After the departure of longtime vocalist Josey Scott, Saliva’s Wayne Swinny (guitar), Dave Novotny (bass) and Paul Crosby (drums) weren’t sure if they’d be able to find a suitable replacement.
Thankfully, after a month of deliberating, the search for a new frontman led them to singer Bobby Amaru, whose arrival kicked off a new chapter for the band, one that Swinny equates with hitting the lottery.
Saliva fans will get their first taste of Amaru’s vocals on the band’s eighth studio album, In It To Win It, which will be released September 3 via Rum Bum Records. Produced by Bobby Huff (Halestorm, Drowning Pool, Papa Roach), the album not only forges the band into new territory, but also stays true to the classic Saliva sound.
I spoke with Swinny about In It To Win It, his gear and the best advice he’s ever been given as a guitarist. Check out the interview by Clicking Here!
Jeff Pilson is a busy man. In addition to his regular role as Foreigner’s bassist, he’s also been dividing his time with a host of other projects.
He’s working with other former Dokken members George Lynch and Mick Brown on the next T&N album, and he’s just finished producing the upcoming Kill Devil Hill album and Loveless Fascination, the first new Starship album featuring Mickey Thomas in almost 25 years.
Below, we discuss all the projects mentioned above and a whole lot more.
GUITAR WORLD: How did you get involved with Mickey Thomas’ new Starship project?
It started off from a songwriting angle. I was working with another producer on a project, and he ended up hearing a bunch of my songs. He also was working with Mickey Thomas at the time and said, “What would you think if I worked these songs with Mickey Thomas, who’s planning on doing another Starship record?” I loved Mickey and already had the songs available, so I said, “Sure, why not?” He started working with Mickey on the album, but things just didn’t work out. That’s when I got involved as the producer as well.
Hear the new Starship track “It’s Not The Same As Love” here
Read the rest of my interview with Jeff Pilson by Clicking Here
Heaven & Earth’s new album, Dig, celebrates the sound of iconic ’70s rock music, a time when rock was at what some consider its purist, most accessible form.
Originally an all-star project for guitarist Stuart Smith, Heaven & Earth has since evolved into a full band that includes Joe Retta (vocals), Chuck Wright (bass), Richie Onori (drums) and Arlan Schierbaum (keyboards).
Picking up where iconic bands like Deep Purple and Bad Company left off, Heaven & Earth are on a mission to resurrect the sanctity — or lat least the sound — of classic rock.
I recently spoke with Smith and Wright about the new album, their gear and more.
GUITAR WORLD: How did this album come together?
WRIGHT: Stuart called me and told me he was doing a new Heaven & Earth record and asked if I wanted to take part. I had played on the other Heaven & Earth albums, but those were more like solo records for Stuart, with a lot of guest stars on them. For this one, he wanted us all to get together in a room and hash things out. Get a real band sound going and do it for real. So we partnered up and came together as a band.
SMITH: Joe Retta [vocals] and I have been playing in Sweet for a while. He has such an amazing voice and reminds me of a young Paul Rodgers. Chuck is such a great bassist and also an amazing writer.
You can read the rest of my interview with Stuart Smith & Chuck Wright
plus see TWO Heaven & Earth videos by Clicking Here
When it comes to LIVE albums, it doesn’t get more real or raw than John Waite’s LIVE ALL ACCESS.
Recorded live in both Philadelphia and Manchester, ‘LIVE ALL ACCESS’ features performances from Waite’s most recent solo album, “Rough and Tumble” as well as songs from his Babys days and early solo career.
Fans who attended Waite’s performances not only participated on the album, but were also privy to seeing the former Babys/Bad English vocalist and his band at the top of their game.
I spoke with Waite about the new album as well as The Babys, Bad English and some of his biggest hits!
What made you decide to do a live album?
The band was the reason. I remember there were a few times when we were out on stage and I just looked around and thought, “God, this is where I want to be!” This is where I live and I want to share it with people. It sounded so great. I knew I had to get it on tape somehow.
How many shows do you think you’ve performed over the course of your career?
As a solo, I’ve spent most of my life on the road. The Babys also did an enormous amount of gigs and Bad English spent a year on the road. I’ve played small clubs, arenas, the lot. I don’t really think about how many shows I’ve done. I think about it more in terms of how many times I’ve gotten on an airplane [laughs].
What was the recording process like?
I recorded a few shows in Philly at Philly Sound. It’s a church in the blue-collar part of town [a recording studio in the church]. It was a free concert and I brought along three kegs of beer with me each night. A few months later, I decided to try to record again and we got another beautiful performance in Manchester, New Hampshire. I then mixed the best of Philly with the best from Manchester. There isn’t one single overdub on this record and I’m proud of it. It came out exactly as I wanted it to.
