ARTISTS

Guthrie Govan

Guthrie was the guitarist for Prog Rock legends Asia, now a solo artist with Cornford Records and playing with the band GPS. When not touring or writing for Guitar Techniques magazine he teaches at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music. His recent Erotic Cakes album has received unprecedented critical acclaim: Steve Stevens - "Steve Stevens salutes you. For a whole new generation of geetar players.. Guthrie's got the ball and he's off and running with that sucker! Amen!"; Joe Satriani - "Totally freakin' awesome!!!? this CD put a grin on my face a mile wide."

Guthrie Govan's MySpace

Dave Kilminster

Guitar Virtuoso Dave Kilminster's radical techniques and mesmerizing sounds captivate fans and fellow musicians alike. Dave was named Guitarist Magazine's 1991 Guitarist of the Year.

That recognition propelled him on a super-charged career as a multi-faceted guitarist, vocalist, engineer, producer, writer and instructor. Credited by keyboard legend Keith Emerson for inspiring him to go on the road again, Dave is a familiar figure worldwide to fans of progressive rock. Dave continued to play, collaborate and tour with Emerson through the first half of 2006.

The past two years Dave was on the road with Roger Waters as lead guitarist and vocalist in the extraordinary global staging of Dark Side of the Moon. Fans know Dave from his work along side rock luminaries John Wetton, Carl Palmer, Ken Hensley, and John Young, among others. Dave was a founding member of Qango, the band that featured Wetton, Palmer and Young and which introduced him to Emerson. Before helping form the Keith Emerson Band, Kilminster joined Emerson in a highly regarded reunion of Emerson's The Nice. The reunion resulted in the live recording Vivacitas and launched the the Keith Emerson Band.

2008 sees Dave return to collaborate with John Wetton with the Wetton-Downes' iCon Project, which begins recording its third album in 4Q 2008 and touring in 2009.

Dave also has begun a unique collaboration with vocalist Murray Hockridge, whose soulful voice has been compared to Prince, Sting, and Stevie Wonder and spans three octaves. Their unique blend of vocals and guitars has been dubbed "Acoustic Soul" but is truly indescribable.

www.davekilminster.com

Richie Kotzen

Now a solo artist, Richie was guitarist with Poison and Mr Big. Touted as one of the best guitar players in the world, a voice on par with some of the greatest rock/soul singers and creative songwriting, Richie Kotzen has had an incredible journey in the world of music. In 2006 as a solo artist, Kotzen was the opening act for the legendary Rolling Stones A Bigger Bang Tour in Japan. It all started at the age of seven when Richie learned to play the electric guitar in his hometown of Reading, PA. He formed his first band at the age of twelve and played live gigs around PA, Delaware and New Jersey. when he turned eighteen he headed west to San Francisco and recorded his first album for Shrapnel Records. That year, Kotzen was featured on several magazine covers including Guitar World and was voted one of the top 3 best new guitarists of the year by it's readers. After recording three albums for Shrapnel Records, Kotzen moved to Los Angeles and just out of his teens he joined the multi platinum glam metal band Poison and started living the dream! He recorded the cd native tongue with the band and ventured on a world tour in support of the album. His song Stand, reached #4 on MTV's Most Wanted and was in the top 20 in Billboard Magazine. That record soon reached platinum status. After Poision, Kotzen continued recording albums on various labels including Geffen, Shrapnel and JVC until 1999 when he was invited by jazz legend Stanley Clarke to form the band Vertu. They recorded a self titled album for Sony and spent the summer in Europe playing the Montreux Jazz and other festivals. “it was an honor and a great experience to be in a band with clarke and the other members.” states richie. later that year kotzen joined the immensely popular rock band mr. big, who are known for their #1 hit song to be with you. in 1999, they played the osaka dome in japan with aerosmith for the coveted millennium count down.kotzen wrote 2 studio records with mr big and had his first #1 single in japan with a song called shine. richie continues to make killer solo records and tours around the world with superstar status in several countries, playing stadiums, festivals, and clubs. he has played with other well known musicians like gene simmons from kiss, and keanu reeves band dogstar where he has made cameo performances on stage, including television performances with the band on jay leno and regis and kelly. richie is always included in books, magazines, and websites as one of the top guitarist’s in the world! kotzen is one of the few artists to be honored by fender guitar with not one, but two signature model guitars of which the kotzen telecaster guitar has repeatedly been the #1 selling signature model guitar for fender japan. cornford amplification honored kotzen with his own signature series guitar amp rk100 which in 2005 was voted amp of the year in the uk. kotzen has amassed a 25 plus album discography and he is just getting warmed up… website: www.richiekotzen.com

www.richiekotzen.com

Justin Hawkins

Hot Leg is a brand new musical group featuring Justin 'Dave' Hawkins, former lead singer/lead guitarist/lead songwriter of The Darkness. Hot Leg are an entirely hairier beast, and they make really really brilliant rock music.

HOTLEG OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Pete Rinaldi

Pete Rinaldi is guitarist with Justin Hawkins' new band, Hotleg.

HOTLEG OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Jan Cyrka

In the 1980's Jan was guitarist-in-chief with cartoon biker band Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction, supporting Guns 'n' Roses on extensive tours of the US and Canada. Other musical collaborations include Aswad, Maxi Priest and Pete Shelley. In the 1990's Jan recorded three highly respected solo albums: Beyond the Common Ground, Spirit and Prickly Pear. Jan is now working with Toby Bricheno, as a performer, composer and producer.

