Monday, May 21, 2012
Friday, April 27, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Blizzards of Riffs: A History of Ozzy Osbourne’s Amazing Guitarists
Few things in life are certain, but one thing that is certain is this: if you’re playing guitar for Ozzy Osbourne, you’re a virtuoso. Osbourne’s current guitarist, Gus G., recently expressed the thoughts of many with these words: “I like all [Ozzy’s guitarists]. I like Zakk Wylde for what he did, and I’m a big fan of the Jake E. Lee albums. The first Ozzy solo album I heard was Diary of a Madman, and I thought Randy [Rhoads] was amazing. I don’t think I have a favorite. I really like all the guys he’s had." Below are profiles and quotes from the sensational six-stringers who’ve backed Osbourne during more than three decades of solo work.
Randy Rhoads
A classically influenced virtuoso, Randy Rhoads was introduced to Osbourne by bassist Dana Strum, from Slaughter, when Osbourne was seeking a guitarist with whom to launch his solo career following his split with Black Sabbath. Rhoads’s tenure with Ozzy was brief – he died tragically in a plane crash in 1982 – but his contributions to rock guitar are monumental. “As a guitar player he was just phenomenal," Osbourne told Guitar Shop, in 1998. “His heart wasn’t really into rock ’n’ roll so much as the classics. He was one of these guys who, once he tasted what he wanted to taste, wanted to move on. He wasn’t really interested in becoming the next guitar hero."
Bernie Torme
Bernie Torme was charged with the near-impossible task of filling Rhoads’s shoes on the make-up concert dates that had been cancelled in the wake of Rhoads’s tragic death. Torme’s stint with Ozzy lasted just a few weeks, but the sustenance he provided was invaluable. “Musically it was a steep learning curve to play [Rhoads’s] parts, because he was a superb guitarist," Torme told Let It Rock, in 2000. “I think I did a pretty good job, though not at the beginning maybe. I only had three days to learn it all." Osbourne had high praise for Torme as well. “Had it not been for Bernie," he said, “I honestly don’t think that I would’ve done another gig. When I saw Randy’s plane in flames, I thought it was over."
Brad Gillis
Brad Gillis stepped in after Torme’s departure. His tenure with Osbourne, though brief, was indispensable, especially on the 1982 live album, Speak of the Devil. “The Ozzy gig changed my life," Gillis told GetReadyToRock.com, in 2003. “To be thrown into an instant headline position and asked to emulate Randy Rhoads was a great personal test that I had to endure. I sat in a hotel room for four days learning all the parts. On the fifth day I did my first show in Binghamton, New York. That was the first time I had ever played with the band."
Jake E. Lee
Jake E. Lee’s stint with Osbourne, which extended from late 1982 until 1987, provided much-needed stability during a difficult period. Lee’s playing on 1983’s Bark at the Moon and 1986’s The Ultimate Sin – both of which featured his contributions as co-writer as well as guitarist – was sensational. “On the first album, I felt [pressure] because there were a lot of guitar players who wanted this gig," he told Guitar World, in 1986. “I knew there were going to be a lot of people listening to see if I did any good or not. But I’m not the kind of person who really cares what other people think. There are guitar players who still come up to Ozzy and go, ‘I’m the guitar player you should have got.’"
Zakk Wylde
With the exception of Tony Iommi, no guitar player spent as much time with Ozzy as Zakk Wylde did. A steady force in Osbourne’s career from 1987 to 2009 (with the occasional sabbatical), Wylde remains on good terms with Ozzy to this day, following an amicable split between the two. “We’re both goofballs," Wylde told Gibson.com in 2009. “He’s the greatest. Led Zeppelin was only around for 10 years or so. Ozzy’s been making recordings since 1968 and he’s still around doing it. Something’s gotta be said for that. He’s not just a guy on a sprint."
