So I have a funny Blues Saraceno story….. I’m in my 50s now but during the 80s & 90s I was a hair metal guitarist here in Detroit Michigan. Became a huge Blues fan as soon as he hit the scene and of course became an even bigger fan of his tone and his new Dirty Boy head that his dad built. Of course I just had to have one. This was pre internet and I can’t even remember how I got his number but I literally just picked up the phone and called Alex at home. I can’t remember if Alex was in California or still in Connecticut . I’m not sure if they had moved there or if he was visiting Blues.Funny thing, I was super nervous, just in my early twenties and I’m like “Hey, any way you can build me one of those heads?” He was super nice and just said “We are eating dinner right now but tell you what, you have to come out and play it first before I will build you one. You might not even like it”. I was kinda scraping by at the time and was trying to figure out how to get on a plane and get out there from Detroit. I then said “So if I like it what do ya think the price might be to build one?” He said “About five grand or so.” 😳 “Thanks for your time Mr. Saraceno” To this day whenever I call someone around dinner time I think of that story.🤣
I can't say i'm very familiar with his playing, but i like him. There is a cool video of Blues playing through a new pedal called the UAFX Lion, it's an emulation of old Marshall amps (plexi mostly). Very cool. I love Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker and Les Paul.
Have been obsessed with this bloke's guitar playing (and music in general) since he released his Plaid album. He is one of two guitarist I would LOVE to play like (the other one being Tommy Emmanuel). AND he talks like I do - his mouth just can't keep up with what his mind is thinking; he goes in tangents but always has the 'full circle' ending in mind.
Thanks for the podcast Chuck. I enjoyed it throughly from start to finish. This is Blues exactly as I know him to be, clear eyed, honest, and happy with life. One thing he menitoned to you, that we discussed back when we were making the first record was let's get right to it. I'm a fan of Robben Ford, but all his songs have a melody played twice and then a chorus and a bridge and then a solo. With Blues it was bam, here's the good stuff. What most fans don't realize is that those spontaneous sounding licks, riffs and solos, all played in the pocket with killer tone and phrasing were actually composed and not improvised on the spot. Blues remains an original and one of the best, as a player and as a person. Thanks for sharing him with your world. John Stix
Thank you! Blues is the most expressive player since Beck. A sassy confident slippery technique. I love his tone too. I have a daughter who is now 31 & I was like “ dad will support you in any artistic thing you want to do”. She became a speech therapist 😆
I love how he touches so many genres of music, he is literally the type of person I aspire to become. I always try to compose music using different and new methods/theory and touching new genres. Saraceno is not known enough.
his time in poison...this interview is about all that has ever been said about it. wish we could have a whole interview about that era...as the recording of crack a smile is a mystery. save for a few metal edge blurbs back in 1994, very little is known. blues shed's some light that is was a very business oriented, and not much else, it still would be fun to hear about the songs being written. also would liked to understand how it ended. obviously the album was shelved, but how did he exit? was it before cc was back, or did they tell him cc was coming back and he hit the road?
Followed him since day 1. Remember seeing him do a guitar clinic at Daddy's Junky Music here in NH and I was hooked. Thought I was done "chasing tone" until Hairpick came out, then the lifelong quest for tone restarted and hasn't ended yet. To this day if I try out an amp, the first thing I play is "Chewing on Crayons" to see if it's even worthwhile. The guy can play anything.
Anyone else happy his car didn’t make it to that session with Michael Bolton? 😅 That was a damn close call. Blues’ Dad is absolutely awesome…that’s exactly how you do it as a parent when you have a super talented kid
Whenever Blues speaks, I listen to him in lieu of anything I have going on. Blues was Dimebag Darrell's hero. LET THAT SINK IN. That's like Oli Herbert saying Jason Richardson is his hero. Just players respecting someone who is such an expert at their skillset that it changes their thinking profoundly.
@@ChuckShute Yeah, I heard interviews where Dimebag just listened to Blues' albums and had his mind blown. I don't think Blues knows how influential his music and playing have for a lot of guitarists, including myself. But in a way, his humility is what makes him so endearing.
Blues' assessment of rock shows is exactly why I hate going to Metal concerts. As a heterosexual male, I do not appreciate getting slammed by angry drunk bald dudes, trying to force their way to the front of the stage. The only time I want to listen to metal, is when I'm coming/going from work, or I'm on my couch with a cigar and a glass of Scotch.
