Even though the Empty Hearts feature members of Blondie, the Cars, the Chesterfield Kings and the Romantics — and even though their name was chosen from Little Steven Van Zandt’s super-secret list of unused band names — this is no cynically constructed supergroup.
Featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer Clem Burke, guitarist Elliot Easton, bassist Andy Babiuk and lead singer/rhythm guitarist Wally Palmar, the Empty Hearts have parlayed a combined lifetime of rock into their self-titled debut. Their new album is a raucous collection of tunes shaped by Fifties American roots rock, Sixties British Invasion and Seventies garage-punk.
I recently spoke to Easton about the Empty Hearts, his signature Gibson Tikibird and the 30th anniversary of the Cars’ Heartbeat City.
GUITAR WORLD: When did the idea for the Empty Hearts begin?
The germ of the idea started with Andy [Babiuk]. The Chesterfield Kings weren’t doing anything and Andy called me up and said, “What do you think about doing a band with me, you, Clem Burke and Wally Palmer from the Romantics?”
I wasn’t doing much at the time so I told him that if he could get it together, I was in. Andy is such a great organizer and motivator and put everything together. We found that we liked each other’s vibe and enjoyed each other’s company. Everything about it really felt good.
How would you describe the album?
It’s a reflection and celebration of all of our influences that went into making us the musicians we are. Recalling those early days of innocence when you played music for the sheer joy of it. We really wanted to make a record that reminded us of why we got into music in the first place. You hear some Who, Beatles and our garage rock influences. It’s all stuff we loved as kids starting out.
Read the rest of my Interview with Elliot Easton by Clicking Here!
Flyleaf have consistently dominated the active, alternative and mainstream rock charts since their eponymous, self-titled debut was released in 2005.
With the arrival of new vocalist Kristen May and the band’s new album, Between the Stars, which was released September 16, that trend is continuing.
Produced by Don Gilmore (Pearl Jam, Linkin Park and Avril Lavigne), Between the Stars is Flyleaf’s fourth studio album. It delivers 12 hook-laden tracks that are deeply rooted in guitar-based rock.
Guitarist Jared Hartmann’s hypnotic riffs are tastefully executed, creating a surreal landscape of infectious melody that takes the listener on a sonic journey. Flyleaf is Kristen May (vocals), Jared Hartmann (guitars), Sameer Bhattacharya (guitars), Pat Seals (bass) and James Culpepper (drums).
I recently spoke with Hartmann about the new album and his musical upbringing.
GUITAR WORLD: How would you describe the sound of Between the Stars as compared to previous Flyleaf albums?
It’s going to be a little different than some of the other Flyleaf records. Obviously, it will be different because we have a new singer [Lacey Sturm amicably left the band in 2012], but it’s also going to be a bit different musically as well.
We used a lot of keyboards on this album to add some interesting elements to a few of the songs. We’ll see what people think! There’s something that’s similar to our previous albums but it’s also going in a new direction.
How did you connect with Kristen?
After Lacey decided to leave the band, we started looking for singers and someone suggested that we check out Kristen. Her band, Vedera, had recently broken up, so the timing was perfect. So Kristen came in, knew all of the songs and was cool to hang out with. She’s the perfect fit.
Roger Hodgson has been widely recognized as one of the most gifted composers, songwriters and lyricists of our time.
A co-founder of Supertramp in 1969, Hodgson remained with the band for fourteen years before embarking on a solo career. It was Hodgson’s tenure with the band that became the driving force behind their monumental success. Writing music that defined a generation of progressive rock.
Hodgson wrote and sang Supertramp’s most enduring anthems, including “Breakfast In America”, “Give a Little Bit”, “Take the Long Way Home” and “It’s Raining Again”. Songs which helped the band sell more than 60 million albums. His trademark way of setting introspective lyrics to upbeat melodies resonates in the hearts and minds of people from all over the world.