Steve Vai
Steve Vai wrote and recorded with Ozzy in 1994, presumably working on material slated for the 1995 album, Ozzmosis. Vai was credited as co-writer on the track “My Little Man," but all the guitar parts on the album were played by Zakk Wylde. “Ozzy was looking for some songs for his record, and they called me up and we got together," Vai told Jemsite.com, in 1995. “We wrote a whole bunch of material and I think they’re going to use a little bit on the new record." Vai anticipated the interviewer’s next question. “No, I’m not playing on it," he added. “Ozzy has Zakk, and Zakk is a fabulous guitar player."
Alex Skolnick
Alex Skolnick played just one concert with Osbourne, appearing in a performance staged in Nottingham, England, in 1995. A former pupil of Joe Satriani’s, Skolnick is adept at both rock and jazz. Asked by Fretpoint.com to name the musicians who most influenced him, Skolnick cited The Beatles, KISS and jazz greats Wes Montgomery and Pat Metheny, among others. He then added: “I think the one player who really made me focus on metal guitar was Randy Rhoads."
Joe Holmes
In need of a replacement for Zakk Wylde for the 1995 Ozzmosis tour, Osbourne hired Joe Holmes without knowing that Holmes had taken lessons from Randy Rhoads in the late ’70s. Holmes went on to play several Ozzfest tours before leaving Ozzy’s band during the writing and recording of the 2001 album, Down to Earth. “It’s really spooky," Osbourne once said of Holmes’ playing. “When Joe plays the Randy Rhoads stuff, he plays just like Randy. It’s like I can see Randy’s fingers."
Jerry Cantrell
Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell recruited Osbourne’s touring band to play on his 2002 solo album, Degradation Trip. Presumably, it was that collaboration that led to Cantrell’s splendid six-string contributions to Osbourne’s 2005 Under Cover album, which featured renditions of “Sunshine of Your Love," “Mississippi Queen," “Sympathy for the Devil" and other classics as only Ozzy can do them. Later, in a Guitar World article, Cantrell said, “Ozzy and Black Sabbath are two of my biggest influences."
Gus G.
In 2009, Gus G., of the Greek power-metal band Firewind, got a call from Ozzy’s management asking him to audition for the role of Osbourne’s new guitarist. To this day, the lucky six-stringer isn’t sure how he came to be on Ozzy’s radar, but he’s grateful for the gig. “It’s still amazing," Gus G. told GeeksofDoom.com, in 2011. “It’s not something you really get used to, and I mean that in a great way. I’m really loving all the changes that have happened to me, and that I’m having the chance to do this at such a level. It’s a blessing. Few people in the world have the chance that I got, so I’m very grateful and I’m really enjoying it."
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
Hired Guns: The 10 Greatest-Ever Session Guitarists
Session guitarists are often the music world’s equivalent of baseball’s utility infielder—unheralded players whose talents are cloaked in anonymity. Ironically, however, such guitarists also tend to be supremely accomplished, possessing, as they do, the versatility and improvisational skills necessary to accommodate a wide range of styles. Some go on to make a name for themselves beyond session work, while others are content to maintain their roles as indispensable studio mavens. Below are ten players who represent both sides of that spectrum.
James Burton
Few guitar players have had as varied and prolific a career as James Burton. Best known for his work with Elvis Presley and Ricky Nelson, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has also recorded with such notable figures as Emmylou Harris, Roy Orbison, John Denver and Elvis Costello. High points in his session work include the riff and solo he crafted and played on Dale Hawkins’ 1957 classic, “Susie Q.”
Hank Garland
Hank Garland’s professional career spanned just 15 years, but the work he packed into that period was extraordinary. In addition to being a fixture on Elvis Presley’s recordings from 1957 to 1961, the Nashville-based session great backed Patsy Cline, Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Rich and countless other country stars. Garland was also a gifted jazz guitarist who recorded with such legends as George Shearing and Charlie Parker. A tragic car crash in 1961 robbed him of much of his six-string skills, but his impact on the ’60s “Nashville sound” was incalculable.
