Tag: Music

Guitar World Interviews, Music

KRUSH: Bassist Billy Sheehan Discusses New NIACIN Album

NIACIN-CRUSHFrom his early days with Talas and David Lee Roth, to his time spent with Mr. Big and Steve Vai, bassist Billy Sheehan’s has worked alongside some of the giants in music. But, perhaps there’s no better outlet that allows Sheehan to flex his bass muscle than when he’s working on a NIACIN project. After a seven-year hiatus, Sheehan has once again reunited with acclaimed keyboardist John Novello (Chick Corea, Ritchie Cole) and world-renowned drummer Dennis Chambers (Santana, Parliament) to release KRUSH; a tour de force of sonic blues goodness. Combining exceptional musicianship combined with the rich vocabulary of Hammond B3, it’s a sound that also delves into the territories of jazz and rock without being limited by the boundaries of either.

I spoke with Sheehan about the new NIACIN album as well as his days performing with David Lee Roth. He also reminisces about his very first concert experience: seeing Jimi Hendrix.

How did the Krush project come together?

All of us have been busy working on other project, but our schedules finally worked together and allowed us to get together and do some writing. Our writing process is casual and allows us to dig deep into our past. John and I went to his house, sat around and told stories and played and came up with ideas that over time morphed and evolved into songs. Next, we’ll make a demo with simple drums (just to keep time) and then send it off to Dennis and ask him to wave his magic wand on them. Dennis is the greatest musician I know, on any instrument.

How would you describe NIACIN?

We refer to it as “Bluesion”; like fusion only blues based. Whereas normal fusion is either a combination of jazz and rock or funk, this is more blues based fusion with elements of jazz. The B3 is what takes it down that blues road automatically, just because it’s such an essential instrument. I remember there was a time when I was younger where having a B3 in the band was even more important than having a guitar player.

You can read the rest of my Guitar World interview with Billy Sheehan by clicking here.

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Guitar World Interview: Joe Bonamassa Discusses The Guitar Center Blues Masters Challenge

bluesmastersGuitar Center’s Blues Masters, through a partnership with Joe Bonamassa, is offering ten musicians the chance to perform in Los Angeles backed by Bonamassa’s band as well as provide one undiscovered blues guitarist with a career-altering opportunity for development and exposure under the tutelage of one of the biggest names in blues rock.

Now through the end of April, guitarists can submit videos of their best lead guitar performance to one of ten official Joe Bonamassa backing tracks. The videos will then be judged through a series of selection processes by both industry professionals and eventually, Bonamassa himself.

The grand prize winner will receive an opening slot at Bonamassa’s headlining show in Los Angeles this fall as well as a cash prize and gear from Gibson, Ernie Ball, Marshall Amplification and Dunlop. In addition, the winner will also receive an in studio mentor session with Bonamassa and producer Kevin Shirley, who has worked with the likes of Journey, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden and more.

I spoke with Bonamassa about Blues Masters as well as some of his latest projects.

GUITAR WORLD: Tell me a little about your involvement with Guitar Center and Blues Masters.

I’ve been involved in Guitar Center’s King of The Blues Competition for the past several years and it’s been a lot of fun. Everyone is playing so well that it makes me wish I was 18 again. These guys are so unbridled and enthusiastic. The Blues Masters is a chance for aspiring blues guitarists from across the U.S. to submit their best lead guitar performance to one of my tracks. There‘s a submission and selection process and I’ll be getting involved more towards the end of the year when they finalize the selection, and then we’ll pick a winner.

Check out the rest of my Guitar World interview with Joe Bonamassa Here.

For  official rules and other information concerning Guitar Center’s Blues Masters, please visit: http://www.guitarcenter.com/bluesmasters.

