No Guitar Is Safe

Plugging in a custom Dean solid-body, CHRIS POLAND jams with host JUDE GOLD and relives musical adventures spanning his days with jazz-rock daredevils the NEW YORKERS and thrash metal legends MEGADETH to his work leading prog-metal pioneers DAMN THE MACHINE and the hypnotic fusion trio, OHM. Chris also demonstrates sounds from his elaborate two-headed stereo guitar rig. This episode is presented by GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE and GuitarPlayer.com

29-year-old Guitarist/frontman MATTHEW CURRY plugs in a cherry Gibson SG, and within the first few notes of this episode, you'll hear why his star is on the rise: He's got fire in his fingers, and soul in his voice. I first saw Matthew on the Rock Legends cruise, where, in just the opening song of his commanding set on the big outdoor stage, I knew I had to have the up-and-coming rock/blues/Americana guitar hero on the podcast. BONUS: Matthew's rhythm guitarist/keyboardist MIKE NELLAS joins Matthew for a tune. Enjoy! —JUDE GOLD, host and creator, No Guitar Is Safe podcast. Presented by GUITAR PLAYER magazine.

GREG KIHN — the legendary rock radio hitmaker — died on August 13, 2024, so today we celebrate him with an encore of our epic 2017 guitar hang and interview/jam with him and his longtime lead guitar player RY (who also happens to be his son). ORIGINAL EPISODE NOTES: Today, the guitar 'copter descends upon Soundtek Studios in San Jose, California, to jam with platinum rocker GREG KIHN and his lead guitarist (and son) RY KIHN. Jude and the Kihns also talk about everything from Greg's classic hit songs (such as "Breakup Song" and "Jeopardy") and tunes on his brand new album, which is called REKIHNDLED; to great moments with the great guitarists the Greg Kihn Band has employed over the decades and what it's like being parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic. (Special thanks to Robert Berry and Soundtek studios for hosting this interview.) HOSTED by JUDE GOLD. Presented by GUITAR PLAYER magazine.

From CHRISTINA AGUILERA and 2PAC to SISQÓ and FRANK OCEAN, guitarist/composer MICHAEL “FISH” HERRING can be heard with a wide range of superstars. On this episode, we “land the ‘copter” on Fish’s front lawn, head into his amazing home studio, plug in some Yamaha guitars (Fish into a Line 6 Helix running though studio monitors, yours truly into a BOSS Katana combo), and do a little jamming. And, of course, we dive deep into what it takes to become one of the most in-demand lead guitarists in the challenging Los Angeles music scene. Bonus: Fish reveals who is the better billiards player — him, or JONI MITCHELL. This episode is presented by GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE. Enjoy!

Albert King and B.B. King both loved CHRIS CAIN. And so will you. Previewing tracks from his new album, Good Intentions Gone Bad (out July 19th on Alligator Records), and playing a ton of guitar (as well as singing!) for you, blues legend Cain jams with host Jude Gold and shows you how he went from being a little kid going with his dad to attend concerts by the three kings (Albert, B.B. and Freddie) to becoming a world renowned blues artist in his own right. This episode is presented by Guitar Player magazine.

More than just an interview and jam with the great guitarist DAMON WOOD (currently of SEAL PARTY), this episode is also a portal back to the amazing "thrash funk" era of San Francisco Bay Area music, an exciting time in the late '80s/early '90s when live bands pushing an infectious new genre of music ruled the Bay Area clubs. Some of the acts coming up in this scene — Primus, Limbomaniacs, and Fungo Mungo come to mind — lived up to the genre description by alternating danceable funk grooves with heavy, head-bang-able rock riffs, typically within the same song. However, SMOKING SECTION — Damon Wood's immensely popular Bay Area dance band — truly delivered the "funk" half of the thrash/funk equation, and in spectacular fashion. And in this episode Damon relives those unforgettable days — and Smoking Section's unforgettable grooves — in all their glory, and celebrates the fact that Smoking Section's album "Smooth & Nasty" is finally (after over three decades!) available for you to hear on Spotify, Apple Music, and just about every other streaming service. Presented by GUITAR PLAYER magazine. Hosted by JUDE GOLD.

Vic Johnson returns! The longtime lead guitarist for Sammy Hagar, Vic invites you into Hagar’s Northern California studio, where he fires up his glorious “tri-stereo” wet/dry/wet rig and demonstrates some tones, plays some riffs, takes a few solos, and relives adventures with everyone from Total Eclipse — his badass ’90s metal band — to the the Bus Boys, Eddie Murphy, Michael Anthony, Dr. Dre, Suge Knight and, of course the Red Rocker, Sammy Hagar. (Note: Vic also appeared on Ep. 8 of this show, recorded back in September of 2015. All previous episodes are still posted, so go deep!) Presented by GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE and GUITARPLAYER.COM. Hosted by Jude Gold.