Steve Cropper
It’s a measure of Steve Cropper’s greatness that John Lennon and Paul McCartney seriously considered doing some Beatles recordings with the legendary guitarist-producer. As a member of Stax Records’ in-house band, Booker T & The MGs, Cropper played on (and guided the sound of) seminal recordings by Wilson Pickett, Sam and Dave and (especially) Otis Redding. Guitarists as varied as Jimi Hendrix and Syd Barrett cited Cropper’s influence. Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart and Neil Young are among those who’ve recorded with Cropper during his post-Stax years.
Tommy Tedesco
Dubbed “the most recorded guitarist in history” by Guitar Player, Tommy Tedesco played on thousands of ’60s and ’70s recordings, many of which became Top 20 hits. Based in Los Angeles, Tedesco lent his six-string skills to material by The Beach Boys, Cher and The Association, among many others. His film and TV soundtrack work was spectacular as well, including contributions to the themes for Bonanza and Green Acres, and to the soundtracks for Jaws and The French Connection, among others. Tedesco died in 1997 at the age of 67.
Jimmy Page
Known in the mid ’60s as “Little Jim,” Jimmy Page played on such pop classics as Petula Clark’s “Downtown,” Marianne Faithfull’s “As Tears Go By” and The Rolling Stones’ “Heart of Stone,” before going on to put together a little band known as Led Zeppelin. He also made significant contributions to The Kinks’ debut album, and played on The Who’s “I Can’t Explain.” Page once estimated that, during the early years of the British Invasion, he averaged three sessions a day, six days a week.
Larry Carlton
During the ’70s and early ’80s, Larry Carlton appeared on up to 500 recordings a year, his distinctive style gracing seminal albums by Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell and Michael Jackson, among others. His catalog of work also includes an array of film soundtracks and television themes, including the theme for Hill Street Blues, for which he received a GRAMMY award. Carlton’s ever-present ES-335 has earned him the nickname, “Mr. 335.”
Chet Atkins
No guitarist played a greater role in pushing country music onto the pop charts than Chet Atkins. During the ’50s and ’60s, Atkins (along with a handful of other titans, like Hank Garland) essentially created the “Nashville sound,” producing and/or playing on albums by Jerry Reed, Floyd Cramer, Don Gibson and countless others. Often called “Mr. Guitar,” Atkins was posthumously inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
Steve Lukather
As a member of Toto, Steve Lukather was the six-string force behind such classics as “Rosanna,” “Africa” and “I Won’t Hold You Back.” His session work has been just as impressive. As a guest player on more than 1,000 albums, Lukather has recorded with Paul McCartney, Elton John, Miles Davis and Michael Jackson, among many others. His crucial role in the making of Jackson’s Thriller album remains a high point.
Glen Campbell
Moving from Arkansas to Los Angeles in 1961 at age 24, Glen Campbell lent his formidable six-string skills to array of artists, including Frank Sinatra, Merle Haggard, Nat King Cole and, most notably, The Beach Boys. He and his fellow “Wrecking Crew” session players (which included Tommy Tedesco and Leon Russell, among others) also played on many of Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound” productions. In 1964 and 1965, prior to going solo, he was a touring member of The Beach Boys, and played on their legendary Pet Sounds album, as well.
Lee Ritenour
Lee Ritenour began his career as a session player at the ripe age of 16, when he appeared on an album by The Mamas and The Papas in the mid ’60s. Since then, the multi-GRAMMY-nominated guitarist has played on more than 3,000 sessions, often using either an ES-335 or an L-5 acoustic as his go-to instrument. Artists who’ve sought Ritenour’s services through the years include Pink Floyd (for The Wall sessions), Steely Dan (for Aja), Aretha Franklin and Carly Simon.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
The Left-Handed Gun: 10 Famous Southpaw Guitarists
Roughly 11 percent of us are left-handed, though that percentage seems to swell when reviewing a list of top guitarists. Look to supernatural virtuosos like Jimi Hendrix and Dick Dale, and you might just come to believe that lefties actually have the, ahem, upper hand.
