Al Pitrelli (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Savatage, Alice Cooper, Randy Coven) discusses his life and career. He touches upon his early days with guitar and early bands, as well as early opportunities with Michael Bolton, what he learned as musical director for Alice Cooper, as well as discusses bands such as Savatage, Megadeth and TSO. He also talks about some of his more obscure works with Randy Coven and TM Stevens.
Ep. 75: Frank Gambale (Solo, Chick Corea Elektric Band, Vital Information)
Frank Gambale discusses his life and career. From learning the guitar and early bands to his amazing solo career and time in bands such as Chick Corea Elektric Band and Vital Information. He also discusses his new guitar school – Frank Gambale Online Guitar School.
Ep.74: Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Joel Hoekstra’s 13, Night Ranger)
Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Night Ranger) discusses his new project – Joel Hoekstra’s 13. He discusses how the new album (Dying to Live) came to be, and the process of recording it. He also provides an update from the last time he was on the show (Episode 34), and discusses the recording the Whitesnake Purple album as well as the Purple tour.
Ep. 68: Jennifer Batten (Solo, Michael Jackson, Jeff Beck)
Jennifer Batten discusses her early days and learning guitar, her audition for Michael Jackson, her work on the Bad, Dangerous and HIStory tours, her account of Greg Howe filling in for her for a few weeks with Michael Jackson (his account is in episode 36), her work with Jeff Beck, her three solo records and her new multimedia tour – Jennifer Batten’s Self-Empowerment for the Modern Musician Experience.
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Jennifer Batten 2015 Tour Dates:
7-24 LAS VEGAS
7-26 FLAGSTAFF
7-29 LUBBOCK TX
8-1 DALLAS
8-2 AUSTIN
8-4 SAN ANTONIO
8-16 MARGATE
8-20 NASHVILLE
8-22 CHARLOTTE
8-23 RALEIGH
8-27 KING OF PRUSSIA
8-29 CARLE PLACE4
8-30 NEW HAVEN
9-5 INDIANAPOLIS
9-6 LOMBARD
9-8 O’FALLON MO
For more on Jennifer Batten: http://www.batten.com/
Ep. 66: Joey Tafolla (Solo, Jag Panzer)
Joey Tafolla discusses his life and career. From his early days learning guitar (and his highly musical family), to the record label he co-founded at 19, on again/off again (and now currently on again!) history with Jag Panzer, his solo shredder career with Shrapnel Records (and work with Tony MacAlpine), giving guitar lessons to Buckethead, his tour with the Michael Sweet solo band, and his upcoming projects.
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Ep. 53: Rowan Robertson (Dio, DC4, Bang Tango)
Rowan Robertson (Dio, DC4, Bang Tango) walks us through his career – from joining Dio at only 17 years old, to having his album with Oni Logan (Violets Demise) shelved – all the way up to current projects such as DC4 and Bang Tango. From the writing sessions for “Lock Up The Wolves” to preparing for his years Monsters of Rock cruise, it’s all covered.
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Buy Rowan Robertson music on iTunes
Ep. 52: Jeff LaBar (Cinderella, Solo)
Jeff LaBar (Cinderella) tells us about his early days and early bands. He explains how he got the gig in Cinderella, and the recording of Night Songs, Long Cold Winter, Heartbreak Station – and how the changing musical climate affected Still Climbing. He also discusses Tom Keifer’s vocal problems and their failed recording contract with Sony in the late 90’s. He also talks about his new solo EP One For The Road, and the recording process for it. He also shares that he’s heading back into the studio to record the follow-up for Rat Pak Records.
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Ep. 51: Joey Allen (Warrant)
Joey Allen (Warrant) gives us a full overview of his career. He discusses the early days of Warrant, and their heyday in the late 80’s. He also shares why he left the band after Dog Eat Dog, what he did in the years before his return, reflects on Jani Lane, and looks forward to the next cd, and when that will be recorded.
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Ep. 50: Jeff Watson (Solo, Night Ranger, Mother’s Army)
Jeff Watson (Night Ranger, Mother’s Army, Solo) comes out of hiding (he’s a self-proclaimed hermit!) and discusses his life and career in this special 50th episode of The Double Stop. He explains his early days, and learning guitar. He covers the formation of Night Ranger and walks us through their early albums and eventual break-up. He discusses his first solo album, Lone Ranger, as well as Mother’s Army – his band with Joe Lynn Turner, Carmine Appice and Bob Daisley. He reveals for the first time the recent discovery of 5 lost Mother’s Army songs that he is preparing for release. He talks about the formation of Night Ranger, and why he decided to leave in 2008. He also discusses what led to him meeting his Night Ranger replacement – Joel Hoekstra – and their surprise jam at the Randy Rhoads Remembered show. He also discusses his plans to join the upcoming RRR tour. The bigger surprise is that Joel Hoekstra will be guesting on Jeff’s next single – following his new song “Squirrels & Kerosene”. And finally, Jeff announces his plans to re-release his solo track “Around the Sun” in tribute to his late father.
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Ep. 49: Richie Kotzen (Solo, The Winery Dogs)
Richie Kotzen returns for another episode of The Double Stop. He discusses his new cd “Cannibals”, along with everything that went into making it. He also discusses his creative process, the recent Grammy awards – and his frustration with the current state of music.
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