Childhood Memories, Dear Diary, Life, Music

Dear Diary: March 30th, 1988

meI really am grateful that I took the time to semi-regularly write a journal during my high school days. It gives me the opportunity now to look back and see where I was and just how far I’ve come. Back then, the future was bright and there were no limitations. Oh sure, there are definitely some things I lament doing and not doing, but all things considered, I wouldn’t change a thing. The good, the bad, the mistakes I’ve made – they’ve all made me into the person I am today.

This was my situation 25 year ago this very day: I had just graduated from high school nine months ago and was already a college drop out, living at home and without a job. Most of my time was spent either practicing my guitar, driving a beat up 1974 Ford Torino, bumming money off of my mom and grandmother and doing anything I could do to make it to the big time.

One of the biggest regrets I had musically in high school was not being able to participate in my senior year Battle of The Bands competition. It was an annual event held in the high school gym every spring, and gave students the opportunity to showcase their musical talent in front of the greatest audience of all: their peers. Even if you didn’t win, just being in the battle was a right of passage for future rock-star musicians.

At the time, I had no band and thus couldn’t participate. But for some reason that now escapes me, (I blame it on the ten Zimas I drank on my wedding night), I was somehow able to submit an entry for the competition the following year, 1988. By this point, I had already formed my first three-piece band and had begun the process of taking over the world with our brand of face melting metal. Needless to say, I was elated to have this opportunity (albeit a year later) and wanted to really shine.

Reading this journal entry now, a quarter century later is surreal. I was (still am) a huge Ozzy/Randy Rhoads fan and at the time must have played the song ‘Crazy Train’ a million times. I was also hugely into Poison and AC/DC, so those songs also had to be included on the live demo tape we recorded for the judging panel to see if we had what it took to compete. We never did get a call back about being in the battle that year, and I never followed up on it. By that time, my band had already started playing real gigs and the battle (much like the reason we could compete in it in the first place) soon became a distant memory.

Even better than the entry I wrote about the battle of the bands was the question I posed to myself afterwards. I asked myself what it was that was making me so happy in life. My answer is pretty cool.

Here’s my journal entry from 25 years ago: March 30th, 1988:

explorer3/30: I attended a meeting of the Battle of The Bands. It will be quite a competition. I think we’ll get in. They only take eight bands and I’m confident that ‘Silent Rage’ will be one of them. We have a demo and I think it is really good. My situation has really changed since last year at this time. Back then, I was the high school student who dreamed of being in the battle and now I’m actually living the thing I should’ve done last year. Even if we’re turned down, at least we tried.

All I know is, the other seven bands they choose better be extremely good. We played and recorded Crazy Train three times on my cassette player and kept the best version; the one that’s there now. The first attempt had no bass, then too much bass and on this one, it’s an even balance. I swear, some parts of that song make me think Randy Rhoads was controlling me. Even the Poison shit sounds professional. Where it goes “I’ve gotta have you, oh yes I do!” I swear, that little lead I play is C. C. Deville. My original is quite good too and Shook Me by AC/DC is kick ass.

Why are you so happy lately?

The band is the reason. For once in my life, I’m doing something that I really want to do. I’m in my career. No one understands why I talk about it so much. They think it’s probably a phase. It’s not.

I didn’t want to play guitar to be a hobby. I wanna be the best. I want to someday look in a guitar magazine and see my picture as an artist and be recognized as a guitarist and songwriter. Sure, in the beginning everyone gets into it for other reasons; like girls, money and fast cars. I originally thought girls were the reason I got into it too. But deep down, I had this weird feeling and as each day passed, I fell more in love with music than ever before.

Before my junior year in high school was over, I was taking Music Theory. But even that wasn’t enough. In my senior year, I took Music Appreciation, Choir and Theory II. During that time I had guitar lessons and sometimes practiced for five hours a day. Now, the girls don’t matter. As long as I can live normally, I don’t care about the money or the fast cars either. I’ll drive a Torino until I’m 90. All I wanna do is play and make money that way. I want to write songs and have money to go out to dinner. After three long years it’s starting to happen.

I’m so happy about my life at this point, I can’t help but talk about it. Someday, my hope is that everyone else will understand it too.

