NEWS
2/1/10
Happy New Year everyone!
Since I last wrote, Night Ranger went on the 'Can't Stop Rockin' tour with Styx & REO Speedwagon. I had a great time and really enjoyed getting to hang with the other bands. One of the most interesting moments was when all 3 bands went to go see 'This is It' (the Michael Jackson movie) together. The Nashville show was packed with musicians ie Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, Alison Kraus, Bo Bice, Kevin Christopher (3 Doors Down), Gary Burr, Mark Volman, etc. It was also great fun to wrap up each show playing 'Can't Stop Rockin' together. Good times! '09 was a great year for Night Ranger and I hope to see you all out in 2010!!!
Lots of big things happening with Rock of Ages. The show will have a separate run opening in Toronto soon and a national tour and a UK run soon to follow. As of now, I will be staying with the Broadway show. It's great to have such a fun gig to come home to when I'm not on tour. Did I mention that the show recently rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange? A cool experience. Thanks to everyone for coming to see the show in '09 and hope to see you all in 2010. In addition to taking part in the Toronto press launch, Night Ranger will be playing upcoming Rock of Ages press events, as my two worlds continue to collide in the best of ways!
2010 started out with me taking some time to record with friends in LA and then make a few appearances at the NAMM show. Night Ranger played a set at the Taylor booth that brought down the house. Eric Martin (Mr Big) and Dave Amato (REO) even came up and sang with us on a song! The following day, Brad Gillis and I played a bit at the Nady booth. Brad & I also jammed with Hot for Teacher in the Hilton lobby Sat. night. Good times!...and thanks to Miles Schon for loaning me a guitar at the last second! Speaking of Brad Gillis and me, we were in the 30th Anniversary issue of Guitar World. Did ya see it?
After NAMM, I took part in Jim Peterik's World Stage show. Jim has been putting these on for 10 years now and it gives me the opportunity to catch up with my Chicago area family/friends and jam with some great musicians. This years guests included: Mike Reno (Loverboy), my bandmate Kelly Keagy, Jimi Jamison (Survivor) and Cathy Richardson (Jefferson Starship).
6 days later, I got the chance to fill in with Nelson for a show. Matt & Gunnar are such cool dudes and it was a blast playing some of their newer material and getting to cop some of Brett Garsed's solos from their albums.
I recently became a proud endorser of Head straps. Check 'em out at www.jodihead.com.
10/21/09
Sorry, it's been awhile, but I've been a working fool!
Night Ranger had a very busy Summer. Hopefully some of you caught us on the nationally syndicated Bob & Tom show. We had some fantastic headlining shows and also an unbelievable tour with Journey. It was awesome to get in a groove playing for 7,000-15,000 people a night and the Journey guys were such good dudes. It was really great to be a part of! One interesting moment of the tour came when we were in New Orleans, the BucketHead Radio show in Orlando was discussing the concert from the previous night and a caller claimed that Night Ranger was playing to track because our "guitars weren't plugged in". Someone hipped me to the discussion and I called in live to explain to them that we have our Nady wireless transmitters built into our guitars! Thanks guys for having me on to clear our name! Next up for Night Ranger is the "Can't Stop Rockin" tour with REO Speedwagon/Styx.
Amidst all of this, I am still playing at Rock of Ages, which is proving to be a HUGE hit. The celebrity train has continued there with Billy Joel, Julian Lennon, Vince Vaughn and members of Def Leppard, Extreme, RATT and ASIA all attending performances. I also got to play at Mayor Bloomberg's private residence recently with Constantine, as the Mayor entertained the Mayor of London. Rock of Ages will soon be starting a separate run of the show in Toronto and tomorrow I will be part of the press release party along with Dee Snider, Kevin Cronin and my Night Ranger bandmates.
I had a 1/4 page article on me in The New York Daily News recently when they featured some NY guitar players to celebrate the documentary film 'It Might Get Loud'.
Keep an eye out for Brad Gillis and I in the upcoming Guitar World anniversary issue! There will be an interview in the mag and a 1/2 hour lesson on the DVD that comes with the issue.
Also, a song I co-wrote is being used in the movie 'May the Best Man Win' currently playing on IFC.
7/22/09
Once again, lots happening at Rock of Ages. Since I last wrote, we played the Tony's. It was an awesome experience to walk out on stage at Radio City Music Hall by myself and have the cast come up behind me on a lift while I was playing the opening solo. Even more amazing was watching the 6,000+ light up their Rock of Ages lighters during Don't Stop Believing....Oh yeah, it was kinda cool being between Dolly Parton and Will Ferrell backstage too.
The Visa Signature Tony's Preview Concert also aired nationally on CBS. I played High Enough with Constantine and Amy Spanger from the show and got a wonderful introduction from the show's host Harry Smith.
The Rock of Ages cast album has also officially been released. Go pick up a copy!
We recently had some fun setting the world record (yes, Guinness was actually there) for most people playing air guitar at one time (810). I NEVER thought the day would come that I would air guitar to my own playing. Oh well, all in good fun.
Lots of celebs coming through to check out the show lately: Paris Hilton, Hugh Jackman, Phil Collins, Chad Kroeger and Ryan Peake from Nickelback.
