Tag: Music

1980's, Life, Music

A Father’s Day Thank You
Sorry Bones. I got the last laugh!
Sorry Bones. I got the last laugh!

It was a warm June day in 1984 when I again asked him the question..

“Dad? Can I PLEASE go with Bones to the concert?”

Bones was my brother –  two-years my senior and someone who was already becoming well versed in the concert ‘experience’. I mean, here was a dude who had already seen The J Geils Band and The Doobie Brothers perform at the Allentown Fairgrounds and The Kinks at Stabler Arena. To say that I was a little jealous for having been relegated to just listening to vinyl records is a bit of an understatement and to be honest, I half expected Dad to tell me “No” — just like he did the last time.

The previous summer, I asked begged my father to let me go with Bones to see The Kinks. After contemplating it for several minutes (along with listening to my brother’s very vocal protest against me going) Dad made it very clear — “No.” Now was not the time to let his 14-year-old son attend his first concert.

But this was now 1984. NINETEEN-EIGHTY-FREAKING-FOUR MAN!!!! I was going to start high school in the fall — and quickly becoming a man of my own. Heck, I had even started showing interest in playing guitar, and what better way to learn than by seeing how its done first hand, right Dad???

“So Dad? Can I go to the concert with Bones?”

Much to my brother’s chagrin, he had to accept the fact that on June 16, 1984 he was going to have to chauffeur me to the Allentown Fairgrounds to see The Scorpions and some up and coming band calling themselves Bon Jovi.

As luck would have it I was familiar with Bon Jovi; having already bought their debut album with my saved up lawn mowing money. At the time, they were mostly known for their song “Runaway” which was getting quite a bit of airplay on Casey Kasem’s American Top 40.  But that wasn’t the song that really appealed to me. As a soon to be 15 year-old boy there was only one song on that record that I could immediately relate to. It was the third song on the album: “She Don’t Know Me”.

I can’t even begin to tell you the countless times those lyrics came into my head during my adolescence. Especially in certain situations where the female persuasion was involved — I’d always find myself thinking: “If only she would look my way…. but She Don’t Know Me.”

It’s kind of ironic (well, actually no surprise) that the first two songs I learned on guitar were “Rock You Like A Hurricane” by Scorpions and “She Don’t Know Me” by Bon Jovi. The other thing that’s kind of cool is that Richie Sambora is playing the same guitar I had in this video…. 🙂

Over the subsequent thirty years I’ve seen a plethora of concerts. Some of the best include: REO Speedwagon, Survivor, Night Ranger, RATT and Mötley Crüe — all of which had huge albums and were at the TOP of their game. I saw Bon Jovi several more times along with shows by Bryan Adams, Whitesnake, Firehouse and Vixen. Then there’s the classic rock giants Boston, Foreigner, Styx and Journey. I saw AC/DC perform at Stabler Arena (a rinky dink college gymnasium) and Def Leppard twice on the Hysteria Tour. So many GREAT shows.

Although I could ramble on dozens of more examples I like to think that first show was the one that laid the foundation for my life as a music lover and metal head.

So, on this Father’s Day I would like to say a special thank you to my late father for the “Yes” answer he gave me thirty years ago.

A day I will never forget.

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Guitarist Joe Perry Talks Aerosmith, Touring with Slash and His Upcoming Autobiography

Since their start in the early Seventies — when they were fixtures of Boston’s vibrant music scene — Aerosmith have sold more than 150 million albums, garnered countless awards (including four Grammys) and have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Aerosmith

They’ve crossed musical genres with their signature song “Walk This Way,” while their most recent album, 2012’s Music From Another Dimension, debuted at Number 5 on the Billboard 200.

There have been ups and downs along the way, but perhaps no band defines success better than Aerosmith. So it only makes sense that Steven Tyler (vocals), Joe Perry (lead guitar), Brad Whitford (guitar), Tom Hamilton (bass) and Joey Kramer (drums) would team up with another musical giant — Slash (along with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators) — for a summer tour like no other.

The new Aerosmith/Slash North American tour, Let Rock Rule, will start July 10 in Wantaugh, New York, and end September 12 in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

I recently spoke with Perry about the Let Rock Rule Tour. He also gave me an update on his next solo album and a first look at his new autobiography, Rocks: My Life In and Out of Aerosmith, which will hit shelves October 7.

