Away Team

Acclaimed guitarist Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big, Racer X), has announced the first annual Paul Gilbert’s Great Guitar Escape, set for July 9-13 at Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY. Guitar players of all ages, levels and styles are invited to join Paul Gilbert and other expert musicians for this 5 day experience focused on the techniques, styles, and life of the modern working musician.

“The concentrated guitar-power that I have assembled for The Great Guitar Escape could light a city the size of San Antonio for the next 1000 years,” says Paul Gilbert. “But more importantly, the workshops, nightly concert jams, and interaction with the pro musicians and fellow music lovers will give you inspiration and memories to last a lifetime. If you are a guitarist, bassist, drummer, or thinking about becoming one, don’t miss this amazing camp!”

Although the focus of the camp is the guitar, there will also be workshops from world-class pros on drums, bass guitar, sound engineering, and guitar tech skills. Every evening will culminate with intimate, once-in-a-lifetime jam sessions.

Featured instructors at Paul Gilbert’s Great Guitar Escape include: guitar virtuosos Guthrie Govan (The Aristocrats, Dizzee Rascal, Asia, The Fellowship, The Young Punx), Tony MacAlpine (CAB, Planet X), Chris “Kid” Andersen (Rick Estrin and The Nightcats, The Terry Hanck Band, Charlie Musselwhite, Elvin Bishop), Scotty Johnson (Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Paul Gilbert, Robben Ford’s Fords and Friends, The Ford Blues Band, The Blindside Blues Band) and Sam Coulson. Other distinguished guest musicians include bassist Kelly Lemieux (Goldfinger, Electric Love Hogs, 22 Jacks, MD.45, King of Clubs, Fear), and drummer Rodney Holmes (Rodney Holmes’ Lithium Tree, Santana, Steve Lukather, Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Wayne Shorter, Joe Zawinul, Rob Thomas), as well as Sound Engineer/Producer Tom Size (Sammy Hagar, Aerosmith, David Lee Roth, Huey Lewis, Eddie Money, Mr. Big, Y&T, Europe, Steve Miller Band, Joe Satriani, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Pass).

“I am extremely proud of the musicians who will be teaching at The Great Guitar Escape,” Gilbert notes. “I looked for people with not just stunning musicianship, but also the ability to communicate musical and technical ideas in a clear and interesting way. When I’m not teaching, I’m going to sneak into the back of the classes and learn some licks from the other teachers!”

“Every successful musician has certain defining moments in their musical lives — a concert, a meeting with a musical hero, some words from a great teacher at the right moment. The Great Guitar Escape is built to maximize these moments.”

From platinum album sales and #1 chart success as a founding member of Mr. Big, to frightening the guitar community with new levels of ferocious picking technique with shred-pioneers Racer X, to exploring punk, pop, classical, blues, jazz, and progressive instrumental styles in his solo career, Paul Gilbert has recorded a massive amount of stunning guitar music, all while circling the globe playing sold-out arenas from Japan to Jakarta. Paul’s guitar style stands out for its rare combination of accuracy, creativity, and power–all which are balanced with Paul’s sense of humor and pure love of music.

In addition to his daily Rock Master Classes at the Great Guitar Escape, Paul has set aside additional classes specifically to help beginning guitarists get on the right track for technique and practicing. These classes (personally taught by Paul) will focus on helping guitarists become comfortable with making music in minutes.

Paul remembers, “I took my first guitar lessons when I was six years old. My teacher taught me ‘by the book’ and I ended up quitting from boredom and frustration. It was years before I finally started again. I wish I could go back in time and teach myself the basics of how to play the guitar. It would have put me years ahead at such an important time of my life. If guitar is taught the right way, it can be surprisingly easy. No boring exercises. Just music! I’m excited to give you the start that I wish I’d been given.”