Discussing The Babys, Bad English and Biggest Hits
How did the band come up with the name The Babys?
Our manager in London was fairly contentious. He was a very dry and sardonic kind of guy. I remember he’d always stand there in his overcoat just sneering at us. I could give as good as I get, so one day I looked back at him and said “What?” He just looked and he said, “Ah, you’re just a bunch of babies!” and walked out. Then he came back in and said “That’s it! The Babies!” At the time, I had dyslexia and instead of spelling things with “ies” I’d just put a “y” around it. So I would spell it “Babys”. He took that and it became the name of the band.
What caused the breakup of the band?
The whole thing had turned sour. At the time, some of us weren’t acting as sweetly as we should. Our record label [Chrysalis] had done such a poor job with everything and Jonathan [Cain] was also leaving to join Journey.We all knew it was the end.
Let’s discuss some of your biggest solo hits. How does a song like “Change” come across your desk?
I’ve always been street wise for knowing that you need a hit, but also that it had to be quality. I was writing with Ivan Kral [Patti Smith / Iggy Pop] putting together the ‘Ignition’ album when I got a cassette in the mail. I remember playing it and thinking “Wow, this sounds like a John Waite song!” [laughs]. It sounded like it was written in my style. I changed some of the lyrics around to make it more “me”, and it worked.
What was the concept for the video?
I was a reporter running around in a zoot suit. I was meant to be a sort of Jimmy Olsen character trying to talk someone down off a ledge. She was having a hard time in the film business. Kort Falkenberg III shot that video and also shot “Missing You”. The thing I liked was that he really understood and loved film. I follow old film religiously [it’s my love, other than music], so I knew a lot about what he was talking about.
Missing You
I was living away from my wife (we were on the edge of divorce) and was torn. I had spent time in New York and obviously had met Nina Blackwood [MTV] and we were close. The thing is, when you think of a girl you think of the setting in which you see that girl too. New York City comes into that song. It’s a song about distance and not being there.
Did you know at the time that it was going to something special?
I knew it immediately. I started by taking “Every Time I Think of You” [which is the title of a Babys song] as the first line just to get going and it just all came out from there. I got the whole first verse, bridge and chorus in one go and remember standing back and just being so overwhelmed with emotion that I couldn’t even speak. It was one of those moments where all of the things that are sitting in the back of your mind come to the front.
When I hear it, I always think of two songs which must have been an inspiration. One was “Wichita Lineman” (Glenn Campbell sang the quintessential version) and the other is “Catch a Train” (by Free). You couldn’t get two more opposite songs, but they’re both about distance and I used them as a reference going into that song. I wasn’t trying to compete with those songs. I just understood what they meant. ‘Missing You’ would have come out anyway.
How did the Bad English project come together?
I had done four solo records and was about to make a 5th. I had just gotten out of EMI and my manager walked me into Epic and the A&R guy there told me he was going to find great songs for me. Then I thought, “Why don’t we just do it as a band? No one would expect it!”
I started looking for guitar players, originally trying to find someone like Johnny Marr [Morrissey]; a prodigy to that kind of north of England, working class, ambitious rock. I met a lot of people, but couldn’t find anyone to fit the bill. That was when the suggestion was made to reform a core of The Babys, and it was great to play with those guys.
What was it like working with Neal Schon?
The great thing about Neil is that he just wants to play. Even after a complete night out, when you’re all tired and bleary eyed, he’d still come up with something. “Lay Down” [off the first album] was a song that was written after we had just been up all night. We were destroyed from the night before and just decided to go into the studio and write something and the two of us wrote that song.
Are you working on any new music?
We have a song called “If You Ever Get Lonely” which the country band, Love and Theft has released. In September, I intend to go back into the studio.
Tony [Brock] and Wally [Stocker] have recently reformed The Babys. Did they approach you about taking part?
They did. I love Tony and Wally, but think we probably should have done it twenty years ago.
When you look back over the course of your career, what thoughts come to mind?
My life has been unbelievable. I think if you were to go back to when I was a kid at age five [listening to Marty Robbins and living in a cottage in the English countryside in the black and white 50’s] and then step forward to where I am now; there’s such an air of fragility that sometimes even I don’t believe it. It’s almost like I’m asleep. It’s been such a great life, and it’s nowhere near over.
