Guitarist Ron Asheton of the Stooges was discovered dead today in his Detroit home. It’s believed that he died of a heart attack a few days ago. He was 60 years old.
Ron wasn’t a technical guitarist and didn’t have much commercial success, but was very influential in punk and hard rock music. He was a pioneer in punk guitar and influenced such guitarists as Kurt Cobain and Jack White. Rolling Stone magazine honored him on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Players of All Time and also included his song 1969 as one of the Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.
I once went to an outdoor concert which had Iggy Pop and the Stooges on the venue. I wasn’t very excited about having to watch them, but they came out and blew everyone away. They were all great performers. Here’s a video of Iggy Pop and the Stooges. Ron Asheton moments begin at 2:28 and 5:37.
The Rock House Blog recently posted their Top 10 Guitar Lessons of 2008. The Rock House Blog improved a lot in 2008, offering some great content. These were the most popular lesson posts among their readers, copied from their site.
4. Alexi Laiho Video Lesson - Alexi shows how to create a great metal rhythm beat from The Children of Bodoms song “Living Dead”
3. Developing a Shred Picking Technique - This lesson not only applies to you metal lovers because It doesn’t matter what style of music you want to pursue, picking is an essential part of any guitar players technique.
1. 20 Songs Every Beginner Guitarist Shoud Know - The boys from Rock House put their thinking caps on and compiled a list of easy to learn songs that will challenge you but not make you want to throw your guitar in the fireplace.
On February 10, Magna Carta Records will release a compilation CD called “Guitars That Ate My Brain”, as reported on Blabbermouth. The album includes 12 instrumentals by some great metal shredders, including guitar players from Megadeth, Strapping Young Lad, Korn, Guns N’ Roses and Testament.
The CD is described as….
A dozen mind-altering instrumentals from today’s most accomplished metal axe grinders — a twelve-headed hydra of monster guitar riffage that slashes, shreds and gnaws its way into your very psyche — rides the lightning with enough electrifying precision to scorch and scramble your gray matter.
1. Paul Waggoner [BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME] - “Boot Dagger Boogie”
2. Kris Norris [DARKEST HOUR] - “The Life and Times of Sir Walter Sickert”
3. Dave Martone - “Hybrid Angels”
4. Ron Thal (aka “Bumblefoot”) [GUNS N ROSES] - “Disengaged”
5. Eyal Levi and Emil Werstler [DAATH] - “The Unwavering Collapse”
6. Shane Gibson [KORN] - “Artichoke Samurai”
7. Devin Townsend [STRAPPING YOUNG LAD] - “Nerd Alert”
8. Chris Poland [OHM] - “L.D.E.”
9. Ola Frenning and Christofer Malmström [SOILWORK/DARKANE] - “Hydra”
It’s time to say goodbye to 2008. In a tradition started last year, let’s review some of the popular and interesting guitar stories talked about here at GuitarMX in 2008:
How Can This Be Eddie Van Halen?
The Van Halen reunion tour started showing some troubles as 2008 began. In a pre-New Years concert, Eddie Van Halen performed this very bizarre guitar solo.
Gibson Claims Guitar Hero Was Their Idea, Activision Sues
Wanting a larger piece of the Guitar Hero action, Gibson, who already had their name on the Guitar Hero controllers, suddenly remembered that they came up with the Guitar Hero Idea several years earlier.
Complaints Get 8-Year-Old Guitarist Banned From Performing in Taverns
Guitarist Tallan “T-Man” Latz, who is just 8 years old, was banned from performing in Wisconsin taverns. What makes the story even more interesting is that it may have been jealous guitarists who originally filed the complaint.
Earlier this month, Dean Guitar announced the winner of their “Get your Wings Shredder Search” contest, which began in July. The grand prize winner is Ed to Shred, who has a unique onstage persona. He dresses as a nerd, compelete with bow tie and glasses. Here’s a video of the Dean announcement by former Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul, and a short performance by Ed To Shred himself.
