The Players
News and happenings from the world of your favourite guitarists
Orange isn’t the only rock ’n’ roll icon celebrating 50 years in the business – Led Zeppelin have also become true golden gods. And Jimmy Page is never one to turn down the chance to work on a special reissue for fans. And, this time it’s the band’s How The
West Was Won live collection, coming on 23 March (review p54).
Paul Simon has announced his farewell tour before his retirement from live performance. “I love making music,” Simon said in a statement posted on his website. “My voice is still strong, and my band is a tight, extraordinary group of gifted musicians. I think about music constantly. Sadly, we lost our lead guitarist and my friend of 30 years, Vincent N’guini, who died last December. His loss is not the only reason I’ve decided to stop touring, but it is a contributing factor.” He confirmed his intention to still play one-off charity shows, but for the UK and Ireland, his last tour dates will be in Manchester, Dublin, Glasgow and London between 10 and 15 July.
In this month’s ‘who knew?!’ file is production legend Quincy Jones’s claim that Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen can play just like Hendrix. “Yeah, man. I went on a trip on his yacht,” he revealed in an interview to Vulture. “He had David Crosby, Joe Walsh, Sean Lennon. Then on the last two days, Stevie Wonder came on with his band and made Paul come up and play with him — he’s good, man.” One thing we know for sure, Allen owns Jimi’s 1968 Woodstock Strat so maybe it’s rubbed off on him.
Glenn Tipton has announced that he’s stepping down from touring with Judas Priest due to Parkinson’s disease. In a statement, the guitarist revealed he was diagnosed with the early stages of the disease 10 years ago, but has now requested that famed metal producer and Hell guitarist Andy Sneap step in for him live on the band’s forthcoming
Firepower tour. “I want everyone to know that it’s vital the Judas Priest tour goes ahead and that I am not leaving the band,” says Glenn. “It’s simply that my role has changed. I don’t rule out the chance to go on stage – as and when I feel able – to blast out some Priest!”
John Petrucci has revealed the experience of revisiting Dream Theater’s classic Images
and Words album for a 25th anniversary tour last year will feed into the band’s next album. “Not to say that this next album is going to be a throwback to 1992,” John told MusicRadar, “but it definitely was influential and helpful to be playing that music, so when we go in and move forward with our writing, we’re going to have that in mind.”