Rick Richards Has Got Soul

EDIT: Rick Richards is an amazing and talented guitarist, who does indeed "have soul," but unfortunately, he is NOT playing on this track.

Very nice and all but that ain't Rick Richards playing the solo, it's Ronnie Wood himself.. he's guesting on that Izzy track w/ guitar and vocals. They recorded it live at 4 am after first watching 'Spartacus' at Ronnie's place.

There's an old JJH live bootleg track where they're covering the Faces' My Fault, that one has an incredible guitar solo played by Rick Richards, who also sang the song live. That one truly has soul.

-IzzyDutch

"Take A Look At The Guy" is from Ron Wood's 1974 I've Got My Own Album to Do.



For more information:
The Georgia Satellites Official Site
Izzy Stradlin Fan Site
Izzy Stradlin Forum
Ronnie Wood

Slash Wanted to get Jack White on His Solo Album

The star tells all to MusicRadar

With the speculation about special guests continuing in earnest, Slash revealed to MusicRadar that the one artist he couldn't pin down to play on his forthcoming solo album was The White Stripes/Raconteurs/Dead Weather star Jack White.

Slash's eponymous solo album will be released early in 2010 on Roadrunner, with Classic Rock magazine set to bundle the CD with a special collectible issue a full four weeks before it is available online or in record stores.

"Pretty much everyone else that I went after I managed to get."

MusicRadar spoke to Slash yesterday following the Classic Rock Awards and heard the album, but for now their lips are sealed.

They can tell us that the supporting cast of guest musicians is very impressive indeed, and includes rock legends, pop starlets and some genuine surprises. But not Jack White.

Slash told them, "I wanted to get Jack White to sing on something, but he didn't want to sing. He said 'I'll play drums, I'll play guitar, but I don't wanna sing.' He was one guy that I wanted to work with. Pretty much everyone else that I went after I managed to get."

Keep an eye on MusicRadar in the very near future for a track-by-track guide to the Slash solo album from the man himself, plus his thoughts on what makes a killer guitar riff and his favourite riffs of all time as part of their forthcoming guitar-tastic Riff Week.

MusicRadar

Slash Can Stand Under Rihanna's Um-ber-ella

(Slash & MJ photo via gunsnfuckingroses.tumblr.com)

I guess she figures: "Why put Richard Fortus on your record, when you can just use the 'real deal?'"



Music producer BigChris Flores released some great news via Twitter! Looks like Rihanna is taking her rock edge to a new level by working with rock royalty.

The music producer updated his Twitter with the following messages:

- Got L.A. Reid coming to the studio with Slash today, to lay guitars on a new Rihanna song.

- Session with Slash for Rihanna went great.

(via examiner.com)

Slash contributes guitar to the appropriately titled "Rockstar 101."

In the video below, Slash talks about his collaboration with Japanese Singer Koshi Inaba (thanks Blabbermouth).

Slash @ Game 2

Thanks to rbaly79 for the video.

(Go SOX ! Go Beckett!)

Dizzy Fucking Reed

via Blabbermouth
DFR, the band featuring Dizzy Reed and Richard Fortus, Mike Duda and Mike Dupke (W.A.S.P.) and Todd Youth (Danzig, D-Generation, The Chelsea Smiles), will perform this Saturday, September 26 at The Knitting Factory in Hollywood, California.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Ages are 15 and up. Tickets are $18.00 in advance. Tickets will be $22.00 at the door. Also appearing on the bill is Vains OF Jenna.

For more information, visit www.ClubVodka.com

For further discussion: DFR: Dizzy F!n' Reed & Richard Fortus @ Club Vodka

Duff: "Plans are in Place to Reform VR Next Autumn"

California Chronicle
Duff McKagan proved he had an eye for figures when he was invited to a wild party at the legendary Playboy mansion. But the US rock star wasn't just eyeing up the scantily-clad Bunny Girls lounging around the home of millionaire Hugh Hefner.

The bassist impressed the sex industry mogul with his business knowledge and landed a job writing a financial column for Playboy magazine.

Duff said: "I went to business school and got my finance degree. It's an interesting time to be writing a financial column. It's great fun and keeps my brain ticking over."

Duff shot to fame playing with two of the biggest bands in rock history - Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver, so he's one of the few rockers equipped to keep tabs on the royalties he earns.

He said: "I keep a handle on where all our money goes. When Guns blew up we began creating huge income - not just for us but for other people. Musicians have no training for things like business managers and tax credits. I didn't want to get ripped off so I learned about it."

