Photo Credit: Rob Stanley Photography

I recently had the opportunity to interview UK blues sensation Clare Free ahead of the release of her new record ‘Dust & Bones’. I got to ask about her early influences as a guitarist, the inspiration behind the new record and some the guitars that she is using on the road and in the studio.

Check out the full video interview below.

To find out more about Clare and to purchase Dust & Bones, head over to www.clarefree.co.uk.

Simon McBride has released a video and free download of an unplugged version ‘Rich Man Falling’ which is the title track of Simon’s 2008 debut album. It’s a great version of the song and the unplugged version takes you right back the blues of the deep south with echoes of old chain gang songs.

Told from the perspective of a fallen financial hot-shot who has found wisdom only through ruin, Rich Man Falling is an anthem for the 21st century, taking the pulse of modern life, it is apt that the video plays out with a quote from fellow Irishman, the statesman and philosopher Edmund Burke (b. 1729): “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it”.

Simon has recently released his new album ‘Nine Lives’, an album of mostly live recordings of tracks from his studio albums which is getting some great reviews and you can catch Simon playing at MusicMesse on 22nd March.

Check out www.simonmcbride.net for the free MP3 download and more about Simon’s work.

Reb Beach from Whitesnake & Winger has had two of his Suhr guitars stolen from his garage in Pittsburgh. One is his Suhr “modern” with the sunburst quilted top (Serial #8370), and the other is his Suhr strat with the green/purple color paint and mirror pick guard (Serial #2653). Both can be seen in the photos above.

As I’m sure you can appreciate Reb is deeply upset over the loss of these very special Suhr models so if anyone knows anything about the whereabouts of either of these guitars, please contact Reb on his message board atwww.rebbeach.com, or on his facebook page ,http://www.facebook.com/RebBeach.

Dust and Bones (released on 23rd March) is the new album by blues guitarist, singer/songwriter Clare Free and is the follow up to her debut CD ‘Be Who You Are‘ and the EP ‘How It Is‘.

Clare has a great reputation as a talented blues guitarist and her energy during the live shows and her dazzling lead guitar work has earned her a loyal following amongst the blues scene.

Dust and Bones is an impressive display of Clare’s song writing abilities and tasteful guitar work. In fact it’s the latter that really lifts this album to a higher level and cements Clare’s reputation as one of the UK’s exciting and talented female guitarists. Her guitar solos are well crafted and both her note placement and phrasing are up there with the best.

The album has some mature lyrics about day to day problems ranging from stalking (Creepy) to a women’s struggle to conceive (Small Miracles) which lend her songs a more diverse edge than you’ll hear with a lot of traditional blues artists. Highlights include the title track ‘Dust and Bones‘, a moody blues tune about infidelity, and the slow blues track ‘Stronger Than You Think’ which really shows off Clare’s lead guitar prowess.

The album is proof that the UK blues scene is alive and kicking and it’s great to see young artists like Clare flying the flag for a genre that is enjoying a much deserved resurgence. Clare is definite riding the new wave of British blues!

Visit Clare’s website to find out more about her music and check out this exclusive blues guitar lesson Clare produced for Fretpoint.com.

For those of you that don’t know it’s Marshall Amplification’s 50th anniversary this year and to celebrate Marshall are taking over Wembley Arena with for night of full rock mayhem on Saturday 22 September.

The artist line-up so far is incredible and features members of Iron Maiden, Slipknot, Whitesnake, Chickenfoot, The Cult, Black Label Society and many more.

Nicko McBrain will be on hand to compere the event along with Planet Rock, will be joined by the world’s most legendary guitarists, acclaimed musicians and Marshall enthusiasts including multiple Grammy nominee and Chickenfoot super-group founder Joe Satriani, Ozzy Osbourne collaborator and founder of Black Label Society Zakk Wylde, Mr Big’s Paul Gilbert, Whitesnake’s Doug Aldrich and Brian Tichy, Swedish virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen, The Cult’s Billy Duffy and Slipknot/ Stone Sour front man Corey Taylor.

“Beyond doubt, Jim Marshall and the team have shaped the sound of rock music for eternity! Words cannot describe how pioneering Marshall is ! I feel more than privileged to be involved in this event. We’re bringing together beyond-legendary artists for a moment in history. Expect pure rock n roll madness amplified to the max by Marshall! ”

Nicko McBrain

Planet Rock has a 24 hour presale on tickets which start on Thursday 8th March at 9am.

For more details visit check out the Marshall website.

UK Eric Johnson fans are in for a real treat this summer as the man himself will be coming to the United Kingdom in July for the first time! The 5-date mini tour will showcase material from his current album “Up Close”, as well as from his rich back catalogue.

Johnson is best known for his diverse array of music genres evidenced by many different styles incorporated in his studio and live performances, including rock, blues, jazz, fusion, folk, New Age and country music.

Guitar Player magazine called Johnson “one of the most respected guitarists on the planet”. His critical,ly acclaimed, platinum-selling 1990 recording Ah Via Musicom produced the single Cliffs of Dover, for which he won the 1991 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. Cliffs of Dover also appeared in Guitar Hero 3 – Legends of Rock.