From hearing David Bowie strum a simple acoustic chord pattern while singing the words "let's dance" to transforming the sketch into the superstar singer's biggest hit, NILE RODGERS (in this flashback to Episode 125) relives step by step how he pulled off the feat. He also details meeting a new musician on the session — a future guitar hero that Bowie's "Let's Dance" album would soon introduce to the world: a young Texan named Stevie Ray Vaughan. (ABOUT THE "REWIND" SERIES: There is simply too much treasure in No Guitar Is Safe's ever-growing archive of back episodes not to revisit some great moments once in awhile! That is why now, between new episodes, you can expect to be hit with short, curated, "fun size," easily digestible REWIND posts in which we "roll back the tape" and listen back to a magical moment in this show's history.) This episode is presented by GUITAR PLAYER magazine and hosted by JUDE GOLD.

Chicago guitar ace DAN PETERS pushes his Gretsch 6120 to new limits by playing everything from rockabilly to blues slide to shred metal on the iconic hollowbody. Dan also deconstructs the energetic music of the West Side Winders and the Dan Peters Band — his two main original projects over the years — as well as shares his approaches to playing with star singers such as DEE SNIDER, and the art of almost falling down the stairs in a Broadway musical. This episode is presented by GUITAR PLAYER magazine and guitarplayer.com. Hosted by JUDE GOLD.

Folks, there is simply too much treasure in No Guitar Is Safe's ever-growing archive of back episodes not to revisit some great moments once in awhile! That is why now, between new episodes, you can expect me to hit you with short, curated, fun-size, easily digestible REWIND posts in which we "roll back the tape" and listen back to a magical moment in this show's history — like, for example, that time six years ago when KIRK FLETCHER blew our minds with several killer ways to play blues shuffles (which is what you'll hear on today's REWIND). And yes: If you want to hear the whole Kirk Fletcher show (it was Ep. 69), or any of the other 170 or so episodes of this show that are still up there in the feed, feel free to do so. Binge away! And don't worry: Tons of new episodes coming .... This episode is presented by GUITAR PLAYER magazine. — JUDE GOLD, Host, No Guitar Is Safe podcast.

Today we plug in with session king and bandleader MICHAEL THOMPSON — “MT” to his friends — who is one of the most recorded guitarists in history. Thompson has worked with everyone from Michael Jackson, Shania Twain, Phil Collins, Christina Aguilera, Ray Charles, Fleetwood Mac, and Beyoncé to Lionel Richie, Bob Seger, Neil Diamond, Michael Bublé, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Justin Bieber, Celine Dion, and Earth, Wind & Fire, to name just a small fraction of the staggering roster of superstars he’s tracked with. The L.A.-based guitarist has also released multiple Michael Thompson Band solo albums over the years, including 2023’s “The Love Goes On.” Hosted by JUDE GOLD and taking place at MT’s home studio, this episode offers a deep dive into Michael’s life, career, gear and signature sound — the shimmering, melodic, funky and fully rockin’ guitar approach that made Thompson an A-list session cat for such super-producers as David Foster, Babyface and John “Mutt” Lange during the peak of the session guitar era. Presented by GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE and GUITARPLAYER.COM.

Grammy-nominated funk-jazz virtuoso WILL BERNARD plugs in! Home for the holidays, the renowned New York-based ES-335 tamer invites me into the Berkeley, California, house he grew up in, where he cranks up a Carr combo, shares some funkalicious pedalboard recipes, and offers insights he's gained from releasing tons of his own solo records, working as a hired gun, learning jazz and more from the great Dave Creamer, studying slide guitar ragas with Debashish Battacharya, talking free jazz with Ornette Coleman, and, of course, playing with the popular, major-label funk fusion ensemble T.J. Kirk. PRESENTED BY GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE, this was a great rainy-night guitar hang! Enjoy. — Jude Gold, Host, No Guitar Is Safe podcast.

For this episode, we head out to Nashville, TN, where Smash Mouth founding guitarist GREG CAMP plugs in and shows you how he gets his magical, multi-platinum-selling "surfadelic" Jazzmaster sounds. He also details the art of writing hit songs (he wrote Smash Mouth's biggest hits, including "All-Star" and "Walkin' on the Sun"); introduces you to his new band, the Defiant; and celebrates the life and music of late, great Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell. Special thanks to Daneil Adams, who lets us listen to an unreleased track produced by the great Eric Valentine — the master behind the mixing desk on hits by Smash Mouth and so many other bands. Hosted by Jude Gold. This episode is brought to you by Guitar Player magazine.

One of the greatest soloists in hard rock, metal, and beyond, George Lynch has a signature mojo that has earned him legions of devoted fans ever since the '80s, when he broke big as lead guitarist for the platinum selling rock band Dokken. Since then, with his own band, Lynch Mob (who have just released a new album, called Babylon), and his many other projects, Lynch has emerged as one of the most prolific guitarists in rock. On this episode, we catch up with George at his home studio, where he plugs in a vintage Stratocaster, plays guitar with us, and shares what motivates him, both on stage and in the studio. PRESENTED BY Guitar Player magazine and guitaplayer.com. HOSTED BY Jude Gold.

