Jimmy Kay from The Metal Voice Spoke with Ex- Ozzy Osbourne guitarist GUS G along with his guitar (who is in lock down in Greece) on The Metal Voice Facebook live. Subjects- Playing with Ozzy, New self titled Firewind Album, riff for fans and Q & A.
New Firewind self-titled 9th studio album will be released on May 15th on AFM.
Watch Here:
Tell me about the Coronavirus situation in Greece?
“In Greece we are on a total lock down, you need written permission to leave the house. You are only allowed to go grocery shopping or go to the doctor stuff like that. Last week some people drove about an hour away where there were beaches to escape the city and a lot of people got fines for that. This is a new thing, it’s pretty serious, I understand it’s tough to stay home but we have to do it. This is the time to play by the rules, for the sake of humanity. ”
What is the difference between your new album and albums you have done in the past?
“First of all there is another new singer (Herbie Langhans), also another difference is guitarist/keyboardist Bob Katsionis is not in the band anymore so there is less keyboards. It’s kind of like a reboot, a restart of the band. It’s still a Firewind record, people will hear the resemblance on a lot of the tracks cause I am the primary songwriter in the band. It’s also a different record compared to the last album ‘Immortals’. The last album was a concept album that was epic and power metal album. Whereas this new one I feel is a little bit of a collection of elements that sum up Firewind over the years with a new approach. There is also a lot of variation on the record. The first single we put out ‘Rising Fire’ is kind of like more hard rock, stomping, heavy, then there are other tracks that are more epic power metal, then we also have this big ballad with orchestration by Adam Wakeman.”
What did Herbie the new singer bring to the table on the new album?
“He was a great addition and was a great help on this record because we were on a tight deadline and he got to work right away on the lyrics and melodies. We worked every day and was easy to work with and helped a lot in bringing the album to completion.”
What did you think about Ozzy’s new album Ordinary Man?
“I have to say I like the album. I am happy to see Ozzy recovering and being creative in his downtime. I thought the production was very cool stripped down, back to basics production but still very big and clear. I think there are some really good songs on the record. ”
Do you ever wish you got the chance to write an album with Ozzy?
“I think it would have been nice to write something from scratch with Ozzy, I never got that chance to sit down and properly write an album with him. But you have to understand Ozzy Osbourne the solo artist is not what it was in the 80’s where he had a band. Now he writes with different people, tries out different things and I get it. I always take the best out of each situation. I played on one of his studio albums, how cool is that?
Jimmy Kay from The Metal Voice will talk to Ex Ozzy Osbourne guitarist GUS G with his guitar (who is in lock down in Greece) on The Metal Voice Facebook live. Subjects- Playing with Ozzy, New self titled Firewind Album and Q & A.
It’s going to be fun
March 27 2020
12:15pm Eastern Standard time
4:15pm UK Time
Former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist & Firewind mastermind GUS G. is set to release a brand new (digital only) EP on September 20th.
“Live In Budapest – Part 1” consists of four tracks, recorded on the guitarist’s headline European tour in support of his latest acclaimed release “Fearless”. The world tour saw Gus & his band share stages around the world with legendary guitarists like Richie Kotzen, Vinnie Moore followed by his own headline dates & a massive tour as special guest of LA rockers Steel Panther.
Gus G.’s band features Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69/Unisonic) on bass & vocals and longtime drummer Johan Nunez (Firewind, ex-Kamelot).
Recorded by Dani Gonzalez & mixed by Dennis Ward, this is the first official Live solo release from the guitar hero & captures incredible performances from Gus & band who are firing on all cylinders!
„Live In Budapest – Part 1”
Tracklist:
1. Fearless
2. My Will Be Done
3. Cold Sweat
4. Don’t Tread On Me
Pre-save „Live In Budapest – Part 1” on digital platforms here.
Another bunch of Gus G. live dates is confirmed now too:
– Live in Greece 2019 –
06.09 Athens @ Crow Live Stage
07.09 Oinofita @ Let’s Rock Festival
08.09 Thessaloniki @ Mylos Club
Greek power metal icons FIREWIND, the band of former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist GUS G., have signed a worldwide record deal with German metal label AFM Records. The collaboration between the band and AFM already started with the latest FIREWIND album “Immortals”, which AFM released in the North American territory back then.
Subsequently, GUS G. signed with AFM to also release his solo albums together, and now we are happy to announce that also FIREWIND’s future albums will be released worldwide by AFM.
Gus G. states:
„After working together with AFM Records on my latest solo album “Fearless” and seeing the great results that were achieved, the passion and care they put into the project, it felt natural to extend our partnership and bring Firewind under the same roof. This is something I’m very excited about and I’m also happy to announce that we’re already working on the follow up of “Immortals”. We plan to enter the studio after our Summer tour with Queensryche wraps up in August. Stay tuned for further announcements!“
The new album “Triumphant Hearts” from JASON BECKER will be released on December 7th, via Mascot Records/Mascot Label Group. The album features Marty Friedman, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Neal Schon, Steve Morse, Paul Gilbert, Joe Bonamassa, Uli Jon Roth, Richie Kotzen, Gus G., Jake Shimabukuro, and many more.
Watch the lyric video for the stunning ‘Valley of Fire’ ft. The Magnificent 13 here:
The Magnificent 13 are: Steve Vai, Joe Bonamassa, Paul Gilbert, Neal Schon, Marty Friedman, Michael Lee Firkins, Mattias IA Eklundh, Greg Howe, Jeff Loomis, Richie Kotzen, Gus G, Steve Hunter and Ben Woods.
