Ok everyone, welcome back to Guitar Radio Show. Well if I never do another interview after today, it would be just fine. This is the conversation ive been waiting to do for ten years. Our next guest and his collaborators have been a constant source of musical inspiration for me since nineteen eighty eight. To me they are architects in the Sonic realm. They. Have a new record that we have been waiting for and it was well worth the wait. I cant believe I finally get to say , please welcome to GRS from King’s X Mr. Dug Pinnick.
Our next guest quite frankly, is a brilliant multi instrumentalist. a musician from the age of seven, he has never wavered from his strong desire to create. The first time I saw him was when he was holding the moniker of “Stunt Guitarist” in Frank Zappa’s band and I was struck by his playing and moreover how his tone stuck out in the most wonderful way through Frank’s amazing compositions. I have waited this long to ask him to grace us with an interview, because I wanted an audience big enough to do him justice, so 10 years in, he is here today. Please welcome to GRS Mr. Mike Keneally
Our next guest took the bass and changed the game forever. His reimagining of the instrument and his work with Talas, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, Winery Dogs, Steve Vai and countless others has shown us his style and strong sense of song is like no other. Unique. He’s with us today. Please welcome to GRS Mr. Billy Sheehan
We are talking about great guitar brands that get looked over due to the draw and desire of the “Big 3”. Pricey and not so pricey, great guitars that sometimes get overlooked. We explore….
If you listen to this show on a regular basis you know how much I love live albums. Its the artist in their natural habitat. Our next guest has a new live record that is a must hear! “Brace Yourself-Live” from Too Slim and the Taildraggers and he’s with us today to discuss it and so much more.
Our next guest is someone that has been an influence on guitarists around the world for over 20 years and some people might not even know his name. His writing and investigative journalism has kept me in the know for years. He has authored or coauthored over 14 informative books on guitarists and guitar based music that are benchmarks for those subjects. His latest book coauthored with Chris Gill is to me the definitive tome on Eddie Van Halen- Eruption- Conversations with Eddie Van Halen and he is with us to. Discuss that and so much more. Please welcome to GRS Mr Brad Tolinski
Only a few short years ago so many publications (NY Times, LA Times, Washington Post, Rolling Stone, etc) were telling us all that “Guitar was Dead” or dying. Since then we have seen a resurgence of sales of guitars and basses skyrocket and guitar based music once again taking the forefront in music.
This week alone we’ve seen Nita Strauss leave the Alice Cooper band after 8 years and join Demi Lovato, Zakk Wylde team up with Charlie Benante and the surviving members of Pantera for a “reunion/tribute tour, Jeff Beck drops his latest a collaboration with Johnny Depp of all people, Joe Satriani announces the return of G4 and Fender announces that there will be much more affordable models of their Acoustisonic line coming soon.
Nita Strauss- Now hear me out, I think this is one of the most important things to happen to the guitar in a long time and Nita has (whether she realizes it our not) positioned herself to be the impetus to bring the guitar and guitar based music to a demographic that normally could care less. She’s in the unique position to inspire so many more people to pick up the instrument that might not have ever thought to do so before. So, for those who say the guitar was dead or dying, this is exactly the type of thing the instrument needs and quite frankly deserves regardless whether you like Demi Lovato’s music or not.
Zakk Wylde- when there was a rumor flying around that the surviving members of Pantera were talking about doing something, my very first thought went to Zakk. Quite frankly, in my opinion there is no guitarist alive other than Zakk who could do the job and bring that music to life. The relationship Dime and Zakk had was a type of telepathy/understanding that is rare and unique. To be honest I was only a fan of the Vulgar record but something of this magnitude I will have to see this tour as I have no doubt it will be historical.
Jeff Beck- Releases “18” his collaboration with Johnny Depp (neighbor, friend and now band mate?) So anyone who thinks this is weird doesn’t know or understand Jeff. This is what he does. What he’s always done. Almost his entire career has been left turns like this. After all, this is the guy who brought us, Frankie’s House, The Flash record, Loud Hailer, as well as seminal offerings like Blow by Blow, Wired and Truth. He’s always been all over the map and and 18 is no different. Is this my favorite JB offering? Not really, but am I happy I have it? Yes. Tracks like Midnight Walker and Caroline No do the job to salve my soul and my JB fix. Would I like more? Sure. Would I have preferred he didn’t cover the old Motown track Ooo Baby Baby? Absolutely. But hardcore Beck fans know what to expect. This is it. The tour should be interesting….
Joe Satriani- Joe is bringing back his G4 Experience guitar workshop with help from a host of six-string heroes including Peter Frampton, Steve Lukather, John 5 Alex Skolnick, Eric Gales, Nili Brosch, Ned Evett and more.
The four-day event will take place from Jan. 3-7 at Las Vegas’ Hilton Lake Vegas Resort. Participants will get to enjoy “four days and nights of total guitar nonstop workshops, concerts, jamming and more,” according to the G4 website, where registration is now open.
Fender- CEO Andy Mooney announced that fender is now in the planning stages to produce the popular Acoustisonic line out of Southeast Asia and we could potentially see a price point between $500-$800. Not bad considering the MIM version starts at $1050.
So, is the guitar dead? Or dying? Nah. It just had the best week in recent memory… More to come.
Our next guest is a perfect example of the American story. He comes from a hard working family, began playing the instrument when he was 11 and honed his craft On gospel music in the church, before entering into the Jazz realm around 1996. His fifth album released in 2008 and was a breakthrough album onto the Billboard contemporary jazz charts. The first time I heard him was in 2017 and have been captured by his playing and style ever since. He has a new record called 80’s 8.0 and we are going to explore that and much more. Please welcome to GRS Mr. Tim Bowman.