Guitar World Interviews, Music

Guitar World Interview: Warrant Bassist Jerry Dixon Discusses Band’s Legacy and Summer Plans

From his early days playing the LA club circuit, bassist Jerry Dixon saw something in a young up and coming band that piqued his interest. A late night discussion with the band’s guitarist, Erik Turner would soon begin a partnership that planted the seed for one of the most successful hair metal bands of all time. With the arrivals of Joey Allen (guitars), Steven Sweet (drums) and the amazing singer/songwriter Jani Lane, Warrant was soon on the road to stardom.

Having been through many trials and tribulations over the years (most notably, the on again/off again relationship with the Lane, who passed away in 2011), the band has persevered by adding vocalist Robert Mason (Lynch Mob) to the mix in 2008 and released 2011’s Rockaholic, an album on which Dixon summed up his experiences best with the track, “Life’s A Song”.

Warrant

Twenty five years after those early recording sessions for what became the band’s debut album, “Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich”, Warrant continues to make music and tour to fans that simply can’t get enough of their melodic, in your face anthemic rock.

Warrant is:  Jerry Dixon (bass), Robert Mason (vocals), Joey Allen (guitars), Erik Turner (guitars) and Steven Sweet (drums).

I spoke with Dixon about the early days of Warrant as well as what the band has planned for the summer. Check out the Guitar World Interview here.

Guitar World Interviews, Music

Guitar World Interview: Stryper’s Michael Sweet Discusses New Albums, Book, Tour

Stryper

Michael Sweet may just be the busiest guy on the planet. For 2013, the Stryper front man has plans for no less than three albums, two tours and an auto-biography. The revival officially begins on March 26th when the band releases the appropriately titled “Second Coming”; a sixteen-song collection of classic Stryper re-records as well as two brand new tracks.

In an era when such “re-makes” are generally frowned upon, Stryper has managed to take their already vintage sound and moved it to a much heavier level. Fans of the band’s first three albums will be blown away with the freshness from “new” versions of songs like “Loud N’ Clear”, “Soldiers Under Command” and “Calling On You”. ‘Second Coming’ also features two brand new Stryper tracks that balance out an already amazing effort and puts the spotlight squarely on Sweet’s own phenomenal guitar prowess.

In addition to the new album, Sweet’s own solo album and auto-biography are planned for release this year. And, if that isn’t enough, Stryper will enter the studio in April to record an album of all new material that will coincide with a summer tour.

Stryper is: Michael Sweet (Guitars/Vocals),  Oz Fox (Guitars), Timothy Gaines (Bass) and Robert Sweet (Drums).

I spoke with Sweet and got the scoop on all of these projects. In addition, he also lets us in on yet another “scary” surprise that he has planned for the end of the year.

What was the genesis for Second Coming?

Initially, we intended to make this record for our publishing company. Usually, people tend to roll their eyes at the thought of doing re-records because you’re already used to the original and sometimes think, “What’s the point?” Typically, it’s hard to recapture the same “magic” that you had on the originals. But what’s cool about these songs and this record is that not only we were able to capture all of the magic from the original songs, but in some ways surpass and add some new magic to them as well. When people hear this album as whole, they’re going to be blown out of the water.

Check out the rest of my Guitar World interview with Michael Sweet by clicking here.

Interview, Music

‘Paralyzed’: Devyn DeLoera Discusses New Single, Rock For Autism and ‘The Voice’

DevynParalyzedInfectious. That’s the one word to describe “Paralyzed”, the new single by former ‘The Voice’ contestant Devyn DeLoera. It’s a song that gets inside of your head and just won’t leave. A follow-up to her time spent on the show, the catchy pop single is available on iTunes as well as many other digital music outlets.

Inspired by the music of Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson and Paramore, the beautiful songstress has overcome her childhood shyness and is now forging her own musical path, with confidence.

On April 26th, Devyn will take part in Rock Now for Autism; a benefit concert for Jenny McCarthy’s Generation Rescue and sponsored by Los Angeles Magazine.

