestly: My Life And Stryper Revealed, guitarist Michael Sweet bares his soul. Within its pages, the Stryper frontman details everything from his humble upbringing and troubles with the law to the rise, fall and rebirth of Stryper.

From the creation of the signature Stryper guitar sound to his stint touring with Boston and the tragic loss of his beloved wife Kyle, Sweet spares no expense when looking back on his life as husband, father, bandmate and Christian.

Honestly is more than just a biography or reflection of old road stories. It’s a spiritual journey and heartfelt look into the mind of one of the most recognizable voices in rock and a true guitar great.

Sweet also is about to release a new solo album, I’m Not Your Suicide, which gives him the opportunity to showcase a different side of his musical persona. The impressive disc combines hard rock and metal messages (“Taking On The World Tonight,” “I’m Not Your Suicide”), elements of classic rock (a cover of Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold”) and country (“Coming Home”).

I recently spoke to Sweet about his autobiography and album, both of which will be released May 6, and his other upcoming projects.

GUITAR WORLD: What made you decide to write a book at this stage of your life?

I had a lot to say and also felt the need to do it in terms of it being therapeutic and healing for me. People have also had lots of question marks over the years and wanted to know things. I thought the best thing to do would be to deal with all of it in a book and tell everyone the story.

gw_logo
Check out the rest of my Guitar World Interview
With Michael Sweet by Clicking Here!

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Movies and TV, Music

Ready Steady Go!: Drake Bell Releases New Rockabilly Album with Brian Setzer

DrakeBellGuitarist Drake Bell wasn’t made for these times.

The actor/musician, best known for his work as teenage rocker Drake Parker on the Nickelodeon TV show Drake & Josh, actually grew up listening to the likes of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, the Beatles and Stray Cats.

On Bell’s new album, Ready Steady Go!, he pays homage to those roots by teaming with one of his biggest musical influences — Brian Setzer — for a tastefully inspired collection of classic rockabilly favorites and new material.

In addition to Bell’s catchy original, “Bitchcraft” are his take on songs like “Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Queen)”, “Still Rock And Roll To Me (Billy Joel)” and a haunting version of Setzer’s own “I Won’t Stand In Your Way”.

I recently spoke to Bell about Ready Steady Go!, his guitar work and more.

GUITAR WORLD: What made you decided to do a project like this?

This is the music I grew up on. My first guitar was a Gretsch 6120, and I just loved listening to artists like Elvis, Chuck Berry and Stray Cats. But when I wanted to go make records, it was hard. I couldn’t really be on the show [Drake & Josh] and then go in and do a three-piece rockabilly-type record of Fifties music.

How did the collaboration with Brian Setzer come about?

I’ve been a fan of Brian’s for such a long time and had the opportunity to go backstage and meet him from time to time. It got to the point to where I started becoming a familiar face backstage. I still remember when I first presented the idea for this album to him. He was confused at first and said, “Wait a minute — you mean you want to make a rockabilly record?” [laughs]. I said “Yeah, this is what I’ve always wanted to do!”

gw_logo

Read the rest of my Guitar World interview with
Drake Bell by Clicking Here!

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Dog Camp: Richie Kotzen and Mike Portnoy Discuss the Winery Dogs’ Immersive New Camp for Musicians
Photo by: Markus Cuff
The Winery Dogs (Photo by: Markus Cuff)

If you’ve ever wanted to get up close and personal with three of rocks’ most talented musicians, here’s your opportunity.

Richie Kotzen, Billy Sheehan and Mike Portnoy — better known as the Winery Dogs — have announced Dog Camp, their first-ever immersive program for aspiring musicians of all ages and levels.

The event is set for July 21 to 25, 2014, at Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, New York.

Attendees will be able to take part in instrument specific clinics and will learn about songwriting mechanics and the music industry. They’ll even get to enjoy intimate performances by the Winery Dogs.

