Joe Satriani’s Chickenfoot Pedalboard
May 29, 2009 by NAMM · 2 Comments
Here is a picture of Satriani’s pedalboard that he uses with his new band Chickenfoot. Can you guess what those pedals are? Read more
Gigging Basics – Back That Gear Up!!
May 28, 2009 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
All gigging musicians get lazy at times and try to get by with the least amount of gear possible on any given job. This mostly happens to players who gig a lot and move their own stuff. Folks who play one gig a year usually like to bring as much stuff as possible because setting up outside the house is a novelty to them. If you play out ten or more times a month and, like most of us, can’t afford a road crew quite yet, there will come a time when you are tempted to roll out to your gig with a very small pile of equipment to move. As a regular gigger myself Read more
Rehearsal 101 – Don’t Waste My Time
May 27, 2009 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
Sooner or later, it happens: band practice. For many people, rehearsal, or “re-hassle”, is a necessary evil, one that must be endured in order to get that glorious stage time that they (and their girlfriends) live for. Very often, however, rehearsal time seems like an exercise in futility, indecision, or intoxication and many bands practice over and over and never get any better. Why is that? Read more
The Beatles and Stones: Rare photos you’ve never seen
May 7, 2009 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
If you are a Beatles and Stones fan, then you will be interested in seeing these photos. Musicradar.com’s writer Joe Bosso had published an interesting news release about the god fathers of music.
Think you’ve seen every picture of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones? Think again. Read more
Fender and Squier Offer “Shredology” Clinics with John5
April 18, 2009 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
Fender and Squier are inviting shred-fan guitarists of all levels nationwide to join phenomenally talented Fender/Squier signature guitarist John 5 for a 14-date series of in-store “shred-ology” clinics throughout the West, Midwest and South in May 2009. Read more
Metallica – Lars Ulrich Interview
February 14, 2009 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
Sweden’s Slitz TV had conducted an exclusive interview with METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich on 10.20.2008. The entire 24-minute interview can be viewed in three parts below.
METALLICA’s drummer Lars Ulrich has a laid back chat from past bassist, Jason Newsted, current bassists Robert Trujillo, opinions of internet, Metallica’s rowdy past to current band members, James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett. Read more
Steve Vai confirmed to play the 2009 London Guitar Show
February 3, 2009 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
Master Guitar Virtuoso, Steve Vai, is confirmed to play the 2009 London Guitar Show at the ExCeL exhibition centre, London Docklands June 11th to 14th 2009.
More than just playing, “the stunt guitar man”, is also bringing his amazing Alien Guitar Secrets – a Steve Vai Masterclass to the show.
For more than 20 years Steve Vai has been one of the worlds most respected and admired guitarists. He has combined a highly successful solo career, with an equally successful career touring and recording with numerous musical artists including Frank Zappa, Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake and the G3 Concert Tour. A two times Grammy Award winner, Steve Vai has year after year won best guitarist in magazine reader polls across the globe, as well as winning critical acclaim for this work as a composer, producer and live performer.
Ground breaking, innovative and revolutionary, Steve Vai has continued to push back musical boundaries with work as varied as recording with the 100 piece Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra to writing the sound track to Guitar Hero III.
The London Guitar Show has a reputation for putting on unmissable live concerts featuring the world’s best players and the shows organizers are very excited to announce this will be Steve Vai’s only UK show in 2009. Even better Steve Vai will be joined on stage by guitar great Phil Holborne, and legendary Iron Maiden drummer, Nicko McBrain for a truly historic concert
Equally as thrilling, Steve Vai is bringing his hugely successful Alien Guitar Secrets Masterclass to the London Guitar Show. This unprecedented opportunity is open to all, music students and guitar enthusiasts and will have very limited places. The 3 hour unique experience gives the student a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear Steve discuss music theory, guitar techniques, the music business, and most importantly, techniques on how to discover and unlock personal musical identity. It also includes a question and answer session, and a few attendees will be chosen to jam with Steve in this intimate environment.
For more information about the show and to buy tickets see http://www.londoninternationalmusicshow.com/
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth Interviewed by Dave Navarro – SpreadTV
January 25, 2009 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
Legendary guitarist, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth was interviewed and gave a guitar lesson on Dave Navarro’s SpreadTV. In it, Mustaine spoke of his drug addictions, Metallica, the music business and some of his guitar influences. In the second half of the show, Mustaine gave a guitar ‘lesson’ to Navarro. Read more
Coldplay Rips Off Joe Satriani – Satch Sues
December 7, 2008 by NAMM · 4 Comments
You just don’t screw around with the guitar gods. And UK band Coldplay, who have just released their latest song ‘Viva la Vida’, are learning the hard way. According to NME, Coldplay have been sued by his royal baldness, American guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani, who claims that the band’s latest hit borrows a bit too much from his 2004 song ‘If I Could Fly‘, from his album ‘Is There Love in Space?’. Read more
Tommy Bolin 1951 – 1976 R.I.P
December 4, 2008 by NAMM · Leave a Comment
Tommy Bolin may be remembered as the guitarist who replaced Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple during the Seventies. But while this accomplishment alone would guarantee him a small footnote in rock history, he remains revered today for his blazing Stratocaster playing while variety of jazz-fusion and hard rock contexts.
Bolin had recorded two marginally successful albums with the Boulder, Colorado-based band Zephr during the late Sixties and early Seventies, but he first came to public prominence when he appeared on the James Gang’s Band and Billy Cobham’s Spectrum albums in 1973. These two efforts, released within a few months of each other, couldn’t be more different—Bang is rough-and-tumble funky boogie rock while Spectrum is a sophisticated, ambitious jazz-rock fusion effort. What both albums shared was Bolin’s razor-sharp, rapid-fire playing.
Here was America’s answer to Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin, Jimmy Page and Ritchie Blackmore, all brought together in the persona of a skinny, pouty 22-year-old who looked like a natural-born rock god. Bolin recorded one more album with the James Gang, Miami, before quitting the band in October, 1974. He worked as a session player, recording albums with Dr. John and Alphonse Mouzon, but a few months later he was approached by Deep Purple, who wanted him to replace Ritchie Blackmore, who quit the band in April, 1975.
Bolin’s decision to join Deep Purple was bittersweet—the move instantly thrust him into the limelight of celebrity, but he faced the opposition of die-hard Blackmore fans and the challenge of propping up a band that was obviously on its last legs. Bolin recorded only one studio album with Deep Purple. Come Test the Band (1975), before they broke up. He had started work on his first solo album, Teaser (1975), shortly after he joined Deep Purple, and this, along with his follow-up, Private Eyes (1976), are perhaps the best examples of his work. Touring with the Tommy Bolin band as support act for guitar greats like Robin Tower and Jeff Beck, Bolin finally found himself in front of an accepting audience. A triumphant appearance in Miami opening for Beck was, unfortunately, to be his last. Bolin died the following day, December 4, 1976, from an overdose after indulging in a drug binge. Only 25 years old, Bolin wsa buried in his hometown of Sioux City, Iowa. His girlfriend placed on his finger a ring that allegedly had been on Jimi Hendrix’s hand when he died.
In honor of Tommy R. Bolin – R.I.P
Bolin’s favorite gear – Fender Stratocaster – Hiwatt Amps – Schulte Compact Phasing – Echoplex
