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Steve Harley of Cockney Rebel dies at 73
Cockney Rebel guitarist and bandleader Steve Harley has died at the age of 73, his family have confirmed via his Facebook page.
“We are devastated to announce that Steve, our wonderful husband, father and grandfather, has passed away peacefully at home, with his family by his side,” the post reads.
“Steve took enormous comfort from all of his fans’ well wishes during his battle, and we know he would want to thank you all deeply for your love and support throughout his career, and during his battle to the end.”
Harley revealed in December that he was battling a “nasty cancer”, and said last month that he could not commit to performing any concerts in 2024 as a result.
“We know he will be desperately missed by countless friends, family and devoted fans all over the world,” the post continues, “and we ask that you respectfully allow us privacy to grieve.”
We are devastated to announce that Steve, our wonderful husband, father and grandfather, has passed away peacefully at…
Posted by Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel on Sunday, March 17, 2024
While they had several hiatuses between forming in the early ‘70s and the present day, Steve Harley led the glam rock outfit throughout its whole tenure.
The band released six albums: two under the Cockney Rebel moniker – The Human Menagerie (1973) and The Psychomodo (1974) – and four as Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel: The Best Years of Our Lives (1975), Timeless Flight (1976), Love’s a Prima Donna (1976) and The Quality of Mercy (2005).
Their biggest hit was Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me), which featured on The Best Years of Our Lives.
In addition to Cockney Rebel, Steve Harley also enjoyed a successful solo career, under which he released six albums, and featured on songs by The Alan Parsons Project, Rick Wakeman and T. Rex.
The post Steve Harley of Cockney Rebel dies at 73 appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
“I thought, ‘He’s got to be joking,’ because John Paul Jones is God on bass, as far as I’m concerned”: How Lita Ford almost ended up joining Led Zeppelin – on bass
“If you’ve ever seen Slash give that look to whoever when they hit a bad note… You get that look once, man. You don’t want it twice”: Gilby Clarke survived a baptism by fire in Guns N’ Roses – but one day the pay checks stopped coming
“Stands at the crossroads of utility and elegance”: Bourgeois Guitars collabs with Eastman for the Touchstone Signature – a historically-styled model that pays homage to prewar acoustics
“Bruce Springsteen was in the next studio… He had a Gretsch Country Gentleman, and I asked him if I could borrow it”: How a loaner from The Boss powered the iconic spaghetti western line in Blondie’s Atomic
“Gibson Supremes with Floyds!”: Neal Schon has rekindled his relationship with Gibson, bringing the Floyd Rose to the luxed-out Les Paul Supreme for a trio of potential signature models
Chris Buck has been sent “hate mail” for appearing in Total Guitar’s Greatest Blues Guitarists list
For most guitarists, being ranked alongside the greats would be an honour. And it certainly is – until the keyboard warriors swarm in.
In Total Guitar‘s latest issue, it’s been revealed that readers voted Chris Buck as one of the greatest blues guitarists in the world. According to the ranking, Buck sits comfortably at 27th. While the news would have initially come as a pleasant surprise to him, it’s also inadvertently put a target on Buck’s back.
In a recent video posted on his YouTube channel, Buck reflects on the ranking, reading out “[Eric] Clapton, [Jimi] Hendrix, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray, Albert King… Chris Buck… Wait…” he pauses. “If you’re surprised, imagine my amazement to hear my name mentioned in the same breath as any of those guys.” However, the ranking has welcomed in a wave of death threats.
An immediate influx of “scathing responses” has transformed the potential badge of honour into a total burden. “It’s just a vote. It’s just a magazine. It’s just an opinion. It’s just a social media popularity contest,” Buck says. “It’s certainly no good reason to be sending hate mail.”
As Buck puts it, his inclusion in the voting list felt like “a recipe for disaster” from the start. Buck has been a subject of envy for years now, due to him making waves in the guitar world from a young age. He earned himself MusicRadar‘s Best New Guitarist award in 2017, and has only gone from strength to strength.
