Artist Update



Dimebag Darrell (Dimebucker) happened by our booth at NAMM as George Lynch (Screamin’ Demon humbucker) was signing autographs. Talk about a photo opportunity! So…naturally, we took one. That's Evan Skopp, VP of Marketing and Sales, on the left and Kellie Stoelting, Artist Relations Manager, squeezed in the middle.

Welcome these new endorsed artists: Marilyn Manson guitarist John 5 (Custom Shop Pearly Gates Stack for Tele); sideman and Goo Goo Dolls guitarist Greg Suran (JB Junior and Classic Stack‚ for Strat); monthly instructional columnist for Axe Magazine and instructor at Int’l Music Institute in Rome, Alessandro Benvenuti (Vintage Rails, Little ’59 for Tele‚ and JB Model) recently released his solo CD; Nite Driscoll (Seth Lover Model and Jazz Model Humbuckers, Little Screamin’ Demon and JB Junior for Strat), president and guitar instructor at the Atlanta Institute of Music; Chris Johnson and Rob Kucharek (Quarter Pound for P-Bass) of Autopilot Off; Native Vibe’s Bill MacPherson; Alex Auburn and Eric Langlois of Cryptopsy; Dragwater’s Bill Doty (Duncan Distortion and ’59 Model for 7-String) and Joel James
(Pro-Active for P-J Bass and 3-Band Tone Circuit); Chris Schiflett (JB Model) with the Foo Fighters; King Diamond’s Mike Wead (Classic Stack for Strat and Custom Custom Humbucker); Matt Clark with Freakhouse; instructor on Learn to Burn videos Curt Mitchell ( JB Model Humbucker and Duckbucker); soloist Carl Tosten (Mag Mic Acoustic Pickup); Enrico Longhin (JB Model Humbucker and Hot Rails for Strat) of TANIST; The Fallen’s Mark Venier (Duncan Custom and Alnico II Pro Humbucker) and Bryan Klinger; Transyberian Orchestra’s David Z (Quarter Pound for P-Bass); writer, producer, sessions player, sideman and winner of John Lennon Songwriting Contest Brad Chiet (Antiquity for Strat‚ Texas Hot and Vintage Staggered for Strat); sideman for Lionel Richie, Peter Frampton and Kelly Clarkston Ben Mauro (Hot Rails and Alnico Pro II for Strat); and Karl Sanders (Invader, Pearly Gates, Full Shred and Duncan Distortion Humbuckers) of Nile.

New Releases: Rock guitarist Adrian Galysh’s (Hot Rails, Cool Rails and Alnico II Pro for Strat, JB Model Humbucker) latest CD, King Friday, features high-energy playing over a solid rock rhythm section with hints of jazz and world music. The recording features a number of seasoned musicians, including a rhythm section consisting of drummer Charlie Waymire and bassist Philip Bynoe (Steve Vai, Kevin Eubanks). Special guests include Mike Keneally (Steve Vai, Frank Zappa), who lent his talents on keyboard and guitarist Carl Verheyen (Supertramp, solo artist). In addition, organist Jerry Corbetta (Sugarloaf) backs up Galysh on the Corbetta-penned classic “Green Eyed Lady.” Also of note are the several acoustic tracks, including the Schenker-like “The Walls Inside.” The eleven instrumentals together make a superb follow up to Galysh’s previous work, “Venusian Sunrise.” Visit www.adriangalysh.com for more information.

Blues guitar virtuoso John “Ratso” Gerardi (JB Model and Alnico II Pro Humbucker, Alnico II Pro for Strat) has earned a living as a musician, performer, teacher and producer for more than 35 years as a veteran of New York clubs such as CBGB, The Bitter End, Manny’s Car Wash, Lone Star Café, Downtime and The China Club and Connecticut’s legendary Toad’s Place. In addition to his own writing and performing, Ratso has been living out his life long dream of having his own studio and record label. Riff Rat Records LLC, based in Stamford, Conn., has released three CDs in the past year and a half by promising young artists. Riff Rat has also released Ratso’s last two CDs, Whatever It Takes and Silent Witness. He is completing work on his third original recording, Too Much Fun, backed up by The Lenox Sound Machine — Richie Crooks on drums, Hugh Mason and Scott Spray on bass, Fonda Feingold and Roy Rodrigues on keyboards and David Spinozza and Ratso on guitars. Too Much Fun will also feature tracks by Scott Henderson (JB and Jazz Model Humbuckers, Vintage Staggered for Strat®), who was one of the prominent guitarists to participate in Lenox Sound’s Master Class series. Visit http://www.riffratrecords.com for more info on Ratso.

The long awaited CD from Bobby Messano (Pickup Booster Pedal, Hot Stack for Strat, Vintage Stacks for Tele) Holdin’ Ground on Fishhead Records. The CD is the re-release of Bobby’s critically acclaimed 1998 release Dominion Roads. For more info: http://www.bobbymessano.com/

Kiss and Grand Funk Railroad veteran Bruce Kulick (Custom Staggered and Hot Rails for Strat, JB Model Humbucker) released Transformer, a solo CD, earlier this year. Check it out at http://www.kulick.net.

Appearances: Legend John Fogherty visited the factory with Andy Brauer (Andy Brauer Studio Rentals). John toured the factory and dropped off his latest acquisition for a little Seymourization. In one of many friendly moments, I snapped this pic of John with sales manager (and Fogherty-fan) Billy Gill.
Jim West (Mag Mic Acoustic Pickup) and the rest of Weird Al’s band recently made an appearance of sorts on The Simpsons TV show. See Jim’s new promo shot below. BTW, the band’s newest release Poodle Hat is now available. Go to http://www.weirdal.com for more information.

Goings on: Sideman Gabrial McNair (Hot Rails for Strat and Hot for Jaguar) and Scapegoat Wax’s Kerry James (Quarter Pound for J-Bass, Pickup Booster Pedal) formed Oslo and are currently working in the studio on their upcoming Bedtime EP. For the latest info, check out http://www.osloband.com.
Dokken guitarist Alex DeRosso (Custom Five Humbucker) reports that their tour with Scorpions was a success. For pictures from the road go to http://www.alexderosso.com/alex4press/index.htm. Congratulations to composer Brian Tarquin (Alnico II Pro for Strat and Custom Custom Humbucker) and All My Children who won an Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction And Composition For a Drama Series.
Artists: send your press releases to kellies@seymourduncan.com.