Monthly Archives: July 2010

Ronnie James Dio Wins the Orange Amp, Relentless Energy Drink Kerrang! Icon Award 2010

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Planet-Musician

Orange Amps were proud to sponsor the Relentless Energy Drink Kerrang! Icon Award, presented to Ronnie James Dio last night. His wife Wendy Dio, was tearful as she accepted the Icon Award on his behalf at the star studded event held at The Brewery, London.

Ronnie, who died earlier this year, was widely hailed as one of the greatest voices in heavy metal, renowned for his consistently powerful voice. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell and his own band Dio.

He was a metal legend who touched many with his music, message and magic. He was awarded the Classic Rock Metal Guru Award in 2006, and inducted into the Rock Walk of Fame in 2007. Earlier this year Ronnie was named best metal singer by Revolver Magazine.

Not only did he possess one of the best metal voices in the business, but he had the heart to match. Motivated by the omission of heavy metal talent from the Live Aid event in 1985 he organised the Hear’N Aid charity recording that same year. It says much for his influence and popularity that he was able to attract to the cause the most prominent rock musicians of the day.

To find out more about the Orange gear and their artists that won at last night awards visit www.orangeamps.com.

To find out more about the Relentless Energy Drink Kerrang! Awards visit www.kerrang.com/blog/kerrang_awards/kerrang_awards_2010/news/.

Posted in Amplification, Events, Guitar

Orange Amp Endorsees win at the Relentless Energy Drink Kerrang! Awards 2010

Posted on July 30, 2010 by Planet-Musician

Orange Amps, one of the most recognisable and widely used guitar amps in the world, were well represented by their endorsees at the Relentless Energy Drink Kerrang! Awards 2010 last night.

Serial Kerrang! Award winners Lostprophets were back again last night as they added the coveted Classic Songwriter Award to their impressive collection. Guitarists Lee Glaze and Mike Lewis use a selection of Orange gear including the AD30 Combo, Thunderverb200 and Rockerverb 50 heads, with PPC412 cabs. Lostprophets bassist Stuart Richardson uses the Orange OBC410 and 115 with AD200 heads.

You And Me At Six, a band with a big future, picked up the sought after Best Single at the 2010 awards. Guitarist Max Miller and Chris Helyer both use Orange Thunderverb 200 and Rockerverb 50 heads with PPC412 cabs to help get that distinctive Orange sound.

The best video award went to Biffy Clyro for their awesome recording featuring the band captured on a boat out on the high seas. New Band member guitarist Mike Vennart is an Orange endorsee and uses their Retro 50 custom shop head.

To find out more about the Orange gear and what these Kerrang! Award winners were using visit www.orangeamps.com.

Posted in Amplification, Events, Guitar

Motion Samples Releases Acoustic Guitar Loops

Posted on July 28, 2010 by Planet-Musician

Acoustic Guitar Loops $25 Wav Files

Motion Samples presents a sensational selection of 100 acoustic guitar loops for producers in search of sexy r&b/pop melodies. The sounds contain quality recordings of live steel/nylon guitars that were recorded in various ways (miked, pick-ups and amped) to provide even more beautiful tone selections. In addition, many of the loops have been layered with harmonies and over-dubs for more musical performance and sound quality. It’s simply the sweetest collection we’ve ever released!

Visit www.motionsamples.com for more information and audio demos.

Posted in Audio, Guitar, Loops, Samples

ICMP and SAE Announce Collaborative Partnership

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Planet-Musician

The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) is proud to announce a new partnership with leading international media college, SAE Institute.  Founded in 1976 by Tom Misner in Australia, SAE Institute was the first to offer practical audio education and now spans over 50 locations around the world offering a wide range of courses & qualifications across the creative media sector.

The first of many events to be held in collaboration with SAE Institute London took place on Wednesday, 7th July when thirteen students visiting the ICMP from University of Southern California’s renowned Thornton School of Music spent the day writing, rehearsing and recording original music in SAE’s London Campus.  The culmination of a bespoke two-week programme for USC and ICMP students was a full day at the impressive and inspiring facilities at SAE London where some of their top sound engineering and audio production students were tasked with recording, mixing and mastering one track by each USC student, arranged and performed with student musicians from the ICMP. The experience was a taste of how intensely the music industry can operate and it was a testament to the talent of all the students involved as the tracks produced were outstanding!

