Adrian Belew departs Nine Inch Nails, goes into FLUX

Before ever appearing live with Nine Inch Nails, Adrian Belew has exited the projected touring version of the band. His original Facebook post is updated at The Guardian:

Hey folks … I greatly respect Trent (Reznor) and the music he makes. No one is at fault. [But] we both agreed it just was not working …

Jump over to take a look at that complete article right here.

This leaves the ever adventurous guitarist free to work on his long gestating project FLUX. As he tells Something Else! in a lengthy interview:

It’s an idea that’s been in my mind for several decades, but could never be technologically done — until recently. Unlike a record or anything before it, this is never finished. I can continue to add more parts to it, even as people already have it and start listening to it.

Read much more and listen to a sampling of Belew works at Something Else!

Right here.

 

Satriani live from Naples

 

Here is an excellent audience video from the current Joe Satriani tour. In this clip Joe trades licks with the great Mike Keneally on “Ice 9.”

 

Vivan Campbell undergoing cancer treatment

Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell is being treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer of the white blood cells. The former Dio and Whitesnake guitarist remarked in a statement, via Rolling Stone:

I feel fortunate that my cancer sent me an alarm call in the form of “the cough that wouldn’t quit.”

Read more at RS.

Right here.

 

Unreleased music from Criss Oliva

What is being called the “last unused music” written by Criss Oliva is surfacing on Raise the Curtain, a new release by the late guitarist’s brother Jon. As Something Else! tells it, the album features:

… previously unreleased music from Criss Oliva  … and you can certainly hear his presence in the guitar parts.

Read more and listen to a sample at Something Else!

Right here.

 

Custom Beatles Vox fetches over 400 grand

A one-of-a-kind Vox guitar once played by The Beatles has sold for $408,000 at auction. The custom instrument was used by George Harrison and John Lennon during the Magical Mystery Tour sessions. According to Julien’s Auctions, via Reuters:

Harrison played the instrument, distinguished by two symmetrical flared shoulders on the upper body, while practicing “I Am The Walrus,” and Lennon used it in a video session for the song “Hello, Goodbye.”

Read more and take a look at the Vox at Reuters.

Right here.

 

Wear Tony Iommi accessories

No, Tony Iommi isn’t coming out with a line of ascots, rather the Black Sabbath legend is donating guitar strings to the charity Wear Your Music who create jewelry from the items. Check out the company’s intro to Iommi:

Having sliced off the ends of three fingers in a factory accident when first starting out Tony switched to very light gauge strings. These make his bracelet especially unique.

An Iommi bobble will run you $200, by the way.

Check out Wear Your Music’s full inventory at their official site.

Right here.

 

Guitar during surgery

I think we’ve all known some brain dead guitar players, but never a guitarist playing during brain surgery. That is exactly what Brad Carter did while undergoing a routine procedure. It was no publicity stunt however. As the video description explains:

Deep brian stimulation is a therapy for people with Parkinson’s disease. At UCLA, the patient is conscious during the surgery and is asked to perform tests so that doctors can ensure the pacemaker is properly placed. Carter’s disease made his hands shake and his eyes twitch, affecting his ability to play the guitar. He had asked that he be allowed to strum his guitar during the operation to see if the pacemaker improved his playing ability. (V)ideos from the surgery show Carter’s guitar skills get stronger as physicians located the best place to leave the pacemaker.

Take a look!