Jan's website...

Aynsley Lister

Aynsley has never been an artist to reheat the music of yesteryear. Influenced from an early age by the 60’s RnB era, Lister takes these key elements and mixes them with a more current and melodic lyrical approach.

He is one of very few artists playing rocking blues with a modern edge -tangible, heartfelt, soul searching and full of fine songwriting; played with passion and vitality. His hard hitting rhythms and guitar work are reminiscent of a young Clapton.

Since signing to Ruf Records, Lister has recorded four solo studio albums, and two live albums – one solo acoustic and one along with a live DVD for Germanys ROCKPALAST TV show. He has sold over 75,000 records and now headlines many of the major festivals throughout Europe where he has played alongside blues legends such as Buddy Guy, John Mayall, and Robert Cray aswell as big name pop artists such as Bryan Adams and Fun Lovin’ Criminals. His recorded work has seen him working with Producers Jim Gaines (Santana, SRV) and Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers, Catatonia).

In more recent times 2006 saw Lister recording in Clarksdale, Mississippi and Memphis Tennessee where he worked again with Jim Gaines on the Ruf Records collaboration ‘Pilgrimage’. With Gaines producing Lister debut for the label in 1999, it was almost 7 years to the month that they had previously worked together. In September of that year his album ‘Everything I Need’ was released stateside in preparation for this years debut tour.

UPSIDE DOWN is Lister’s fourth studio album and his first to contain all originals. Every aspect and quality that his fans have now come to expect is there, from the raunchy guitar, the melodic voice to the infectious songs but to simply pronounce this release another worthwhile effort would be an injustice indeed: The result is his strongest, boldest and most compelling album to date that could quite easily crossover into the mainstream.

www.aynsleylister.co.uk

Neville Marten

Neville Marten was a guitar repairer for Gibson and Fender's UK operations during the 1970s and 1980s, working on a host of valuable and rare guitars, including Hendrix's "Woodstock" Stratocaster.

Neville Marten is perhaps best known for having edited two of Europe’s leading guitar magazines Guitarist and Guitar Techniques magazines (Future Publishing). He has written numerous columns on blues playing, as well as the best selling Giants of Blues (Sanctuary Publishing). In addition to his career as a journalist Neville is a highly rated guitarist whose regular gig is with Marty Wilde’s band, The Wilde Cats.

Adrian Clark

Adrian is a musician, transcriber and journalist of great talent, having collaberated with Jan Cyrka and writing regularly for the UK's top guitar publications. He is also a founder of BluesJamTracks.

Adrian says... "Adrian Clark" is the pseudonym of Adrian Clark. A high-achiever early in life, he was for a short time the youngest person in Lincoln. Having taken up guitar at age 13, he has since devoted his life to the study of cake and pizza, expressing this simple philosophy through the medium of music. More of this music will be available soon, but the primitive sounds are very difficult to capture."

Adrian Clark's Myspace page

Cobalt Stargazer

Founder and existing member of Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction. Cobalt continues to tour with the band, sporting his Cornford RK100 and matching 4x12 cab.

ZMATLR MYSPACE

Richard Fortus

Richard joined rock legends Guns 'n' Roses in late 2001 and toured with them in 2002, 2006 and 2007. Played rhythm guitar on the band's album "Chinese Democracy". Formally with The Psychadelic Furs. Richard is also a session guitarist.

Richard's website.

Jeff Green

Jeff has been a guitarist with the internationally renowned tribute band the Illegal Eagles since 1997.

JEFF'S MYSPACE

Phil Hilborne

Phil is the music editor of 'Guitar Techniques' and produces the CD which accompanies the magazine in his own studio "Widdle Music" where he has recorded guitar greats from Zakk Wylde to Paul Gilbert. Phil uses his stereo Cornford set up for all of his live work and either an MK50H or a Harlequin in his studio. He is a thoroughly lovely bloke, very hairy and has the hugest appetite for red wine in the world (and none of your rubbish either). He is also a monster player and is currently working on his second studio album which, going on the tracks we've heard, is beyond fabulous. Phil's live set up is two Mk50 heads into two 4 x 12 cabs with Vintage 30s. The amps are run in stereo with his delays split between them.

PHIL'S WEBSITE

Thomas Leeb

Austrian born Thomas Leeb plays a style he calls 'the bastard child of acoustic fingerstyle'. This style owes as much to percussive techniques as traditional fingerstyle guitar as his tunes are usually punctuated by slaps, pops and beats. Adding to the overall effect is his frequent use of ringing harmonics. The resulting blur of busy hands and fingers has to be seen to be believed.

His repertoire consists of self-penned numbers, traditional tunes and occasional covers of Guns 'n' Roses, Bjork and Bob Marley songs.

Leeb released his first album, the now out of print Reveller, as a precocious 17 year old. However, his unique style didn't come into full force until his 1999 album Riddle. He has since released four further albums and toured Asia, North and South America and Europe.

Along the way he has picked up a number of influential fans such as Eric Roche who was his guitar teacher, "for about five minutes and then I heard him play" and Guthrie Govan who thinks that "what Thomas does on an acoustic guitar probably shouldn't be legal.".