In 1996 he joined forces with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai for the original and legendary G3 tour that garnered a worldwide audience with the platinum selling CD and DVD release. Johnson is best known for playing stock Fender Stratocasters and Gibson ES-335 electric guitars through a triple amp setup that consists of vintage Fender and Marshall amplifiers.

He plays vintage Stratocasters but also his ‘Fender Signature Stratocaster’ model, which is one of the best selling instruments in the Fender catalogue. He also designed a Signature acoustic guitar that was released by Martin guitars.

Eric Johnson’s stature as one of the premier guitar players in contemporary music is his artistic trump card, backed by a Grammy Award and five nominations, platinum album, Top 10 hits like Cliffs of Dover, praise from critics and the esteem of his peers. The full range of his talents marks him as a gifted songwriter, dynamic live performer, singer, pianist, and song interpreter.

His myriad and distinctive musical gifts are vividly evident on Johnson’s current studio album, Up Close, released on his own Vortexan Music label. The 15-track disc finds the noted master craftsman cutting loose, roaming through variations on the rock, blues, pop, country and jazz genres,  pushing the dynamic range of his artistry, and mixing it up with such friends and peers as guitarists Jimmie Vaughan and Sonny Landreth, plus guest vocalists Steve Miller, Johnny Lang and Malford Milligan.

“I decided to let go a bit and allow things to happen and just go with the flow… That’s a direction that works better for any artist, and especially for me. I like my work to have a high proficiency, but I also want to go for the energy and magic of the performances.”

Eric Johnson on the new album

Check out Eric Johnson’s official website for more details.

The future is looking bright for the Red White & Blues. The band which feature’s Skin and ex Jagged Edge guitarist Myke Gray with Matti Alfonzetti on lead vocals has just released their first record SHINE and is fresh off support slots with The Quireboys, Whitesnake and Chickenfoot. With a summer tour already lined up with the legendary Lynyrd Skynryd it looks like this year is going to be very exciting for the band. We caught up with Myke to discuss how the Red White & Blues got together, his time with SKIN what it’s like working in the music business in 2012.

Part One – How the Band got Started, Myke’s favourite track on the new record and touring with Chickenfoot

Part Two – Early Influences, Guitars, Amps and Effects

Part Three – The Music Business

This is one of the most fascinating interviews we have done to date and Myke was remarkably candid about the music business. I could have listened to him talk all night. A big thanks to Mark from High Voltage Cornwall for help with this interview.

For my money if you’re looking for some old fashioned kick ass rock n roll then you’re going to love the Red White & Blues. Myke and Matti are a great songwriting partnership and manage to pay homage to the classic hard rock era whilst injecting a lot fresh energy into their songs. Highlights include ‘Stand Up For Rock N Roll’ and ‘A Little Too Late’ which in my opinion is one of the best rock ballads I’ve heard in recent years.

Stand Up For Rock N Roll by the Red White & Blues.

Visit the official Red White & Blues website to find out more about the band. The Red White & Blues will be on tour with Lynyrd Skynryd in early June.

A FILMED CONCERT PERFORMANCE BY WORLD RENOWNED GUITARIST JOE SATRIANI IN CINEMAS MARCH 6TH FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY

Joe Satriani, one of the most respected and innovative guitarists in the world today, will release his live-concert film, Satchurated: Live in Montreal in cinemas across the UK and Ireland on March 6th, for one night only. The film will also be shown in both 2D & 3D HD.

Check out the trailer for Satchurated: Live In Montreal

Satchurated was filmed live during Satriani’s “The Wormhole Tour”, supporting his studio album Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards at the Metropolis in Montreal, Canada. The concert was filmed by GRAMMY and EMMY award-winning concert filmmakers Pierre and Francois Lamoureux.

This video gives you an exclusive look at the song “War” from the upcoming “SATCHURATED” release.

The film is directed by award-winning filmmakers François and Pierre Lamoureux and produced by Cinemusica and Fogolabs, The filmmakers have directed and/or produced concert films and music documentaries for RUSH, The Who, Harry Connick, Jr., Slipknot, Rihanna, The Pretenders, Zappa Plays Zappa, Branford Marsalis, Cowboy Junkies, Collective Soul, Ben Harper, Willie Nelson, Deep Purple, The Stray Cats and others.

With a total of ten cameras working to capture the sold-out concert, Satriani’s musical best was recorded in both 2D and 3D HD formats. The high-definition filming makes Satriani’s play as much a pleasure to watch as it is to hear. Every chord change is captured and presented as if one were experiencing a living room concert of your very own! Fans of “Satch” will be eagerly awaiting the film’s worldwide release in March 2012 with theatrical presentations in both 2D and 3D formats.

For more information visit http://www.satchurated.com and http://www.satriani.com

Critically acclaimed American blues rock guitarist, Walter Trout, today announced the release of his new studio album Blues For The Modern Daze.  The album is released by Provogue Records in the UK on Monday 23^rd April, followed by US release on 24^th April.