I spoke with Devyn about her music and upcoming show. We also discuss her time on ‘The Voice’ and what she has planned for the future.

How did this new single come about and how would you describe it?

A few writers who I’m also friends with knew what kind of style I wanted to do musically and approached me with it. It’s a fun pop song that you can jam out to in your car. [laughs]

Tell me a little about the ‘Rock Now For Autism’ benefit concert.

It’s a great opportunity to really help raise awareness. I’ll be doing an acoustic show and some of my friends from ‘The Voice’ will also be performing as well. We’ll most likely perform original songs and a few cover songs that people are familiar with as well. It will be a great show and I’m excited to be a part of it.

What was the audition process like  for ‘The Voice’?

I originally had a private audition in Austin, and there were about 40 people there. Afterwards, I flew to LA for a week and auditioned for 20 NBC executive producers, which was very scary! [laughs].

After that, there’s a month where you’re busy rehearsing your first blind audition song as well as taping your realty life story. Then, you finally go in one day and do the part where they film the chairs. There’s a big process to it, but it was a great experience. I learned a lot about myself and music and made a lot of friends.

What was going through your mind when those chairs turned around?

It was a like dream. I just remember at the time being so excited because I got who I wanted (Christina). The whole experience was just surreal.

What was it like working with Christina Aguilera?

Christina was great. She was such a great coach and really invested in her team. She was very helpful in helping me find the direction for my career.

What would a typical day with her be like?

Our team was always nervous whenever we would visit her. We did a lot of things for the camera with her and got her opinion about our performances. For being as huge a star as she is, she is such a down to Earth, real person. I remember when I met with her and Billy Joe Armstrong (Green Day), they were both laughing and having a great time.  Before the live rounds started, she invited five of us to her house just to hang out and listen to her new album.

DevynDeLoera

Let’s discuss how you had to overcome shyness and build your confidence.

I went through a period in my life where I didn’t like school and thought I didn’t fit in. I was depressed and had issues with making friends. My Mom decided to home school me for a year to help build my confidence and it really helped. After a year, I went back to public school.  Some people might find it hard to believe that I was so shy, but I really was. I still have my shy moments, but nothing like how I used to be. I’m a lot more confident now.

Was there a particular moment when you decided that music was going to be your calling?

I think it was when I got on a stage for the first time when I was nine years old. That’s when I realized it was something that I loved. I decided at a young age it was something that I really wanted to do. Music makes everyone happy.

What’s next for you?

My next plan is to put out another single and then start work on an EP or an album. I also want to start playing shows in LA to gain more confidence and establish my signature. I want to be who I am as an artist and make a career of it.

For more information on Devyn DeLoera check out her Facebook by clicking here
Follow Devyn on Twitter: @DevynDeLoera

Guitar World Interviews, Music

REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin Discusses Latest Tour, Guitars and ‘Hi Infidelity’

REO_RandeeSt.NicholasPowered by the vocals and songwriting of guitarist Kevin Cronin, REO Speedwagon continues to bring its brand of mid-west rock and roll to the masses.

Cronin briefly left the band during the recording of the “Ridin The Storm Out” album, but rejoined in 1976 and has been with them ever since.

Guitarist Gary Richrath, whose signature Les Paul sound became synonymous with hits like “Roll With The Changes” and “Take It On The Run” left the group in 1989 and was replaced by Dave Amato, whose resume includes stints with Ted Nugent and Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi).

REO Speedwagon is: Kevin Cronin (vocals/guitar), Dave Amato (guitar), Neal Doughty (keyboards), Bruce Hall (bass) and Bryan Hitt (drums).

I spoke with Cronin about this year’s “Midwest Rock ‘n Roll Express” tour which brings along veteran rockers Styx and Nugent. We also discuss the Hi Infidelity album and a recent encounter he had with Richrath.

Where did the idea for a “Midwest Rock and Roll Express” originate?

