Free Republic

A former guitarist for the San Francisco death metal band Possessed was shot and killed by South San Francisco police last week after shooting at a neighbor and then shooting at responding officers. The San Francisco Chronicle noted that 60-year-old Brian Montana “became enraged over tree debris spilling over from a neighbor’s yard.” An argument with the neighbor ensued and soon escalated into shots being fired. The Los Angeles Times reported that Montana armed himself with various guns as officers arrived on scene and fired at police. A press release from the South San Francisco Police Department says: “The armed...

Tony Rice, surely the most influential guitarist and vocalist in the history of bluegrass music, died on Christmas morning. He was 69 years of age, and died swiftly without pain. Tony changed forever the way bluegrass guitar is played, both as a lead and an accompaniment instrument. Audiences saw hints of his genius during his stint with Bluegrass Alliance in the early 1970s, but it appeared fully formed with J.D. Crowe & The New South in 1975 on their classic recording for Rounder Records, known colloquially by its catalog number, 0044. Those of us fortunate to be alive at that...

Legendary guitarist Bob Kulick, who is best known for his work with KISS, Lou Reed and Diana Ross - has died at age 70. His younger brother Bruce took to Twitter on Friday morning to make the announcement of his passing. Bruce wrote: 'I am heartbroken to have to share the news of the passing of my brother Bob Kulick. His love of music, and his talent as a musician and producer should always be celebrated. 'I know he is at peace now, with my parents, playing his guitar as loud as possible. Please respect the Kulick Family’s privacy during...

This girl is really good at finger picking and exceptionally fast...she is from South Korea, not North.

Sad news to report from the Korn family. Shane Gibson, who performed as a live member for Korn from 2007-2010, has passed away at the age of 35 from complications due to a blood clotting disorder... Gibson went on to play with SchwarZenatoR, stOrk and others ...

I dunno if any of you are into a little jazz- I am... that is, into a little of it.  I really don't know anything about the current scene either, but what I do know comes from a 1980 college roomate who was -atypically for an 18 y.o. of the time- heavily into jazz: I was already a pretty big Steely Dan/Bryan Ferry fan -with substantial jazz influences- but the things he introduced me to were David Sanborn(who I saw live), Jon Luc Ponty, Spyro Gyra (also saw live) and Lee Ritenour, an American some consider the best jazz guitarist...

Jody Payne, longtime guitarist for Willie Nelson, died of heart complications at age 77.

A nationally acclaimed guitar great and cherished member of the Sarasota-Bradenton music scene has passed. "Dangerous" Dan Toler – former guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band, Gregg Allman Band and Dickey Betts’ Great Southern group – died today at age 65, according to Gregg Allman Band mate and close friend Chaz Trippy. Toler was battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and living in the Whitfield area of Manatee County.

Soul-jazz legend Terry Callier has passed away after an extended illness. He was found dead by Luther Adams at his home. More information will be provided as this story develops, but we are deeply saddened by his passing. Terry Callier was born in the Chicago, and raised in the Cabrini–Green housing area. He learned piano, was a childhood friend of Curtis Mayfield, Major Lance and Jerry Butler, and began singing in doo-wop groups in his teens.

The day after playing in a Minneapolis concert, Cory Smoot - also known as Flattus Maximus, the guitarist for metal band GWAR - was found dead on the band's tour bus Thursday. GWAR frontman Dave Brockie released a statement Thursday to Brooklyn, N.Y.-based MetalSucks, an online site featuring posts on heavy metal music. "Cory was found deceased this morning as the band prepared for a border crossing. There is no word as to the cause of death and the members of GWAR are completely shocked and devastated that this has occurred. At this point there is no word on arrangements...

British singer-songwriter John Martyn, best known for his 1973 album Solid Air, died today, January 29th, at the age of 60. A note on Martyn’s official Website reads, “With heavy heart and an unbearable sense of loss we must announce that John died this morning.” No cause of death was provided. In a career than spanned four decades Martyn worked with artists including Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Steve Winwood, the Band’s Levon Helm and Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour. But it was Solid Air that earned him most acclaim..........