Be sure to check out my interview with John Waite on GuitarWorld.Com where we discuss more about “LIVE ALL ACCESS”
John Waite’s new live album, Live All Access, is as real and raw as it gets.
Recorded live in Philadelphia and New Hampshire with absolutely no overdubs, the album features Keri Kelli on guitars, Tim Hogan on bass and Rhondo on drums and showcases the former Babys and Bad English vocalist at the top of his game.
Waite has achieved international success over the course of his 35-year career. His hits included 1984’s “Missing You,” which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
I recently spoke with Waite about his new live album and more.
GUITAR WORLD: What made you decide to do a live album?
The band was the reason. We also added Keri Kelli as our guitar player, which really upped the ante. I remember there were nights when we were out on stage and I just looked around and thought, “God, this is where I want to be!” This is where I live and I want to share it with people. It sounded so great. I knew I had to get it on tape somehow.
You can read the rest of my interview with John Waite by Clicking Here!
She’s an internationally recognized artist who has sold over one million CDs worldwide; singing, writing and recording music internationally for the past thirty years. She’s a winner of Billboard’s Best Female Rock Vocalist award and has toured and/or worked with the likes of Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, Van Halen and Joe Cocker.
But on Monday, August 12th, singer Sass Jordan will do something that she’s never done before: bring her solo material to the StageIt arena for an intimate concert performance for her fans.
StageIt is an online concert venue. One where artists broadcast LIVE interactive performances directly from a laptop or computer to fans all over the world; offering a one of a kind experience you can’t get anywhere else.
In addition to her StageIt performance, Jordan is also busy supporting her Something Unto Nothing (S.U.N) project with guitarist Brian Tichy. The duo will once again bring their “Acoustic Stomp” to the next leg of Queensrÿche’s tour at the end of this month. The stomp is another unique experience in that it allows you to hear every nuance of Sass’ soulful voice in stripped down versions of the songs. Tichy uses only a guitar (along with a kick/hi-hat combo) while Jordan sings and adds her own percussion. creating a really cool vibe.
I spoke with Jordan about her StageIt show and got an update on S.U.N.
Tell me about your upcoming StageIt performance and how fans can join you!
The show is Monday, August 12th at 7:30 pm ET. What you is go to StageIt.com and search for my show. This particular one is called The Good Time Half Hour. There’s no set fee. It’s pay what you want. The cool thing about Stageit is that you can do it from wherever you are. As long as you have a decent internet connection, people can watch it from the comfort of their own home. You don’t even have to worry about going out or driving. It’s another means for artists to promote their music and a cool way to get it to the fans. It may not be the same as being there live and in person, but it’s the next best thing. It’s also interactive, so anyone who’s watching can ask questions and talk to you.
What can fans expect from your Stageit event?
This show will focus on my solo material and I’m also hoping to squeeze in a few covers that I’ve been working on as well. Derek Sharp from The Guess Who will be joining me. This is the very first time we’re doing it and I’m very excited. The Stageit people are fabulous to work with. Brian [Tichy] and I will probably do a future one as S.U.N., but this particular performance is Sass Jordan solo. Eventually, I’d like to do a series of them.
Speaking of S.U.N., can you give an update on the project?
We already have five new songs for the next S.U.N. record and we’re planning to write a few more during our run with Queensrÿche. We’re almost halfway there. We’ll probably be recording the new album the same way we recorded the first one. We had such a great time doing it and it worked so well with the style and genre.
For more on Sass Jordan’s Good Time Half Hour Show, Click Here
Something Unto Nothing (S.U.N.) Acoustic Stomp Tour Dates:
Sometimes it’s hard to believe that it’s been five years since Kristy Lee Cook first captured America’s heart on the American Idol stage. But the beautiful Oregon native (who went on to finish seventh in the competition’s seventh season) hasn’t rested on her laurels since her departure.
Rather, Kristy’s taken everything she’s learned from her AI experience and infused it with her own creative and emotional energies to make a mark in the country music realm. One that’s clearly evidenced by “Wherever Love Goes”; Kristy’s powerful new single and follow-up to “Airborne Ranger Infantry”, her personal tribute to both her father and the military.
Written by Neil Thrasher, Paul Jenkins and Jason Sellers, “Wherever Love Goes” is a power ballad that was originally cut for Randy Houser’s album, “How Country Feels”. But it was Benny Brown, the president of Broken Bow Records who suggested Kristy record her own version of the song and have Randy join in as well. The result is one of those songs that instantly engages you. The more you listen to it, the more it catches on.
“Wherever Love Goes” (impacting country radio on August 12th), will also be featured on Kristy’s debut album on Broken Bow; an album being produced by none other than Jason Aldean, who also knows a thing or two about hit songs.