Paul Gilbert’s Great Guitar Escape packages start at just $999, including lodging, access to all workshops, seminars, gourmet meals, performances, and camp activities. Full Moon Resort features an eclectic array of comfortable, rustic country-inn accommodations as well as luxury and primitive camping. The grounds offer one hundred acres of meadows, forests and streams providing a natural backdrop for an unforgettable, enriching experience. Guests can enjoy the spring-fed swimming pool, on-site access to the Esopus Creek, and explore the splendors of the Catskills on the nearby network of hiking trails. For those who prefer in-room wi-fi, air conditioning, television, and daily housekeeping service, Slide Mountain Forest House and The Alpine Inn–located approximately a mile and a half from Full Moon Resort–are available as an all-inclusive camp package.

For full details about Paul Gilbert’s Great Guitar Escape, visit: www.greatguitarescape.com.

For more PAUL GILBERT click here.

Y&T will be holding a special New Year’s Eve Benefit Concert for original bassist Phil Kennemore who was recently been diagnosed with metastatic cancer. The event will be held on December 31st at The Avalon in Santa, Clara, CA. Doors are at 8PM and tickets are $75. 100% of the proceeds will go to Phil Kennemore.

Special guests who have volunteered to perform include:
Geoff Tate (QUEENSRŸCHE)
Don Dokken (DOKKEN)
Bobby Blotzer (RATT)
Vinny Appice (DIO, BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL)
Sean McNabb (Dokken, MONTROSE)
Loren Gold (ROGER DALTREY)
Paul Bostaph (TESTAMENT)

Friends who have donated items/services to help include:
Frankie Banali (QUIET RIOT), Joey Allen, Erik Turner from WARRANT, Jeff Scott Soto (ex-TALISMAN, JOURNEY, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN), TIGERTAILZ, Timothy Drury (ex-WHITESNAKE).

Very special guest performances and unique auction items available at the event. Other auction items available at the Y&T web site.














For more info visit Meniketti.com.

BraveWords.com correspondent Deb Rao recently caught up with DOKKEN frontman Don Dokken recently and the legendary singer discusses his upcoming vocal surgery, the band’s recent West Coast tour dates with THE SCORPIONS on their farewell tour, the passing of his musical comrade RONNIE JAMES DIO (BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL, RAINBOW, ELF), and upcoming spring acoustic solo tour plans.

BraveWords.com: Speaking of Queensrÿche in 2008, you did an amazing acoustic tour with them. Any plans to maybe do acoustic solo acoustic tour?

Dokken: “That was interesting. I am going to do another acoustic run in the spring. I am going out by myself not even with Kelly Keeling in March, April and May. I can’t tell you who with yet because it is not inked. I did an acoustic show with Y&T at The Fillmore a couple of months ago as an experiment to see if I could pull it off by myself and it worked out OK.”

Read the entire interview here at Bravewords.com.

For more DOKKEN click here.

“As fans in Oregon, Washington, and Colorado witnessed at the recent Y&T shows, the band has been kicking serious butt on this summer’s Facemelter tour. Even though Phil (Kennemore / bass)was experiencing severe back pain ever since the June European tour, he soldiered on and played the shows anyway. Now, with much regret, Phil‘s doctors have ordered him off the tour to get the treatment he needs to move forward.

Extremely proud of the new Facemelter album, and the work that he, Dave, John, and Mike have done, Phil insisted the tour continue. So to honor his wish, we flew in a bass player to sub for Phil until he is able to return. As the band’s manager, Jill Meniketti, posted on the website discussion forum about these recent events, Phil says: “On with the show.”

The guys are so sorry that they had to cancel the show in Springfield, IL, but Phil was receiving local treatment and tests in St. Louis and the band was unable to continue until that important business was finished. With less than 24-hour’s notice, Brad Lang (JET RED, WAR & PEACE, FOREIGNER) was gracious enough to step up to fill in on bass for the time being to help out the band and keep the tour continuing. He’s extremely proud and excited to be playing with Y&T and helping out for Phil. Brad‘s doing a great job of representing the Y&T live experience. We want to thank you all for giving him the warm welcome he’s received on the shows he’s played so far.