GUITAR WORLD: Did you ever think that more than 40 years after the band’s formation we’d be talking about yet another killer Aerosmith tour?

No, I really didn’t [laughs]. But in the bigger picture, I don’t think anyone could have predicted that the business would have carried on as long as it did. We’ve seen a lot of changes in this business of rock and roll. We’ve seen it go from an underground meeting for a new generation of people to becoming a social revolution where the music became the theme (and sometimes even helped drive it). Then we watched the whole thing collapse and change with the way people receive their music. It’s tough to say where things are going to go from here, but the good thing is that fans still want rock and new music. When we see the fans out there, they’re as excited as ever to see rock and roll in the flesh. It’s the end of an era and a whole different world.

You Can Read The Rest Of My
gw_logoInterview with Joe Perry By Clicking Here!

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Guitarist Jeff Rains Discusses His New Album, ‘From The Ashes’
Jeff Rains (Photo: Jeff Sciortino)
Jeff Rains (Photo: Jeff Sciortino)

Ever since Jeff Rains first caught the music bug at age 15, he’s been doing things his own way. Even though the Indiana-based guitarist/vocalist wasn’t signed to a label, Rains regularly wrote, recorded and produced his own original music.

Having spent three solid years touring with the likes of Five Finger Death Punch, Hatebreed and Black Stone Cherry, Rains recently took some time off to be with his family and to finish his sophomore release, From The Ashes.

The new album, which will be released June 17, features more of the melodic hard rock sound Rains has become known for. Tracks like “Radio Song,” “Better Man” and “Believe” delve deep into Rains’ psyche while “Hero” crosses over into a more mainstream arena. From The Ashes even includes a dynamic cover of Kanye West’s “Heartless.”

I recently spoke with Rains about From The Ashes and more.

GUITAR WORLD: It’s been a few years since your debut album, Stories, was released. Why such a long wait?

I don’t really have a band, so I do everything on my own. I record all of the instruments, write all of the songs and produce everything. That makes the process of making a record take a little bit longer than most. We also went through a few management changes during that time, and the singles were really lasting a long time on the radio. Ideally, I wanted to get the record out faster but there were circumstances that kept happening and I didn’t want to rush it.

You can read the rest of my
gw_logoWith Jeff Rains by Clicking Here!

Interview, Music

Life, Guitars and Music: Tom Keifer Discusses “The Way Life Goes”
Tom Keifer (Photo: Thomas Petillo)
Tom Keifer (Photo: Thomas Petillo)

More than a year after its release, Cinderella guitarist and front man Tom Keifer’s debut solo album “The Way Life Goes” continues to ride a wave of critical success. The 14-song album takes an honest and often times introspective look at the man who’s written some of the most memorable hard rock songs of the ’80s.

For Keifer, the album’s title is a bit apropos. Especially when you consider the many personal and emotional struggles he’s had to endure over the years — including being diagnosed with a partially paralyzed vocal cord and being told he’d most likely never sing again. But through hard work, perseverance and an undying love of music, Keifer has regained his form. Delivering an album that stylistically may not be far from his work with Cinderella but still reminds us of his exceptional prowess as vocalist, guitarist and songwriter.

I spoke with Keifer about “The Way Life Goes” and more in this exclusive interview.

Keifer- TheWayLifeGoesHow has reaction been to the new album and tour?

It’s been really good. The reviews and fan response have been great and I’m thrilled. The record company is continuing to push “The Flower Song” in Top-40 and “It’s Not Enough” will be the next single for the Rock format. Last year, we started out playing in some smaller rooms and this year we’re approaching more festivals and bigger shows. The plan is to route into more of a full tour as the new singles start to click towards the end of the summer and into the fall.

How would you describe “The Way Life Goes”?

I’ve always had open artistic freedom in Cinderella, so it wasn’t like I needed to do a solo album to do something that I never got to do before. With this record, it’s kind of picking up where I was with Cinderella in terms of it being stylistic. A few of the songs push the envelope a little bit but for the most part it’s still hard-driving, high energy rock and roll with a blues influence.

What’s your songwriting process like?

My writing process has always been letting the song come to me. Sometimes I may even go years without writing a song, but I don’t consider it writer’s block. It’s only writer’s block when you’re trying to write.

