Johnny A

Chewing the Gristle with Greg Koch

Johnny A is a guitar hero of the highest order, whose long career as a fontman-instrumentalist has won him die-hard fans the world over. He's also well known for his work supporting other luminaries such as Peter Wolf, The Yardbirds, Delanie & Bonnie, and Bobbie Whitlock, just to name a few. Greg and Johnny talk about all of that today, and also guitars, gear, and glorious fuzz.
4:17 - Johnny’s affinity for instrumental rock/jazz/blues, and how it relates to his own musical inspirations and career
9:08 - Playing with the new iteration of The Yardbirds - the challenges and joys
13:30 - The fuzz pedal - a glorious, inspiring creation, and how devastating that device can be in the hands of someone like Jimi Hendrix
20:38 - Johnny’s thoughts on the future of live music during the pandemic, and what he’s doing to stay busy and inspired
24:37 - Johnny’s signature guitar from Gibson Guitars - how it came to be, and what makes it unique
36:46 - The many hats of Johnny A during his musical career - from drummer to playing with Peter Wolf, and developing his voice on the guitar as both an arranger and player
46:00 - Reflecting back on old recordings and arrangements, and how it influences new creative endeavors
49:42 - Why playing guitar only gets more fun as you grow up
61:30 - ‘Cocktails In The Kitchen’ with The A’s, and the beauty of social connectivity through live-streaming
Total Length: 68:05

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