The hatred is coming from people insulted by Buck being ranked higher than their personal blues heroes. But, as Buck puts it, “if Mississippi Fred McDowell were alive today, he honestly wouldn’t lose any sleep over being [beaten to] number 62 by Marcus King… it doesn’t mean anything.”
In his eyes, being a blues guitarist is about collaborating with your peers and uplifting one another. Because of that outlook, the idea of being compared to other guitarists feels at odds with the blues mentality – as well as making him feel incredibly uncomfortable.
“As immensely flattering as it is, I certainly didn’t ask for inclusion in Guitar World or Total Guitar’s list in the first place,” he explains. “I didn’t ask people to vote for me, primarily because I thought the idea of me being mentioned in the same breath as true musical heroes of mine, and pioneering greats on the blues, [felt farcical].”
“Whenever I am included in such a list, I immediately feel as though I’m going to be pissing someone off or stepping on someone’s toes, which really isn’t what music is about,” he continues. “It’s certainly not what I’m about and it’s definitely not why I started playing guitar.”
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“Turns out he’s a huge f**kin’ Howlin’ Wolf protégé”: Slash on how he tapped Brian Johnson for his upcoming blues album
When Slash recently announced his new blues album, Orgy of the Damned, we weren’t all that surprised to see he’d invited a smorgasbord of guest musicians along for the ride.
On the record, the Guns N’ Roses legend is to be joined by the likes of Gary Clark Jr., Billy F. Gibbons, Iggy Pop and more to reimagine blues classics by Howlin’ Wolf, T. Bone Walker, Albert King and others.
Its first single, Killing Floor – originally made famous by Howlin’ Wolf – arrived last week, and gave us a taste of the album’s collaborative feel with contributions from AC/DC’s Brian Johnson and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler.
And in a new interview with Audacy’s Check In, Slash recalls how the appearance from Brian Johnson came about.
“I had the song and I was trying to think who would be great to do it,” he says [via NME]. “And Brian came to mind. And I’ve known Brian for a pretty long time now. And he just has that great kind of grit to his voice. And I called him up and it turns out that he’s a huge fuckin’ Howlin’ Wolf protégé.”
He continues: “He was telling me that he’s doing something at present where he’s putting together sort of a blues-orchestra thing. Don’t quote me on that, but something to that [effect].
“Anyway, and so he was excited to do that particular song. And that’s the key thing that you’re looking for, is that when you call any of these great artists up and you have a cover song that you want to attack and if they would be willing to participate, that the song speaks to them, that it has meaning to them too, not just me. And that’s how it was with Brian. He was, like, ‘Oh, fucking great. Yeah, let’s do this.’”
Slash also recalls Steven Tyler’s harmonica parts on the track came because he just “happened to have a harmonica with him”.
“It was like, ‘This is great.’ So it was very spontaneous. It was very just sort of inspired in the moment, which is a great thing to be able to capture, especially nowadays because people just, by and large, don’t make records like that now. Everything is very well thought out and cultivated and homogenised and produced, and this was just very, very off the cuff.”
Slash’s new solo album Orgy of the Damned arrives May 17 via Gibson Records. You can pre-order it now, and find tickets to his upcoming travelling blues festival – S.E.R.P.E.N.T. – via his official website.
The post “Turns out he’s a huge f**kin’ Howlin’ Wolf protégé”: Slash on how he tapped Brian Johnson for his upcoming blues album appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
Strandberg Boden Essential 6 – the gateway to headless guitar nirvana?
$999/£839, strandbergguitars.com
For many of us, the headless electric guitar is a spectre of a bygone age – when Ned Steinberger’s innovative creations briefly became the talk of the hard-rocking guitar crowd in the 1980s, and will forever be tainted by its association with that age of excess.