We had always been toying with the idea taking a little bit of our mid-west culture and bringing it around the country.  So last year I called my buddy Tommy Shaw and he was in. Then to find that third piece, Tommy mentioned Nugent (from his ‘Damn Yankees’ relationship). The idea worked out so well last year that we decided to do it all again.

Read the rest of my Guitar World Interview with Kevin Cronin Here

Music

Hotel Diablo Guitarist Alex Grossi Discusses New Video ‘Psycho, California’

hoteldiablo2013 is shaping up to be a busy year for Hotel Diablo’s Alex Grossi. Already one of the hardest-working guitarists around, Grossi also performs with Quiet Riot (which celebrates the 30th anniversary of its monster album “Metal Health” this year). In addition, Grossi mentors other up and coming bands and is also involved in a clothing line with Forgotten Saints.

Grossi first met vocalist Rick Stitch back in 2009 when both were members of Steven Adler’s band, “Adler’s Appetite”. After parting ways with Adler, the duo (along with bassist Mike Duda and drummer Mike Dupke) began writing songs together and formed Hotel Diablo.

It wasn’t long before friend, producer and former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke  took notice and asked the guys to come down to his studio and record. It was also no coincidence that the first song they recorded was “Set It Off,” a track that would instantly catapult an entire project.

Pleased with the result, the band ended up doing a total of nine tracks with Clarke at his studio and two additional ones with LA underground producer Matt Starr. The result? Hotel Diablo’s debut album, “The Return to Psycho, California”, an 11-song arsenal of killer riffs and grooves.

Grossi explains the story behind one of the album’s strongest tracks, ‘Psycho, California’. “When we all moved out here to LA from different parts of the world, we were all fresh-faced, young kids. But we quickly discovered how this town can just eat you up and spit you out. This place (LA) has a lot of mythology to it, and that’s really what the song is about.”

When it came time to do a video for the song, the band already had a vision for how they wanted it to be. They joined forces with Emmy-winning director Fabio Jafet (Pitbull, KISS, Enrique Iglesias, Children of Bodom), who was instrumental in helping to capture the true essence of the song. It was an organic process that quickly took on a life of its own.

gilby_4Hotel Diablo recently completed a show at the House of Blues in LA, officially unveiling the new video and following it up with a live performance where they were joined onstage by Clarke himself. Bassist Chris Wyse (The Cult/Owl) also joined the band for the song “Bury You”, which Grossi revealed will be the next video released from the album and will once again reunite them with Jafet.

When asked about the future and working on the next Hotel Diablo video, Grossi is quick to point out his admiration for the director. “Fabio is world-class and the fact that he wanted to work with us was humbling.

Our goal now is to keep the creative momentum going.”

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Click for more on Alex Grossi and Hotel Diablo

Childhood Memories, Life, Music

When I Became A Metal Head: Metal Health

MetalHealthI’m not sure of the exact day, but I can tell you that it was sometime during the summer of 1983. Back when I was but a wee-lad of 13 and innocence was all the rage.

In those days, my father used to like to take my brother and me on drives to visit his friend Hal, who lived in a small ranch about five miles away. In order to get to his house, we would have to take the winding, back roads that wound along the Lehigh, a river which separated our home in Pennsylvania from the New Jersey border.

With windows rolled down, it was always a pleasant drive to Hal’s; particularly on sunny days when (from my vantage point in the back seat of my Dad’s 1977 Malibu Classic) I could take in the beauty of the scenic overlook, smell the honeysuckle in the air and feel the wind rush by my face. Little did I know at the time, but this was going to be one of those special days.

Our visit with Hal that particular day is not something I have any real recollection of. My brother and I were most likely tossing a football around in his back yard while Hal and my father kabitzed about work or something. In fact, it wasn’t until the ride home that I actually had the epiphany that would change my life forever.