Blues is awesome. He's one of those incredible players that you know it's him immediately. He has a record I really enjoyed called, Transmission OK. Check it out. There was a pedal by Seymour Duncan Called, the Tweak Fuzz I had bought because of Blues. I loved it and emailed Blues to say how much I dug it; this was I'd say around 2004 or 2005 and here he sent my praise off to a Seymour Duncan rep and just from that I got to visit the factory and meet all the staff and Seymour etc. I do remember driving on the way to the factory there was a slight earthquake. Anyway, Blues is the real deal and his kindness to animals is beyond measure. Talks for a great interview.
Mr Saraceno is an amazing guitarist! One of my favorite of all time guitar players. I wish he did more solo records. Rock on!
Absolutely! I love all his stuff, including his record with Poison! Thanks for watching! 🙏🏻
I would kill for a Blues Saraceno and Richie Kotzen show.
He's still very underrated and not mentioned enough. Amazing player with an original sound
Absolutely! I agree. Thanks for watching! 🤘🏻🤘🏻
My two favorite Poison albums are "Native Tongue" with Ritchie Kotzen and "Crack a Smile" with Blues Saraceno. So good.
So I have a funny Blues Saraceno story….. I’m in my 50s now but during the 80s & 90s I was a hair metal guitarist here in Detroit Michigan. Became a huge Blues fan as soon as he hit the scene and of course became an even bigger fan of his tone and his new Dirty Boy head that his dad built. Of course I just had to have one. This was pre internet and I can’t even remember how I got his number but I literally just picked up the phone and called Alex at home. I can’t remember if Alex was in California or still in Connecticut . I’m not sure if they had moved there or if he was visiting Blues.Funny thing, I was super nervous, just in my early twenties and I’m like “Hey, any way you can build me one of those heads?” He was super nice and just said “We are eating dinner right now but tell you what, you have to come out and play it first before I will build you one. You might not even like it”. I was kinda scraping by at the time and was trying to figure out how to get on a plane and get out there from Detroit. I then said “So if I like it what do ya think the price might be to build one?” He said “About five grand or so.” 😳
“Thanks for your time Mr. Saraceno”
To this day whenever I call someone around dinner time I think of that story.🤣
I can't say i'm very familiar with his playing, but i like him. There is a cool video of Blues playing through a new pedal called the UAFX Lion, it's an emulation of old Marshall amps (plexi mostly). Very cool. I love Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker and Les Paul.
Have been obsessed with this bloke's guitar playing (and music in general) since he released his Plaid album. He is one of two guitarist I would LOVE to play like (the other one being Tommy Emmanuel). AND he talks like I do - his mouth just can't keep up with what his mind is thinking; he goes in tangents but always has the 'full circle' ending in mind.
Love his guitar playing and stories. Thanks for watching! 🤘🏻🤘🏻
Super cool interview !! Thanks
I still hope for a new Blues Saraceno Album !
Thanks for watching! I’d love more music from Blues.. and a tour!
I loved this interview! I listened to his first 2 albums so much. It was great to hear the story behind his career.
Absolutely! Thanks for watching! 🙏
Thanks for the podcast Chuck. I enjoyed it throughly from start to finish. This is Blues exactly as I know him to be, clear eyed, honest, and happy with life. One thing he menitoned to you, that we discussed back when we were making the first record was let's get right to it. I'm a fan of Robben Ford, but all his songs have a melody played twice and then a chorus and a bridge and then a solo. With Blues it was bam, here's the good stuff. What most fans don't realize is that those spontaneous sounding licks, riffs and solos, all played in the pocket with killer tone and phrasing were actually composed and not improvised on the spot. Blues remains an original and one of the best, as a player and as a person. Thanks for sharing him with your world. John Stix
Hell of a guitar player, always enjoyed his playing
Same, thanks for watching! 🙏
Great interview. I love the way he goes into deep detail ❤️
Yes! He’s a great storyteller. Thanks for watching!
I love Blues Saraceno since 30 years
Great interview, great fun to listen to
Crack a Smile, still one of my favorite Poison albums 👍🏼
Definitely! Underrated!
Me too, cant believe they shelved that album
Almost Poison's best album but nothing can touch FLESH AND BLOOD ;-)
Great interview dude !!!!!!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching! 🙏
Blues is one of THE best of all time!
Yes!
Thank you! Blues is the most expressive player since Beck. A sassy confident slippery technique.
I love his tone too.
I have a daughter who is now 31 & I was like “ dad will support you in any artistic thing you want to do”.