THOMAS'S WEBSITE

Rob Balducci

Favored Nations recording artist Rob Balducci has toured both sides of the Atlantic in support of his releases 'Balance' and 'Mantra'. Mantra, produced by the infamous Ben Fowler on Steve Vai's label, has met with much priase in such publications as Guitar World, Guitarist Magazine UK, Guitar and Bass and Young Guitar in Japan. Rob's well crafted songs define versatility and, the Cornford MK50 heads and 4x12 cabinets gives Rob the warmth and tone needed for studio and live situations. In addition, Rob takes part in various studio recording sessions as well as teaching privately in the NYC area.

www.robbalducci.com

Dave Hill

Dave is Slade's guitarist. 'Nuff said...

Greg Howe

In 1988 Shrapnel Records owner and infamous guitar connoisseur Mike Varney asked Howe to record an album for his label after hearing a demo that Greg had sent him with the hopes of being featured in Varney's Spotlight column for Guitar Player magazine. That album, simply entitled "Greg Howe", featured David Lee Roth bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Atma Anur. It instantly caught the attention of the whole guitar community and eventually led to numerous endorsement deals, print advertising and countrywide clinics. After recording two vocal albums with his brother (1990's "High Gear" and 1991's "Now Hear This"), the guitarist's second solo album (1993's "Introspection") set the tone for what would eventually become a series of eight fresh forays in to the mosaic of jazz, rock, fusion, funk, and blues. With each subsequent album - 1994's "Uncertain Terms", 1995's "Parallax", 1996's "Five", 1998's "Ascend", and 2000's "Hypercuity" Howe would make bolder and more satisfying strides into fusion music.

Along the way he would make himself available as a sideman for pop superstars, filling in for guitarist Jennifer Batten in 1996 on Michael Jackson's History tour through Europe and Asia, touring the U.S. and Europe in 2000 with Enrique Inglesias, making two separate tours of the states in 2001 and 2002 with NSYNC and doing a promotional tour in 2003 with Justin Timberlake.

Greg's busy schedule continues with various projects. Currently, he is in production for a series of online video lessons and is very active with guitar clinics, trade shows, and mini tours around the world.

Greg's website...

Shaun Baxter

Shaun is a principal instructor at the Guitar Institute in London and a regular contributor to "Guitar Techniques" magazine. His amazing playing can be heard on the "Jazz Metal" album.

2008 -Performed in Rostock, East Germany. Guest duet (classical guitar on the track Chablis) on The Wine List (Kevin Harding). Wrote for Guitar World Magazine

2007 - Became Academic Director of The Academy of Music and Sound (centres in Exeter, Birmingham, Southampton, Swindon, Edinburgh and Glasgow)

2006 - Became Head of Guitar at Guitar-X

2005 - Song Act of Faith featured on For Eric, A Tribute To Eric Roche (compilation album)

2001 – 2005 - Toured and recorded with Carl Palmer (Mexico, Italy, Spain, UK, Belgium, Germany etc). Two live albums, Working Live Volume 1 and Working Live Volume 2

2000-2001 - Visiting Teaching faculty (jazz) at the bath Spa University Summer School

2000 - The Shaun Baxter Band played Guildhall in Bath with Frank Gambale

1998 - Performed on main bill at Mad About Guitars Show, Birmingham Indoor Arena

1997 - Joined teaching faculty at the London College of Music. Taught Composition and Music Performance (M. Mus)

1996 - Voted runner-up as Best New Guitarist by the readers of Total Guitar magazine. The Shaun Baxter Band played on the main bill at The National Music Show at Wembley (with Yngwie Malmsteen and Albert Lee), the main bill at Birmingham Music Show and The Big Whammy Charity Guitar Event (for Unicef at London Astoria with Bruce Willis, Paul Rogers, Bonnie Tyler, Mick Taylor and Vic Reeves), and also the main stage at The Birmingham Music Show, Birmingham Indoor Region

1995 - Visiting Lecturer at Brunel University London

1994 - Signed worldwide deal with Zok Records. Started writing for Guitar Techniques magazine (to present)

1993 - Recorded debut album Jazz Metal.

1992 - Terry Gregory replaced by Nick Beggs on bass The Shaun Baxter Band gigged extensively in London, headlining at venues such as the Jazz Cafe and the Orange. Wrote World’s first Grade 8 Rock exam for Trinity College (Rock School Grades). Wrote for Metal Hammer magazine

1990 - Started writing for The Guitar Magazine. Formed Shaun Baxter Band, featuring Neil Murray (bass) and John Munro (drums), later Nick Beggs (bass) and Paul Elliott (drums). First gigs in London

1988 - BBC Radio Session with singer Andy Caine. Recording session with guitarists Jay Stapley, Iain Bairnson and Hugh Burns

1987 - Recording, gigs and TV with British pop artiste Princess - featuring Simon Hale (keyboards), Frankie Tontoh (drums) and Dave O’Higgins (sax)

1986–2006 - Private Tuition. Guitar student credits include Public Image Ltd, Shakin’ Stevens, Bonnie Tyler, UK Subs, John Wetton, Lynx, Counterfeit Stones, Uriah Heap, Bay City Rollers, Three Degrees (Musical Director), Asia, Keith Emerson, Craig David, Carl Palmer, Moby, Abs, Wynton Marsalis, Martin Taylor, Steve Hackett, Rick Wakeman, Mike Oldfield, The Art of Noise, Leo Sayer, Pet Shop Boys and Roger Waters. Many students have worked in London’s West End, on such musicals as We Will Rock You, Mamma Mia and Grease. Co-founded the Guitar Institute in London (taught there every week, as Principal Rock Instructor until 2006). Featured on Disappearances Can Be Deceptive by John Sloman (Ex-Lone Star, Uriah Heep, Gary Moore etc).

