The Double Stop

In part 2 of the conversation with Michael Thompson, we cover specific sessions such as Animal Logic, Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Shania Twain (including over a month working closely with Mutt Lange).

Michael Thompson discusses his life and career, and explains how he became one of the most sought-after session guitarists of the last twenty-five years. A small sample of his sessions includes Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, 'N Sync, Toni Braxton, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart, Christina Aguilera, Michael Bolton, Mariah Carey, Bette Midler, Madonna, Animal Logic with Stewart Copeland a...

Recording Engineer/Mixer Tom Size joins us this week to talk about his life and career. He discusses his path into production and covers some of his key projects such as Aerosmith's Done With Mirrors, Sammy Hagar's VOA, David Lee Roth's Eat 'Em and Smile, and the numerous cd's he's worked on for Mr. Big - including solo albums by Eric Martin and Paul Gilbert. He also discusses the new live DVD's b...

As a part of the later wave of Shrapnel shredders, Darren Housholder missed out on the exposure of some of his counterparts that came out in the 80's, but his 3 records for Shrapnel in the 90's set the bar high for shred. We cover his entire career including his album with Love/Hate, his brief time working with Jeff Pilson's War & Peace, W.A.S.P, Enuff Z'nuff and a near-miss with David Lee Roth. W...

Marc Ford discusses his life and career. From his early days, to his first band (Burning Tree), how he got the gig in The Black Crowes, and why he eventually left the band, his struggles with substance abuse, the Black Crowes reunion, his time playing with Ben Harper, his solo albums and the new cd he is prepping to record.

Billy Sheehan ( The Winery Dogs, Mr. Big, David Lee Roth Band, Talas ) discusses his life and career. From his early days in Buffalo and Talas to the near reunion with David Lee Roth Band, the recent fundraiser for Tony MacAlpine, and the new Winery Dogs cd - Hot Streak.

Jon Levin (Dokken, Doro (Warlock)) discusses his life and career. From his early days and bands, to his first big break with Doro (Warlock) with the Force Majeure album and tour. We also discuss why he turned his back on music in the 90's and became a lawyer, and how (over a couple of years) he landed the lead guitarist gig in Dokken. We discuss his 3 Dokken studio albums in depth (Hell To Pay (20...

In Part 2 of a 2 part interview, Stevie Rachelle (TUFF, Metal Sludge) discusses TUFF and the effects of Grunge in the 90's, the rise of Metal Sludge, and his current projects.

In Part 1 of a 2 part interview, Stevie Rachelle (TUFF, Metal Sludge) discusses his life and career. From a punk-rock loving skater kid, to the frontman of a glam-rock 80's band, Stevie Rachelle walks us through his experiences in the 80's rock scene.

Anthony Esposito discusses his career, from his early start in music, to his time in Lynch Mob and Ace Frehley's band. He also discusses his new gig in Red Dragon Cartel, and gives us an update on the recording of the new album (a return to Jake E Lee's Badlands style).

Howard Benson discusses how he turned a Materials Engineering degree into a career as a record producer. Starting in the tail end of the hair metal era where he worked with bands such as Bang Tango, Tuff, SouthGang, and Pretty Boy Floyd, he moved on to heavier bands such as Motörhead and Sepultura in the 90's, and then hit big in the 2000's with P.O.D., Daughtry, and Kelly Clarkson.

Dave Wittman discusses his career as a Recording Engineer. From meeting  Jimi Hendrix as a teenager, and his first job with Eddie Kramer, to working in the studio with KISS (and the Van Halen demos with Gene Simmons), Peter Frampton, Foreigner, Billy Idol and much, much more. He also discusses the change in the music industry with Grunge, and his work with Trans-Siberian Orchestra both in studio a...

Chris Moore (George Lynch, Graig Goldy, Cry Wolf, 208 Talks of Angels) discusses his life and career. From His early days and bands, to quitting the music business in his 20's, only to have the spark return in his 40's and return to music full time. We learn about his involvement with Cry Wolf and  208 Talks of Angels, his new drumming book/DVD and the formation of his two new bands - one with Geo...

Phil Varone discusses his life and career, from his early days and the history or Saigon Kick, the side effects of their hit "Love Is On The Way", his issues with Saigon Kick's management, and their breakup. Plus he discusses his 90's band with Rachel Bolan, Prunella Scales, and his time in Skid Row. We also cover his other endeavors such as stand-up comedy, writing and the adult film business (an...

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...

Barry Sparks discusses his life and career. From early bands to such major acts such as Michael Schenker Group (MSG), Yngwie Malmsteen Ted Nugent and B'z. He also discusses his solo albums Glimmer of Hope, Can't Look Back and his new project Riot On Mars. He also covers his prolific session career and touches upon his brush with Ritchie Blackmore.

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.

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.

In the second half of the interview with Chris McLernon, he discusses his time in Saigon Kick, including the recent reunion and why he walked away. He also covers his history with Eddie Van Halen, and their bonding over bowling, and finishes with what he's up to now.

Chris McLernon (Saigon Kick, Cold Sweat, Cold Gin) discusses his life and career. From his early days/bands to the formation of Cold Sweat (originally called Ferrari) with Marc Ferrari and Oni Logan - and having Oni leave the band to join Lynch Mob, finding a replacement singer in Roy Cathey, the unexpected success of his KISS tribute band Cold Gin (with future Kiss guitarist Tommy Thayer), and ho...

Gabe Rosales walks us through his career, from his early days, to joining the infamous "Smoke This" era of Lynch Mob (the recording process and the backlash), working for pop stars such as Jennifer Lopez (and playing Saturday Night Live) his troubles and recovery with addiction, his solo record (Vital Nonsense), activism and working with George Lynch again on the ShadowTrain movie and soundtrack.

Bernard Fowler discusses his life and career. From singing on the street corner at 16 to his 27 years working with Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones (as well as solo albums by Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts). He discusses his early projects with The Peech Boys and Herbie Hancock, to Nickelbag (who changed their name to The IMFs because of Nickelback) with Stevie Salas, and his new solo record The...

Dave Jerden discusses his life and career. From his early days to working with Frank Zappa, Herbie Hancock, Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones. He also discusses the creation of the Alice In Chains sound, his work with Anthrax, and the lost album by Violets Demise with Rowan Robertson and Oni Logan. He shares why he stopped making records for many years, and what brought him back.   www.thedoubles...

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 Expe...

P.J. Farley discusses his early days, and the formation of Trixter. He covers their early success (when he was still a teenager), their decline with grunge, his other bands with Steve Brown, his work with Lita Ford, the Trixter reunion and their new album Human Era.