The Players
News and happenings from the world of your favourite guitarists
Black Stone Cherry’s Chris Robertson has been a longtime PRS user, and now he’s got himself a signature model with the Maryland firm. But the SE model won’t be available for long. The Singlecut model is loaded with a US PRS 57/08 humbucker in the bridge and an SE Soapbar in the neck for added versatility and it comes in a suitable finish: Black Stone Cherry Burst. The limited-edition European exclusive (£995) will be available until the end of the year. For more information, take a look hereabouts: www.prsguitars.com.
Jimmy Page is planning to tour in 2017, and has acknowledged he’s been a bit behind schedule with new material. “It took a lot of time,” Page explained to Planet Rock of his work on the recent Led Zeppelin BBC Sessions release. “And I must say that I hoped by this time that I would be sort of playing with other musicians. I’ve said that to you before, but I still hope to do that. Clearly, now it’s not going to materialise until next year. That’s not that far away now!” We wait and hope.
A documentary on the late great Danny Gatton is being planned, but the non-profit organisation behind it is looking for crowdfunding help to make the film a reality. The Humbler takes its title from Gatton’s incredibly apt nickname and producer Video Culture has set up a fundraising page at Indiegogo.com to raise the $36,000 for final shooting and editing costs. The project has the support of both Gatton’s widow and daughter. At the time of going to press, the campaign was fast approaching the halfway mark towards its target.
The first major retrospective exhibition of Pink Floyd will be hosted at London’s Victoria And Albert Museum next year. The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains will be an “immersive, multi-sensory and theatrical” journey through the wonderful world of Floyd and will run from 13 May to 1 October. Tickets are available for purchase now at www.vam.ac.uk/pinkfloyd. May next year will also bring Eric Clapton to the capital – he’ll play three nights at the Royal Albert Hall between 22 and 25 May. AC/DC bassist Cliff Williams has announced he’s stepping down from the band, playing his last show with them on 20 September at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Williams had played with the band since 1977, making his first album appearance on the following year’s Powerage album. Angus Young is now the only remaining member who appeared on that album. Lynyrd Skynyrd co-founder Gary Rossington will release an album outside the band on 4 November with the debut from his Rossington side project, playing with wife Dale who has been a backing vocalist with Lynyrd Skynyrd for years. Take It On Faith took several years to complete and features drums from former Little Feat member Richie Hayward, who passed away in 2010.