Kris Barras is a British blues rock guitarist and singer.Kris began playing guitar at the age of 5, under the guidance of his musician father, Paul Barras. He performed his first-ever gig with his Dad’s band at the age of 9.

For most of his adult life, Kris used had an unusual side-job alongside his music career. Although now retired, he had a successful 10 year professional Mixed Martial Arts and Muay Thai career, which saw him compete and train in Las Vegas, Thailand and Singapore. 

Kris picked up his first guitar aged just five -- two years later he upgraded to an electric and developed his signature style. At the same time, Barras was also training in martial arts, and although his music career saw him playing in various bands, touring the U.S., Europe, and the U.K., he also found himself competing in mixed martial arts contests. 

Deciding that fighting wasn’t the direction he wanted to take, he fell back onto his first love, music. In 2014 he formed the Kris Barras Band, playing a mix of blues and Southern and classic rock. The following year they released their self-titled debut mini-album independently and spent the majority of their time playing gigs up and down the UK. The follow-up album, Lucky 13, appeared in 2016, once again self-released. In 2017 Barras signed to Mascot label Provogue and set about recording his third album. The Divine and Dirty.

The success of this album led to tours with artists such as Beth Hart, Joanne Shaw Taylor and GUN. Kris was featured as one of "The 17 Best Blues Guitarists in the World". He was voted number 13, alongside names such as Joe Bonamassa, John Mayer, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Derek Trucks and Eric Gales.

I caught up with Kris a couple months ago to talk about his bands latest release Death Valley Paradise. We also delved into his songwriting process, his fighting career, his experiences playing live at some of the most iconic venues, life on the road and his frontman duties with Supersonic Blues Machine. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For tour dates and merch - https://www.krisbarrasband.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krisbarrasband/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krisbarrasband

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx6hSbEY0Xw0_45i0ybcvNw---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Jack J Hutchinson is a London based blues rock guitarist and songwriter. Described by Classic Rock Magazine as “a real rock contender”, he has toured internationally, sharing stages with acts such as ZZ Top, Bad Company, Kris Barras Band and Blackberry Smoke. His most recent album ‘The Hammer Falls’ was released earlier this year to universal acclaim. I caught up with Jack to talk about his latest album, his songwriting process, playing live and some interesting road stories.

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For tour dates and merch - https://jackjhutchinsonmusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JackJHutchinson/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JackJHutchinsonBand ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Saul Hudson, better known as Slash, has created some of the loudest yet melodic guitar riffs in rock history. As lead guitarist for Guns N’ Roses, he helped shut the door on the synth-heavy sounds of 1980s pop and ushered in a new era of salacious rock that sold millions of albums for the band. His solos on songs such as “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “November Rain,” and “Estranged” have sealed his reputation as one of the guitar gods of rock.

We caught up with Slash to talk about 4 , the fourth studio album by Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, and Slash's fifth solo album overall. It was released on February 11, 2022, as the first album from the new Gibson Records label.The album was produced by country producer Dave Cobb in Nashville.

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Check out US Tour Dates starting 2/9: https://www.slashonline.com/tour 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slash Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Slash Twitter: https://twitter.com/Slash SMKC TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smkcofficial---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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A guitar hero for guitar heroes, Joe Satriani had already served as a teacher for some of rock's most impressive axe slingers before accomplishing the rare feat of breaking into the mainstream with instrumental guitar music.

His 1987 album Surfing with the Alien turned him into a star, kicking off a series of hit records that included 1989's Flying in a Blue Dream and 1998's Crystal Planet. There were dozens of successful tours all over the globe, as well gigs backing Mick Jagger in the '80s, joining Deep Purple in the '90s, and jamming with Sammy Hagar, Chad Smith, and Michael Anthony in the supergroup Chickenfoot. 