Hodgson talks about his career and what fans can expect from his Bethlehem performance in a recent interview.
What can fans expect from your Bethlehem performance?
People often tell me I am one of music’s best-kept secrets. I have many fans following me around the world because the show I am currently doing with my band is so special. Even many huge Supertramp fans are admitting that the band I have put together actually sounds better than the original, so the audience is in for a wonderful surprise. This year, in addition to my popular duo and orchestral shows, I am performing with an excellent band of four very versatile musicians. They are high caliber musicians and passionate about the music.
Songwriting is an amazing and magical process. For me, the music always comes first. There are usually a few lines of lyrics that come at the same time. For a two or three week period I sing the new song every opportunity I get. It’s like a brief love affair; the emerging song just goes round and round in my head the whole time. It has that consuming quality to it, like falling in love. The structure and melody come to me relatively quickly – the lyric usually takes much longer.
I do realize I have written some wonderful songs and have an ability for writing great melodies, but I think the reason these songs have stood the test of time so well is because they came from a very pure place and were not contrived. I never sat down to try and write a hit song. Music was where I went to be alone to express my deepest emotions, my deepest longing, my deepest pain and joy and questions. And I think that is why the songs have endured so well over time.
Can you tell me a little about your Spiritual connection with your songs?
For me, music was where I went to express my longing to know God, to know true love, my longing to feel truly at home inside myself. I put this inner quest into my songs and I believe, because they came from such a deep place, this is one of the reasons they have such an enduring quality. They touch that place in everyone who is searching for true happiness, belonging, for God – whatever you want to call it.
So, yes, a lot of my songs have a spiritual theme to them – when I write music, I am always alone and it’s very much an inner communion for me. It’s not generally known that I never wrote with the band, and the other members of Supertramp didn’t share many of the spiritual beliefs that I wrote about – so all my songs – new and old – are all very personal expressions for me.
It’s now been more than thirty years since you left Supertramp. Do you have any regrets about it?
When I left Supertramp in 1983, it was to follow my heart, which was telling me it was time to make home, family, and spiritual life my priority. I wanted to be with my children as they grew up. I had become disenchanted with the music business. Supertramp had been my baby, my life for 14 years but I felt a completion. At that point I chose to have my primary focus be my family and not my career. I also pretty much left the music industry and took my family to a healthier place to raise my kids – up in the mountains of Northern California. I moved out of Los Angeles and built a home studio so I could continue to create music and although I made a few albums, I never toured behind them. My kids are now grown and I’m older and wiser and very happy to be touring again these last years.
Contrary to what people believe, Supertramp did not break up because I wanted to start a solo career or because of difficulties between me and Rick [Davies].
Do you ever foresee a reunion of Supertramp?
Many fans used to ask me about a possible Supertramp reunion. Because I knew how much it meant to the fans, I did make an offer to Rick Davies and his agent to join the band for some special Supertramp reunion concerts in 2010, but they declined. So at this point, the time for a reunion has passed. The ship has sailed.
What inspires you as an artist?
One of the things that I like most about making music is how it has brought people together from all over the globe and how many lasting friendships have been made through a common love of my songs. It is a very special and personal connection I have with many of my fans and that the fans have with one another. I feel it’s because my songs came from my deepest longing and joy and pain and touch those same places in the hearts of the people who listen. At my concerts I’m now seeing three generations singing along with me and it’s wonderful to see more and more young people discovering my music.
Roger Hodgson will perform at
The Bethlehem Sands Event Center on Sunday, Nov 9.
Whether he’s performing as part of the Broadway musical Rock of Ages, touring with Trans-Siberian Orchestra every fall or jetting around the country for sessions and shows, Joel Hoekstra is one of the hardest-working guitarists you’re ever likely to meet.
And now he’s taken on another challenge.
It was recently announced that Hoekstra would be leaving his gig with Night Ranger to become the new guitarist in Whitesnake, replacing departing guitarist Doug Aldrich.