Duff brings his new band Loaded to the O2 Academy in Glasgow on October 17 supporting Black Stone Cherry.

The group will promote new single "Mother's Day," a track from their album, Sick.

Duff said: "I like the feeling of forward motion a tour gives you [everything] from the cameraderie of a band to the feedback from the audience."

He has fond memories of playing in Scotland with Velvet Revolver, the supergroup formed with ex-Guns' bandmates Slash and Matt Sorum.

He told me: "Our show at the SECC in Glasgow in 2004 is one of my three favourite gigs of my entire career. The crowd was figuratively carrying us on their shoulders. I felt so in the moment. I'd put it up there with when Guns played at Rock In Rio in 1991."

But Duff has promised we've not seen the last of Velvet Revolver.

In 2008, singer Scott Weiland announced on stage at the SECC he was quitting the band but Duff says plans are in place to reform the band next autumn.

He said: "We've got a top 10 list of singers we'd like to try out, and enough material for a great new record."

It's Cold Gin Time Again

Ace Frehley featuring Slash last night (Saturday, September 12) at the Viper Room in West Hollywood, as part of the Sunset Strip Music Festival.

Slash Was Paid $1.65 Million For Quart Fest Appearance

via Blabbermouth
According to Dagbladet.no, Slash was paid 10 million Norwegian kroner (approximately $1.65 million) for his headlining appearance at this year's edition of the Quart festival on June 30, 2009 in Kristiansand, Norway.

Quart festival manager Arild Buli would not comment on the report when contacted by Dagbladet.no, calling it "an internal matter" and expressing his concern about "confidential information" being leaked to the public.

Related: Slash and Friends Rock Norway

Q&A with Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal

Appetite for Discussion

Are you on Dizzy's solo record?

Yes.

What future music projects will you be involved in?

I have a new band that's coming together quickly; we should be out there by the Fall. More info as soon as we have something recorded and shows booked.

You can read the full interview here.

RIP Les Paul

Aw Heck.

Les Paul, whose innovations with the electric guitar and studio technology made him one of the most important figures in recorded music, has died. He was 94.

Paul died in White Plains, New York, from complications of severe pneumonia.

Paul was a guitar and electronics mastermind whose creations - such as multitrack recording, tape delay and the solid-body guitar that bears his name, the Gibson Les Paul - helped give rise to modern popular music, including rock 'n' roll.

No slouch on the guitar himself, he continued playing at clubs into his 90s despite being hampered by arthritis. (CNN)

Sweet Child O' Mine Voted Greatest Guitar Riff

Guns N' Roses anthem "Sweet Child O' Mine" has been named the Greatest Guitar Riff in a new poll by Asian News International.

Eric Clapton's 1971 hit "Layla" came second in the poll of 5,000 music lovers.

Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" landed the third spot while Michael Jackson's "Beat It" came fourth.

Motorhead's "Ace Of Spaces" rounded out the top five.

The top ten are:

01. Guns N' Roses - "Sweet Child O' Mine"
02. Derek and the Dominoes - "Layla"
03. Aerosmith - "Walk This Way"
04. Michael Jackson - "Beat It"
05. Motorhead - "Ace Of Spaces"
06. The Jimi Hendrix Experience - "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"
07. Queen - "Another One Bites The Dust"
08. Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
09. Deep Purple - "Smoke On The Water"
10. Green Day - "American Idiot"

The Sun

John 5 to Replace Zakk Wylde in Ozzy's Band?

via Blabbermouth
Ozzy Osbourne has revealed to Classic Rock magazine that he is currently searching for a new guitarist for his solo band.

Classic Rock caught up with Osbourne last week at the Slash & Friends gig in Norway, where the whispers backstage had guitarist John 5 lined up as a possible replacement for Zakk Wylde.

"Well, I'm getting a new guitar player as we speak," Ozzy told Classic Rock, "and everyone has been saying to me for a long time, 'Get Johnny 5!' And I tried him at one time and I didn't really give him a chance. We'll see, I don't know. I haven't fallen out with Zakk, but Zakk's got his own band, and I felt like my stuff was beginning to sound like Black Label Society. I just felt like I wanted a change, y'know?

I've got a guy from Greece coming in — not the musical, the country of Greece — but I'm not going to say too much about it, 'cos I don't know myself at this point. I've got a new album, I'm working on it as we speak. I've got a studio at my house and I've got a guy called Kevin Churko, the guy that did the last album — he's great to work with.

And it's great to have your own studio. On one hand it's great and on the other it's not, 'cos when you're at the studio you can go, 'Sorry darling, I can't get home for dinner, I'm stuck at the studio' But she can fucking come down stairs now! But I'm just enjoying my life now"

Classic Rock: So you're taking it easy recording this album?