www.shaunbaxter.com

Frank Gambale

Frank continues an illustrious solo career.Frank began playing guitar at age 7 in Canberra, Australia where he was born and raised. He was influenced by the blues playing of Jimi Hendrix , John Mayall / Eric Clapton, and Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia and the music of the Beatles just to name a few. In his mid-teens he discovered Steely Dan, The Brecker Brothers and Chick Corea, which pointed him in a jazzy direction. When he was 15 years old in 1974, influenced and inspired by the improvisations of Chick Corea and Michael Brecker, began developing his Sweep Picking Technique which today is considered a standard technique which didn't exist, and was considered to be an impossible pursuit before Gambale proved otherwise. The Sweep Picking Technique is a landmark in the history of guitar and Frank Gambale is the undisputed Master of Sweep Picking.

In 1982 at 23 he decided to leave his home to study at the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT) in Hollywood. He graduated with the highest honor, Student of the Year and was offered a teaching position which he kept for 4 years. During his year as a student, he was constantly bombarded with questions and curiosities from other students marvelling at how he was playing the guitar because no-one had ever seen the guitar played this way. His Sweep Picking Technique was already developed to a very high level and as a result of the constant question by fellow students and instructors, he penned his first book called "Speed Picking" ( Hal Leonard Publ. ). Gambale wanted to call the book "Sweep Picking" but the publisher didn't know what it meant since there was no precedent, and they believed the guitar public wouldn't know what the book was about either. Everyone now knows the what Sweep Picking is thanks to Gambale and his pioneering achievement.

In 1986 he signed a 3 album contract with a small label called Legato and began his recording career. The same year he was recruited by Jean-luc Ponty to tour in the summer. Shortly after that tour, he auditioned for Chick Corea and began a 6 year stint which culminated in 5 albums, a Grammy award and two Grammy Nominations. Chick helped expose Frank to the world, for which he is very grateful, "playing with Chick was like a dream come true" says Frank.The band reunited in 2002 for the album "To The Stars" and more world tours which continue to the present. Also in 1986 Ibanez guitars approached him to endorse their guitar which culminated in a 13 year relationship and spawned the Frank Gambale model guitar which was first on sale worldwide in 1987. They made 4 versions of the guitar, the FGM100, FGM200, FGM300 and FGM400.

In 1987 Frank signed a 3-video deal with DCI / Warner Brothers/ now all under the Alfred Publishing banner, for instructional videos. His first video "Monster Licks and Speed Picking" cemented Gambale's claim as the Grand Master of Sweep Picking. Again, he fought and lost with the publisher to have the word "sweep" not "speed" in the title but the fact remains that the subject matter was Sweep Picking. Gambale had given to the world, in these two instructional publications, the very nuts and bolts of Sweep Picking and the majority of his work outlined the accepted method of the Sweep Picking technique.

In 1988, Frank signed a major label deal with JVC. In 1990 he released "Thunder From Down Under" which sold well all over the world and at one point it was #1 on the Japanese Jazz charts along with all his three Legato releases in the top 10 at the same time.In the same year he produced a landmark album with Allan Holdsworth called Truth In Shredding featuring songs from The Brecker Brothers, Chick Corea and Wayne Shorter and one original composition.

In 1992, Frank decided it was time to go out there on his own and has been touring with his group ever since. He has toured in many countries with his own band including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and the U.S. He has done countless seminars and master classes worldwide to countries as far away as South Africa and Uruguay since the late 80's demonstrating his phenomenal Sweep Picking Technique and unique brand of music.

In 1996 Frank was offered a position of Head of the Guitar Department of a new musical school in the Los Angeles area called the L.A. Music Academy (LAMA). He wrote most of the core curriculum/ study program for this one year vocational school including Harmony and Theory, Improvisation, Technique and Composition courses. He has recently resigned from the school and is in talks with other schools to license his curriculum.

In the late 90's Frank began his own record label called Wombat Records on which he re-released his early Legato catalog along with other releases including a double live CD called Resident Alien - Live Bootlegs, and a duet CD with Maurizio Colonna, the famous Italian Classical guitarist called Imagery Suite, a live album recorded in Poland in 1996 where Frank plays lives versions of music from the Passages and Thinking Out Loud period, an album by his long-time friend and bassist Tony Muschamp called More Bass Please.

In 2000 Gambale recorded a wonderful guitar album called Coming To Your Senses, the first release on the new Steve Vai owned label, Favored Nations.

In 2005 Gambale released another album called Raison D'Etre. This marked another groundbreaking invention on the guitar, his "Gambale Tuning".This tuning, really a re-stringing of the guitar enabled close-voicing chords previously only the domain of piano players. Sweep Picking and the Gambale Tuning method will go down as two major contributions in guitar history books.

In 2007 Gambale released Natural High, an all acoustic album featuring reworkings of jazz standards with his own melodies. In the same year he release three compilations of his music spanning his entire recording history, Best Of Jazz and Rock Fusion, Best Of The Smoothe Side, and Best Of The Acoustic Side. Frank has also played and contributed songs to seven Vital Information albums and three trio recordings on Mike Varney's Tone Center records. The first released in 1999 called Show Me What You Can Do was well received, and the second called The Light Beyond came out in July 2000 and the third one is simply called GHS 3.

