The Players
News and happenings from the world of your favourite guitarists
Jerry Donahue’s friends and family will present a benefit and tribute show on Tuesday 18 April at Bogies in Westlake Village, California. The guitarist – known for work with Fairport Convention, Fotheringay and the Hellecasters – suffered a massive stroke at the end of July last year. Among players set to perform are Albert Lee, Laurence Juber, and Carl Verheyen. All money raised will go towards Donahue’s care.
Johnny Marr is hoping to work with film composer Hans Zimmer again after their successful collaborations on the soundtracks to Inception and The Amazing Spider-Man. But this time he wants Zimmer on his own solo album. “I’ve got a couple of songs I want to try and get him on,” said Marr, “but the songs are coming pretty thick and fast at the moment, so if he doesn’t pull his finger out and get into the studio then he’s going to miss his slot.”
Guitarist was saddened to hear of the passing of Y&T guitarist Joey Alves, aged 63, following a battle with ulcerative colitis and other health complications. Frontman Dave Meniketti is now the only surviving member of the line-up that recorded the group’s 1976 debut, Yesterday And Today, following the loss of bassist Phil Kennemore in 2011 and drummer Leonard Haze last year.
Dr No Effects has collaborated with Queens Of The Stone Age guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen on the rather interesting-looking TVL Octavia pedal (below, €258). The pedal’s on/off light is an anatomically correct miniature heart on a plate of real leaf gold, under a glass dome. It also features two chrome shaped skulls just to help it stand out on your ’board that bit more…
Europe guitarist John Norum’s first ever solo DVD is available at his website www.johnnorum.se. Let It Shine: A Look Inside John Norum’s Crazy Guitar World finds the Schenker and Black more influence guitarist dissecting some of his best solos and also reflecting on his love of gear.
Kurt Cobain’s Hagstrom Blue Sparkle Deluxe (pictured above) has sold in an eBay auction after initially failing to reach its reserve. It was owned by the late Nirvana frontman from ’92 until his death in 94, and modified for left-hand use by tech Earnie Bailey. The guitar reached $58,600 on 26 February before being relisted the next day with a Buy It Now price of $85,000. It was then sold after an undisclosed ‘best offer’ was the made. A portion of the proceeds will go to Transition Projects.