More Chris? go to- http://www.thechrisduartegroup.com

Chris Kilting IT!!!-

Go to- http://jeffjensenband.com

This is the performance that got me really interested-

500 Words The Guitarists of Glam Rock

By the end of the 1960’s rock ’n’ roll was becoming awash of hairy dudes pretending to be cowboys. Despite some highlights the hippie era was grinding to a halt both musically and stylistically .

Maybe it was the drugs.

Maybe they were running out of ideas.

Who knows?

Seemingly out of no where bands from both sides of The Pond started simplifying their sound and brought back a much needed element of showmanship.

In the UK a former model named “John Temple Boy” would go through a radical transformation. “John Temple Boy” would rename himself and perform as one half of a psychedelic acoustic duo. Although his real name was Mark Feld the world knows him as Marc Bolan.

After a tumultuous run as Tyrannosaurus Rex, Bolan bought an electric guitar, shortened the band’s name to T Rex. After Bolan started wearing glitter on his cheeks he became glam’s first super star.

While Bolan’s playing was rudamentary that didn’t seem to matter because his sex appeal and charisma more than made up for it.

Whatever his musical shortcomings were Bolan and his fellow travelers soon drafted the blueprint for what would later morph into both punk and shock rock.

One forgotten glam band is Mud. Co-founded by guitarist Rob Davis Mud’s songs were simple and catchy and a far cry from Bob Dylan’s self imoportance.

Rob Davis would later go onto great success as being a songwriter for the stars like Kylie Minogue.

Another guitarist of note is Roxy Music’s Phil Manzanera. Unlike many of the other glam bands Roxy Music was grandiose. Roxy Music was different and drew from Weimar Republic era cabarets, experimental music and centered around singer Bryan Ferry’s lounge lizard persona.

Manzanera’s solo output is so vast it would taken an entire article just touch on half he’s done after Roxy Music.

If Roxy Music were suave Sweet, Slade, and Mott the Hoople were simply ugly.

Seriously, had you seen a photo of Slade’s Dave Hill?

Eeesh..

But despite of an utter lack of pretty boy looks Hill wrote memorable songs like “Mama Weer All Crazee Now” and “Cum On Feel the Noize”.

Both Mick Ralphs and Mick Ronson had memorable stays with Mott Hoople during their glam period. Later Ralphs and Ronson onto greater success with Bad Company and David Bowie respectively.

Even before his own stint with Bowie, Peter Frampton had his own flirtation with glam and leant his guitar work to New York based glam diva Jobriath.

America also had it’s own glam flirtation with people ranging from Suzi Quatro, Iggy and the Stooges, Lou Reed, Zolar X, Jayne County to The New York Dolls.

Glam was campy, stupid, crass, outrageous, and for more check out http://www.doremi.co.uk/glam/index.html

For more on David- http://www.davidgrissom.com

Here’s David ripping it up at the Saxon Pub in Austin TX- https://www.facebook.com/Guitar.Radio.Show/info/?entry_point=about_section_header&tab=overview

For more on this incredibly talented guitarist- http://www.marcuskingband.com/home/

This is the first thing we at Guitar Radio Show saw before hearing the album, Obviously we were blown away, then we heard the album and realized, there’s nothing this guy can’t do-

Go to- http://thedeaddaisies.com

The new Dead Daisies record drops 8/5/16-

500 Words Harvey Thomas Guitars

I love kooky guitars like Vox Phantoms, Burns Bisons, Microfret Orbiters. Bring them on.

I like individualistic builders like Bernie Rico, Doug Irwin, Tony Zemaitis, Andy Beech, Dean Zelinsky, and in this segment of 500 Words, I would like to talk about Harvey Thomas.

Harvey Thomas (1920-1987) was a musician and a machinist from Washington State. After modifying some of his own guitars Thomas decided he could easily make his own. Sometime in the early sixties Thomas made his first prototype guitar.

Thomson’s aesthetic was eccentric, to say the least. Perhaps partly inspired by custom car builder Ed “Big Daddy” Roth (perhaps not) Thomson’s guitars wouldn’t look out of place in a Rat Fink cartoon. Angular, outrageous, gaudy, they perfectly evoke the transitional period from the stuffiness of the 1950’s to the libertine 1960’s.

Ever the businessman Thomas heavily courted the likes of Chet Atkins and Hank Williams Jr. to endorse his guitars.

Even though Thomson wasn’t successful in luring in Atkins or Williams one of his Iron Cross themed guitars wound up in the hands of Mott the Hoople’s Ian Hunter.

It is also reported that Deke Dickerson also owns one of Harvey’s guitars too.

Taking a look of at a Thomson’s catalog one gets the sense of the range of Thomson’s work. Thomson produced semi-hollow bodies, solid bodies, double and triple necks. There are also photos of Thomson playing acoustics and reports of him making guitars covered in raccoon fur.

Sadly there doesn’t appear to be any footage of Harvey Thomas when he was playing a triple neck guitar in his one-man band. However, there is some film footage of him playing a 335-style guitar with a thumb pick.

But other than kitsch value why would you buy a Harvey Thomas? Rarity? Artist affiliation? Nostalgia?

Just buy what you like. Either a Harvey Thomas “Riot King” sets your hair on fire or it doesn’t.

I think they would be great if you were playing in a garage rock psychedelic band like Flamin Groovies, Dead Moon, or The Mummies. I’m sure they would produce a satisfyingly lo-fi sound and would look great on stage.

Part of rock ‘n’ roll is image. When Wilson Picket and Aretha Franklin went to Muscle Shoals studios they were surprised to see that the sessions guys looked like shopkeepers and accountants.

Obviously, that didn’t diminish their chops but you get the idea; rock is a visual medium.

Apparently Thomas’ guitars have the reputation for being quite playable and have been known to have very hot pickups. While larger companies like Gibson, Fender, and Gretch concentrated on making sure every nut and bolt on their guitars were beautiful Thomas took a very “get it done” approach to guitar building.

So far there doesn’t appear to be much of revival effort to revive Thomas’ guitars so if you want one originals regularly appear on eBay.

For More Van- http://vanwilks.com

From the New record 21st Century Blues-

Live in Austin Texas-

Break out of the practice rut. Scott helps you think outside the box and find new and meaningful ways to play better.

Want more Scott? http://www.scottgailor.com/new-products/scott-gailor-technicolormonochrome-cd

Telecaster Master Adam Lopez joins us to discuss his latest release For more go to- http://www.adamlopezmusic.com

Check out Adam’s set in Austin Texas when he is joined by the one and only Bill Kirchen
https://www.facebook.com/Guitar.Radio.Show/

Plus, we have the Tone Poet himself back for another visit, Adrian Galysh discusses his latest “Into the Blue” for more go to- http://www.adriangalysh.com