Envision Radio Networks’ Chop Shop Guitar Show has announced The Chop Shop’s Top 100 Most Complete Guitar Players of All Time. Yes, yet another top list. You have every right to be sceptical, but this one at least makes an attempt of being quasi-objective.

Each guitarist was ranked by a five member panel of “industry insider” experts in the following categories: technical ability, soul and emotion, influence on the music and guitar industries, song writing, live experience, sales, signature sound and longevity. There are 3 video clips on Chop Shop’s website trying to explain the rating process.

Blackmore scored 72.61 points, which gave him a quite respectable place in top 20. Joe Satriani is at #24 with 69.71. Tommy Bolin and Steve Morse didn’t make to top 100. Other distant relatives of the family spotted on the list are Steve Vai (#7), Tony Iommi (#12), Yngwie Malmsteen (#55), Gary Moore (#62), Warren Haynes (#77-78), John Sykes (#89) and Vivian Campbell (#90).

Here’s the top 20 (you can see top 100 here)

1. Jimmy Page 87.94
2. Jimi Hendrix 84.92
3. Eddie Van Halen 84.81
4. David Gilmour 82.72
5. Keith Richards 82.48
6. Pete Townshend 80.66
7. Steve Vai 79.74
8. Les Paul 78.61
9. Angus Young 78.56
10. Jeff Beck 77.77
11. Stevie Ray Vaughan 75.86
12. Tony Iommi 74.67
13. Eric Clapton 74.62
14. James Hetfield 73.62
15. Ritchie Blackmore 72.61
16. Slash 71.60
17. Frank Zappa 71.57
18. George Harrison 71.49
19. Randy Rhoads 70.89
20. Ted Nugent 70.83

Thanks to Brave World for the info.

Local media in Norway reports that Whitesnake is announced to play the Rock Fæst in Halden on May 22. What’s more interesting, they will be supported by Glenn Hughes and the Come Taste The Band tribute band.

A couple of weeks ago Glenn offered this caustic comment in his Twitter blog on the possibility of supporting his former bandmates:

Dear me…a promoter in Sweden wanted me on the same bill as Purple, but they said no…like I have said B4 move over Rover, G’s takin over

Glenn performing Sail Away with Come Taste The Band at the Skaanevik Bluesfestival on July 3, 2008:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqXj9Csef-4

Thanks to Daniel Bengtsson for the info.

Touched by Magic: The Tommy Bolin Story is the new book written and published by Greg Prato.

To many, Tommy Bolin was the legitimate heir to Jimi Hendrix’s rock guitar throne. Stints with the James Gang and Deep Purple –- as well as solo albums and a groundbreaking release with jazz-rocker Billy Cobham –- certainly proved that the adulation was rightly deserved. And with a techno-color fashion sense, he certainly stood out from the pack. Only one problem, Tommy had a death-defying drug addiction, which ultimately would lead to a premature and tragic end – before he was able to truly take his standing among the elite musicians of the world. ‘Touched by Magic: The Tommy Bolin Story’ is the first book to focus entirely on the life story of Tommy Bolin – compiled from nearly 50 exclusive interviews (including family, friends, and band members that played alongside Tommy throughout the years).

“After reading ‘Touched by Magic,’ it seemed to me every interview ‘takes you there’ for the moment…I give 105 stars to Greg!” -Johnnie Bolin, Tommy’s brother

The book is available through lulu.com, where you can sample a chapter (conveniently for our readers, the chapter is about Tommy joining Purple and recording Come Taste The Band and Teaser). If the sample is any indication, the book does not have written narration, but is purely a compilation of quotes from the interviews arranged to form a more or less cohesive story line. It’s a rather unusual technique for a book, but it seems to work once you have sufficient background into what’s happening (which majority of Purple fans should already have). But I wouldn’t recommend it as an introductory Bolin’s biography.

Greg Prato will be a guest on the Stormin’ Norman show on Kansas City radio KKFI 90.1 FM on Monday, December 22. They will be discussing the book. Immediately following Greg, there will be special call in guest John Bartle, who shared friendship with Bolin. John will be discussing his memories of Tommy, the new book, and a whole lot more. The show starts at 7 am central time.

Thanks to Blabbermouth and Trace for the info.

Music Week reports that EMI is seriously considering closing down it’s Olympic Studios in London and to that effect entered into a “consultation process” with the staff of 11. It is understood that the studio is not profitable. This means that EMI could be left with only one operational studio — Abbey Road.

Olympic Studios have been at it’s present location in London suburb of Barnes since 1966 and have seen a lot of outstanding recording artists — Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Procol Harum, Ten Years After, Roger Waters, Queen, Roxy Music, Robert Plant, Van Morrison, Paul McCartney, INXS, Bjork, Oasis. The list goes on and on…

As far as the Purple family goes, the original album version of Jesus Christ Superstar was recorded there. Olympic also gets a credit on Fireball (along with De Lane Lea).

Thanks to Brave Worlds for the info.