Frank left Ibanez for a deal with Yamaha guitars and a new Frank Gambale model called AES-FG soon followed. A second model is being designed currently for a future release.

Frank worked with Carvin to design a guitar preamp called the Tone Navigator which was released at the January 2004 NAMM in Los Angeles. This is an opportunity granted to very few people.

Gambale's most recent releases for Alfred Publishing are a concert DVD called Concert With Class, 90 min. concert and 90 min. instructional material related to the performance part and an acoustic concert/ instructional called Acoustic Improvisation which is a 60 minute concert with his Natural High Trio plus 60 minutes of melodic development ideas.

Late in 2002 the celebration of Chick Corea's 60th birthday reunited the Elektric Band after a 10 year hiatus with a sold-out performance to 18,000 at the Hollywood Bowl Aug 28th. The band received a GRAMMY Award and two NOMINATIONS in the late 80's and early 90s. The show kicked off a wave of reunion tours. The group recorded an album the same year called To The Stars and a live DVD at the famous Montreux Jazz Festival.

Gambale keeps a busy schedule for sure either writing for an album, book or video, touring or helping design a new guitar model with Yamaha, or giving seminars in Asia, or doing a session for an Italian pop record. Frank loves his work to say the least." I can't believe I get paid to do what I do, I wouldn't trade it for the world".

www.frankgambale.com

Porl Thompson

Thompson was part of the original lineup of the Cure, which also included Robert Smith, Michael Dempsey, and Lol Tolhurst when the band was first formed in 1976; however, he was dropped by the time they released their debut album, Three Imaginary Boys, in 1979 because his lead guitar style was at odds with Smith's growing preference for minimalist songwriting. He rejoined the band in 1983 on saxophone and helped record the album The Top. During the Top tour, Thompson played keyboard as well as the guitar and saxophone. He also performed with The Glove when they appeared on television.

Thompson performed on four more studio albums (The Head on the Door, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Disintegration and Wish) and four live albums (Concert, Entreat, Paris and Show) as well as the videos The Cure in Orange, Picture Show and Festival 2005. He also appears on the remix album Mixed Up and the deluxe issue of Three Imaginary Boys.

Thompson and designer Andy Vella are the co-founders of Parched Art, which has produced many of the record sleeves found on The Cure albums, many of which Thompson drew or painted.

Thompson left the Cure in 1994 to play with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin during the Page and Plant tour of 1995. He also played with Babacar, the band formed by Boris Williams following his departure from The Cure, and later formed his own solo project called Quietly Torn. Thompson worked with Plant again when he joined the singer's group for the 2002 release Dreamland.

Thompson still paints and has a collection entitled "100% Sky" posted at his website. He officially rejoined the band for a third time in June 2005 and recorded the live DVD, The Cure: Festival 2005 and appeared on their 13th studio album, 4:13 Dream.

Thompson also toured with The Cure for their 2007-2008 4Tour.

Thompson has the distinction of being the only other person, besides Robert Smith, to have worked with every other member of The Cure both past and present. Although he and Matthieu Hartley were never in the same line-up, the two of them did work together on the single "I'm a Cult Hero".

Porl's website...

Paul Davies

Paul Davies - an endlessly creative soloist, with Panic Room, Paul continues to display the electric magic that he first presented on stage with Karnataka. His guitar playing is an integral part of the Panic Room sound.

Dweezil Zappa

Son of Frank Zappa, Dweezil has not rested on these laurels, but rather set about establishing himself as a great guitarist in his own right. Numerous solo projects have seen him work with the best in the business.

Dweezil's website...

Bernie Marsden

Blues rock guitarist Bernie Marsden's hot licks helped launch the career of Whitesnake, as he played on the group's first eight releases, and lent a major hand in composing some of the band's most renowned songs. Initially inspired to play the guitar as a teenager due to such authentic blues players as Howling Wolf and Sonny Boy Williamson, Marsden later picked up on such '60s white blues players as Peter Green, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck. The early '70s saw Marsden briefly join several renowned groups - Juicy Lucy and UFO - but each time, the guitarist exited before a full-length album could be completed (Marsden was also a member of a group that drummer Cozy Powell attempted to put together, Hammer, before quickly disbanding). The mid '70s saw Marsden join British prog rockers Babe Ruth for a pair of releases, 1975's Stealin' Home and 1976's Kid's Stuff, before the group broke up, as well. Marsden then supposedly turned down an offer to play with Paul McCartney, and eventually joined up with former Deep Purple vocalist David Coverdale in Whitesnake.

Early on, Whitesnake pursued a much more bluesy and hard rock-based sound than their latter-day (and much more successful) pop-metal direction, as Marsden played on such albums as 1978's Snakebite and Trouble, 1979's Love Hunter and Live at Hammersmith, 1980's Ready An' Willing, 1981's Live in the Heart of the City, 1982's Come and Get It, and 1983's Saints and Sinners. Although the group achieved substantial success throughout Europe, Coverdale wanted to pursue a more mainstream sound to crack the lucrative U.S. market, which led to Marsden's exit soonafter. Subsequently, a pair of Marsden-Coverdale compositions would be dusted off and re-recorded by Whitesnake in the late '80s ("Here I Go Again" and "Fool for Your Loving"), both of which became sizeable worldwide hits.