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But if you’ve been paying attention to the heavier side of guitar in the last few years, especially in the technical and progressive communities, you’ll have noticed that the headless guitar has been making something of a comeback.
This comeback has been primarily driven by Swedish company Strandberg, who for the last 15 years have been building uniquely shaped and unconventionally put together instruments that have attracted the attention of the likes of Plini, Mike Keneally, Yvette Young, Per Nilsson (Meshuggah/Scar Symmetry) and more.
The main barrier to those of us curious about Strandberg’s charms up until now has been the price point, and the company’s focus on making extended-range and fan-fret instruments. But that’s all changed with the arrival of the Boden Essential 6 – a six-string, conventionally fretted instrument that costs $999. Is this the moment the headless guitar makes its play for the mainstream?
The Boden Essential 6 in Elemental BlueWhy is the Strandberg Boden Essential 6 more affordable?
I’ve had the chance to play a few of the regular Strandberg instruments, and by and large I’ve been very impressed with both their build and tone, but also their aesthetic qualities – the ornate shape, intricately figured woods and stunning paint jobs that these guitars so often sport.
With that in mind, I was a little underwhelmed taking the Boden out of its case – there’s no fancy paintjob here, no plush wood… there’s not even a vibrato, and the frets remain very much un-fanned – Strandberg has clearly cut things back to, well, the essentials.
But what the Boden Essential 6 does have is quality stuff – a solid meranti (a tonewood similar to mahogany) body with a roasted maple neck, 24 frets, a 20” fingerboard radius and 25.5” scale length and DHP stainless steel frets. The hardware is all Strandberg’s own, including an all-new EGS Arc cast zink fixed bridge, and you also get a pair of Strandberg OEM humbuckers.
The guitar is made in Indonesia, but it’s also less than a third of what a Swedish-made guitar will cost you – but has Strandberg cut things back too far?
The Boden Essential 6 in Black GraniteIs the Strandberg Boden Essential 6 good to play?
Upon removing the guitar from its supplied gigbag, the first thing that really knocks you out is the weight of the thing – losing that headstock makes a difference, clearly, because this thing comes in at a barely-there 4.7lbs (2.15kg).
It’s easy to come to a guitar with preconceived notions, and when you’re dealing with a design as radical as the Boden it’s hard to put those aside – but if you can not be put off by the looks and embrace things with an open mind, you’ll be thoroughly impressed with what is just an extremely well put together instrument.
That body might look odd but its contours and curves are hugely ergonomic and really get out of the way when you’re just trying to play, while the neck is something of a revelation.
The Boden Essential 6 in Astro DustThe Boden uses Strandberg’s EndurNeck profile, and it’s possibly the most radical thing about the whole instrument – rather than being curved into a D or C shape like the vast majority of guitar necks, the EndurNeck consists of three flat sides. It’s disconcerting at first, but the proof is in the shredding, as they may or may not say – within minutes I find myself adapting to this radical thing, and y’know what, it works, especially when paired with the rounded stainless steel frets
The Boden Essential 6 also offers other clever little additions to aid the gigging player, including a rear-mounted jack, and glow-in-the-dark side dots that are seriously bright under low light.
You never know what you’re going to get with an unfamiliar guitar, and ‘resonance’ wasn’t the first word I was expecting to use when I looked at the tiny body dimensions and felt the light weight, and yet it’s a surprisingly lively and responsive guitar even unplugged.
OEM pickups can also be something of a crap shoot, but again I find myself hugely impressed by what the Strandberg’s two humbuckers offer – at each of the five positions (including two with coil-split options) I find hugely usable and versatile tones, whether played clean or going full-on metal.
The Boden Essential 6 in Black GraniteIs the Strandberg Boden Essential 6 worth buying?
From the outset it’s immediately apparent that the Boden Essential 6 isn’t your grandpa’s headless guitar – this is an innovative modern instrument that prioritises functionality above all else, and delivers on that in spades.