Mere hours after he rocked one the world's biggest arenas as part of Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival, ARIEL POSEN plugs in with us at his Los Angeles hotel room and demonstrates his singular sound, including the way he gets soaring slide notes out of a hollow, steel-bodied, Strat-shaped baritone from Mule Resophonic Guitars, and how he "tortures circuits" to make fuzz pedals sing. The Canadian guitar hero also offers a deep dive into several songs off his new album, REASONS WHY. Hosted by JUDE GOLD. This episode is presented gy Guitar Player magazine and guitarplayer.com

Grammy-winning solo artist and first-call session ace ANDREW SYNOWIEC plugs in several guitars, jams with us, previews his new album, FUN, more than a week before its release (it comes out September 8), and takes us on a sonic tour of his amazing Los Angeles studio. Having recorded and/or performed with everyone from the Who, Bette Midler, and Elton John to Ariana Grande, Michael Bublé, and Nick Jonas — and having done film music sessions for blockbuster franchises such as Frozen, Batman, Mission Impossible, and Spider Man — Andrew has gained mountains of professional guitar experience in his 20 years in Los Angeles ... and he shares a bunch of that experience right here on this episode. Hosted by JUDE GOLD. Presented by GUITAR PLAYER magazine and GuitarPlayer.com. Additional thanks to G7th Capos for the custom, laser-engraved No Guitar Is Safe capo we gift Andrew at the end of this episode.

Blend the playing styles of Freddie King, Allan Holdsworth, and Duane Allman, and — as you’ll hear on this episode — you’d probably get something sounds like the great ALLEN HINDS. When it comes to improvising epic solos, grooving behind world-class singers (he’s worked with everyone from Bobby Caldwell and Randy Crawford to Gino Vannelli, Roberta Flack, and Natalie Cole), building “mutt guitars” out of vintage parts, dialing in pedalboards, and maintaining guitars, Allen is such a deep player that No Guitar Is Safe felt a return visit to his guitar lair in the Hollywood Hills was fully merited. Plus, we introduce Allen to an intriguing new delay pedal from Keeley and Andy Timmons called the Halo. (Does Allen fall in love with it after just a few notes? Does he steal it from us and refuse to give it back? Listen and find out.) And, last but not least, Allen explains why, if you haven’t already, you need to start recording and releasing your own music NOW. Hosted as always by Jude Gold. Presented by Guitar Player magazine and GuitarPlayer.com Thanks to G7th Capos for the laser-engraved “No Guitar Is Safe” capo we give each guest on the show.

WAYNE C. HENDERSON is a stunning steel-string player, and he's equally known for the amazing guitars he builds. Highly sought after instruments, Wayne's handmade guitars (and mandolins) have been ordered by everyone from Vince Gill and Eric Clapton to Brad Paisley, Peter Rowan and Doc Watson. To make a Henderson, Wayne says he just gets out his pocketknife and carves away "anything that doesn't look like a guitar." Last but not least, Wayne is known for the spectacular one-day music gathering he and his friends hold on a mountain in Virginia each year — the Wayne C. Henderson Music Festival and Guitar Competition, which raises scholarship money to help children learn to play instruments and love music. I attended the festival this year and had such a great time, two days later I brought some mics and stands over to Wayne's shop and convinced him to play some solo pieces, jam with me and do an interview, and you are about to hear it all here. This episode is presented by GUITAR PLAYER magazine and GUITARPLAYER.COM. Thanks for listening! ——Jude Gold, Host and creator, No Guitar Is Safe.

As if playing the famous “More Cowbell” episode of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE wasn’t cool enough, rock/fusion (emphasis on the ROCK) virtuoso RAFAEL MOREIRA — who invites us into his home studio for this epic jam and guitar hang/interview — has also worked with superstar singers such as P!NK and CHRISTINA AGUILERA, his hero PAUL STANLEY, and played huge guitar moments in the house band of such hit television shows as THE VOICE, ROCKSTAR INXS, and AMERICAN IDOL. Plus, RAFA details some of his solo music, the music of his hard rock band (Magnetico), and even plays a little drums for us. Meanwhile, host JUDE GOLD hits the “50 out of 50” touring milestone. Presented by GUITAR PLAYER magazine, and guitarplayer.com. Special shout-out to G7th Capos for the custom “No Guitar Is Safe” capo we award RAFA at the end of the episode.

From his years touring, recording, and songwriting with MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD to his runs with BILLY PRESTON, SLY AND ROBBIE, OZOMATLI, BUSK!, P!NK, and other headliners, San Francisco guitar ace DAVE SHUL has been in demand for over three decades — especially by bandleaders who want some serious FUNK guitar in their ensemble. Inviting us into his San Francisco recording studio — which he shares with his good friend, the great drummer JAY LANE (DEAD & Co.) — Dave whips out a couple of Telecaster-style guitars for us to play and takes us on a deep exploration of what it means to throw down fat grooves on an electric guitar. Hosted and created by JUDE GOLD. THIS EPISODE IS PRESENTED BY GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE and GUITARPLAYER.COM. As a thank you for having us over, we present Shul with a G7th Performance Capo (with the title of this podcast laser-engraved into to the top of it) and a pair of Straptight Strap Locks.