The ICMP and SAE Institute, two visionaries of quality, excellence and innovation in contemporary music education, will be building on this relationship with many more events being delivered, increasing the opportunities for their students to learn from one another and expand their social and professional networks in music.

For more information about this or other events at the ICMP, contact us:

For more information about SAE, contact:

About the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance:

The ICMP is widely recognised as one of Europe’s leading schools of modern music. Established almost a quarter of a century ago, the ICMP has been developing and delivering cutting-edge courses to students of contemporary music for longer than any other UK-based school. Originally known as the Guitar Institute and Basstech, the school has built its reputation on providing world class teaching using the very best teachers and state-of-the-art facilities.  It now offers a range of professional courses including a 3-year Degree (BMus), a 2-year Foundation Degree, a fully-funded 1-year Diploma, a specialist 1-year Higher Diploma, a Professional Diploma in Songwriting plus a wide portfolio of part-time courses designed to meet a variety of training needs for guitarists, bass players, drummers, vocalists and songwriters. Past or present ICMP students can be found everywhere, touring with the likes of Moby and The Noisettes, playing with bands like Radiohead and  Babyshambles and artists like Eric Clapton and Kylie Minogue, and also working as teachers all over the world.

About the SAE Institute:

SAE Institute was established in 1976 as the world’s first audio engineering school. SAE has since expanded and has become a global network of audio, multimedia, animation and film Institutes. It is now represented in over 20 countries on five continents. The SAE Institute offers a range other creative media studies, including Digital Film Making, Web Design, Games Design, 3-D animation and Digital Journalism.

Posted in Education

Manson’s Launch John Paul Jones Signature Bass

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Planet-Musician

Whether looking forward as the bassist in Them Crooked Vultures laying down a groove with Dave Grohl and Joshua Homme, or to the past as the iconic legend, riff-master and songwriter in Led Zeppelin, John Paul Jones has a bass pedigree second to none. John has been performing with a vast collection of Manson Guitars creations for the past three decades both in the studio and for live work, including the historic Led Zeppelin reunion and also conquering the world all over again with Them Crooked Vultures. Now, after many years of refining, researching and testing, the legendary performer has placed his name to the main four-string Manson bass guitar that has been regularly seen in action across John’s projects for the past 16 years.

The Manson John Paul Jones E-Bass model is a replica of the bass that Hugh Manson made in the early 90s and has become John’s first call four-string ever since. Featuring a maple through-neck construction, figured maple top, Aged Cherry Sunburst high gloss lacquer, ebony fingerboard, EMG pickups and active circuit, Hipshot D-Tuner, Schaller machineheads and Badass bridge, the specs reflect exactly the current upgraded hardware of the bass John is currently using on tour with Them Crooked Vultures.

Priced at a competitive £2099 (including high quality gig bag), the bass is currently available exclusively from Mansons Guitar Shop.

Mansons Guitar Shop 01392 496379

www.mansons.co.uk

About Manson’s

Manson’s Guitar shop has been making custom guitars and accessories for over 30 years and is known for its reputation for innovation and quality. They have a number of the high profile clients which include Led Zeppelin, Muse ,Oasis, Jethro Tull, Yes, Hank Marvin, Stereophonics, Gary Moore and Peter Green.

Posted in Bass

Rotosound Takes to the Road with its Strings

Posted on July 20, 2010 by Planet-Musician

Rotosound is taking its revolutionary strings on tour. Over the next few months Rotosound will be out on the road giving you the opportunity to see their products at the following events:-

  • Bristol Guitar Show, Bristol, 19th Sept
  • London Music Show, London, 8th & 10th Oct
  • Bass Day UK, Manchester, 10th Oct
  • Bass Player Live, Los Angeles, 23rd & 24th Oct
  • Manson’s Guitar Show, Exeter, 23rd & 24th Oct
  • Guitar Nation, London, 13th & 14th Nov

September 19th 2009 sees the start of the tour of the inaugural Bristol Guitar Show, which will have a straightforward ‘table-top’ approach, designed to let you get close to the Rotosound gear.

Next stop is the London Music Show, where Rotosound will be sponsoring the live appearance of Billy Sheehan as well as exhibiting in the Guitar Zone.