For some players the unconventional looks will be too high a hurdle to overcome, but whether you’re playing pop and fusion or death metal, the Boden Essential will do the job with aplomb, and for a price that’s seriously competitive in this market.
If you’ve ever been intrigued by the charms of a headless guitar, there’s never been a better excuse to dive in, but be warned – you might end up a convert for life. Now, I just have to try and find a guitar stand for this thing…
The Boden Essential 6 in Astro DustStrandberg Boden Essential 6 alternatives
There’s not a massive headless guitar market but the Ibanez QX52 ($999/£869) is probably the closest competitor to the Boden Essential 6 in both price and vibe. If you want to get the full Strandberg experience, try the Strandberg Original NX 6 ($2,295/£2,295). If you want to go bargain basement then the Gear4Music Harlem Headless is just £199.
The post Strandberg Boden Essential 6 – the gateway to headless guitar nirvana? appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
“His music was determinedly and insistently unconventional”: Steve Harley, Cockney Rebel singer and guitarist, dies at 73
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“I’m now running a dual rig – it’s like hearing Queens of the Stone Age and Guy Ritchie movies mixed together!” Meet Kid Kapichi – the UK beat-punks busting out Chuck Berry moves and opening for Liam Gallagher
“Noel spat on his T-shirt, rubbed off the signature and said, ‘I’ll take it anyway!’”: Noel Gallagher once bought one of Peter Green’s Les Pauls – but erased Green’s signature to get back at the store owner who sold it to him
Totally Guitars Weekly Update March 15, 2024
March 15, 2024 Recently I talked a bit about swing time, which many people confuse with syncopation. Today I talked more about syncopation, what it is, how it is independent of swing, and then opened the door to time signature changes, which can be confused with both swing and syncopation. It should all be as […]
The post Totally Guitars Weekly Update March 15, 2024 appeared first on On The Beat with Totally Guitars.
“You owe it to your audience”: Johnny Marr and Pharrell Williams convinced Hans Zimmer to go on tour in North America again
Hans Zimmer announced a North American orchestral tour yesterday (14 March), his first in seven years.
However, it wasn’t off his own back; he was persuaded by an iconic indie guitarist and one of the world’s most influential producers. Yep, Johnny Marr and Pharrell Williams convinced him.
According to the Associated Press, Marr and Williams got him to tour North America again. Zimmer says himself that they told him, “‘You have to look your audience in the eye, you can’t hide behind the screen forever. You owe it to your audience.’”
Zimmer’s upcoming tour will be his first since the iconic composer worked on the scores for Dune 1 and 2. It’s set to feature Zimmer and his band with a full orchestra, and if his European concerts are anything to go by, the tour will include suites for movies including Dune as well as The Lion King, Interstellar, The Dark Knight, Pirates of the Caribbean, Gladiator, and The Last Samurai.
While he may have needed nudging to finalise this North American tour, he seems happy to return, describing the US as “welcoming and kind and exciting,” and explaining that he’s already toured across Europe, “we’re pretty good at it,” joking that American fans have an advantage as a result.
He says, “I’m thrilled to return to perform in North America with my wonderful band and excited to share this phenomenal show. I love this feeling of uniting my family of extraordinary musicians with you, the audience. Just an unbelievable group of talents, who in my opinion, are some of the best musicians in the world.
“But nothing would have meaning without the good grace and support of you, the other part of the family – the audience. Ultimately, the music connects us all, and I promise you this: we will always play our best, straight from the heart.”
Zimmer’s US tour will begin on 6 September in Duluth, Georgia, and end in Vancouver on 6 October. Among the cities he’s visiting is New York City – he’s playing Madison Square Garden on his 67th birthday, 12 September.
You’ll be able to buy tickets for the tour on 22 March at 10 am local time on Zimmer’s website.