Sometimes I could just be driving down the road or be in the Home Depot when a melody or lyric will come into my head. Whenever I get those ideas, I never rush to write them down or record them into a voice memo. The way I see it, if I can’t remember the idea a week or a month later then maybe it wasn’t all that memorable. It’s a natural process I use to sift through ideas.

Then there are times where I’ll have the seed of an idea for a song that will sit for months. “The Flower Song” is a good example of that. That was an idea that took a while to write. I had the chorus and concept stuck in my head for years before eventually sitting down to write it. I remember having a co-write setup with Jim Peterik when I finally pulled that idea out. Jim loved it and the two of us sat down and finished it that same day.

With all of the problems you’ve been through with your voice over the years, was there ever a time when you considered a career change?

I remember after they first told me I’d probably never be able to sing again they told me my only prayer was to work with speech pathologists and vocal coaches to try to train the vocal cord back. That’s not an exact science, so it’s taken me years of experimenting and working with many different people. Along that journey, I’d often think of whether I should be doing something else but just couldn’t picture myself doing anything other than playing guitar and singing songs. That goes back to when I first started learning how to play guitar. My teacher not only taught me guitar but he also made me sing the songs too. Being a singer/songwriter is what makes me feel whole as an artist and musician. I think that was what kept me on course to try to figure out how to sing around a paralyzed vocal cord.

How are your vocal cords now?

They’re really strong. It takes a lot of maintenance but I’ve met an amazing coach in Ron Anderson who’s really taught me a lot of things. Ever since I started working his technique it’s gotten stronger every year. I still have to do hours of exercises to maintain it, but it’s something that I’m happy to do.

Can you tell me the origin of the Cinderella song, “Coming Home”?

I had been on the road for a long time when I wrote that song — hence the title [laughs]. We were towards the end of a very long tour when Gibson had given me this very beautiful 12-string acoustic guitar. I remember I was sitting in my hotel room when the guitar arrived through Fed-Ex. I tore the box open and immediately started working on that song.

Is there one particular moment of your career that stands out as a highlight?

Looking back, it’s all been a highlight. But if anything were to stand out, The Moscow Music Peace Festival was a pretty cool gig to be a part of. That one was pretty special. Scorpions, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe. It’s kind of been picked up by a whole new generation online. It’s become a really remembered show and was a blast to be a part of.

In your opinion, what gives hard rock bands and music from the 80’s such longevity?

There are a lot of great songs from that era and I remember even when it kind of fell out of vogue in the industry; the touring end of it was always very strong. The fans would always come out and sing the songs – and they still do. That aspect of it never really went away. It might not have been at the fore front of the industry but for the fans it was always there.  But it all really comes down to the songs. They’re the soundtrack of people’s lives.

For more on Tom Keifer, Check out his Official Website: www.tomkeifer.com

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Guitar World: Zane Carney Talks Solo Albums, Musicvox Guitars & Working with John Mayer
Zane Carney
Zane Carney

Guitarist Zane Carney’s musical journey started at an early age.

Following a four-year stint as a star on a Nineties sitcom, the former child actor dabbled with guitar before deciding to retire from the acting craft to begin seriously honing his guitar skills.

With a new-found perspective and an appreciation for jazz greats like Wes Montgomery, Carney’s work ethic, combined with a ravenous appetite for music theory, would eventually lead him to some pretty notable gigs, including working as guitarist for the Broadway show Spider-Man: Turn off The Dark and collaborating with the likes of Bono and Justin Timberlake.

In addition to Carney’s current job as touring guitarist for John Mayer, he recently released two solo albums. The first, Confluence, is an inspired collection of songs showcasing his strength as a vocalist and songwriter. Amalgam, which was released in February, is a dynamic, guitar-driven instrumental album emphasizing Carney’s virtuosity and improvisation.

I recently spoke with Carney about his music, working with Mayer and his affinity for Musicvox guitars.

How would you describe your album Confluence?

It’s a little bit of a “growing pains” kind of sound, it’s about me searching for my own voice. It was the discovery of something that would allow me to express myself as a solo artist and a mixture of the many of the different styles of jazz and blues that inspired me.

What was the writing process like for that record?

