Ron Thal: DIY music distribution

Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal on DIY music distribution, Guns N' Roses and more:

As a member of Guns N' Roses, Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal has spent the better part of two years crisscrossing the globe on the Chinese Democracy tour and playing to packed enormodomes. But, for time being, the New Jersey resident, who has called the city of New Brunswick his home for the past 12 years, is enjoying a bit of normalcy in the Garden State.

"I love living in New Jersey," Thal says. "My life here is so different from what people imagine. It's simple and real, which is what I like. Last night, for instance, I took out the garbage. Then, this morning, my cat kept trying to wake me up. That's just real life. You can still make music and be in a big band and lead a regular existence. I've always been close by, whether it was Staten Island or Brooklyn. The East Coast keeps me grounded. I think it helps the music. I know who I am here."
And more and more, millions of music fans are discovering who Thal is, too - and not just because of his high-profile association with Guns N' Roses, which he joined in 2006. The guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer has issued almost a dozen albums as both Ron Thal and 'Bumblefoot' since 1995. During that time, he's also scored themes for TV shows, written music for sports teams and collaborated with artists as disparate as Dream Theater's Jordan Rudess and Jessica Simpson. "It's all part of being a musician," Thal says. "You do what feels right and sounds right. Pop, rock, metal - I love it all."
This much is clear on the latest batch of recordings Thal is releasing, a song at a time on his website (with Player and Producer Packs available). So far, there's the bracing original Invisible, along with fascinating and inventive takes on classic tunes such as Strawberry Fields Forever, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and the Four Tops' Bernadette.
In addition, Thal has embarked on a unique way of offering guitar lessons to players around the world via Skype. "I thought I'd get a nice response when I announced what I was doing," says Thal. "But the amount of requests I've received has been overwhelming. I take on all comers. Whether you can play great or you're a total beginner, I'm here to help. more

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