Hoekstra’s seven-year tenure with Night Ranger included three critically acclaimed albums and tours, not to mention being part of a killer one-two punch with guitar great Brad Gillis.
With Whitesnake, Hoesktra finds himself in a band whose ranks over the years also were filled by guitar royalty: John Sykes, Adrian Vandenberg, Vivian Campbell, Steve Vai, Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach. Hoekstra will join a Whitesnake lineup that includes David Coverdale (vocals), Reb Beach (guitar), Michael Devin (bass) and Tommy Aldridge (drums).
I recently caught up with Hoekstra and asked him about the new Whitesnake gig and also got a sneak peak into the band’s next album. I also asked him what he’ll miss most about his time with Night Ranger.
GUITAR WORLD: How did you first hear about the Whitesnake opportunity?
Oddly enough, Doug [Aldrich] and I are friends and were texting the night before the news came online. He didn’t mention anything about it to me at the time. All he said was there was some news coming. The next day, I woke up to hear Doug would be leaving Whitesnake.
How did you wind up getting the gig with the band?
I think it was a combination of me putting out some feelers and some people recommending me for it that led to me going out to meet with David at the end of May to hang/audition. That went well, so the next step was to go back in August to play on material for the upcoming Whitesnake album and to make sure it was going to be a good fit for both sides. At that point, I started to realize this was really happening.
You can read the rest of my Interview with Joel Hoekstra by Clicking Here!
Over the course of his illustrious career—one that includes time in Guns N’ Roses, Slash’s Snakepit and Velvet Revolver—Slash has amassed album sales of more than 100 million, garnered a Grammy (to go with his seven nominations) and was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Slash also has seen plenty of success with his solo albums. Both his Slash and Apocalyptic Love offerings landed in the top five of the Billboard albums chart.
World On Fire, which will be released September 16, is Slash’s second album with his official band, the Conspirators, which features Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums) and Todd Kerns (bass).
From the infectious up-tempo aggressiveness of the album’s title track to the sexual politics of songs like “Battleground,” “Dirty Girl” and the coming-of-age “Bent To Fly,” the 17-song opus delves into a wide range of topics. World On Fire also features a rocking instrumental, “Safari Inn.”
Produced by Michael “Elvis” Baskette (Alter Bridge, Falling In Reverse, Incubus), World On Fire is a diverse record that covers a multitude of musical feels with a rawness and energy that’s reminiscent of Slash’s early work with Guns N’ Roses.
Make no mistake about it: World On Fire is not a solo project. It was recorded by a band with all four members contributing their strengths as a whole.
Slash is touring with Aerosmith on the “Let Rock Rule” tour. I recently spoke with him about World On Fire, touring, his love of Les Pauls and, of course, some of the most memorable moments from his career.
Wow! It’s hard to believe it’s Labor Day weekend. It seems like it was only yesterday that summer had started and now, here we are already at the end of August.
This has been a very productive summer of writing for me and this past week in particular in terms of interviews. And to prove that I’m not just a “metal-head” (even though it says that in my bio) – contemporary jazz, alternative rock and blues genres were all on the agenda!
These are my latest interviews that you can find now on AXS.com:
Peter White: Some of you may know Peter as one of the most popular instrumental players in contemporary jazz. But did you know that he credits his guitar playing to Al Stewart? Peter’s first real “gig” was with Al back in 1975.
Imagine this – you’re a wide-eyed teen fresh out of high school. You audition for a group, get the gig and the next thing you know… you’re in Abbey Road studios recording ‘The Year of The Cat’ with Al Stewart!
Read my interview with Peter where we discuss this story as well as his incredible new album, ‘Smile’ that’s coming out in October.
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Kristen May: Since their eponymous, self-titled debut album in 2005, Flyleaf has consistently dominated the active, alternative and mainstream rock charts.