If you’re a guitarist, bassist or drummer, there’s a course path for you to follow. But Dog Camp promises to be a deeper experience; the campers will be living, hanging out and jamming together. You’ll also be able to ask the hosts as many questions as as you want — and Kotzen, Sheehan and Portnoy will initiate one-on-one and group sessions to help you realize your goals as a player.

I recently spoke to Kotzen and Portnoy about Dog Camp and what’s next for the band.

GUITAR WORLD: What was the reason behind the inaugural Dog Camp?

Kotzen: It was something that was brought to our attention by our manager. Billy and I have done our fair share of clinics and have also participated in Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp. The idea of being in a position where you can actually sit and talk and play with people who are buying your records or are listening to what you do is inspiring.

gw_logoRead the rest of my interview with Kotzen & Portnoy
By Clicking Here!

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Voices Carry: Aimee Mann and Ted Leo Discuss Their New Band and Album, ‘The Both’
The Both - Aimee Man & Ted Leo (Photo: Christian Lantry)
The Both (Photo: Christian Lantry)

Aimee Mann is an Oscar-nominated singer/songwriter and bassist who has scored hits as a solo artist and with ‘Til Tuesday.

Guitarist Ted Leo is a Midwestern punk rocker who’s established a reputation for musical genius as a solo act and with his band, the Pharmacists.

Now, both artists have joined forces and are calling themselves the Both.

Their self-titled debut album, which will be released April 15, speaks to the friendship and mutual respect Mann and Leo share. From the hook-laden harmonies and Bronze Fonz references of “Milwaukee” to the social messages of songs like “Volunteers of America,” The Both is an album with the DNA of Mann and Leo strongly imprinted on it — and one refreshingly unique and engaging debut.

I recently spoke with Mann and Leo about their new album and collaboration.

GUITAR WORLD: How did The Both begin?

Mann: Ted was opening for me on my last album and tour, and the music he was playing really piqued my interest. I remember while he was playing I’d often start thinking to myself, “You know, I really want to play bass on that song!” and after a while, I asked him if I could sit in. We started playing and having so much fun that it led to the idea of writing some songs together that eventually became this record.

gw_logoRead the rest of my Guitar World interview
With Aimee Mann & Ted Leo by Clicking Here

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Chris Robinson Brotherhood Guitarist Neal Casal Talks Gear and New Album, ‘Phosphorescent Harvest’
Neal Casal (Photo by Gary Waldman)
Neal Casal (Photo by Gary Waldman)

Phosphorescent Harvest is the third studio release from the Chris Robinson Brotherhood.

The album — which features Robinson, the former Black Crowes vocalist/guitarist, along with guitarist Neal Casal, keyboardist Adam MacDougall, drummer George Sluppick and bassist Mark Dutton — is a treasure trove of soul that advances the band’s bluesy, kaleidoscopic sound.

Songs like “Shore Power,” “Badlands” and the beautiful “Wanderer’s Lament” contain tasty, inspired guitar arrangements; meanwhile, Robinson’s lyrics are thoughtfully constructed from dreams and casual observation.

Starting in April, CRB will embark on a tour in support of the new album. It’s a tour that will take them through the highways and byways of the U.S. for remainder of the year.

In addition to working with Robinson, Casal has performed alongside other heavyweights, including Ryan Adams and Phil Lesh. He’s also released a reflective book of personal photos that were shot during his years touring with Adams.

I recently caught up with Casal to ask him about the new CRB album (which will be released April 29), his playing, photography and more.

Christ Robinson Brotherhood (Photo by: Alissa Anderson)
Chris Robinson Brotherhood (Photo by: Alissa Anderson)

GUITAR WORLD: How do you approach doing a Chris Robinson Brotherhood album as opposed to some of the other projects you’ve been involved with?

CRB is the most expansive band I’ve ever been in terms of freedom of expression in guitar playing. Chris really encourages us to bring our adventurousness, personality and whimsical character into our playing. I got to really do my thing all over this record. It’s a guitar player’s dream.

gw_logoRead the rest of my Guitar World Interview with Neal Casal
by Clicking Here!