Jimmy Vivino talks and jams with Bob Margolin from the Muddy Waters Band.
AGN Pros: Jimmy Vivino & Bob Margolin are old friends and love to get together whenever they can, hit the road and play the Blues. Jimmy is the longtime MD for the Conan O'Brien Show and Bob played with Muddy Waters back in the 70's,...you can see Bob in action with Muddy in The Band's movie, The Last Waltz doing a great version of 'Mannish Boy'.
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AGN Pro Files
Richie Kotzen Interview
LOS ANGELES, CA: BMG is proud to announce the worldwide release of the debut album Smith/Kotzen by Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen on March 26th. The announcement comes on the back of the release of the video for the album’s first single, “Taking My Chances.”
Recorded on the Turks & Caicos Islands in February 2020, produced by Richie and Adrian and mixed by Kevin “Caveman” Shirley, this nine track opus is a consummate collaboration between these two highly respected musicians who co-wrote all the songs and also share lead vocals and trade off on guitar and bass duties throughout the record.
Exploding with powerful melodies & harmonies, the album embodies the spirited attitude of 70’s classic rock with a melting-pot of influences ranging from blues, hard rock, traditional R&B and more, blending the pair’s backgrounds and life experiences to result in a thoroughly contemporary sound. The full track-listing is:
Taking My Chances
Running
Scars
Some People
Glory Road
Solar Fire
You Don’t Know Me
I Wanna Stay
‘Til Tomorrow
The record features special guest performances by Adrian’s fellow Iron Maiden bandmate Nicko McBrain on drums for the track “Solar Fire,” and Richie’s longstanding friend and touring partner Tal Bergman on drums for “You Don’t Know Me,” “I Wanna Stay” and “‘Til Tomorrow,” with Richie picking up the sticks on the other five songs.
Adrian Smith comments, “Richie and I started working together a couple of years ago. We’d been jamming as we’d been friends for a few years before that. We both share a love for classic rock and bluesy rock so we decided to get together and start writing some songs and it went from there. Pretty much everything on the album is handled between Richie and myself including the production. We had developed a really strong idea of how we wanted it to sound and I’m very pleased with how it turned out. There’s a lot of cool songs on there that we are really happy with.”
Richie Kotzen adds “We had a very fluid process in writing. Sometimes Adrian would send me a riff and I would immediately hear some kind of melody or a vocal idea. And sometimes it was the other way round so it was a kind of circular motion. We’d get together whenever we could and throw some ideas around and it just evolved, which was great because there was no pressure and nothing other than just a natural course and I think the record really speaks for that.”
The album will be available in these formats:
Digipack CD
12” black vinyl with embossed sleeve
Digital (streaming and download)
Limited edition 12” red & black smoke effect colored vinyl
With “Taking My Chances” having been greeted with enormous excitement and acclaim by rock fans and media worldwide on its release in December – and now with the accompanying video [https://youtu.be/OOyeowWVwN8] shot in both LA & London – Smith/Kotzen fully cements the new partnership between these two extraordinary talents and sets the scene for this innovative and exciting collaboration to light up 2021 and the world of rock music beyond.
For more information and to buy the album, click the INFO button now.
AGN Pro Files
An Interview with Sammy Boller
Detroit, Michigan. Rock City. It’s a perennial hotbed for the coolest new offerings in gritty, loud music. Falling in step with this notorious reputation, is guitarist and Candyrat recording artist, Sammy Boller.
A former music student at the University of Michigan, Sammy catapulted onto the national radar in 2012, when Joe Satriani selected him as a winner in Guitar Center’s “Master Satriani” competition. Now, an internationally-acclaimed player, Sammy has amassed a large and loyal online following, and he earns his living as a full-time musician. Prior to embarking on his solo career, Sammy played guitar for the band, Citizen Zero, and Their State Of Mind album notched up multiple radio singles, including “Go (Let Me Save You)”, which cracked the Top 15 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Chart.
Sammy also spends time on the road riding shotgun with world-renowned amplifier wizard Dave Friedman (Friedman Amplification) and The two regularly embark on runs through the States and Europe to sponsor clinics and gear demonstrations. Sammy is also a contributing columnist for Guitar World Magazine and His online column ("Secrets of Shred With Sammy Boller") has a loyal monthly following, regularly racking up view counts in the tens of thousands.
When asked to describe his influences and approach, Sammy says, "My guitar playing has always been about plugging into an amp and blowing the walls down. I grew up wanting to be Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads, but over time I've found my own dark and aggressive style. These days, my dream as a musician is to make people feel as connected to the cosmos as I feel when I play the guitar. I'd love nothing more than that."
AGN Pro Files
LessonsNewsVintageJazzCountryRockBluesAcousticRecording
Exclusive Interview with Jack Ryan Sullivan
Jack Ryan was born in Clemson, South Carolina and was the guitar and mandolin protege of Jimmy Rogers, who was known as the fastest guitar player in the southeast.
While Jack’s background is a mix between Jazz and Bluegrass, he is also well versed in Blues, Country, Rock and Roll, Metal, Classical, and Pop music and he's also an amazing five-string and plectrum banjo player
In 2013, Jack moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he became the house guitar player for many of Nashville’s world-famous honky tonks including Tootsie’s, Rippy’s, Honky Tonk Central, Second Fiddle, The Stage, The Valentine, and during this time, Jack became known as having the “Fastest Fingers on Broadway” .While in Nashville, Jack played on stage and toured with Steven Tyler, Kid Rock, Vince Gill, Montgomery Gentry, Dierks Bentley, The Swon Brothers, Hank Williams III, Rhonda Vincent, and Larry Gatlin of The Gatlin Brothers. Jack Ryan’s band was the featured band for Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan’s private CMA Party in 2016.