We were nearly home and were listening to the local radio station when it came on. At that precise moment, we could have driven right off the road and into the river and I would have been oblivious to it. Once I heard it, I was hooked. The song was “Cum on Feel The Noize” by Quiet Riot and at the time, I had no idea that it was originally a #1 hit for the band Slade ten years earlier. All I knew was that this updated version was the most incredible song I had ever heard in my entire life. Who would have thought that girls rocking boys would have had such an impact on me? It would be the first time that I would ever make a demand of my father. Three words: “Turn It Up!”, to which he thankfully obliged.

I remember we pulled into our driveway and (much to my father and brother’s chagrin), I made them sit there in the car with me until the song was completely over. Back in 1983, there was no way of knowing when I would hear that song again, which in retrospect actually made me appreciate the song even more whenever I did hear it.

I instantly longed to be the one who vocalist Kevin DuBrow put on his shoulders and played the guitar solo instead of Carlos Cavazo. I wanted to be the one standing alongside the thundering bass of Rudy Sarzo and the infectious drums of Frankie Banali. I wanted to be the one to get wild, wild, WILD!

It wouldn’t be long before the album, ‘Metal Health’ found its way into my possession. But Metal Health was more than just an album. It pushed the metal genre into the mainstream and ushered in a new wave of music euphoria for a generation of starving ears. For me personally, the album went much deeper. It actually became a part of me. So much so, that when I started taking proper guitar lessons a year after that drive along the Lehigh River, the very first song I ever learned how to play was ‘Metal Health (Bang Your Head)’. Perhaps it was the reckless abandon of the songs, or maybe it was because Quiet Riot once had Randy Rhoads in its line-up at one time that made the album appeal to me as a guitarist. One of the all time greatest players was once part of the band whose album I now enjoyed. Whatever the reason, I gave up trying to find an excuse for why I liked it long ago. Good music speaks for itself.

I picked this up from Wikipedia: Metal Health was released on March 11, 1983 (thirty years ago), bolstered by the #5 hit “Cum on Feel the Noize” and the #31 hit “Metal Health”. The album is notable for being the very first debut heavy metal album to reach the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 and knocking The Police’s Synchronicity out of #1 spot in the US. Metal Health went on to sell over six million copies and it is considered a classic among heavy metal fans to this day.

On my last day of junior high in 1984, I remember blasting “Cum on Feel The Noize” from the back seat of the big yellow school bus on my boom box. It was my final year before starting high school in the fall, and I felt like a king. Me, James Wood was privy to musical greatness and I just had to share it with the world.

There are certain albums that you instantly bond with, and then there are those that remain with you for a lifetime.

Guitar World Interviews, Music

Guitar World Interview: Peter Beckett Discusses New ‘Player’ Album and Touring With Eric Clapton

PlayerFrom his days growing up in Liverpool and watching early Beatles performances to performing with his band, Player as the opening act for Eric Clapton on the Slowhand tour, guitarist Peter Beckett has been privy to a part of music history. Together with Player co-founder Ronn Moss, the band struck gold of their own in 1978 with the chart-topping, feel-good smash, “Baby Come Back.”

Player slowed down in the 1980’s as Beckett focused more on film and television projects and Moss gained worldwide stardom playing Ridge Forrester on the CBS television series, “The Bold And The Beautiful.” In 2003, Beckett and Moss began performing again as Player; always featuring an all-star line-up of players that included (at various times) members of The Cars, Mister Mister, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, and Little River Band. Now, after a near twenty year hiatus, Player is back with a brand new album, “Too Many Reasons”. Featuring twelve brand new tracks as well as a new acoustic version of “Baby Come Back.”, the album showcases songwriting elements from various areas of the musical spectrum. It’s a welcome formula that’s synonymous with the band’s prior albums.

Player consists of founding members Peter Beckett (guitars/lead vocals/keyboards) and Ronn Moss (bass/lead vocals).

I spoke with Beckett about the new album, touring with Eric Clapton and a moment he realized that music was going to be his calling.

Read the rest of my Guitar World interview here