She became a speech therapist 😆
That’s awesome! Thanks for watching! 🙏
Blues is a monster talent. If you haven't checked out his Dark Country stuff from the last 10-15 years...I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Yes I loved all that stuff. He’s a great guitarist and underrated there, but also underrated as a songwriter.
fantastic interview !!!!! I was in Poison´s concert in Chile, it was amazing
That is so cool! I think saw some footage online… or one of those shows down there
I love how he touches so many genres of music, he is literally the type of person I aspire to become. I always try to compose music using different and new methods/theory and touching new genres. Saraceno is not known enough.
Amen
his time in poison...this interview is about all that has ever been said about it. wish we could have a whole interview about that era...as the recording of crack a smile is a mystery. save for a few metal edge blurbs back in 1994, very little is known. blues shed's some light that is was a very business oriented, and not much else, it still would be fun to hear about the songs being written. also would liked to understand how it ended. obviously the album was shelved, but how did he exit? was it before cc was back, or did they tell him cc was coming back and he hit the road?
I should have him back on
I would very much love to hear this stuff as well. Please have him back and go more in-depth about his era with Poison.
Followed him since day 1. Remember seeing him do a guitar clinic at Daddy's Junky Music here in NH and I was hooked. Thought I was done "chasing tone" until Hairpick came out, then the lifelong quest for tone restarted and hasn't ended yet. To this day if I try out an amp, the first thing I play is "Chewing on Crayons" to see if it's even worthwhile. The guy can play anything.
Totally. Thanks for watching! 🤘🤘
Just finished the interview, amazing watch.
Love to hear it! Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching! 🤘🏻
sweet interview been a fan since beginning saw him with jack thank u soooo much
That’s awesome! I want to see him live!
Awesome! Huge fan of Blues!
Me too!!
Great stuff - this was thoroughly enjoyable - thank you both!
Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching! 🤘🏻
So great stories -great interview
Yes!
Met Blues early in his career at a local music store, very cool guy back then.
Seems very down to earth. Great storyteller. Amazing guitar player.
This is awesome! Thank you, Chuck!
huge fan. thanks for doing this. if you haven’t heard it, check out Transmission OK - such an amazing record, surprised it wasn’t mentioned at all!
Yes, great stuff. I love all his work! Thanks for watching!
My favorite guitarist.
I'd love to speak with him sometime.
🤘🏻
Anyone else happy his car didn’t make it to that session with Michael Bolton? 😅 That was a damn close call. Blues’ Dad is absolutely awesome…that’s exactly how you do it as a parent when you have a super talented kid
Definitely! Thanks for watching! 🤘🤘
One of the masters of the axe that nobody knows...yet beastie boys adored by millions....I don't get it...
He’s underrated for sure! Thanks for watching! 🤘🤘
Whenever Blues speaks, I listen to him in lieu of anything I have going on. Blues was Dimebag Darrell's hero. LET THAT SINK IN.
That's like Oli Herbert saying Jason Richardson is his hero.
Just players respecting someone who is such an expert at their skillset that it changes their thinking profoundly.
Wow, did not know that!
@@ChuckShute Yeah, I heard interviews where Dimebag just listened to Blues' albums and had his mind blown. I don't think Blues knows how influential his music and playing have for a lot of guitarists, including myself. But in a way, his humility is what makes him so endearing.
@@9unslin9er yes… I just wish he would play more. I’d love to see him live.
Blues' assessment of rock shows is exactly why I hate going to Metal concerts. As a heterosexual male, I do not appreciate getting slammed by angry drunk bald dudes, trying to force their way to the front of the stage. The only time I want to listen to metal, is when I'm coming/going from work, or I'm on my couch with a cigar and a glass of Scotch.
😻 ᵖʳᵒᵐᵒˢᵐ
Blues is awesome. He's one of those incredible players that you know it's him immediately. He has a record I really enjoyed called, Transmission OK. Check it out. There was a pedal by Seymour Duncan Called, the Tweak Fuzz I had bought because of Blues. I loved it and emailed Blues to say how much I dug it; this was I'd say around 2004 or 2005 and here he sent my praise off to a Seymour Duncan rep and just from that I got to visit the factory and meet all the staff and Seymour etc. I do remember driving on the way to the factory there was a slight earthquake. Anyway, Blues is the real deal and his kindness to animals is beyond measure. Talks for a great interview.
Thanks for watching! 🙏🏻