We have an unconfirmed report that Planet Rock radio aired an interview with Ian Paice on Saturday night, December 13, and it is supposed to be repeated again on Tuesday, December 16 at 6 pm (British time presumably). Planet Rock’s schedule lists My Planet Rocks show airing on Tuesdays at 6 pm, so you might want to stay tuned in there. This week’s show description is rather generic: “Your favourite Rock Gods head to the Planet Rock Studio to talk to Mark Jeeves and choose their favourite tracks”.

Thanks to Francesco for the heads up.

Summer memories: Sweden 2008

Me and my daughter (18 yrs) took a couple of rock trips this year. First chapter starts in Öja, Sweden where Deep Purple performed in August. When we went there (camping a few kilometers away from the venue). I had almost forgotten all about it since we bought our tickets as early as February or March.

I had no expectations but I completely lost touch with the ground for two hours when Deep Purple played. And as I was standing there, quite close to the stage, I realized it wasn’t Richie Blackmore on the guitar. It was this amazing guitarist (Steve Morse of course) who had this fantastic smile and he played so well you could hardly believe it.

The review of the Swedish paper the day after had the audacity of saying that the Swedish opening band Europe stole the show. How can they say a thing like that? There must be something seriously wrong with their ears! Europe song lyrics consist mostly of something like “Whoaw, whoaw” though Joey Tempest has a good voice and Norum is a pretty good guitarist.

As we didn’t get enough of the band and Steve’s guitar that night, we decided to go to Frankfurt to see them in November. They were my rock n’ roll heroes back in the seventies – and for dead sure – they still are.

(If you want to read more checkout www.hotasshell.com)

Photos from this show and Copenhagen 2008.

The Frankfurt concert was the only one that would fit into a rather busy schedule and so we were heading there by air from Copenhagen. I listened to The Aviator 10 times during the short flight. It’s one of the most beautiful songs I ever heard.

At the venue we were standing close to one of the huge speakers and the people in front of us gave up and stepped back because of the loudness and we ended up at the first row. I loved it, I want the heavy guitar riffs to make me vibrate inside, to dive completely into the music (no ear plugs).

When Purple finally came out on stage you just had to take a Deep breath. They we’re even better than I remember from Sweden. They started with Pictures of Home. I have to admit I couldn’t take my eyes of Steve Morse, it’s just this smile and the sound of his guitar – it bewitches me. I just love the way he’s bending the strings… It fits perfectly with the Deep Purple sound and with Gillan’s superb voice.

They’re all better than ever! I thought Steve looked right at me (you can never be sure can you?). We were wild with joy when they played Sometimes I feel like Screaming and nearly all of our favorite songs. The heavy riffs like Into the fire and Perfect strangers made me lift my arms touching the ceiling and circle around up there on top the world. What is it with rock music (I love it more than I can say) that makes you feel like that? I wonder if it feels the same for the bringer of such music as it does for the receiver?

They also seem to have much more contact with the crowd than other bands. And I just don’t understand how anyone can stand still, I just want to fly sky-high and I probably do… What also is very nice to see is the affection they seem to have between themselves. I loved to hear Ian Gillan say with such affection in his voice – ladies and gentlemen Steve Morse! How can I express my feelings? They were just so fantastic, their music is so massive so complete and it touches Deeply.

I wasn’t prepared for the hard landing after they left the stage, feeling so empty at the same time as being so happy. When will I be able to see them again? Now I know, thanks to The Highway Star, I’ve reserved tickets for Gothenburg and Copenhagen in July 2009.

Back in 1996 Tony Ashton recorded a song in tribute to John Lennon. The song is called The Big Freedom Dance and is named after Hamburg’s Grosse Freiheit Strasse, which housed the famous Star Club, showcase for many of Britain’s young musicians in the 60s. This was where the Beatles first made their mark, and where the young Tony Ashton, playing keyboards in another Brian Epstein band, The Remo Four, did his musician’s ‘apprenticeship’, as he put it.

Some years after John Lennon’s shocking death, Tony recorded this personal tribute to John — a song made even more poignant by the death since of his old friend George Harrison, and by Tony’s own death in 2001.

The song is being released by Tony’s widow Sandra and should be available worldwide on iTunes from this week.

Thanks to Drew Thompson for the info.

Although there has been no word yet from Thames Talent, it looks like the summer Deep Purple tour is shaping up. New tour dates are being announced by the local media and are trickling in almost on a daily basis. For some of these, tickets are already on sale or going on sale shortly.

So far we have a string of Scandinavian dates in July and one show in June, an open air in Bavaria, Germany. As the past experience suggests, time between them will hardly go to waste. Details will be posted as soon as we receive them.

If you have any further information — additions, correction, new dates, venues, ticket info — do not hesitate to let us know. And we will make sure the rest of the world knows too. 😉

Here’s a video clip from the finals of Slovakia Got Talent TV show. The performer is a 12 year old Rony Janeček, who has been playing guitar for 2 years. Between this kid, Los Gauchos, and the Japanese girls that rule, perhaps after all there is hope for the new generation.
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