Kristen May is the new vocalist for the band and in my interview with her we discuss the band’s infectious new album, “Between The Stars”, her musical upbringing and how a best-selling book turned blockbuster film ignited the album’s first single.
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It’s been an extremely busy summer for guitarist Ana Popovic. Apart from touring Europe and the U.S in support of her most recent album Can You Stand The Heat, the Serbian blues powerhouse will soon join a multitude of other guitar greats for this year’s Experience Hendrix Tour.
I recently caught up with Popovic to discuss her upcoming visit to Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, PA, the Hendrix Tour and what she loves about Blues guitar!
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Thanks so much for taking the time to read my articles and be sure to follow me on Twitter @JimEWood and ‘Tumblr’ – I follow back!
For several years, Cinderella guitarist Jeff LaBar had always promised to make good on his quest to record a solo album.
After years of waiting, the time has finally arrived. LaBar’s new album, One for the Road, was recorded in Nashville with long-time friend and engineer Ronnie Honeycutt and features mixing by Cinderella bandmate Fred Coury, with mixing and mastering by Chris Collier (KXM, Lynch Mob, Lita Ford).
What’s unique about LaBar’s first solo endeavor is that not only does it showcase LaBar’s guitar playing, but it also highlights his singing and songwriting prowess. Aside from drums by Tesla’s Troy Luccketta, all of the instruments and vocals on One for the Road are performed by LaBar, a true “solo” album.
The new album also captures the magic and spirit of a genre of music LaBar helped define. “No Strings” has a classic Cinderella feel, while songs like “Asking for a Beating” and ”Nightmare on My Street” take on a far heavier edge. Then there’s the acoustic-flavored “Hello or Goodbye,” which speaks to LaBar’s folk influences.
I recently caught up with LaBar and asked him about One for the Road, which was released today, August 26, plus guitars and more!
With styles ranging from rock and blues to jazz and soul, Richie Kotzen has built an eclectic career as guitarist, singer and songwriter.
Over a period of 20 years, Kotzen has accumulated a loyal fan base and has consistently sold out shows throughout the world.
Still, there are many who question what Kotzen is capable of musically. Kotzen’s new Essential package is sure to answer that question.
The Essential Richie Kotzen — which is slated to be released September 2 — contains material curated from Kotzen’s entire career (which has spawned 18 solo albums), not including his work with Poison and the Winery Dogs.
The new package was purposely designed to give listeners the most comprehensive, concise introduction to Kotzen’s extensive body of work.
The Essential Richie Kotzen includes two CDs of classic Kotzen material as well as two new songs, along with a DVD of music videos, acoustic performances and bootleg material. It’s the ultimate collection of music for Kotzen fans.
I recently spoke with Kotzen about the Essential package, his upcoming solo album and some of the most memorable moments of his career.
You can read my completed With Richie Kotzen by Clicking Here!
Never a band to play by the rules, Buckcherry have made a career out of pushing the boundaries — and buttons — of conventional rock while doing things their own way. It’s a strategy that has paid off with successful studio albums and singles over the last decade.
Keith Nelson (Photo: Matt Christine)
Buckcherry’s boldest and perhaps most controversial release to date might be Fuck, a new EP that unapologetically rattles the speakers as much as it will the censors.
The new EP, which will be released August 19, consists of six hook-laden tracks that feature guitarist Keith Nelson’s gritty riffs and vocalist Josh Todd’s sharp-tongued lyrics — including an unconventional yet tasty spin on Icona Pop’s hit song “I Love It,” which the band has (naturally) renamed “Say Fuck It.”
Buckcherry — Josh Todd (lead vocals), Keith Nelson (lead guitar), Stevie D. (rhythm guitar), Xavier Muriel (drums) and Kelly Lemieux (bass) — will soon team up with Godsmack, Seether and Skillet for this year’s Uproar Festival, which kicks off August 15 in Detroit, Michigan.