I always try to use a different process for each song I write. For instance, the song “Fade to Black” was inspired by listening to a lot to Neil Young’s After the Goldrush. I was also reading a lot of T.S. Eliot at the time and felt like writing poetry. For the song “Talk to Me Baby,” I had already had the title lyric in mind and just expounded on what that thought meant to me.

Read the rest of my
gw_logoInterview with Zane Carney by Clicking Here!

Interview, Movies and TV, Music

Actor/Musician David Banks Talks New Movie – CUT! / Commerical Work
Actor/Musician David Banks
Actor/Musician David Banks

They say actors can always just sit and wait around for the right roles and auditions to come along. But David Banks was never about the status quo. Instead the actor, musician and metal head chooses to shine by doing things his own way.

Together with longtime friend and director David Rountree the duo wrote, developed and star in what will likely become one of the most talked about indie horror films of 2014 — CUT!

In CUT! nothing is as it seems as an ex-con and aspirant filmmaker set out to manufacture a horror film. But when things go horribly wrong and someone actually dies, the pair decides that killing for real on film is the only way to make a truly terrifying movie.

The premise for CUT! is a unique approach to the horror genre and Banks and Rountree create a “suspense thriller within a horror film” scenario and along the way (with the casting of Suze Lanier-Bramlett and Gabrielle Stone – daughter of legendary actress Dee Wallace) they also indirectly pay homage to one of the classic horror films of a generation – “The Hills Have Eyes”. CUT! also stars Sam Scarber, Dahlia Salem, William McNamara and Chris Moir.

In addition to his film work, Banks has racked up an impressive resume of commercial work as well. His list of credits include being the original Tru Moo Milk guy for years and is currently commercial spokesman for Allegiant Air. I caught up with him to get an update on CUT!, his commercial work as well as his musical background!

How did the CUT! project come about?

David Rountree and I had this amazing idea for a film and decided to bring it to life. I saved a big chunk of my money from commercials to help fund the project. It’s been a fun-filled race…. well more like marathon! We recently found a nice home for the film which was super exciting! It will be everywhere very shortly.

Tell me about you character, Lane Hayes and the CUT! story.

My character is an ex con with an addiction to drugs and violent tendencies towards women. Rountree plays Travis Simon, a guy who’s spent years in film school trying to become a director but has only managed to find work renting out equipment to other filmmakers. With access to everything we need to make a movie, the idea is born to just scare people and capture the footage. However, something goes horribly wrong and the first person in this attempt is killed for real. After reviewing the video to help cover our tracks, it is decided that we have such shock value in the real kill, that maybe that is what we need to do. The story takes off from that point as every gut wrenching authentic death “scene” is captured on film and I do all the “dirty work”! [laughs].

What are some of the challenges you discovered during the filming process?

When you do so much with a small crew, everything is on your shoulders. Paying for actors, sound, locations and crafts service can quickly add up! I remember shooting until the sun came up on many occasions. There’s something about driving home after shooting all day and night with your eyes half-open and watching other pass by who are just starting their day. In fact, I don’t know how Rountree does it. We would finish shooting and instead of sleeping, he would immediately start editing. He’s always been an inspiration and it was an absolute pleasure to collaborate with him on this project.

Banks1Tell me about your musical background.

I was raised with music around me at all times. My mother and father both played the piano and were rocking me on their knees to Fleetwood Mac as a baby. For some reason, I didn’t have the patience for the piano and thought it would be much more fun to hit the keys with wooden mixing spoons. Guess it was my way of telling my parents I wanted a drum set….. NOW! [laughs]. As a child, I’d often lock myself in my bedroom and play the drums to my Ozzy, Rush, Whitesnake and Iron Maiden albums. I was also the kid who wore all black and would usually leave school at lunch to go play with my band – who were all much older than me and had no idea I was still in school.

When did you know that acting was going to be your calling?

I was around the business from an early age and even remember my father staying up late every night bouncing ideas back and forth with my mother. He worked for an advertising agency that was responsible for commercials for companies like Levi’s, Bank Of America, Dole, and California Raisins. After losing my father to a heart attack at just 53, I remember having this strong urge to want to be like him. He was everything a father was supposed to be and I really wanted to make him proud.

What were those early years like?

