Guitar Speak Podcast

We revisit our conversation with Europe's John Norum. For many of us, John introduced himself through the epic solo on Europe's world wide smash The Final Countdown. That solo - equal parts blazing arpeggios and blues chops - characterised John's style which has graced most of Europe's 25 million album sales. John spoke to us on the eve of Europe's 2018 Australian tour and discussed his early infl...

We revisit our conversation with Tal Wilkenfeld. Tal boasts a remarkable resume having shared the stage or studio with Jeff Beck, Herbie Hancock, Eric Clapton, Prince and The Allman Brothers, just to name a few of the revered artists who have called on the Sydney born bassist. Tal speaks about her new album - the fantastic "Love Remains" - which finds her fronting material that synthesizes rock, c...

  Jude is a longtime friend of the show and it's great to have him back! Jude plays a ton of guitar in this episode starting out with his incredible "full contact" version of Blue (yes, the Eiffel 65 dancefloor banger) on a massive sounding baritone. We also get an EXCLUSIVE sneak peak of the studio version. Moving to a Music Man Cutlass, Jude gives us insights into the recording of Jefferson Star...

  We revisit our interviews with two of the biggest names in rock & metal - Zakk Wylde and John 5 \m/  \m/ !   This episode is brought to you by Fretboard Biology - the online guitar college created by Joe Elliott, ex Head of Guitar at GIT and McNally Smith Music College. Fretboard Biology Guitar Speak Podcast #146 - Joe Elliott - ex guitar head of GIT - launches Fretboard Biology   Guitar Speak P...

Gil Parris - master of jazz, blues, fusion and more - returns to the podcast to unveil his new Reverend Guitars Signature GPS model. We get the behind the scenes info on the making of a signature model, the ongoing relationship with Reverend, Gil's upcoming website and teaching resources (he is an amazing teacher) and more. We hear some excerpts of Gil playing live - albeit with Skype audio - and...

Albert Lee's explosive rock-infused country picking has won him a legion of fans since the early '60s. Lee's remarkable career has seen him working as a sideman to Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris, The Crickets and The Everly Brothers whilst stepping out as a frontman since the late '70s. Lee is a Grammy Award winner and member of Guitar Player magazine's 'Gallery of the Greats'.  This episode was fir...

Josh Smith of JHS writes a musical about pedals? Of course he does...and its rad! Matt is joined by Rob Rhodes and Gabor Josika - both brilliant guitarists and super gear nerds - as they provide a commentary to the musical and talk stompboxes.   This episode is brought to you by Fretboard Biology - the online guitar college created by Joe Elliott, ex Head of Guitar at GIT and McNally Smith Music C...

  Today we speak to Joe Elliott, a fantastic guitarist with over 30 years of professional playing in LA. Joe talks us through his career, explaining how a dream of attending GIT. led to a long career in LA as a freelance guitarist and music educator. Joe was the longstanding Head of Guitar at GIT and now heads up the Fretboard Biology online guitar program. Joe's latest jazz/fusion album - Truth S...

We revisit our 2018 conversation with Dweezil Zappa. This was a great interview! Dweezil joined us to speak guitar in the lead up to his Feb 2018 tour of Australia and New Zealand. The tour - "Dweezil Zappa - celebrating 50 years of Frank Zappa" - continued the honouring of Frank's musical legacy that commenced when Dweezil started playing shows of his father's music in 2006. Dweezil talks us thro...

      Michael Schenker is one of the most influential rock guitarists on the planet with players such as John Petrucci, Kirk Hammett and Randy Rhoades citing the German born guitarist as an inspiration. Schenker rose to fame through his fiery playing in The Scorpions and UFO in the '70s and '80s. And whilst a host of offers from artists such as Aerosmith and Ozzy Ozbourne were extended, Schenker h...

Martin Cilia joins us to talk about a career that has seen him play with legendary Australian surf band The Atlantics, the chart topping Mental As Anything, release a number of albums under his own name and a host of other projects. Martin also gives us a detailed look into his incredible vintage guitar collection - including a 1954 Fender Stratocaster.  A zany meeting with Dick Dale is recalled a...

Mike Campbell is responsible for crafting some of the most memorable guitar parts in popular music. The long time Heartbreaker joins us to talk about a remarkable career working as 'co-captain' with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, filling in for Lindsay Buckingham in Fleetwood Mac and stepping out front and centre in his long term project, The Dirty Knobs. This episode is brought to you by Fretbo...