Dayton Waters, Intense 12-String Classic Rock For those of you new to the Dayton Waters experience, there is no way to prepare you for one of his shows other than to say, "Get Ready!" He is passionate and tireless. He takes you with him on a journey of memories and music with an intensity seldom found in a nightclub performance. His original music is heart-wrenching, uplifting and even funny at times, but it is also a window into the soul of a proverbial poet-warrior. He prefers to play pubs so he can make eye contact with each member of the...

Asher Roth wants to make it clear that he was not involved in the incident Wednesday that involved the detaining of a man on a Delta flight to Los Angeles. I spoke to Asher Thursday when he stopped by the Yahoo! Music office to preview his highly anticipated forthcoming debut which is due out in April.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Vinny Appice, Anita Baker, Jello Biafra, Andrea Bocelli, Simon LeBon, Kate Bush, Belinda Carlisle, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shaun Cassidy, Darby Crash, Randy DeBarge, Bruce Dickinson, Thomas Dolby, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Siobhan Fahey, Neil Finn, Bela Fleck, Martin Fry, Lisa Germano, Grandmaster Flash, Jools Holland, Ice-T, Alan Jackson, Michael Jackson, Tony James, Joan Jett, Al Jourgensen, Nik Kershaw, Sammy Kershaw, Limahl, Madonna, Bird McIntyre, Mike Mills, Thurston Moore, Alannah Miles, Gary Numan, Michael Penn, Vicki Peterson, Prince, Stacey Q, Will Sergeant, Nikki Sixx, David Sylvian, Toyah, Tanya Tucker, Paul Weller, Jane Wiedlin, Jah Wobble.

Bob Weir, Founding Member of the Grateful Dead Both my natural and adopted fathers were military men. My adopted dad attended Annapolis for seven years and came out with the military equivalent of a doctorate in Engineering. When they gave him his first commission and put him out to sea he was seasick from the time he left port to the time he got back. It was so bad they had to put him in the hospital. Then he tried it again right at the beginning of World War II. He wanted nothing more than to serve his country but...

LONDON (AFP) - As the guitar power in the legendary British rock band Queen, Brian May conquered most of the planet -- and now he has his sights set on mastering the universe. The star musician, who wrote hits like "We Will Rock You", "The Show Must Go On" and "Flash", has switched his plectrum for a pen and co-authored a book with two leading British astronomers, telling the story of the big bang and how the universe has evolved since. Brian May addresses the media during a photocall to launch a book entitled "Bang! The Complete History of the...

LOS ANGELES - Mel Gibson's only daughter, Hannah, married blues-rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd this weekend. Gibson, 26, and Shepherd, 29, of Benton, La., exchanged vows in California on Saturday, People magazine reported on its Web site. Shepherd's albums include "Ledbetter Heights" and "Live On." He proposed to Gibson on New Year's Eve 2004 in Rome, according to The Times of Shreveport, La. Gibson, 50, and his wife, Robyn, have seven children. Hannah is their oldest child and only daughter. The wedding came almost two months after Gibson, 50, star of the "Lethal Weapon" movies and director of "The Passion...

Copenhagen, Denmark — Guitar player Link Wray, who invented the power chord, the major modus operandi of modern rock guitarists, has died. He was 76. A native of Dunn, North Carolina, Wray's style is considered the blueprint for heavy metal and punk music. Wray's is best known for his 1958 instrumental Rumble, 1959's Rawhide and 1963's Jack the Ripper. His music has appeared in movies like Pulp Fiction, Independence Day and Desperado. His style is said to have inspired many other rock musicians, including Pete Townsend of the Who. David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Steve Van Zandt and Bruce Springsteen have...

Here's the story:I came into what appears to be a pretty good deal. It is a Marshall speaker cabinet holding four 12" speakers. It is a top (slanted) cabinet. The tag on the front lists it as a JCM800 Lead Series. The tolex has a few tears and there is a small tear in the speaker grille. It looks like it has seen some life on the road but it is solid.I purchased this cabinet for $200. I do not currently possess a head with which to play it through. Not out here in Florida anyways.Now here is where I...

101 Greatest Moments in Guitar History A moment in time. A split second where everything freezes, and your mind takes a snapshot of an event you'll always keep with you - an event that forever divides your life into two groups: stuff that happened before this moment, and the stuff that will happen after. Great moments change you. The greatest ones change everything. Most GP readers have their own list of life-changing moments, and many of those moments involve the guitar: The first guitar you ever played, the best solo you ever heard, the most transcendent tone that caressed your...