That’s exactly what author John Engel asserts in his two definitive anthologies, Uncommon Sound: The Left-Handed Guitarists Who Changed Music, published in 2006. In an interview with NPR, Engel said, “Left-handed people have since birth the obligation to deal with the right-handed world, which in some ways makes them more adaptable and more flexible and therefore more inventive.”
Whether a southpaw learns to reverse the strings on his guitar, chooses to play a right-handed guitar, or buys a guitar specifically designed for lefties, it takes more effort and determination to develop playing skills as a lefty. Here are 10 guitarists who turned their genetic trait into a technical advantage.
Kurt Cobain
The late Nirvana frontman learned to play guitar during high school, picking out covers of songs like “Louie Louie” and “My Best Friend’s Girl.” In 1985, he and guitarist/classmate Krist Novoselic formed Nirvana in Aberdeen, Washington, and together with drummer Dave Grohl would go on to sell more than 50 million records worldwide. Cobain played mostly left-handed guitars, though he sometimes used right-handed guitars that were restrung and played upside down.
Elizabeth Cotten
This North Carolina-born blues and folk guitarist, who died in 1987 at age 92, is feted for her distinctive style. Originally a banjo player, Cotten learned to play a right-handed guitar, which she held upside down but didn’t restring to suit her left-handedness. Because of this, she cultivated an alternating bass style known as “Cotten picking,” whereby she played the bass lines with her fingers and the melody with her thumb.
Dick Dale
The King of the Surf Guitar, now age 73, has always taken an interest in distinguishing himself from other guitarists – experimenting heavily with reverberation and playing through custom amplifiers. This southpaw guitarist actually learned to play a right-handed guitar with his right hand as the active hand.
Elliot Easton
The Cars’ Elliot Easton, who released a signature Gibson SG in 2006, told Gibson.com, “I grew up and I live in a right-handed world, so as a kid anytime a friend would get a cool new guitar, I couldn’t really play it or I’d have to flip it over and play it with the strings upside down. There’s no real disadvantage technically, but especially when I was younger [it was tough] getting quality instruments.”
Jimi Hendrix
Arguably the finest guitarist of all time, Jimi Hendrix dazzled on a number of levels – as a performer, a musician and an innovator. Engel explains that Hendrix had a unique approach even to working around his left-handedness: “Jimi Hendrix strung his guitars left-handed; however most people who aren’t really closely familiar with his work think that he plays upside down because he uses right-handed guitars for the most part. But he took a right-handed instrument and had them restrung left-handed.”
Tony Iommi
Judas Priest’s Rob Halford once introduced Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi as “the man who invented the heavy metal riff.” With an SG perennially in hand, the English-born guitarist, now 63, overcame not only the hardship of being a left-handed guitarist in a right-handed world, but he also learned to operate a guitar having had the tips of two of his fingers sliced off in an factory accident.
Albert King
This Mississippi blues guitarist flipped his right-handed Flying Vs upside down so that he could play them more easily. “Albert King makes extremely strong vibratos and bends, which means that he takes a string and bends it several tones, and this is something that’s typical of his way of playing and you can do that much easier when you’re playing upside down then when you’re playing in the conventional way,” said Engel.
Mark Knopfler
The Dire Straits guitarist first learned to play violin and then moved on to guitar, which he plays right-handed despite being a lefty.
Paul McCartney
The world’s most famous left-handed bassist, McCartney realized early on that he could restring a right-handed guitar to work for his lefthandedness when he came across a poster of country singer Slim Whitman holding a guitar backwards. He soon graduated to playing left-handed bass.
Otis Rush
Blues guitarist Otis Rush, now 75, developed his serious chops by playing a left-handed instrument strung upside down (with the Low E string on the bottom), just like Dick Dale, Albert King and Doyle Bramhall II.
Other notable southpaw guitarists:
Duane Allman*, Tim Armstrong, Babyface, Eddy Clearwater, Billy Corgan*, Elvis Costello*, Lefty Frizzell*, Noel Gallagher*, Danny Gatton*, Al McKay, Gary Moore*, Johnny Winter* and Bobby Womack.
*Left-handed but played guitar with right hand