  We revisit our conversation with the phenomenal Brett Garsed. Brett's unique and dynamic legato style has seen him earn tremendous respect in both his homeland of Australia and around the globe. Brett describes the development of his guitar voice in rural Victoria, being discovered in Mike Varney's 'Spotlight' column in Guitar Player Magazine and the break that led Brett to work with one of Aust...

The Fender Telecaster celebrates its 70th birthday this year. In 1950 Fender's Broadcaster - quickly renamed the Telecaster after a legal complaint from Gretsch - became the first commercially available solid body electric guitar after a tense arms race with Les Paul and other competitors. Music and popular culture was forever changed. Today we are joined by three diverse Tele wranglers to discuss...

  Kat Ayala joins us to talk about her diverse and flourishing career. Kat tells us about melding big rock tones and intricate ambience in Forces & Fury - her rad project with Astrid Holtz - gigs with Vanessa Amorosi, Hayley Mary, Royale with Cheese and many more touring acts. Kat has great stories about landing high profile gigs, how Diesel introduced her to Yamaha, in turn leading to a Vox artis...

  Joe Elliott is a great friend of the show. Joe first joined us in 2017 to discuss his fantastic Truth Serum album. Since then, the former head of guitar at the world famous Guitar Institute in Hollywood has been developing a comprehensive online guitar course. Matt has been a beta tester, Greg Koch & Brett Garsed have given it the thumbs up and the course is now up and running.   Episode #145 Li...

  John Encarnacao's muse runs deep with a myriad of channels to direct his creative output. He happily steps from rock to free-improvisation and any number of points in between and beyond. In episode #144 John discusses the latest Warmer album, 'Wooden Box with Strings', his series of guitar solo albums, free impro trio W.E.S.T and much more. In addition to writing, recording and performing, John...

Today we revisit our December 2018 interview with the one and only Vernon Reid. Reid is not only one of the most unique guitarists to emerge in the rock world, he is also one of the most thoughtful and articulate. As the founder of the genre breaking and status qou defying band Living Colour, Reid has fearlessly blazed a trail like few others. Reid joins us to talk about why the band's debut album...

In our August 2018 interview, Dave Leslie (Baby Animals) shared a multitude of fantastic on and off-stage stories about touring with Van Halen. On the sad day of Eddie Van Halen's passing we replay these stories with much love. To check out the entire interview with Dave - head over to Guitar Speak Podcast episode #91.   Guitar Speak Podcast Links PayPal Tip Jar Visit us at  guitarspeakpodcast.com...

  Quick Picks is a spinoff from our usual interview-based format where Matt reviews new music, books, gear, gigs...anything guitar related. Today we take a look at three excellent new releases from Australian guitarists: Simon Kinny-Lewis Nate Stewart Fab Manzini   Guitar Speak Podcast Links PayPal Tip Jar Visit us at  guitarspeakpodcast.com Subscribe and find previous episodes at: Apple Podcasts...

Andrew 'Mozz' Macdonald joins us to talk about his ever expanding range of Mozztronics hand built pedals. Andrew's pedals are finding their way on many boards around Australia including those of Tim Rogers and Davey Lane (You Am I) and Guitar Speak alumni, Bob Spencer (The Angels, Skyhooks, Rose Tattoo). We talk about working closely with those artists, putting a unique spin on timeless circuits,...

Dr Zane Banks and Jy-Perry Banks are two of the most electrifying young guitarists in Australia. The siblings tell of a musically rich upbringing and subsequent careers in the industry. The brothers are equally adept in country, jazz, blues, rock and art music. Zane attained his PhD through the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, researching the use of electric guitar in contemporary art music. He pre...

  Adam Miller returns to talk through the adventure of relocating to California from Newcastle, Australia, writing and record his brilliant new album Unify, being part of the Two-Rock amp family, finding new gigs, inspired jams with Mason Stoops & Adam Levy, guitar talk and much more. Adam has his new Collings guitar in hand for a great guitar hang.   www.adammiller.com.au GSP #80 Adam Miller Apri...

          Michael Staertow joins us to talk about spending seven years on the road with Foreigner vocalist Lou Gramm, essential sideman tips, Les Pauls, paying it forward and even gives us a sneak peak of his much anticipated solo EP.   michaelstaertow.com     Simon Refalo Guitarist YouTube   Guitar Speak Podcast Links PayPal Tip Jar Visit us at  guitarspeakpodcast.com Subscribe and find previous...

  Today we look at Tonepedia's 'interactive experiencing platform' - an ingenious online site that allows users to check out and tweak a huge collection of pedals, guitars and amps in real time.  Tonepedia's CEO Elad Yaacov and marketing director Lee Alexander talk us through the philosophy of the company, the outworkings of the site and the relationships being forged with both major instrument co...