Check out this interview with Walter Trout below

Blues for the Modern Daze, showcases the contemporary guitar legend’s return to his hardcore blues roots.  The album is Trout’s sixth recording for Provogue, and his first fully-fledged blues album in 23 years as a bandleader.  Trout’s practical schooling in blues started when he arrived in Los Angeles in 1973 and secured gigs behind Hooker, Big Mama Thornton, Finis Tasby, Pee Wee Crayton, Lowell Fulsom, Percy Mayfield and Joe Tex. By 1981 he joined the remaining original members of Canned Heat.

The turning point for Trout was his tenure with British blues giant John Mayall. Trout became part of the Bluesbreakers’ lineage of great guitarists along with Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor. By 1989, Trout formed his own band, released his debut album Life In the Jungle, and rapidly became a star in Europe. His first US release, 1998′s critically heralded Walter Trout, made him a permanent fixture in the American blues rock scene.

My main inspiration for this album says Trout, was the country bluesman Blind Willie Johnson, an early blues innovator who recorded such timeless gospel informed blues numbers as Soul of a Man and Nobody’s Fault But Mine. His music is beautiful, primal, direct and deeply spiritual. The album explores a side of my music that’s rooted in my first musical love, and it reveals something about me, too. It sums up the thoughts and attitudes of somebody who is getting a little older and is feeling like he’s a part of another era, with different values and a different perspective on life that’s prevalent today.

You can listen to Ivan answering some of these question in the video below.

1.  The opening riff in Sandcastle sounds like it was influenced by Paul Gilbert? What were your early influences as a guitar player?

Some of my biggest influences were Paul Gilbert, John Petrucci, Richie Kotzen, Steve Lukather,  David Gilmour and I lots of others basically. The biggest one being probably Noel Gallagher (laughs) because I was a huge Oasis fan when I was in elementary school and they are probably the reason why I wanted to start playing the guitar. You wouldn’t really say that from the style of music I’m playing now but yes that’s the way it went. I really like his new songs now with ‘High Flying Birds’ as well.

2. You recently opened up for Paul Gilbert, did you feel any pressure?

Yes, as I said I’m not sure why because I had played so many gigs before that. Actually I know why I felt the pressure when I first opened for Paul Gilbert because that was the first live show with my band and my songs (songs from Sandcastle) and it was definitely a new experience. I was also a front man (although I did have a band in school in which I was a front man). Now I had a ‘real’ band with ‘real’ albums and we were opening up for one of my idols!

3. You’re in the studio at the moment. Can you tell us how this is going and what fans can expect?

It’s going great, the albums name is ‘Counterclockwise’, it’s a concept album with 9 songs and we’ve worked on it as a band. My drummer Alen helped me with it and we’ve written one song together, he’s written the music for one song by himself and he’s also written the lyrics for three of the other songs. There’s one instrumental, that’s new!

I’ve been working on my singing a lot lately so that’s improving and hopefully it’s going to show in the new material. The thematic of the new album is similar to ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ by Pink Floyd and there are songs about people you think are your friends but turn out to be completely different.

Songs about human nature, the fact we are always discontent about something and how it’s so hard to please somebody and we always want more. No matter what we have we always want something else. There are some songs that are stories, some that are about the loss of someone that was really dear to you, a friend or family member. Basically everyday stuff that we deal with in the real world but with a happy ending!

4. What guitars & amps are you playing right now both live and in the studio?

I use an Engl Powerball and a Music Man Silhouette Special both in the studio and live. In the studio I usually record dry. I plug my guitar into the amp and sometimes I’ll use my Ernie Ball Wah and a chorus on the cleans or a MXR phaser pedal. Usually for the delays on the solo parts I’m recording the guitar dry and adding them when I’m mixing.

Live I’m using pedals for all of that obviously. My favourite delay pedal is an ‘MXR carbon Copy’. I actually quite like MXR pedals and I don’t have an endorsement with them so I don’t have to say that I like them (laughs)!

I also use the ‘MXR Stereo Chorus’ and the ‘MXR Phaser’ and have a Korg Pitch Black+ tuner and that’s basically it.

A shot of Ivan’s pedal board he is currently using in the studio

5. Are there any guitar players at the moment that you’d like to work with?

I’ve done some work with Phil Hilborne and Brett Garsed, basically I’d like to work with any of the guys that have influenced me. There are other musicians that are not guitarists that I’d also like to work with. Maybe Arjen Lucassen of Star One or Daniel Gildenlöw from ‘Pain of Salvation’. Those guys are quite an inspiration in terms of song writing. Daniel Gildenlöw is an amazingly expressive singer and guitar player so it would definitely be a pleasure doing something with him!

6. What are your plans for 2012?

Well I have to finish the new record with my band Side Effects (‘Counterclockwise’) and I’ll be finishing the new album with Croatian rock band ‘Hard Time’. I’m also working on an album recording some guitars for my friend Dean Clea for his new album ‘Luna’.

Hopefully we’ll have more theatre shows with the rock opera I’m singing in (Hocus Pocus) and a lot of live shows!

Visit Ivan’s official website below t find out more.

www.ivanmihaljevic.com