These days, through his amazing business, Jack Ryan Music Jack plays and teaches acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, violin/fiddle, viola, cello, upright bass, electric bass, five-string banjo, plectrum, banjo, tenor banjo, ukulele, dobro, lap steel guitar, accordion, piano, and drums.
Jack is also producing several new and upcoming national and local artists that he feels has a shot at making in the music industry.
Jack was able to keep the studio afloat with ALL of his teachers still employed during the worst part of the COVID19 Pandemic, and has managed to grow his studio, teachers, and student roster by 50% since June of 2020 and he prides himself in 'always finding a way' and giving back to the community as much as he can.
AGN Pro Files
Exclusive Interview with Kim Bjorn, author of "Pedal Crush"
Kim is an author, electronic musician, and designer, with a profound interest in creativity and the interactions between people and their creations. PEDAL CRUSH is his ninth book, following the now industry-standard PATCH & TWEAK from 2018 and PUSH TURN MOVE from 2017. He has released six ambient albums of his electronic music and occasionally performs live at venues and events. Based in Copenhagen, he now runs the boutique publishing company BJOOKS together with Lars, while traveling all over the world when possible, or creating the next title that will make your music-making even better.
PEDAL CRUSH have you covered with more than 800 effects pedals, 50 exclusive interviews from artists and makers, and a stunning 200 creative tips and tricks. All in full color, pristine photography, and 376 engaging pages of dense information.
800+ PEDALS
50 ARTISTS AND MAKERS
200+ TIPS AND TRICKS
376 pages in full color
Hardcover format (9.6" x 9.6" / 24.5 x 24.5 cm)
Printed on FSC certified paper
PEDAL CRUSH is a trip into the expansive, eclectic, and mesmerizing world of effects pedals. These addictive little boxes have long since transcended their modest beginnings, maturing into truly creative tools in their own right.
This book examines the stompbox phenomenon as a means of creative expression and personal sound shaping. Bursting with color photos and illustrations,
it systematically covers over 800 pedals – from vintage to cutting edge, from the essential to the exotic, from popular classics to boutique wizardry. PEDAL CRUSH
also dives deep into techniques, tips and tricks, pedalboards, software, and more. If you have a crush on pedals, this book will document your love affair like none other.
“Effects pedals are to the guitarist what paint is to the artist.”
– Steve Vai, from the Foreword
Discover secrets and tips from artists
Like in our two previous books, you’ll meet inspiring people ranging from known guitar masters to creative sound artists - all sharing their secrets and tips. Get inspiration from artists like Amulets, Andy Martin, Andy Othling, Anne Sulikowski, Datachoir, David Torn, Dub FX, Ed O’Brien (Radiohead), Gaz Williams, Hainbach, Jennifer Batten, Joe Barresi, Kid Koala, Lara Somogyi, Lisa Bella Donna, Lisa Molinaro, Matt Johnson (THE THE), Michael Britt (Lonestar), Nels Cline (Wilco), Nick Reinhart (Tera Melos), Ruban Nielson (Unknown Mortal Orchestra), Sarah Lipstate (Noveller), Scott Hansen (Tycho), Simon the Magpie, and Anders Trentemøller.
Get up close with pedal makers
You’ll also learn the stories behind your favorite pedals, as we’ve interviewed some of the pedal creators and brands who have shaped the scene: Alexander Pedals, Beetronics FX, BOSS, Chase Bliss Audio, Death By Audio, EarthQuaker Devices, Electro-Harmonix, Empress Effects, Fairfield Circuitry, Gamechanger Audio, Glou-Glou, Hologram Electronics, JHS Pedals, Keeley Electronics, Meris, montréal assembly, Mu-Tron, Rabbithole FX, Red Panda, Reuss Musical Instruments, Spiral Electric FX, Strymon, TC Electronic, TheGigRig, and ZVEX.
Get new ideas within minutes
You might know the feeling of not having “the right” pedal yet, or not having nailed “that sound” perfectly? By reading PEDAL CRUSH, you will gain clarity and expanded knowledge of effects pedals and their creative, musical possibilities. You’ll get new ideas within minutes to perfect your sound and explore new sonic territory - but beware: our readers say it’s hard to put the book down again.
200+ tips take you towards new sonic territory
We all know the feeling of not being inspired or in the creative zone. Well, no more. The 200 creative tips and techniques in Pedal Crush immediately takes your pedal game to higher ground and into new sonic adventures. The tips and tricks range from simple things like how to order your pedals, to creative ideas, such as alternative gain staging or how to create spacial glitches with gated reverb.
Save money by knowing more before you buy your next pedal
We’ve all tried to buy a pedal, and then the feeling of “Nah… not feeling it anyway.” Now you can finally avoid “buyers remorse” by really getting to know what’s out there, what your options are, and how different effects could work nicely together. Save money in the long run, by this relatively smaller investment in a beautiful book that you can share with your friends or bandmates.
Created by acclaimed authors and pedal experts
PEDAL CRUSH is written by Kim Bjørn and Scott Harper (Knobs) with help from a team of great editors, advisors, and journalists. Editing and additions: Mike Metlay. Assistant editor: Diana Smethurst. Additional texts and content contributions by Alex Maiolo, Dan Orkin, Peter Fernando, Stefan Fast, Andy Martin, Brian Wampler, Kristoffer Høeg, and others.
The perfect companion on your coffee table or in your studio
With 376 colorful pages in hardcover format and a foreword by Steve Vai, this book is a must-have for anyone having a crush on guitar pedals.
click the INFO button for more