Meanwhile, Nelson has contributed “Louis,” one of his original 1959 Les Pauls, to the Gibson Custom Shop, where the staff has painstakingly analyzed every detail of the guitar’s look, sound and wear to create a near-perfect replica for Collector’s Choice #17. You can see a photo of Gibson’s version of the guitar in the gallery below.
We recently caught up with Nelson to discuss the new EP and the process behind the making of his “new” Les Paul.
You can read the rest of my Interview with Keith Nelson by Clicking Here!
After forming in 1988, Eric Martin (vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitar), Billy Sheehan (bass) and Pat Torpey (drums) immediately began to solidify their place in music history by combining inspired songwriting with trademark “shredding” and awesome vocal harmony.
Now, hard rock’s original super group Mr. Big is back with a vengeance and a new album, ‘The Stories We Could Tell’. The band’s eighth studio album is slated for release on September 23rd via Frontiers Music SRL.
Over the course of their 25 year career, Mr. Big has produced songs that have traversed the spectrum of rock genres – be it ballads, heavy metal or blues rock. Their hits, including “Alive and Kicking,” “Just Take My Heart” and the chart-topping ballad “To Be With You” propelled the band to international success and multi-platinum record sales.
On ‘The Stories We Could Tell’, the original lineup returns with some of their strongest material to date. The new album is the follow-up to the band’s 2011 release ‘What If’, another critically acclaimed album that marked the band’s return to their signature hard rock sound.
The new album was produced by Pat Regan, known for his work with bands like Deep Purple, Warrant and Keel.
Mr. Big
In sadder news, Mr. Big recently announced that drummer Pat Torpey has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and the diagnosis has left him unable to perform his normal drumming duties on the band’s upcoming World Tour. Mr. Big intends to announce a drummer in the near future who will handle most of the band’s drumming duties on tour and expects Torpey to jump on the drums on suitable live songs as well as participating in the group’s acoustic set.
“To me, this is the album that we’ve threatened to make decades ago” says Eric Martin. “A classic, groovin’, blues-rock record with the spirit and spark of our Rock & Soul idols from the 70’s. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or are just starting, you’re going to dig where we are coming from and where we’ve been.”
The track listing for “The Stories We Could Tell”:
Gotta Love The Ride
I Forget To Breathe
Fragile
Satisfied
The Man Who Has Everything
The Monster In Me
What If We Were New?
East/West
The Light Of Day
Just Let Your Heart Decide
It’s Always About That Girl
Cinderella Smile
The Stories We Could Tell
Addicted To That Rush (Live – Exclusive Bonus Track)
Even though the Empty Hearts feature members of Blondie, the Cars, the Chesterfield Kings and the Romantics — and even though their name was chosen from Little Steven Van Zandt’s super-secret list of unused band names — this is no cynically constructed supergroup.
Interview with Elliot Easton by Clicking Here!
Flyleaf have consistently dominated the active, alternative and mainstream rock charts since their eponymous, self-titled debut was released in 2005.
Roger Hodgson
Whether he’s performing as part of the Broadway musical Rock of Ages, touring with Trans-Siberian Orchestra every fall or jetting around the country for sessions and shows, Joel Hoekstra is one of the hardest-working guitarists you’re ever likely to meet.
Over the course of his illustrious career—one that includes time in Guns N’ Roses, Slash’s Snakepit and Velvet Revolver—Slash has amassed album sales of more than 100 million, garnered a Grammy (to go with his seven nominations) and was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Peter White:
Kristen May:
It’s been an extremely busy summer for guitarist 
For several years, Cinderella guitarist Jeff LaBar had always promised to make good on his quest to record a solo album.
After forming in 1988, Eric Martin (vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitar), Billy Sheehan (bass) and Pat Torpey (drums) immediately began to solidify their place in music history by combining inspired songwriting with trademark “shredding” and awesome vocal harmony.
go.Jimmy.go 