I spoke with Kristy about the new single and also got an update on her new album and more!
What was it like working with Randy Houser on this single?
It was amazing. Randy is such a great person and has one of the best voices in Nashville. He can sing all day long and is very enjoyable to be around.
Is there a mind-set or something else you do to prepare yourself to sing a song this emotional?
When I was younger, I would sometimes bring pictures into the studio with me to help get into the moment. But now, since I can relate to many of the experiences I’ve been singing about, I understand the lyrics more, so it’s easier for me to connect with the song.
Tell me about your upcoming album.
We’ve recorded about twelve tracks so far and will be recording a few more. I’m excited about it. There’s going to be a lot of variety of music on this record, with something for everyone. I think it adds a little bit of character to the album.
Jason Aldean is producing. What’s it like working with him?
Considering that he’s my favorite male country artist, it’s pretty awesome! [laughs]. Seriously, he’s such a nice guy and we get along really well. Jason actually sang backing vocals on a song that we did called “Dirt Cheap”. I was there when he did his part and to watch him record the song was amazing. It’s an honor for me to be able to work with him.
Tell me the origin of the song “Airborne Ranger Infantry”
My Mom had collected a bunch of poems that my Dad had written when he was at war and would often read them to my siblings and I when we were younger. They’re very powerful poems and I remember growing up with the idea of wanting to write a song from them. It was something that I’ve always wanted to do, but never had the opportunity until I actually became a songwriter. I got together with Michael Logen and Luke Sheets to write it, and originally just wanted it to be for my Dad. But I quickly realized that it had become something much more. I saw the impact that it had on people and it’s since become my way of giving back to our military and saying thanks for everything that they do.
What are some of your best and worst memories from your American Idol experience?
The tour was quite an experience. We went from performing on the show to being in front of 15,000 people a night. It was intense, but it was also a lot of fun. One of the worst experiences for me was the first week of the live rounds. I had bronchitis and the flu with 102 degree temperature. I remember having to sing live and not knowing what to do. They even took me to a different hotel and everything! [laughs].
What do you think makes country music so great?
The fact that you can sing about anything and everything, and it’s real. You can sing about relationships and heartbreak and everyone can relate to the songs because everyone has gone through the same thing. It’s a way of communicating with people and having a personal connection with a song that soothes your soul. It also revolves around the outdoors and about good, down to Earth people who’ve got each others back. I love being able to share that message with people.
Comprised of brothers Matt and Scott Thomas (lead vocals/guitar and drums, respectively), cousin Barry Knox (bass) and lifelong best friend Josh McSwain (guitar), Parmalee has been riding the wave of country music with their catchy riffs and good-time attitude.
The band’s current single, “Carolina,” is cresting the Top 30 of mainstream country radio.
Parmalee was handpicked by Southwest Airlines as the first act to perform on its “Travelin’ Taylor Tour Series” [sponsored by Taylor Guitars], where they performed at 35,000 feet for passengers on a direct flight from Nashville to Houston.
But the members of Parmalee also have had to face adversity on their road to success. In September 2010, after being involved in an attempted robbery and shootout outside a club where they had just played, drummer Scott Thomas was shot three times and was airlifted to a nearby hospital where he was given a 5 percent chance of survival. Miraculously, he survived the ordeal and spent the next 40 days recovering from his injuries in a hospital bed.
Parmalee are working on their debut album for Stoney Creek Records. I spoke with guitarists Matt Thomas and Josh McSwain about the band’s music, gear and more.
You can read the rest of my Guitar World interview with Parmalee by Clicking Here!
Since the release of their debut album “Better Days”, no band has worked harder to deliver its music than Another Lost Year. The band has logged more than 400 dates over the past 18 months; hitting radio just as hard as the road.
Consisting of Clinton Cunanan (vocals) , Adam Hall (guitar), David Whitaker (guitar), Lee Norris (drums), and Andrew Allender (bass), Another Lost Year is generating buzz in the mainstream alternative metal/hard rock arena. And who can blame them? The band is recognized not only for the infectious melodies and hooks, but also for its truthful lyrics and powerful live performances.
In listening to “Better Days” one gets the impression of a veteran band with longevity; a credit to a demanding tour schedule that’s taken the band from Florida to Michigan and pretty much everywhere in between. Another Lost Year’s has already taken home the 2013 Rockwired Radio Music Award for Best Song [“War On The Inside”] and the song “Writing On The Wall” is currently in rotation on Sirius XM Octane as well as on various other rock stations. The band’s music has also been featured on MTV and Oxygen cable network shows.