This is a metal Christmas medly composed by Sean Conklin at InfiniteGuitar.com and inspired by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It combines the two Christmas songs, “Carol of the Bells” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”.
You can find tab for this song and many other songs and lessons at InfiniteGuitar.com.
You can more Christmas lessons, all FREE, at these pages:
Two new tablature engines have been added to the Tab Search page. You can now search for guitar tabs at Guitaretab.com and AllGuitarTabs.com, all from the GuitarMX.com
The Guitar MX Tab Search page provides an easy way to search multiple tabs sites. To search, simply enter the name of the artist you are looking for and select the tab engine, and you will find all the tabs from that site. Be sure to also try the Framed Tab Search page.
Jimi Hendrix used many unique chord patterns, including the famous Jimi Hendrix chord. In this video guitar lesson by NextLevelGuitar.com, a chord progression using a commonly used Hendrix chord shape is used.
Tired of kissing up to rock’s best guitar players, Guitar World decided to come up with a list of the 100 Worst Guitar Solos. The list is made up of some great guitar players, caught at their worst moments on tape. Links go to videos of the songs.
This list orignally appeared in the December 2004 edition of Guitar World magazine, but was recently posted on GuitarWorld.com. Be sure to check out the original list here, which includes some hilarious commentary.
Christmas is coming up, and you may have a guitar player on your list that you need to buy a gift for. Here’s a list of 10 inexpensive gift ideas. These gift ideas are all priced between $20-$50, yet are things that almost any guitar player would like. It doesn’t matter if they’re a beginning or advanced player, there’s likely something here that they would enjoy.
The Rogue Starter Acoustic Guitar is an amazing deal for a small-bodied guitar. The smaller profile is very playable for kids, has nice tone, and can be yours for chump change. It has a maple neck and rosewood fretboard and comes set up with Martin strings.
What better way to introduce a relative or friend to JamPlay.com than our 1 Month Membership. The gift recipient will receive the JamPlay Gift Card along with a personalized letter welcoming them to our service. Membership will last the individual a full 30 days of uninterrupted service.
The Vox amPlug AC30 is a headphone amp that can help you to create the perfect practice session. The tiny amPlug plugs directly into your guitar-then just plug in your headphones and relish some great Vox tone.
The Farley’s StagePlayer Guitar Stand Stool offers you practical and useful features for many situations. For working musicians, the StagePlayer stool will serve as a seat during those marathon gigs. Between sets, simply put your guitar in the handy, padded cradle for safekeeping. The StagePlayer stand is ideal for home use too; it’s a place to sit and play or just to display your guitar.
This is one of the most popular guitar instructional sites on the Internet. The site has a large collection of audio and video guitar lessons for beginners. Also included are 5 Super Bonuses valued at $88.00, but are absolutely free with lifetime access.
Made of padded 600D nylon, the Road Runner Acoustic Guitar Gig Bag will keep your axe safe from bumps and scratches. It features two carrying handles, a zippered external pocket, and and shoulder straps.
Give someone special an almost endless choice of great guitar sheet music! Choose among email and postal delivery gift certificates in 7 different denominations.
You can take Marshall tone and vibe with you with the Marshall MS-2 Mini Amp. Classic Marshall grille cloth; crunchy distortion; and plenty of volume for good, clean fun. Controls for overdrive, tone, and volume. Powered by one 9V battery. The Marshall MS-2 Mini Amp includes belt clip and headphone jack. 5-3/4″ high.
All 3 levels of this popular rock guitar DVD learning system in one money-saving package. This Rock House Video Lesson DVD package will take through all the learning stages to help you become a competent and proficient guitarist!
The pitchjack plugs directly into a guitar or bass instrument jack and offers the features most sought after by gigging musicians including a flat tuning mode that enables a player to tune an instrument up to seven semitones below standard pitch and the ability to accurately tune seven-string guitars and six-string basses.