Ozzy: "Oh yeah. Zakk came down and did a bunch of stuff and I don't know if I want to use it but I've got it there if I do. And this Kevin Churko is a bit of an all-rounder so I'm getting back to basics in some respects. One thing about a guy who can't do all the finger-tapping stuff is that he plays better on the riffs 'cos it's not all [hums riff for 'Iron Man' followed by over-the-top widdling]."

Classic Rock: Does Heaven & Hell having a new album out make you more competitive?

Ozzy: "No. Not in the slightest. I really wish them well. I mean I've been out of that band three times longer than I was ever in them. But people say, 'What do you think about Dio?' He's great singer. I've grown up since the days when I used to get pissed and slag him off. For whatever it's worth, good luck to them. I don't want to make enemies — I made enough when I was drinking, I try to make friends with people these days!"


You can read the full interview here. Thanks to IngridMJ for the photos.

Ask DJ Ashba

Guitarist DJ Ashba will take part in an online chat Wednesday, July 15 at 7 PM Pacific / 10 PM Eastern Time at AshbaLand.com

I have to say, after all the useless interviews the current band members have given over the last 6 months, why bother?

I suppose it's better than nothing, right? But is he really going to answer any of the questions the fans want to know?

Like: "When's the next album?" "When's the tour?" "Are you writing new material with Axl Rose?" "Did you replace Robin Finck's parts on the next record?"

Slash Karaoke

"Not impressed."

There isn't much to gripe about, but we ended up with a glorified karaoke in the amphitheatre for a somewhat goofy start to the festival.

When the Guns N' Roses guitarist slipped onto the scene we got a lot of hits - and half hits - from the last decade, performed with a kind of respect, but with little extra.

Ron Wood received points for attendance, but didn't perform as if he was completely present. When he and Slash were struggling to find the key of the backing vocals on old songs like "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" you knew that this was going be a long and strange evening.



Slash surrounded himself with a group of halfway-decent performers, one of whom was John 5. The man has a long resume - David Lee Roth to Marilyn Manson - and he rubs his guitar neck with so much joy that it almost glows. But it ended like a version of Guitar Hero in "Advanced" mode.

Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas was a breath of fresh air in between all the guitar solos, and she showed that she can stack-up to Robert Plant ("Black Dog") and Axl Rose ("Sweet Child O' Mine"), but she should really drop all the pole-dancing - it was in excess even for an audience that included a fair amount of people who were young when Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" came out.



"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" was the only song dedicated to Michael Jackson, the rest of the concert was an obvious homage to so-called "Dad-Rock" - read: '70s and '80s guitar-driven hits.

And in such a setting Slash has proven himself again and again.

Almost at the very end we got the world's spookiest grandpa, Ozzy Osbourne, for a round of old Black Sabbath tunes. He was calm in the grandeur, as he sprayed the audience with water time and time again.



It was kind of sweet to see Ozzy radiating joy and jumping around (to the extent he can) on stage.

But unfortunately, even with a living legend this was quite dead.



PS: McQueen, who played second-to-last, came on with a guitarist who had only been with them for three days. It felt like a scene from last year's Quart.

Aftenposten

Dads Who Rock

This week, Rolling Stone is featuring a 34 picture photo gallery of 'Dads Who Rock.'

Above is guitarist Slash and his little boy Cash at the Nickelodeon's 2009 Kids' Choice Awards on March 28, 2009.

Happy Fathers' Day guys.

-Daddy Mack (aka The Mack Daddy)

Part II of NEW Bumblefoot Interview

A HUGE "Thank-you" goes out to eye2eye at the Chinese Democracy Forum.


Q : Which song on Chinese Democracy did you contribute the most to?

Ron : Oh, that's not an easy question. In "Shackler's Revenge" there is of course my solo. But sometimes I played things normal listener won't hear. For example in the song "I.R.S". I don't play solos on this, but I laid down a lot of guitars in the background, the most among the Chinese Democracy songs. They're not heard at first, but they're there for sure. Only know, when we start to play those songs during rehearsals, I start to remember how many guitars I recorded. I totally forgotten about them. Hmm, if I have to point songs with my biggest contributions I'd choose "Shackler's Revenge", "Catcher in the Rye" and "Chinese Democracy" on that one my rhythm parts changed song a lot. I also used fretless guitar on "Scraped". Those songs really show my guitar playing. Also I add small parts here and there, for example short bluesy solo at the end of the second verse of "Better". Generally I really like my rhythm parts, for me they're the most important think I recorded, they changed a lot. After those parts songs became more rock n' roll than industrial.