Then the tour moves further north to Bass Day UK in Manchester where once again Rotosound, originators of the round wound bass string will be sponsoring the live appearance of Billy Sheehan.

Later that month you can meet the team as they cross the Atlantic to Bass Player Live, Los Angeles, and also put in an appearance at Manson’s Guitar Show in Exeter. Rotosound have a treat for all you guitarists out there, as they have Walter Trout on their stand at the Manson’s Guitar Show ( 3pm, Sunday 24th Only )

Completing the tour Rotosound will be at the Guitar Nation weekend, London Olympia, giving you another opportunity to see their world renowned strings once again.

So if you are looking for a specific sound from your strings, be you guitarist or bass player, go and meet the Rotosound team this year and find out what is the string for you.

Posted in Bass, Events, Guitar, Strings

Lick Library launch Jam with Jimi Hendrix Volume 2

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Planet-Musician

When Lick Library began recording the Jimi Hendrix DVD’s series they knew that with so many great tracks there would have to be Jam with Jimi Hendrix Volume 2.

Jimi Hendrix was one of the most important and influential musicians of his era. With his raw talent and creativity he is widely considered as the greatest electric guitarist in the history of rock music. Hendrix won many of the most prestigious rock music awards in his lifetime, and has been posthumously awarded many more

Jam with Jimi Hendrix Volume 2 (RRP £27.99) – is a double DVD set with over two hours of lessons to help you learn each song the way it was originally played. Also included is a CD of professionally recorded guitar jam tracks for each song allowing you to play along with a full session band. Tracks include :- Spanish Castle Magic, Mr Bad Luck, Lullaby For Summer, Bleeding Heart, Red House, Sunshine Of Your Love and from his very latest new album the track Valley Of Neptune.

This latest DVD has former Joe Satriani pupil Danny Gill taking you through guitar lessons featuring more classic Hendrix tracks. It is a real must for any Hendrix or electric guitar fan and will teach you some of the best classic Hendrix riffs and solos. Danny explains how to play the songs as well as revealing many of the special techniques used by Hendrix. These include double stops, key switches, bending, sliding, slicing, scratching as well as tuning and what equipment to use.

Licklibrary has a comprehensive series of Jimi Hendrix guitar tuition DVDs which includes Learn to Play Jim Hendrix volume 1 and 2, Jam with Jimi Hendrix Volume 1, and Quick Licks Slow Blues in the style of Jim Hendrix. These are available to purchase through www.licklibrary.com along with over 20,000 other guitar tuition products.

Posted in Education, Guitar

2010 Festivals are Orange

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Planet-Musician

Orange amps are turning the 2010 festival season Orange with an incredible line-up of endorsees hitting the stages this summer.

The big festivals of 2010 kicked off in June with the Download Festival where Orange fielded a strong team including Jim Root with Stonesour and Kerrang!’s best new act The Young Guns.

Next on the fixture list this weekend is T in the Park which will see a hard hitting line up of Orange endorsee guitarist and bass players using their gear. Exciting players include the British electronic dance band Faithless, Brit Award nominees Scouting for Girls, and the infamous Baby Shambles to name but a few.

Moving on the High Voltage Festival you can see such acts as heavy metal super group Down, Orange Goblin, Clutch and Lethargy displaying their Orange amp skills.

Sonisphere rounds up July with internationally recognised alternate rock band Placebo, and three of the best British metal bands Bring me the Horizon, Gallows and Skindred hitting the pitch.

The August festival finale brings V and Reading Festivals. Brit award winner Florence and the Machine, Q’s best band 2009 White Lies, are with The Magic Numbers representing Orange at V. While Reading sees Queens of the Stone Age, joined by NME best music video winners Biffy Clyro, serial Kerrang! award winners Lostprophets, Kerrang!’s Hall of Fame winners Limp Bizkit , Alkaline Trio, Against Me, The Gaslight Anthem, Weezer and pop-punk’s current golden boys You and Me at Six.

To find out more about the Orange gear and what the top guitarists and bass players are using this festival season visit www.orangeamps.com.

Posted in Amplification, Events, Guitar

Lick Library Launches Andy James’ Metal Rhythm Guitar in 6 Weeks

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Planet-Musician

Continuing in their quest to give guitarist the widest possible resources, Lick Library release the definitive Andy James’ Metal Rhythm Guitar in Six Weeks to follow on from the huge success of Andy James’ Shred Guitar in Six Weeks .