It was during his tenure with Whitesnake that Marsden also managed to find the time to issue a pair of solo albums, 1979's And about Time, Too! and 1981's Look at Me Now. But instead of pursuing a solo career full-time after his dismissal from Whitesnake, Marsden opted to form a new band, Alaska, who only managed two releases, 1984's Heart of the Storm and 1985's The Pack, before breaking up. After laying low for the remainder of the '80s, Marsden resurfaced in the '90s, guesting on recordings by such artists as Forcefield and Walter Trout, and forming a new group along with his ex-Whitesnake bandmate, guitarist Mick Moody, called the Moody Marsden Band. The band usually relied on playing classic Whitesnake tunes live, and issued such recordings as 1992's Never turn your Back on the Blues, 1994's Live in Hell: Unplugged and Real Faith, plus 2000's The Nights the Guitars Came to Play and Ozone Friendly (the latter of which was a reissue of Real Faith, albeit with a slightly different tracklisting). The early 21st century saw the duo joined by another former Whitesnake bandmate, bassist Neil Murray, which resulted in the formation of a new group, Company of Snakes (with a pair of releases soon following - 2001's Here They Go Again: Live and 2002's Burst the Bubble).

Marsden has also sporadically issued further solo recordings, including 1992's The Friday Rock Show Sessions and the 1995 Peter Green tribute, Green and Blues. In addition to his music career, Marsden has also tried his hand at acting (the German TV movie, Frankie), and has provided soundtracks for several movie projects in both Germany and the U.S., plus serving as the art director, producer, and author of the three part TV series, The Delta Blues 1926 - Urban Blues 1960. ~ Greg Prato

Bernie Marsden

Ace

Ace is the guitarist and founder member of Skunk Anansie. He is also a record producer and music recording techniques & FX pedal journalist. As an artist himself has 4 LPs recorded with Skunk Anansie, 1 LP with Acesounds and 1 LP with Inner Mantra. He has achieved over 5 Million LP sales in total. He is a Multi-platinum selling artist worldwide clocking up 7 Sell out world tours over 7 years touring and playing large venues with such bands as Rammstein, Tool, Rage Against The Machine, Metallica, Foo Fighters, Lenny Kravitz, Killing Joke, Staind, Limp Bizkit, Muse, Stereophonics and Bon Jovi!!

Highlights of Ace’s career so far include Headlining Glastonbury Festival in 1999, performing with Luciano Pavarotti for the Dalai Lama and playing Nelson Mandelas 80th Birthday Gift to the nation stadium concerts.

Skunk Anansies last concert in the UK was a sell out show at the London Docklands Arena in 2000, and now they are reformed to reign once again with new tracks, LP Smashes and Trashes and more international touring with a whole new future ahead of them.

Ace has worked with other prestigious producers including: Andy Wallace (Jeff Buckley/ Sepultura etc etc), GGG Garth (Rage Against The Machine), Sylvia Massey (Tool), Andy Scarth (Killing Joke).

Ace Plays: PRS SC250 Tremonti, PRS SC250 Hardtail, PRS Custom 24 Electric Guitars and Larrivee D-60 Acoustic Guitars.

Ace Uses: Cornford MK50H 50 Watt Head, Cornford Roadhouse 50 Watt head with Cornford 4x12 Cabs for driven tones. Framus Cobra 100 Watt Head and Framus Cobra Cabs for clean tones.

Aces Uses: DigiTech Hardwire and Whammy pedals for driven tones. DigiTech 2120 Artist series racks for clean tones.

Ace Uses: D’Addario EXL 110 regular light 10-46 for his PRS electric guitars and EJ26 Custom Light 11-42 Phosphor Bronze for his Larrivee Acoustics.

Ace's MySpace...

Skunk Anansie's website...

Skunk Anansie's MySpace...

Ace's website...

Hal Stokes

Hal is frontman / guitarist with The Thieves. "The Thieves play Rock. It’s AC/DC on acid, Pink Floyd on uppers, The Who on a pub-crawl. It's Hal, Sam and Jamie : Guitar, Bass and Drums; hailing from Oxford, England, living in Los Angeles, California."

The Thieves MySpace...

The Thieves Website...

Crispian Mills

Ex-Kula Shaker guitarist and now of The Jeevas. Crispian says "Cornford amps stopped me searching high an low for vintage gear to get THAT tone, as my Hurricane does it better and straight out of the box and I can tour with it without worrying if it's going to work at the next show. I just loved using the Hurricane and MK50H on the last Jeevas album. Just turn on, plug in, etc..."

Cornford equipment used: Hurricane combo and MK50H head.

The Jeevas website...

Mark O'Leary

Mark O'Leary was born in Cork City Ireland. Being mainly auto didactic on guitar he moved to Los Angeles at the age of 17 to study at Musicians Institute, from where he later graduated. He has presented his music in 29 countries and has played at some of the worlds top Jazz festivals and contemporary Jazz venues.

He has toured Europe as a member of Canadian Pianist Paul Bley's trio, he has performed in duo with Jack DeJohnette, in a jazz trio with Yes/King Crimson drummer Bill Bruford, in duo with Han Bennink, composed and performed classical music with Cikada string quartet, collaborated in an all electronics setting with Sound Artist Gunter Muller and with Jakob Riis, in a free improvisation combo with Evan Parker and Sunny Murray, performed in concerts with Anders Jormin and Audun Kleive, played Norwegian folk music with Nils Okland, Swedish folk music with Mats Eden, Jazz with Uri Caine, he has performed in seperate projects with trumpeters Tomasz Stanko, Kenny Wheeler and Cuong Vu. He has the distinction of having played in duo with Paul Bley, Bobo Stenson, Kenny Werner and Matthew Shipp. He has also worked in a trio with ex Weather Report/Jaco Pastorius Drummer Peter Erskine and Palle Danielsson.

