2013.10.18 - La Grosse Radio - Ron Thal, Guitarist Bumblefoot and Guns N' Roses

Abnormally normal

Interviewing Ron Thal is always a pleasure, but also a trip to the edge of reality and understanding because the man wields crazy humor and has a very special personal universe.

Embark with an endearing artist for whom big business of Guns N' Roses and most personal part of Bumblefoot are two sides of the same coin!

My first question will be very simple : how do you feel now, normal or abnormal ?

Is there a difference? By embracing and accepting and understanding the normal and the abnormal, I feel abnormally *normal*.

Does your experience in Guns N' Roses change the way you compose or your approach of the guitar ?

It had an effect, it made me think more about the lead guitar as a 2nd voice to the lead vocals.

As a musician, what have you learn from your collaboration with DJ Ashba and Richard Fortus ?

Space and dynamics are vital – where you leave space gives meaning to where you do play.

How do you feel the two positions you occupy in Guns N' Roses (where you are a member, among others) and Bumblefoot (where you are the boss). Do you have a preference for one or the other?

If one was gone, I'd feel incomplete. Each has something the other doesn't. Bumblefoot has more freedom, spontaneity, connection. GNR touches more people and everything is on a bigger scale. Bumblefoot is a full expression musically, vocally, guitar-wise. In GNR I'm part of something complex with lots of souls involved. Each has something that would be missed if it weren't there.

One of my colleagues recently interviewed Steve Vai and talked with him about G3. Would you participate in a tour like this?

Absolutely. I'd like to do something like this, if people want me...?

And now, the already asked 14,567 times question : can we expect a new solo record in the near future ?

I wish I could devote more time to writing and recording, to building the momentum, but I'm so busy with touring, aaaahhhhh!!!! It's something I need to do. Been two years now since releasing music, it's time.

With the major changes that have affected the music industry in recent years, some say that the album as a format is no longer appropriate today. What do you think?

The album is appropriate if this is your vision for your music. Now we have more choices...

You use to play in stadium or giant venues with Guns N' Roses. does this tour in small clubs represent a come back to the reality of your artistic work ?

I always did & continue to do fundraising events and other things throughout my time in GNR that are club-size, and GNR would sometimes do an acoustic club show. I prefer the smaller shows. You're face-to-face with people and can interact with your audience on a personal level, I prefer that.

Your two previous album covers were white, and black. For the next one, do you have an idea for the artwork ? Grey, flashy colors ?

Clear... colorless. But not odorless, it will definitely have a very strong odor. And it will taste funny.

Making a new Bumblefoot album would allow you to create your own music, write your own lyrics. Which aspect is the most important for you ?

They're all important but if I had to choose my own music or my own lyrics, I'd go with the music.

Three years ago, you told me that you don't want to sing on your next album, you wanted to write songs for a singer. Is it still the same and have you find this guy (or at least, have you got a style of voice in mind) ?

I've had the pleasure of working with the amazing Tony Harnell on vocals, doing acoustic music together. Playing with him is nothing short of a blessing, musically and personally. I hope to be writing more music with him.

The lyrics became more and more personal all along your career. Do you still feel a need for that, or is it less important nowadays ?

Words are always important. People aren't one-dimensional, and they can give any part of themselves they choose. What part of themselves they give is also very personal, it tells a lot about the artist by the things they share and don't share.

You became famous partly by being quite original with your approach of electric guitar, creating sounds that are yours. Are you still searching for news sounds and new guitar tricks ?

Those things are 'happy accidents', it's something that happens with a certain innocence, a “let's see what happens if I touch *this* to the strings...” Be careful about what you touch to the strings, haha...

On your website, there's a long and funny articles were you list all the things you don't wanna be asked for. What is the craziest request you've ever received ?

Too many to remember, haha - someone asked if I would donate one of my organs once. Someone also gave me an animal's testicles as a gift.

Can you talk to us about the incredible Bumblefoot's hot sauces ? What's your involvement in this products ?

The hot sauces, yes! http://bit.ly/bumblefkd I've been into hot sauce for a long time and it's something I've wanted to do for years. The experts at Cajohn's Fiery Foods took me on, and we worked together on making it happen. I came up with flavors and basic recipes, designed the bottle art, and we worked together in their kitchens, they put the proper touches on the recipes, they handle bottling and manufacturing, and I meet them at food festivals around the country and together support the sauces. Six flavors from mild cherry-bourbon chipotle “Bumblicious” to extreme heat ginger tropical fruit “BumbleF**KED”. I ran a contest to design merch for BumbleF**KED, it came out fantastic!! http://www.bumblefoot.com/press/20130810_-_bfkdcontest/20130810_-_bfkdcontest.htm

And then, I've got the same question for the "Doublefoot" Vigier guitar (but it seems much more obvious)

It's like Vigier's Bfoot signature guitar, but as a double-neck with a fretless neck on top. It was a custom guitar but we decided to make it available to everyone Here are the specs... http://vigierusa.com/index.php/2013/miscellaneous/doublebfoot/

Are there still guitar player that impress you ?

Brian May, Zakk Wylde, Vinnie Moore, Guthrie Govan, Mattias Eklundh, Nazzareno Zacconi, Eugene Berger, Yossi Sassi, Ben Azar, Shai Baruch, Sokol Keci, Royden Mascarenhas, Murtaza Jafar & Joe Samuel, Jay Wud, Adil Manuel, Bruce Lee Mani, Ponch Satrio, Christophe Godin, Richard Daude, Stephane Alaux, Tom Monda, and many more. I did solo shows with Uli Jon Roth and Jennifer Batten, that was a real treat, we had some amazing jams together and great moments on and off stage, love them!

Your latest music discoveries that blew your mind ?

My favorite new band is “Thank You Scientist”, with guitarist Tom Monda. A perfect blend of melody, intensity, technique and style. Check out this song off their first album... http://thankyouscientist.bandcamp.com/track/make-like-a-tree-get-out

Thanks for all your answer and for your music, so important in my life (You answered my question in 2010 for the website metalsickness.com and I wrote the "Abnormal" review)

Always a pleasure, thanks to you and all the readers!!

~ Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal

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