The six week DVD guitar tuition course has been put together in a way that sets sensible realisable targets, which teach you a wide range of different techniques, concepts and licks helping you understand and play metal rhythm guitar. Most importantly you can do it all at your own pace.

Andy James is one of the UK’s rising stars in the world of shred and metal guitar and has taught thousands of budding shredders world-wide through his DVDs and tutorials. He is also the lead guitarist for the band Sacred Mother Tongue, who played Download Festival last year and this year have just been confirmed for this summer’s UK Sonisphere Festival.

Lick Library is confident that by following the Andy James’ Metal Rhythm Guitar in Six Weeks course you will be able to see and hear genuine progress in the way you play metal rhythm guitar. Following the tuition DVDs week plan, your guitar playing will quickly begin to show discernable differences. Each DVD is broken down into easily absorbable logical sections which teach you different rhythm patterns to help your playing in real musical situations.

Here are just some of the areas covered in the six week series:

  • Week one includes: Standard tuning, palm and left hand muting, and more with four metal jam tracks.
  • Week two includes: Drop D tuning, chord progressions and phrasing, and more plus three metal jam tracks
  • Week three includes: Drop C# tuning, odd rhythms over a 4/4 beat, and more plus two metal jam tracks.
  • Week four includes: E flat tuning, complete song breakdown, triplets, and more plus a metal jam track.
  • Week five includes: Arpeggiated riffs, pedal tone riffs, and more plus a metal jam track.
  • Week six includes: Drop C tuning, odd rhythms, phrygian dominant scales, and more plus metal jam track.

All of the metal jam tracks have been specially devised by Andy himself to support your progress and help you practice all the things you have learnt. Stay with the six week plan and Lick Library guarantee your metal rhythm guitar playing will improve. The full set of six DVD’s retail for £79.99 or can be purchased individually at £16.99.

To find out more about this exciting new Guitar Lesson DVD format and all the other inspiring options Lick Library offer visit www.licklibrary.co.uk today and place your order now.

Posted in Education, Guitar

Rotosound Sponsors Guthrie Govan and Alex Hutchings master Classes at the Cheltenham Guitar Festival 2010

Posted on July 5, 2010 by Planet-Musician

Rotosound is excited to announce two of their endorsees and exceptional guitarists, Guthrie Govan and Alex Hutchings are to host master classes at the forth coming Cheltenham Guitar Festival 2010.

Celebrated cult guitarist, Guthrie Govan, will play an exclusive and an open master class, and the extraordinary guitarist and highly gifted composer Alex Hutchings will be playing a jazz rock master class. Both artist appearances have been sponsored by the British based guitar, bass and acoustic string manufacturer Rotosound.

Guthrie Govan is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and dazzling guitarists to emerge in modern times. He is known for his virtuoso command of the electric guitar and his proficiency in various styles from out and out rock, to jazz-fusion and blues.

Alex Hutchings is described as an inspired guitarist, possessing an immaculate technique that places him in a different league to his contemporaries. His playing has an authenticity and passion that is often lacking in the modern approach.

The Cheltenham Guitar Festival is delivered by the International Guitar Foundation (IGF), an educational charity whose activities work to improve the life experience of thousands of everyday people. The Cheltenham Guitar Festival, previously the Bath Guitar Festival, is Europe’s biggest summer school and now in its eighteenth successful year. For 2010 it has moved to the stunning Park campus of the University of Gloucester in the beautiful spa town of Cheltenham. The festival runs from 26th July to 6th August 2010 and continues to have a fantastic line up of workshops, master classes and concerts presenting some off the best established and emerging guitarists in the world

For further information Rotosounds world class artist roster and products can be found on www.rotosound.com.

About Rotosound

Rotosound is a pioneering force in string manufacturing. Their world famous music strings have been the first choice for some of the greatest musicians in the history of music and include Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Iron Maiden, Pink Floyd and the cream of more recent bands such as Franz Ferdinand and Oasis. They continue to endorsee an ever increasing list of the most respected, innovative and professional musicians, as well as being used by millions of satisfied customers around the planet.


Posted in Events, Guitar, Strings