Search Results for: guitar

Gibson Guitar will release eight new Slash-branded guitars on March 15, and is taking the current models affiliated with the Velvet Revolver guitarist off the market. Why eight? “Price points,” says Henry Juszkiewicz, chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. “They’re going to go from cheap to high-end custom, personally signed by Slash.” Also on tap for this year is a new Jimmy Page guitar. “The ink is still drying on the deal,” Juszkiewicz says. “It’s going to be a special guitar.”

Casey Calvert, guitarist for post punk/ rock band Hawthorne Heights, was found dead early Saturday morning. Calvert was 26-years-old. According to several accounts Calvert appeared healthy on Friday night while spending time with friends before going to sleep for the night. Those same reports indicated that Calvert passed away at some point while sleeping. Calvert’s sound played a big role in Hawthorne Heights and its highly successful second album If Only You Were Lonely which debuted at #3 on the Billboard charts and produced the hit single “Saying Sorry.” Hawthorne Heights had a show in Detroit, Michigan on Friday night… Read more »

Early in July, Rusty Shaffer, the founder of Optek, a small music company in Reno, Nev., visited Salon’s offices to show me his invention, the Fretlight guitar. Though it looks and feels like a standard, rock ‘n’ roll-ready instrument, the Fretlight contains a set of LEDs invisibly embedded inside its fretboard — connect the guitar to a computer and the lights spark up to indicate where to put your fingers in order to play a chord. Shaffer is certain that his guitar is a great leap forward for the normally tech-averse guitar industry; the Fretlight, he says, will transform guitar… Read more »

Guitar Center, Inc.–the largest retailer of musical instruments in the United States–has signed an agreement to be bought out by private investment firm Bain capital for a sum of $2.1 billion. The agreement stipulates that investors will be paid $63 cash for each share they own in the music retail chain, a 26 percent mark-up from its June 26 closing value. This effectively ends an ongoing auction led by Goldman Sachs to find potential buying interest in the company. While the deal has been approved and recommended by both Guitar Center’s board of directors and management team, shareholders must give… Read more »

And then there was one. With the recent departure of drummer Rocky Gray and guitarist John LeCompt, Amy Lee is now the only member of Evanescence left who has been in the band since the release of its smash 2003 breakout album, Fallen. LeCompt was either fired by the band or decided to move on – depending which account you believe – while Gray left of his own accord recently, making them the latest members of the group to fall by the wayside. Original guitarist/ co-founder Ben Moody left in 2003 , and bassist William Boyd quit last June after… Read more »

The original handwritten lyrics to Beatles classic “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” will go on sale in the United States on Monday and are expected to fetch up to 400,000 pounds ($780,000). The manuscript, penned by George Harrison, includes lines not included in the final version of the song, which was first recorded in 1968. The bottom of the page also features the words: “The band leader said he ain’t playin’ no more,” which auctioneer Cooper Auctions said was a reference to the tense atmosphere in the Beatles’ studio at the time. Cooper managing director John Collins said the phrase… Read more »

Hawthorne Heights frontman JT Woodruff can scream like nobody’s business, but when he’s speaking to you one-on-one, it’s in soft, hushed tones, like his voice has been wrapped in a woolen scarf. And his voice gets even softer when he’s asked about his band’s recent successes: the record that’s climbing the charts, the headlining slot on this summer’s Warped Tour and the video that’s just been added to MTV’s rotation. It’s one thing to be uncomfortable in the spotlight, but Woodruff’s aversion to sudden fame is downright Rivers Cuomo-esque. “Uh, well, it means more kids are coming to our shows.… Read more »

New York, NY – San Diego rockers Unwritten Law have parted ways with Rob Brewer, the band’s long-time guitarist. The veteran rockers will remain intact as a four piece and are on tour now with Sum 41 in support of their new album Here’s To the Mourning. “It was an incredibly difficult decision, albeit the right thing to do given the recent circumstances,” remarked Unwritten Law vocalist Scott Russo. “Rob is irreplaceable and we plan to continue as a four-piece. We wish him the best and remain confident that Unwritten Law will continue to make great music.” Considered by many… Read more »

KIBBUTZ KINNERET, Israel – Former Korn guitarist Brian “Head” Welch was baptized Saturday in the Jordan River, just weeks after quitting his band, drug habits and rock-and-roll lifestyle for religion. Welch, a founding member of the multi-platinum band, and about 20 other white-robed Christian pilgrims from a Bakersfield, Calif., church were immersed by their pastor, Ron Vietti. Welch said the ritual baptism had washed away his anger. “You know when you get angry and it builds up? I felt like hurting someone before, now I feel like hugging people,” he said. Vietti said Welch – who has “Jesus” tattooed across… Read more »

Los Angeles – Kid Rock took fans on a wild ride through the history of rock ‘n’ roll by jamming with guitarists from Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top and the Allman Brothers Band during a Hollywood club show on Thursday designed to raise money for music education in schools. Grammy nominee Gretchen Wilson and former sidekick Uncle Kracker also joined Kid Rock on stage at the House of Blues, while music industry denizens such as Ahmet Ertegun and Rick Rubin bobbed their heads to the beat from the balcony. “It’s hillbilly night in Hollywood tonight,” Kid Rock said midway through the… Read more »