Mascot Records are extremely excited and honored to present the new album ‘Triumphant Hearts’ from Jason Becker, which will be released on 7th December 2018.
Jason Becker’s story is one of brilliance, talent, determination, adversity, and, ultimately, triumph. A child prodigy on guitar, Jason rose to prominence as a teenager when he was one half of the technical guitar duo Cacophony, with his great friend Marty Friedman. In 1989, at only 19 years old and after wowing audiences all over the world, the young virtuoso became the guitarist for David Lee Roth, following in the huge footsteps of Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai. He wrote and recorded on his 3rd solo album ‘A Little Ain’t Enough’ and was poised for superstardom when a nagging pain in his leg was diagnosed as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). A fatal condition with a life expectancy of maybe five years. Maybe.
That was 29 years ago. He lost the ability to play guitar, walk, talk, and breathe on his own. But never lost his will to live or his desire to create music. Communicating through a series of eye movements with a system developed by his father, Jason spells out words as well as musical notes and chords. He imparts his musical vision to his team who then can input the notes into a computer, edit the parts to his exacting standards, and then generate charts for session musicians. His inspiring music and life story have been the subject of countless news articles, magazine cover stories, and an award-winning documentary, Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet.
The album’s 14 tracks showcase Jason’s gift for melody and his deep knowledge of classical composition and orchestral arrangement. Many of the guitar parts are performed by a who’s who of 6-string gods including Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Neal Schon, Steve Morse, Paul Gilbert, Joe Bonamassa, and many others. And, in what will absolutely delight his fans, Jason’s amazing guitar playing—recorded in the ’80s and ’90s—features throughout.
The first song to be released from the album is the beautifully mesmerizing 9 minute and 5 second instrumental ‘Valley of Fire’ that features The Magnificent 13 – Steve Vai, Joe Bonamassa, Paul Gilbert, Neal Schon, Marty Friedman, Michael Lee Firkins, Mattias IA Eklundh, Greg Howe, Jeff Loomis, Richie Kotzen, Gus G, Steve Hunter and Ben Woods. A phenomenal cast to feature on a single song.
The album opens with the title track, featuring Jason’s old bandmate Marty Friedman and an astounding violin performance. “I wrote ‘Triumphant Heart’ and it made me feel triumphant,” says Becker. “When Marty found out I was making this album, he told me he would play anything I needed. I sent him this, and his wife, Hiyori Okuda, who is a cellist, also offered to play on it. The great violinist, Glauco Bertagnin, recorded my violin parts in Italy. That fast solo section I wrote is way too hard; I don’t know how Glauco pulled it off. He put so much soul in the whole song.”
‘Hold on to Love’ is the first vocal song on the record, although it didn’t start out that way. “It was going to be an instrumental,” explains Jason, “but after I wrote the chorus with lyrics, I knew I had to tell my story, to explain how I can continue living without feeling hate. I hadn’t written many lyrics before.”
In addition to its beautiful, gospel-tinged choir, the heartfelt song features Bay Area singer Codany Holiday on lead vocals.
‘Fantasy Weaver’ displays the 4-string magic of world-renown ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro and harp arpeggios that were written back in his Cacophony days. ‘Once Upon a Melody’ not only features two Jason Becker guitar solos from his Cacophony era, but also audio of him as a three-year-old. The full-circle nature of having little boy Jason, guitar virtuoso Jason, and modern-day composer Jason all on the same song is a breathtaking accomplishment while ‘We Are One,’ features soulful Flipsyde vocalist Steve Knight, and more Jason Becker guitar delights.
Uli Jon Roth appears on ‘Magic Woman,’ along with ex-Megadeth guitarist Chris Broderick who counts both Uli and Jason as big influences. Fans of Jason’s work with David Lee Roth will be thrilled by the inclusion of two previously unreleased outtakes from the ‘A Little Ain’t Enough’ sessions, the hard rocking ‘Taking Me Back’ and the blues-infused ‘Tell Me No Lies.’ There are also performances by Joe Satriani, Guthrie Govan, Steve Morse, Trevor Rabin, and many others.
“Some people feel sorry for me,” he concedes, “and I understand that. I really feel lucky though. I don’t miss playing guitar anymore. I’m sure that’s out of necessity, but I am grateful for so much more. I am surrounded by loving people, and I can still make music.”
Tracklisting:
Triumphant Heart (feat. Marty Friedman, Glauco Bertagnin, Hiyori Okuda)
Hold On To Love (feat. Codany Holiday)
Fantasy Weaver (feat. Jake Shimabukuro)
Once Upon A Melody
We Are One (feat. Steve Knight)
Magic Woman (feat. Uli Jon Roth & Chris Broderick)
Blowin’ in the Wind
River of Longing (feat. Joe Satriani, Aleks Sever, Guthrie Govan, Steve Morse)
Valley of Fire (feat. The Magificent 13)
River of Longing (feat. Trevor Rabin)
Taking Me Back
Tell Me No Lies
Hold On To Love (feat. Codany Holiday) [Chuck Zwicky Remix]
You Do It
Guitar maestro GUS G. released his third solo album “Fearless” back in April and today has unleashed the brand new single ‘Force Majeure’, featuring Vinnie Moore. Check out the video below:
On “Fearless” Gus joined forces with vocalist/bassist Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69/Unisonic) and drummer Will Hunt (Evanescence, Black Label Society).
Gus is currently touring the US with Vinnie Moore and Richie Kotzen and is set to hit the UK on 13th October, before moving onto Europe. More details here.
