Greg Marra Iconoclast Music Podcast

John Guilford of Guilford Guitars discusses his custom guitar line including signature models from Ty Tabor, Bruce Bouillet, Ted Nugent as well as his other offerings. John also talks about working at the Chesbro distribution facility for Ibanez Guitars back in the day and much more.  www.gregmarra.com

Legendary amplifier designer and builder, Bruce Egnater of Egnater Amplifiers, discusses all things amps as well as his amp building class and much more! www.gregmarra.com

Marco Sfogli, guitarist for James Labrie (of Dream Theater) solo band, Marco Sfogli solo, and his newest project for 2017 - Icefish with Virgil Donati on drums. Marco discusses all things guitars, gear and music including his signature Ibanez guitar, the recording process for his own records as well as James Labrie and much more!  www.gregmarra.com

Alan Rosen (CEO of Bananas at Large Music Stores) joins Greg on this episode to discuss his history as owner of the independent music retailer. Bananas at Large has been the go to music store for professional musicians such as Joe Satriani, Neal Schon, James Hetfield and many others for years and services the San Francisco Bay area, US (via bananas.com online store) and beyond. Alan gives insight to the state of the retail music industry from an independent business owner's perspective. Alan also talks about education in our public schools and what he's doing to help make more programs available in our school systems today. 

Thomas McLaughlin (McRocklin, Bad4Good) talks about his years as a child prodigy in the Steve Vai produced band, Bad4Good, as well as his new release for 2017 called "Storms". Thomas discusses his love for rap, hip hop and electronic music and then takes us on a trip back to Vai's "The Audience is Listening" video and recording at The Mothership back in the early 90's as a young musician. Search McRocklin for all things Thomas McLaughlin.

Paul Holdgate from Ibanez Guitars, Montrose, and Greg Golden Band joins Greg Marra on this episode of the show to chat about all things Ibanez as well as Paul's years as vocalist for the legendary band Montrose. Paul and Greg discuss studio gear, the state of the music industry and the new Greg Golden Band release that is produced by Frank Hannon of Tesla. 

Jeff Kollman, guitarist for Cosmosquad, Bombastic Meatbats, Glenn Hughes, Mogg/Way, Solo, etc. talks about his career from the early years touring with Edwin Dare to present day. Jeff and Greg discuss guitars and gear including Jeff's signature pedal, Kollmanation. Jeff's band, Cosmosquad, released The Morbid Tango in Spring 2017 and you'll hear an excerpt of the title track in this episode as well. 

Mike K, multi-platinum record producer and guitarist for The Fell (w/Billy Sheehan on bass, Toby Rand on vocals, Randy Cooke on drums), Smash Mouth, Nelly Furtado, David Archuleta and many others joins Greg to chat about his career as a producer as well as his studio "Twelve Records Music" in Nashville. Mike is sponsored by Ibanez Guitars and Laney Amplifiers among others. 

Steve Fister, guitarist for Pat Travers Band, Lita Ford, Steppenwolf and many others, talks about his career from playing non-stop on the east coast to his time as musical director and lead guitarist for Lita Ford during the heyday of the late 80's. Steve's solo work has charted in the top of the charts in the European blues market and he tours regularly in the European markets as well as the US and elsewhere. Steve and Greg talk at length about the gear Steve has used throughout his career including his endorsements with BC Rich, Ibanez, and Gibson Guitars in the past and one of his current endorsements, Godin Guitars. 

Mike Varney, founder of Shrapnel Records is the guest on this episode of IMP. Mike talks new Shrapnel Records releases for 2017 and takes a trip back to the early days when he started the label as well as his Spotlight Column. Mike's column introduced the world to many of the music industry's best shred guitarists of our time. Many rare stories are told in this episode of the inner workings of Shrapnel Records as well as behind the scenes of the recordings and what is involved in operating his record label throughout the past four decades. 

Guitar pedal designer, Brian Wampler of Wampler Pedals, joins Greg on this episode of IMP. Brian discusses the history of Wampler Pedals as well as his new product offerings for 2017 including the Dracarys and Ethereal pedals as well as his new pedal platform amplifier, The Bravado. Brian talks about designing a pedal for Brad Paisley and how he met him years ago at one of his concerts. Brent Mason and Tom Quayle are also other signature artists discussed on this episode.  

Mike Hansen is one the music industry's most in-demand session and touring drummers in the business today and some of his credits include: George Lynch's Souls of We, Bouillet, Hurricane, A Tribute to Hendrix, Bonnie Pointer, Tribe After Tribe, Plenty Heavy and many others. Follow Mike on a lifelong journey through his career as a working musician. 

Joy Basu, music producer for Lab Hits (over 2000 placements for tv and movie), discusses his career in the music business from his current position as composer and publisher to his years as resident guitarist for Jessica Simpson, music instructor at GIT and LAMA and performing for an audience of 300,000 for his solo act. 

Legendary guitarists Joey Tafolla talks about his days as a Shrapnel recording artist, career with Jag Panzer as well as his newest bands such as Leatherwolf and many others. 

Studio engineer and owner, Andy Zuckerman, is the guest for this episode of IMP. Andy takes us through his decades long career discussing his work at BAM Magazine, Line 6 Amplification as well as Bogner Amplification and his own studio - The Institute of Noise. Andy and Greg chat about studio gear, current studio techniques and trends as well as modeling amps and much more. 

Dario Lorina, guitarist for Black Label Society and Zakk Wylde's Book of Shadows joins Greg to discuss his days of playing in Jani Lane's band as a young guitarist as well as Lizzy Borden and then years touring with BLS. Dario has just released his sophomore release on Shrapnel Records named Death Grip Tribulations. The show closes with Dario's tune Echoes Of A Stone Heart from Death Grip Tribulations available everywhere on February 24th, 2017. 

Bassist Bjorn Englen joins Greg on this episode to discuss his work with Tony Macalpine, Dio Disciples, Plenty Heavy, Soul Sign, Blackwelder and Yngwie Malmsteen as well as many others. Bjorn talks about his experience with being a first call session and touring musician as well as the Hollywood scene and his endorsements with Ibanez Guitars and other companies. 

Eric Hill (owner/engineer at The Blue Room Studio and developer of Supersonic Samples) joins Greg to discuss his years as a tracking, mixing and mastering engineer as well as his plug-in drum sample company. Eric has run The Blue Room Studio for well over a decade and has worked with major label artist as well as developing acts in the Bay Area. There is a ton of information in this episode in regards to studio gear, techniques, how to get the most from a studio session and much more.  

DUg Pinnick, (King's X, KXM), talks to Greg about the new KXM record "Scatterbrain" as well as his years with King's X. DUg describes his signature amp from Tech 21 and signature bass guitar from Schecter. Tune in to hear DUg's answer to the question "Will there be new King's X music?" 

Drummer extraordinaire Jimmy D'Anda, (Lynch Mob, Bulletboys), joins Greg for this episode of IMP.  Jimmy has enjoyed gold record status in the heyday of the MTV era. Bulletboys had several videos in heavy rotation on the music network and mega success while signed to Warner Bros. Records. Greg and Jimmy discuss his recordings with legendary record producer Ted Templeman (Van Halen). Jimmy has toured extensively for nearly the past two decades as resident drummer of Lynch Mob with guitar icon George Lynch. Jimmy is an endorsed artist with DW Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Aquarian Drum Heads, and Vater Drum Sticks.