Q: What do relationships inside the band look like? Is it democracy inside or it is "Chinese democracy" with one man rule?

Ron: I'd say that there is democracy inside. We all have great contributions to the band, we share opinions, ideas. We all make choices...People from outside like to make theories, that in GN'R there is only one man ruling. It's not true. Of course, Axl has all the rights to the name. If some is to make a definitive decision, of course it's up to him. But it's not a dictatorship. He treats as all very well. And we respect it. I won't run all over the world with statement that Guns N' Roses is my band and everyone do what I tell to do. We won't behave that way, Axl as well not. As far as ideas - musical or other are concerned everyone gives opinions and we all are interested in all points of view, others feelings.

Q: Do you meet each other outside the studio?

Ron : Of course. There are weeks, when we go out together almost every day, sitting whole night and going into trouble (laugh). We're in touch all the time. For example last week I went to San Diego to play charity show with Nashville country artists. I played on acoustic guitar with them, then as a band member. It was all for navy veterans. On the way there I exchanged about 30 messages with Axl , basically doing jokes all the time. It's how it look like. Last night, phone rings, I reach for it and I see funny message from Axl I replied immediately. And we write to each other like this all the time almost without stop. Or Richard sent us all e-mails in which he was making fun of George Bush. Yesterday I, Frank and guys from the band were at the hotel and started a party. Customers made a lot complains about noise , co we have to go down to continue party in the lobby. We all make such things as it happens in the pack of friends.

Q: How often do you make rehearsals?

Ron : I've been in L.A. since January. At first we had try-outs for new guitar players. Then I took care of my equipment: amps, etc. I was checking what would be the best for the tour, it took some time. Also we needed some tweaks when DJ joined us. Those months were very intense, because of practicing all the stuff. I hope we'll move our asses and start touring.

Q: Is there any new material played on those rehearsals?

Ron : At the moment no. We're focused on Chinese Democracy. We must played that material through before we do something new. I feel that we are not finished with it - no matter how stupid it sounds. We didn't do everything what is right, with that album. We didn't make a tour, some other things lacked. So before we start something new, we must be sure that we did everything he could with that album.

Q: There were information about Chinese Democracy being first part of trilogy, It is rumored that the material has been already recorded. Or maybe you started recording something new in that line-up?

Ron : I would like it to be that way, to create together. But I played on many other songs, I added solos, rhythm parts, fills some of them didn't make it on the album. I don't know if it be a trilogy out of this or it was only a rumour , which gone out of control. Maybe there was such idea, but ideas change. When you record an record, you start with one idea, but finish with something totally different and have to discard previous ideas. It's hard to say, maybe on the one stage there were plans of doing trilogy, but as far as I'm concerned I don't think it will happen. But it is possible it was an idea or it was only loud thinking and someone took it as a definitive plan. It happened with my albums as well. Last one was supposed to be double - one CD with heavy stuff, second with ballads. I discarded that idea and I created Abnormal.

PART I

ANOTHER New Bumblefoot Interview

Thanks to eye2eye @ the Chinese Democracy Forum.

Q : Having this in mind. I want to know how you share guitar duties in Guns N' Roses. In the past it was simple : there was guy who played solos, and there was guy who played rythm. Now there are three guitar players...

Ron : You're right, in the post there was rythm and solo player. Now you got three solo players, and every with totally different style. DJ is someone like Slash, he plays melodic parts, but also can play very fast. He is very talented guy. Richard Fortus can play everything on awesome level. I'm also very flexible considering style, but I play usually all weird stuff - tapping, untypical sounds etc. So I think that I am responsible in GN'R for all the crazy, weird, new parts, DJ is for melodies and Richard has a share in everything. We share it that way, but it is also why I don't play as much melodic parts as I am able to. But that is how it works in Gn'R.

Q: Does the proportions changed when DJ joined the band ?

Ron : Not really. We tried to keep it as it worked in the past. By the way some songs have as much as three solos so everyone plays one in that case.

Q: And how it looked like on Chinese Democracy?

Ron : I played a lot of things. Many rythm parts, many solos. In some songs, solos had been recorded for years. And after such time it seemed that playing anythind different in that place wouldn't be a good idea. We simply left it as it was. Live I play all the parts, orginally written and recorded by Buckethead and those, which I recorded myself. DJ will take Robin parts along with Richard. Richard of course plays his parts as well. Guitar wise there is a lot of interesting things on Chinese Democracy.

There's much more to this interview here.