He has also collaborated with the innovative percussionists z'ev, Alex Cline, Hans Kristian Kjos Sorensen and Terje Isungset. He has also collaborated with Stale Storlokken in contemporary trio using church organ and with John Herndon of Tortoise in the Underground Jazz Trio. He has also worked in different projects with Slava Ganelin and Alexander Tarasov of the Ganelin trio fame also in a UK based group with Mark Sanders and Joe Williamson of Trapist.

He has toured in the exciting group Zemlya with Eyvind Kang and Dylan Van Der Schyff and also with Dylan and Wayne Horvitz. In conjunction with Alliance Francaise he performed in a trio with Henri Texier and Aldo Romano. He also played in a trio with Jon Christensen and Terje Gewelt. He has played in Poland with drummer Michal Miskiewicz and Tomasz Szukalski and with the Oles brothers Bartlomiej and Marcin. He has also played with the Aka Moon rhythm section of Michel Hadzigeorgiu and Stephane Galland. He has also colloborated in trio with Stefan Pasborg and Peter Friis Nielsen as well as working with other Danes Jacob Anderskov and in duo with Kresten Osgood.

Mark's website...

Jose de Castro

JOSE DE CASTRO (JOPI) (28-02-74) Guitarist from Madrid, Spain, has been playing since he was 10. He started studying classic guitar, harmony, chorus, and music theory. At seventeen, he began to study electric guitar and joined a rock group, playing in Madrid's music circuit and at national level, eventually winning important competitions such as 'Villa de Madrid'. Later on, he began to work as a professional guitarist in bands, while working as a teacher in several modern music schools like 'Ritmo y Compás', where he gave classes until 2002. In that same year, his first instrumental album was released, entitled, 'Un poco de lo mío' (A bit of my own). Written, arranged, and produced all by José himself. The CD contains nine tracks with a rock sound while containing funk, pop, and fusion elements. His debut work has received excellent reviews from the Spanish music press ('Guitarra Total', 'Guitarrista', etc.) and out of Spain ('Guitar World', 'Vintage', 'Guitar Magazine', etc.). The CD is currently sold in Europe, USA and Asia.

For the last several years, Jopi has been involved in album recordings and advertising. He has also been playing live in TV programs and accompanying several musicians. In 2004, the guitarist's second instrumental work 'Music Guitar Box' was recorded. In his new album, José de Castro has surrounded himself with talented musicians like Simon Phillips (Toto, Jeff Beck etc.), Melvin Davis (Chaka Khan, Steve Lukather, Lee Ritenour, etc.) and well known professional Spanish musicians like Maurizio Sgaramella, Denis Bilanin, and Enzo Filiponne. In this album the guitarist's talent shines through diverse musical styles like funk-fusion, blues, country, and everything else from a rock focus, while having a note for detail in composition and musical arrangement, creating an ideal balance between virtuosity and musicality. The work contains 10 tracks, all composed, arranged and produced by José.

In 2006, he realesed his third instrumental CD "Conversation". This time, working with Melvin Lee Davis and J. Vera at bass, Enzo Filippone at drums, Denis Bilanin and Iñaki Quijano at boards. This work is made in the more active moments in Jopi's career, working together on important tours and recordings. As always, the versatility as in styles as in sounds is present all over the CD. On this same year, Jose is becoming endorser of the prestigious guitar brand "Suhr Guitars". From 2007 to 2008, José and his band shared the stage with some of his idols such as Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Scott Henderson and Michael Landau. In February 2009, he releases his CD "LIVE". It's a compilation of songs from his first three CD's.

Jose's website...

Anne-Marie Helder

*** Anne-Marie was the first endorsee of the Cornford Roadhouse! ***

As a touring artist, Helder has achieved great things in the last two years since going solo (she previously toured internationally with the award-winning Celtic rock band Karnataka, and prior to that poured her heart & writing into her own band, the Swansea-based folk-rock outfit TigerDragon):

In 2005 she played no less than 150 gigs across the UK, including supports for artists such as Midge Ure, Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze), Paul Young, and Limehouse Lizzy;

In 2006 she landed the official support for ex-Marillion frontman Fish, with his band on their European Tour, and wowed audiences across the continent with her compelling blend of passion, power, warmth, intimacy and down-to-earth humour. It has been said that Anne-Marie has total stage presence: but not just onstage; in everything she does. ...She would argue that she's just on another planet!

2006 also saw her living in the studio for a while, providing vocals for 4 separate albums.... 'Scarlet' by Dave Kilminster, guitarist for Roger Waters (ex-Pink Floyd) and acclaimed star in the axe-world; 'Heart Full Of Sky' by rising York-based rockers, Mostly Autumn; 'Apocalypstick' by Panic Room, a new band project from her ex-Karnataka bandmate Jon Edwards (to which she also penned all the lyrics, as co-writer); and a new Live Acoustic album from Fish, which was recorded in a beautiful Abbey last August when she performed with Heather Findlay and Angela Gordon (Mostly Autumn) as guest backing vocalists at his annual Convention in Scotland. All 4 albums are due for release this spring.