Night Ranger is also having an amazing year! In addition to our headlining shows, we'll be opening for Journey on their tour this Summer! In fact, we just played our first show with them a few days ago. Come out and see us rock the big stages! Also, we recently played the Rocklahoma festival and Eddie Trunk from VH1's That Metal Show joined us on Sister Christian. Again...too much fun!
Many of you know that Gibson is a sponsor at Rock of Ages and I recently did an interview with them about the show/Night Ranger. Check it out here! http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/ArtistsAndEvents/Stories/rock-of-ages-602/
I want to give a big shout out to Ryan Brown at Schecter Guitars for the Hellraiser-6. It is currently my "whammy bar" guitar in Rock of Ages!!!
I also recently became a proud endorser of Seymour Duncan pick-ups.....
5/20/09
Hey everybody! Lot's happening with Rock of Ages. After 2-3 weeks of previews Rock of Ages officially opened on Broadway. Opening night was packed with rock royalty: Neal Schon (Journey), Dee Snider and Jay Jay French (Twisted Sister), Geoff Tate (Queensryche), Kyle Gass (Tenacious D), Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow), Jim Peterik (Survivor) and of course my Night Ranger bandmates Jack Blades, Brad Gillis and Kelly Keagy. Night Ranger even played a short acoustic set at the after-party and we had a blast!!
The show got great reviews including a rave in the New York Times. You can read a few choice quotes on the reviews page.
A couple weeks after opening, Tommy Shaw (Styx) and Kevin Cronin (REO) came out and played their song "Can't Stop Rockin" with us immediately after the show. The place went nuts and it was a blast playing a harmony guitar solo with Tommy!
After that we got to work in the studio on the cast album for the show. It should be available soon! Please give it a listen!
Then we had a promo appearance on Regis & Kelly. Great fun and a silly bit complete with Regis in 80's metal garb!
Then the show received 5 Tony nominations, including one for Best Musical. That means we will be performing on the Tony Awards June 7. Tune in! I will also be part of a performance on the Tony preview concert which airs right before the Tonys.
When not at Rock of Ages, I've been tearing up stages with Night Ranger. We're having so much fun! Check the tour schedule and come on out and see us sometime!
Now, a few links for you....
You can see my 80's rock video lessons for Guitar Player magazine here.. http://www.guitarplayertv.com
Check out Musicians Institute's feature on me here... http://www.mi.edu/SucessDetail/523.aspx
Check out a feature/interivew on Rock of Ages with Jim Peterik and myself here.. http://blogs.myspace.com
3/22/09
Hey everybody! I am in the May issue of Guitar Player magazine giving a Master Class on 80's rock. I also filmed an online version of the lesson, which will be up soon at www.guitarplayer.com. I've wanted to be in Guitar Player since I was a kid, so if you have time, please thank them for featuring me at:
Feedback, c/o Guitar Player 1111 Bayhill Drive, Suite 125 San Bruno, CA 94066
or at:
You can also see me in an ad for Big Bends Nut Sauce in the issue and in the May issue of Vintage Guitar magazine.
Rock of Ages has begun previews on Broadway and it's going great! The house has been full every show and the responses have been amazing! In Rock of Ages related press I recently did an interview with Spin magazine, was quoted in last week's Time Out NY, appeared on NY1 TV with contractor John Miller and from the land of the insane there was a picture of me playing the show in ABC Soap Opera Digest.
I want to make special mention of Anthony Woo, Rich Bandoni and everyone at Nady Wireless for installing a wireless transmitter into my Gibson V. If/when you see me on tour with Night Ranger this year, you'll notice that my guitars aren't plugged in and I'm not wearing a wireless pack! That's because Anthony Woo is a genius.
Speaking of Night Ranger, we recently spent some time together writing, recording, taking new pictures, etc. Then we rocked our first show of '09, with many more to follow! Hope to see you out at one of them!
1/28/09
Happy New Year everyone!
Lots happening with 'Rock of Ages'. The show closed off-Broadway 1/4 to begin it's move to Broadway (previews begin 3/20). You can read about it here http://www.playbill.com/news/article/124461.html. There is also a movie deal with New Line Cinema that you can read about here http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117997084.html?categoryid=13&cs=1.
Night Ranger will be heating up again soon, but in the meantime, keep an eye out for the band on VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs. There are even a few shots of yours truly at the end of the segment.
I recently had the opportunity to play a couple of shows with Jim Peterik's World Stage. The guest artists this year were: Jimi Jamison (Survivor), Don Barnes (38 Special), Rik Emmett (Triumph), David Pack (Ambrosia), Kelly Keagy (Night Ranger), Nick Colionne and Lisa McLowry. An honor play with them all and the incredible band as well.
I also had a fun show with my buddies The Turtles recently.
Hey, I want to mention a few products that I am now endorsing.
FIrst off check out InTune Guitar Picks at www.intunegp.com!
Secondly, check out Mono Cases at www.monocase.com!
Last, but not least..Check out the G7 capo at www.g7th.com!
There is a new addition to the guitar family as well. Big shout out to Robin and Bob at Taylor Guitars for the smokin 614ce in black! Look for it on tour this year with Night Ranger!
'til next time....