I caught up with vocalist Clinton Cunanan to get his thoughts on the album as well as what the future holds for Another Lost Year.
How would you describe the sound of the album?
We’re a little bit of everything. As heavy or as light as you want. Just truthful, emotional rock.
What was the origin for the song “War On The Inside”?
That song comes from a personal struggle for me. I was at a point in my life where I had to decide whether to go “left or right.” I just remember being in a really dark place and felt that no matter which way I went, it was going to be life altering, and once I made the decision there was no turning back. The song was mostly therapy for me, and a means to an end.
Do most of the songs on Better Days have a similar feel?
Some people take pictures to remember events in their lives. Me? I write songs. All of the songs on this album are snapshots of my life. It’s as personal as it can be. Every day we’re faced with decisions: left or right; up or down; deciding upon which way to go. The premise is, we all look for help at times and it’s during those moments when you least expect it, someone comes along and saves you. If I can through it anyone out there can. At the end of the day, I hope we can give somebody hope.
Tell me about the band’s grueling tour schedule.
Last year, we did about 260 dates and took two months off to record the album. This year, we’re on pace to do over 300. A typical day on the road consists of about sixteen hours in a van, five hours at a venue and maybe [if you’re lucky] getting a few hours to sleep here and there [laughs]. We’ve performed in nearly 38 states and are looking at getting overseas in the spring of next year.
What inspired you to get into music?
Eddie and The Cruisers 2 [laughs]. That’s what got me wanting to play guitar when I was nine. Music is what saved my life and is something that I was meant to do.
What’s next for the band?
We’re already busy writing songs for the next album and are slated to go back into the studio towards the end of October. In the meantime, we’re going to continue to tour. We’ve seen a lot of bands that go out for a few months and then go home, but that’s not really our style. We’ll keep up the grueling schedule and also focus on branching out and helping other bands that are coming up.
Another Lost Year (Photo Credit: CiJay Pikula Imaging)
How would you describe the reaction to the new music?
It’s been incredible. We’ve been touring for about twenty months now and it’s amazing to think a bunch of guys from North Carolina can have an album that’s reaching people all over the world. We’ve got people from all walks of life coming up and telling us how the album has saved their life. People who’ve said it’s an album they can listen to front to back. To hear something like that is mind-blowing. It’s really a humbling experience to have people sing every one of your songs every night.
For more info on Another Lost Year be sure to check out their official website by Clicking Here!
Madlife single-handedly redefining the term industrial rock.
The Los Angeles band’s fourth album, 21st Century Megalomaniac, which was released in May, continues to raise the bar set by their earlier albums with a sound that’s allowed them to share the stage with artists like Five Finger Death Punch, Volbeat, Korn and Marilyn Manson.
The band’s unique approach to songwriting is fueled by its use of catchy guitar tones, electronica and infectious grooves combined with the angst-driven vocals of Angry Phil. Songs like “Just One Gun” and “To Live and Die in Hollywood” have become absolute must-haves for any metal head’s playlist.
Produced by Society 1 vocalist Matt Zane, the video for “Just One Gun” also features the beautiful Lexus Amanda (Blacklisted Me), who gives a performance guitarist Isaiah Stuart describes as no less than visually hot and disturbing. With the album and video now complete, the band is prepping for a tour of the northwestern part of the US.
You can read the rest of my Guitar World Interview with
Isaiah Stuart by Clicking Here.
After the departure of longtime vocalist Josey Scott, Saliva’s Wayne Swinny (guitar), Dave Novotny (bass) and Paul Crosby (drums) weren’t sure if they’d be able to find a suitable replacement.
Heaven & Earth’s new album, Dig, celebrates the sound of iconic ’70s rock music, a time when rock was at what some consider its purist, most accessible form.
She’s an internationally recognized artist who has sold over one million CDs worldwide; singing, writing and recording music internationally for the past thirty years. She’s a winner of Billboard’s Best Female Rock Vocalist award and has toured and/or worked with the likes of Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, Van Halen and Joe Cocker.
Comprised of brothers Matt and Scott Thomas (lead vocals/guitar and drums, respectively), cousin Barry Knox (bass) and lifelong best friend Josh McSwain (guitar), Parmalee has been riding the wave of country music with their catchy riffs and good-time attitude.
Since the release of their debut album “Better Days”, no band has worked harder to deliver its music than Another Lost Year. The band has logged more than 400 dates over the past 18 months; hitting radio just as hard as the road.
go.Jimmy.go 