2007 kicked off to a great start with this melee of albums under her belt, and Helder's debut performance at the Astoria in London (Feb 10th)...

Future plans include more of the extensive touring, taking in the UK, Europe, and a return to the USA (which she sparked last year with a show in LA); the formation of a band around her so she can take her material to a new level - whilst still retaining her solo shows, for their unique & intimate vibe; and, most importantly of all, the recording of her next cd: the first full-length album, and a hotly-anticipated event from this young singer-songwriter.

With an estimated 200 songs in her portfolio to choose from- a result of the intensive touring and constantly trying out a prolific stream of new material! - it is expected that Anne-Marie Helder's debut album will be an instant classic.

Anne-Marie's website...

Martin Goulding

Since graduating from the Guitar Institute of Technology in 1993, Martin has become one of London’s busiest private teachers, specialising in advanced rock techniques and improvisation. As well as course writer and specialist in Modern Rock studies at The Guitar Institute in London (ICMP), Martin is also a monthly columnist for Guitar Techniques magazine, and does clinics and masterclasses for the London and Bath International Guitar Festival. His work has also been featured in Total Guitar and Guitar World (USA) magazines, as well as international bestseller "Guitar A Complete Guide For The Player " published in 2002. A busy session musician with clients including Chappell recorded music library; Bruton Music, Zomba and the BBC, Martin also engineers/plays/programs and produces for artists in styles from pop/soul/funk/rock and metal, and is currently writing and producing for UK Progressive Metal/Fusion band Linear Sphere.

Laurie Wisefield

Laurie took up the guitar aged eight and by the time he was in his late teens he was a touring musician and had released three albums with his band Home. He joined Wishbone Ash in 1974 and over the following 12 years with the band he toured the world and recorded many albums, with sales totaling over one million copies. In 1987 Laurie joined Tina Turner's band for her world tour lasting fourteen months, which included the opportunity to perform alongside Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Tony Joe White and Robert Cray.

During the late '80s through the '90s, Laurie toured and recorded with Joe Cocker and Eros Ramazotti, and was part of the Night Of The Guitars tour. He also toured and recorded albums as a member of Roger Chapman's Shortlist. Working together with singer/songwriter/keyboardist John Miles in Tina Turner's and Joe Cocker's bands led in 1996 to Laurie becoming an integral part of the massively successful Night Of The Proms tours as part of the John Miles Electric Band, alongside Il Novocento Orchestra.

Since then, Laurie has appeared on stage and on recordings with a huge number of great artists in all styles of music as part of the Night Of The Proms, Including Andrea Bocelli, Joe Cocker, Meat Loaf, Jim Kerr (Simple Minds), Chrissie Hynde (Pretenders), Lisa Stansfield, En Vogue, INXS, Zucchero, Deborah Harry (Blondie), Mark King (Level 42), Roger Daltrey (The Who), Youssou N'Dour, Seal, Karl Jenkins, Patricia Kaas, Donna Summer, Shaggy, Coolio, Oleta Adams, Howard Jones, Rodger Hodgson (Supertramp), Michael McDonald (Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers), James Brown, Ike Turner, Pointer Sisters, Tears For Fears, Sharlene Spiteri (Texas), Ali Campbell (UB40) and many more.

Since 2002 Laurie has been a permanent member of the band in the hugely successful Queen musical We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre in London, playing to audiences totaling over 2.5 million. He also performed with Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen, together with the cast of We Will Rock You and Phil Collins at Queen Elizabeth's Royal Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace in 2002, and was part of the band for Jeff Wayne's The War Of The Worlds live tour in 2005.

Laurie's website...

Ben Poole

Inspired by the Blues, infused with a hard hitting, “in-yer-face” rock approach and topped-off by virtuoso musicianship, Ben Poole is being talked of as “the” new up-and-coming UK Blues guitarist; one of the finest to have emerged in Europe for years. Having already played with and received critical acclaim from some of his heroes; legendary blues artists including Jeff Beck, Gary Moore and John Mayall, at just 22 years of age it appears that there is no stopping this young and incredibly gifted guitarist. His latest recordings reinforce this and make it blatantly clear that Ben is destined for a great future on the European Blues/Rock scene.

Jeff Beck: "F***ing amazing! I loved his playing...I really loved his playing!"

Gary Moore: "A really good player!"

Richie Kotzen: "Unbelievable! It's very refreshing to hear someone in todays time, who reminds me of the guys who inspired me when I was young. He'll be a household name someday for sure...Amazing!"

Guthrie Govan: "Blues Extravaganza! The guitar sounds were impeccable, the timing was beyond reproach and there was evidence of dynamic awareness throughout...Nice!"

Total Guitar Magazine: "This 22 year old from Bedfordshire has been honing his technique since he was 12 and looks up to the blues guitar greats who have inspired his sound. As far as Ben's concerned, the sky's the limit. Ben really brings the fire with his licks. He's got neck-snapping vibrato where he catches a bunch of strings at once and grinds the s**t out of them. By the way he hits the guitar, we can only assume it's been saying rude things about his mother! Ben Poole: the next Joe Bonamassa?"

Jan Cyrka: "You might not have heard of Ben before, but we think he's going to be huge; he's already making quite a name for himself on the British blues scene."

Bernie Torme (Ozzy Osbourne/Gillan): "Great tracks, great guitar and vocal live...one great special player!"

Ben Poole's MySpace...

Ben Poole's website...

Ben Poole on YouTube...