NewGNRnOldGNR Interviews Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal.

[Chinese Monopoly]

Interview With Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal

1. So Ron, who have been your biggest musical influences to date?

There have been a whole lot... the biggest ones? George Martin, Beatles' producer. He added the classical instrumentation to their music that took it to a whole new place. It influenced me to add cellos and different instrumental lines to songs where I wouldn't have if not for the impact George Martin had on me. Then there was KISS - hearing the Kiss Alive! album at age 5 is what made me wanna be in a rock band and do what I'm doin'. Guitar-wise, it's a long list starting with Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Ace Frehley and Angus Young...

2. How was the recent tour with Lita Ford in Europe and the US?

Haha, that was some fun stuff! Learned the songs in 2 days, got together once and hit the road. Lita and her family, the band and crew, a lot of laughing and making trouble, haha. Good bunch of people... musically there was a lot of jamming and trading solos between Lita me and the keyboardist, spontaneous stuff, it was a damn good time.

3. How was your time with Guns N? Roses in South East Asia lately?

Fucking amazing. Playing Korea for the first time, playing for hours in Japan, and as always the people were so kind, it was a great thing. Finally got to bust out the double-neck and new gear and play the songs appropriately. It's good to finally be able to do this the way it was meant to be done.

4. Seen as you?ve now had the chance to play almost all of the ?Chinese Democracy? songs live, which would now be your favourite tracks off the album to play?

Shackler's, Scraped, Better, If The World, Catcher... Chinese, Street Of Dreams, TWAT, Sorry... Prostitute, IRS, This I Love, Maddy...

5. We?ve seen some images on Frank Ferrer?s blog of the band on the road in between each tour date, was the atmosphere on the bus as it fun as it looks?

It's always a shitload of fun... I took it easy on this trip though - stayed in, stayed warm, slept a lot, did what I could to make sure I was good for every show. As much as I wanted to go out and misbehave, I have a responsibility to be at my best every night and I take it seriously and that's more important to me than anything.

6. Seen as the Canadian and South American dates will soon be upon us, will you be bringing the same guitars and equipment, or will you make some changes?

I plan on bringing the same gear, I'm likin' what I got. Vigier single & double-neck, Engl Invader100 amp, it's workin'.

7. Finally, will you be making any New Year resolutions, and what will they be?

To finally put out my line of hot sauces.

Have a great 2010, see ya there!

Ron

Huge Thanks To Ron For This Marvellous & Most Detailed Interview!

[estebanf]

cool interview. thank you, and thanks Bumble! 

[Bruno Poeys]

How was your time with Guns N? Roses in South East Asia lately?

Fucking amazing. Playing Korea for the first time, playing for hours in Japan, and as always the people were so kind, it was a great thing. Finally got to bust out the double-neck and new gear and play the songs appropriately. It's good to finally be able to do this the way it was meant to be done.

I've been saying from the beggning that It's not about Ron playing or not Bucket's stuff properly. He was NOT able to play it properly and HAD to change the way Bucket played them on the new songs and some of the whiners still used to say things like 'he hadn't time to learn the stuff properly', 'he can't play Bucket's riffs and solos' and shit like that. This was not the problem, this is not the problem. Do you think Bucket would do Ron's solos justice live with his own gear? Of course not. He doesn't have a fretless/fretted guitar so he just CAN'T play Chinese or Shackler's live properly. This is what happened to Ron on the last few tours. Now he's able to play the new stuff properly, how it was meant to be played.

[helenluna]

Cool interview, NewGNRnOldGNR! Thanks for that! 

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

Can't wait for the hot sauce.

[wight gunner]

Interview With Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal

4. Seen as you?ve now had the chance to play almost all of the ?Chinese Democracy? songs live, which would now be your favourite tracks off the album to play?

Shackler's, Scraped, Better, If The World, Catcher... Chinese, Street Of Dreams, TWAT, Sorry... Prostitute, IRS, This I Love, Maddy...



Huge Thanks To Ron For This Marvellous & Most Detailed Interview!

So what's up with "Riad N' The Bedouins" Ronny boy.....

haha just jesting, the total pro that he is, means that the quality of his part is being treated with the respect that it would be fair to say was lacking (IMO) by those who started this gig back in the mid 80's, at some venues.

[MarioGunner]

Ron is really cool, thanx for this.

[HBK]

4. Seen as you?ve now had the chance to play almost all of the ?Chinese Democracy? songs live, which would now be your favourite tracks off the album to play?

Shackler's, Scraped, Better, If The World, Catcher... Chinese, Street Of Dreams, TWAT, Sorry... Prostitute, IRS, This I Love, Maddy...

 

Thanks Ronald !!