Search Results for: guitar

Milwaukee – Guitar legend Les Paul can use only his left thumb and pinkie to perform at his weekly nightclub gigs in New York. The 89-year-old takes no medication for his painful arthritis and permanent injuries from a car accident 56 years ago, because it exacerbates his ulcers. But twice every Monday night, the renowned musician also known for his innovations on the solid-body electric guitar and multitrack recording gets on stage with his trio at the Iridium Jazz Club. “It’s quite a challenge but I enjoy it,” the Waukesha, Wis., native said in a recent phone interview from his… Read more »

New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert says that when he went in to record the new album with the band he brought some extra equipment – a trainer. Gilbert said in an interview with AP Radio that recording albums is an easy way to gain weight. Since there is often a lot of sitting around and waiting, he found that he would just play video games and eat, and eventually get out of shape. “When you record, not everyone’s working all the time,” Gilbert said. “One guy’s in there for eight hours while the rest of you are sitting until… Read more »

One of Eric Clapton’s prize guitars sold for a record $959,500 at an auction that raised more than $7.4 million for a drug treatment center, auction house officials said. “Blackie,” the black-and-white Fender Stratocaster that served as Clapton’s sole stage and studio guitar from 1970 to 1985, was the most expensive ever sold at auction, Christie’s said in a statement. In 2002, a guitar belonging to Jerry Garcia sold for $957,500. The buyer of Clapton’s guitar – one of 56 he offered Thursday – was not disclosed. Proceeds will go to the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, an addiction treatment center… Read more »

Guitarist Robert Quine, one of punk rock’s most daring soloists, was found dead Saturday in his New York apartment. He was 61. According to close friend and guitar maker Rick Kelly, who discovered Quine’s body, the musician died of a heroin overdose Memorial Day weekend. He had been despondent over the recent death of his wife. Born in Akron, Ohio, Quine was heavily influenced by the Velvet Underground, whose music he recorded obsessively while living in San Francisco. He moved to New York in 1971 and became the lead guitarist for bassist Richard Hell’s important group the Voidoids, with whom… Read more »

In the punk and indie-rock communities, members of different bands often collaborate on side projects and release them through independent labels. Major labels, however, aren’t so hip to the practice, which is why you won’t be seeing New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert touring with Hazen Street this summer. “He was there during a lot of the writing process, and he played on some stuff, but when it came down to politics and legal issues, there were problems,” said co-vocalist Freddy Cricien, who also plays in the hardcore group Madball. “Unfortunately, he couldn’t be a part of the album as… Read more »

Here’s one “guitar greats” list that Jimi Hendrix did not top: “the 100 greatest metal guitarists of all time.” According to Guitar World magazine, the No. 1 metal guitarist is Tony Iommi, the God-fearing axeman with pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. Six musicians claimed the next four spots: Metallica’s James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett tied at No. 2; AC/DC siblings Angus and Malcolm Young at No. 3; Randy Rhoads, the late sideman for Ozzy Osbourne, at No. 4; and Eddie Van Halen, of the foursome that bears his name, at No. 5. Hendrix was No. 12, six places… Read more »

Evanescence lead singer Amy Lee has told Australia’s UndercoverNews website that former Cold guitarist Terry Balsamo is now a permanent member of Evanescence. Balsamo stepped in as a temporary replacement late last year for founding axeman Ben Moody, who abruptly departed in the middle of a European tour last October. Lee said that Balsamo and her band “just clicked” the more they played together. “[It is] better than I ever expected…Terry’s an insane guitar player with awesome stage presence. He has a good personality and he’s down to earth and on top of all that stuff, he’s a great writer… Read more »

Lead guitarist Johnny Quaid and keyboardist Danny Cash have quit My Morning Jacket after four years in the band. Both departures were amicable and both Quaid and Cash cited a desire to step back from the rigorous work schedule that the Louisville, Kentucky, troupe took on in support of its third album and major-label debut, 2003’s It Still Moves. Quaid and Cash were on board for MMJ’s debut, 1999’s Tennessee Fire, and its other independent release, 2001’s At Dawn. With buzz from press and other musicians over their high-energy live shows and unique brand of reverb-drenched rock & roll, the… Read more »

Gibson Guitar Corp. chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz is intent on keeping Gibson on the cutting edge of technology. The company has established a consumer electronics division called Gibson Audio and developed its first product, the Wurlitzer Digital Jukebox. The product is being launched Thursday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and has been awarded the Consumer Electronics Assn.’s best in audio award. The Wurlitzer Digital Jukebox allows consumers to store as many as 1,000 CDs in Windows Media format and access 100 channels of digital radio as well as a download store. “I’m totally focused on what… Read more »

The lead guitarist for the rock band Rush said his arrest at a New Year’s Eve party was unfair. Alex Zivojinovich – known on stage as Alex Lifeson – was arrested for what police described as drunken, violent behavior at the Naples Ritz-Carlton hotel. He faces six charges, including four felonies, the most serious of which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years. “This gives new meaning to dinner at the Ritz,” Zivojinovich, 50, said as he left jail Friday on $14,500 bond, wearing the same black suit he wore to the New Year’s Eve bash. Zivojinovich said he didn’t… Read more »