The first few years of auditions were brutal. Getting excited about a callback only to discover even more people there than the actual first audition. Then there are the auditions you go on where you’re required to take off your shirt. You get there and find yourself surrounded by 25 other shirtless guys – half of them look like Mr. Olympia and the other half are showing their ZED cards [a portfolio card with several pictures] with four different looks of them with their shirts off [laughs].

It’s an amazing roller coaster ride filled with ups, downs and occasional stops. But when you land a big campaign it’s a great feeling! I was the original Tru Moo Milk guy for years and am now the commercial spokesman for Allegiant Air. I feel extremely blessed for things like that.

Do you have any advice you can give to up and coming actors?

They say man becomes what he thinks about. Write it down and look at it every day! Eat, breathe, sleep and live for what you believe in!

David Banks Official Website * Facebook

For more on CUT! Click Here!

 

 

 

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

‘I’ll Have Some of That!: Guitarist Joey Sykes Talks Babys Reunion and Working with Wally Stocker

Joey Sykes1 Photo Credit to Karina ChiechiWith a string of hits including “Isn’t It Time,” “Every Time I Think of You” and “Back On My Feet Again,” the Babys’ brand of classic rock/power pop played a huge part in the musical transition of the late Seventies.

Following their breakup in 1981, members of the band went on to achieve continued success — Jonathan Cain with Journey, Ricky Phillips with Styx and original singer John Waite as a solo artist and with Cain and Phillips in Bad English.

Now, after more than a three-decade absence, guitarist Wally Stocker and drummer Tony Brock have reformed the Babys and will release a new album, I’ll Have Some of That! June 24.

Originally brought on just to contribute songs for the project, guitarist Joey Sykes’ wizardry and work ethic impressed Stocker and Brock so much that he was asked to sign on as a new member of the band along with bassist/vocalist John Bisaha. The two musicians add a new dimension to the Babys and bring with them a style that works well in tandem with Stocker and Brock.

I recently caught up with Sykes to ask him about the Babys reunion, the new album and more.

GUITAR WORLD: How did the Babys reunion come about?

Over the years, the guys would often tease about doing one. Obviously, Jonathan Cain is a huge part of Journey and Ricky Phillips is firmly entrenched with Styx, so it was tough to do a full-on reunion. The closest they got was a few years ago with John [Waite], but in the end John decided to continue with his solo career. But there was no animosity. At the end of the day, everyone is a fan of everything that made the Babys’ legacy so great and gave the reunion their blessing.

Read more of my
gw_logointerview with Joey Sykes by Clicking Here!

 

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

California Breed: Guitarist Andrew Watt Discusses His New Trio with Glenn Hughes and Jason Bonham

CBFormer Deep Purple and Trapeze bassist Glenn Hughes, who has spent the recent past guesting with everyone from Black Sabbath to Earth, Wind & Fire, formed Black Country Communion with Joe Bonamassa, Jason Bonham and Derek Sherinian in 2009.

After three albums and four years together, that hard-rocking foursome — very publicly — called it quits last year.

Now Hughes and Bonham are back with a new trio — California Breed — which is handily rounded out by 23-year-old New York City guitarist Andrew Watt.

The band’s self-titled debut, which was produced by Dave Cobb (Jamey Johnson, Rival Sons), was recorded live and direct to tape. And while you will find several examples of Watt’s six-string prowess throughout the disc, you’ll also discover he is just as comfortable when he’s falling back into riffs and rhythm work.

California Breed’s debut highlights the best of all three virtuosos without overstating the obvious. Because in the end, it really is all about the groove. I recently caught up with Watt to discuss California Breed.

GUITAR WORLD: How did California Breed come together?

I was at a party of a friend of mine, Julian Lennon, when he brought Glenn over and told me that the two of us really needed to meet. After talking with Glenn for a while and discovering we had so much in common musically, even though there’s a bit of an age gap, we decided to get together to write a few songs.

So we hooked up in LA, went into a studio and a few hours later we had written two songs, “Chemical Rain” and “Solo.” What’s cool is that the songs we wrote didn’t seem to be “Glenn Hughes” or “Andrew Watt” songs. It was this brand-new collaboration neither of us had expected. Right from that point, it started feeling like a band. That’s when Glenn called up Jason to see when we could record. Everything just unfolded in a very natural way.

You can read the rest of my
gw_logoInterview with Andrew Watt by Clicking Here!

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!