The post “You owe it to your audience”: Johnny Marr and Pharrell Williams convinced Hans Zimmer to go on tour in North America again appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
Bourgeois Guitars unveils new Touchstone Signature guitar, the latest addition to its Touchstone Series
Bourgeois Guitars has announced its latest model, the Touchstone Signature, part of the Touchstone Series.
The guitar features select Madagascar Rosewood back and sides, a torrefied, old-growth Alaskan Sitka Spruce soundboard, and a body, fretboard and headstock all bound in Ziricote, as well as a tri-colour herringbone top border and elegant pearl inlays.
It also boasts a 14-fret, one-piece Genuine Mahogany neck, an Ebony bridge, ivoroid pins, and Schaller Grand Tune Gold/Ebony tuners. Each Touchstone Signature guitar has a hand-voiced Adirondack Spruce top and braces, made in the company’s Maine workshop, too.
Credit: Bourgeois GuitarsBourgeois Guitars founder Dana Bourgeois says of the new model, “About 20 years ago, I set out to design a unique look for our Dreadnought and OM guitars. Contemporary aesthetic treatments are not always compatible with time-honoured classics, so I opted for understated wood bindings and historically inspired marqueteries and inlays. Though we’ll never know for sure, I’d like to think that, had it been around during the prewar era, my Signature model would have looked right at home.
“I’ve always thought of us not as just guitar-makers, but as partners in the creative journey of those who play our instruments. Dana’s Signature design stands at the crossroads of utility and elegance, and I believe this guitar embodies the essence of what it means to provide real value to an artist. I’m so excited to see this guitar join the Touchstone lineup because I have seen its tone and beauty inspire the talented folks bringing catharsis and art into the world. And when that happens, we all win.”
Touchstone Signature guitars are currently available in two models: the OM Signature/TS and the D Signature/TS, with an RRP of $3,999 (around £3,140).
You can find more information at Bourgeois Guitars.
The post Bourgeois Guitars unveils new Touchstone Signature guitar, the latest addition to its Touchstone Series appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.
“I get it’s a parody but it’s not a very good one”: Seal calls out harpist Emily Hopkins over guitar pedal video
Right, hands up who had drama between electroacoustic harpist Emily Hopkins and soul singer Seal on their bingo card for 2024? Not us.
On 27 February, Hopkins shared an Instagram video in which she begins, “This is exactly how I clean my pedals,” and shows herself cleaning her guitar pedals with soap and water to “get in there,” and using a toothbrush for the circuit board.
At the end of the video, Hopkins shares that she’s giving away one of her favourite Uni-Vibe pedals, the Eventide Riptide pedal, and tells her followers to like the video, tag a friend, and comment below “This is exactly how I clean my pedals” for a chance to win.
Somehow, Seal came across the post and weighed in, saying, “What was the point of doing it? I get it’s a parody but it’s not a very good one,” to which Hopkins replied, “Sorry Mr. Seal.”
Hopkins then took to Threads to share a screenshot of the exchange, saying, “Seal giving me shit on Instagram was not on my 2024 bingo card.”
Generally, people have been able to use their critical thinking skills and realise that she was joking, seeing the funny side, with some commenting, “This is exactly how Seal cleans his pedals,” while others made jokes about putting their own pedals in the washing machine or the bath.
But for many, her video was no laughing matter. One commenter wrote: “Unfortunately I believe she actually does this. This is bad advice. Water and electronics do not go together. Rust, corrosion of the solder points, yeah… This is really stupid. I wouldn’t want your rusty ass pedals. I would be afraid of frying my electronics in my guitar and amplifier.”
Another mentioned Hopkins’ large collection of pedals, saying, “She has hundreds because she keeps destroying them with water.”
However, if you’re able to recognise a joke when you see one, and you wouldn’t mind winning a pedal, the competition is still open.
Head to Emily Hopkins’ Instagram page to learn more.
The post “I get it’s a parody but it’s not a very good one”: Seal calls out harpist Emily Hopkins over guitar pedal video appeared first on Guitar.com | All Things Guitar.