Satriani's unstoppable momentum kept going for decades, with the guitarist releasing new music into the 2020s with albums like 2022's The Elephants of Mars.  Anurag and I caught with up Joe to talk about his new album The Elephants of Mars , the upcoming tour and stories from the road.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For more information on Joe Satriani his work, mercy and tour dates take a look at his website http://www.satriani.com http://satriani.com. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Follow Tales from the Road Facebook https://www.facebook.com/talesfromtheroadofficial Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtheroad/ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google | Gaana |Audible You can also read, watch, listen via our website https://www.tftrmedia.com Hosted & Produced by Vikram Chandrasekar and Moving Pictures Media

Steve Vai’s contribution to the world of rock music and to the electric guitar is profound. Starting out under the tutelage of Joe Satriani, Steve is a three-time Grammy Award winner,fifteen-time nominee and a legendary performer across the world. He started out as a transcriptionist and guitar player with Frank Zappa in 1978, replaced Yngwie Mlalmsteen in Alcatrazz in 1984 and then went on to work with David Lee Roth playing guitar on his most seminal albums. Since parting ways with David Lee Roth in 1989, he has significantly expanded his horizons across a prolific solo career spanning 10 albums, countless live albums, soundtracks and media appearances including  playing the role of Jack Butler in the Walter hill film Crossroads. Despite being hailed as a trailblazer and a genius Steve continues to hone his chops and explore new techniques. 

The electric guitar has no boundaries for Steve Vai, as far back as 1985 he designed the Ibanez JEM guitar, a unique instrument that incorporated a series of groundbreaking designs that have since become staple features throughout the guitar industry.  In 1989 he designed the Ibanez Universe, the first production seven-string guitar.

Steve blew everyone away with his latest creation dubbed The Hydra an instrument that was aplty described as the intersection of modern technology collides with hammered brass. Inspired by a mad max film and his love for steampunk design the hydra is a triple-necked guitar and bass with sympathetic harp strings and a and dizzying array of in-built technology, all wrapped up in a gloriously steampunk finish.

His latest release, inviolate is an ambitious, fabulously produced album that combines his guitar approach, exploring new techniques with inspiration drawn from a wide array of genres and influences, including the worlds of Celtic and Indian music. 

On stage Steve is a commanding and show stealing presence. I had the good fortune to work with him for a couple of his shows in India and Singapore. I caught up with Steve early in the morning to talk about his latest release Inviolate, his role in the new Foo Figthers film Studio 666, his inspiration to create the hydra, working with David Lee Roth.Frank Zappa and all things creativity and technology. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For more tour dates, to check out Steve's latest work with the Hydra, and for tickets go this his website https://www.vai.com-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Follow Tales from the Road Facebook https://www.facebook.com/talesfromtheroadofficial Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtheroad/ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google | Gaana |Audible You can also read, watch, listen via our website https://www.tftrmedia.com Hosted & Produced by Vikram Chandrasekar and Moving Pictures Media

Former Young Guitarist of The Year and now a full-fledged blues-rock virtuoso,Simon Mcbride grew up in Ireland, influenced by Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore. At the age of 16 he joined Irish Metal Band Sweet Savage and toured and recorded a couple of albums with them. A few years later he joined fellow Irishman Andrew Strong, playing soul, R&B and Pop Songs. 

Simon’s talent as a songwriter/guitar player came to the fore with his solo work, starting with his first album Rich Man Falling in 2008, to his second album ‘Since then’ in 2010 which saw him nominated for the British Blues Awards . 2011 saw him realease his third album Nine Lives and 2012 his fourth Titled Crossing the Line. 

Simon has also toured the UK and Ireland with  the likes of Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa and US slide guitarist Derek Trucks, In autumn 2010 he toured the UK supporting one of his early guitar heroes, Joe Satriani and then playing Glastonbury in 2011. He also had a guest spot at Don Airey’s Soul & Blues Festival in 2011 and 2013.  A short stint as a guitar player for Ian Gillan with his project Ian Gillan sings Deep Purple followed and post that he joined the classic rock band "Snakecharmer

Simon has continued to make a name for himself over the past decade. 

His Latest release The Fighter came out in February of this year just before he embarks on a 13 date Uk and Irish tour. I caught up with Simon from his home in Ireland to talk about his career, the new single, the upcoming EP and album. We also discussed his Songwriting process, his musical influences growing up and some Tales from the Road, from his time with Ian Gillan, and Joe Satriani.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For more information on Simon Mcbride, his work and tour dates take a look at his website 

https://www.simonmcbride.net

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Robert is a multi-talented producer/songwriter/vocalist/instrumentalist.  When it comes to creating music, he does it all and does it very well.Across his 40-year career, this Bay Area legend has impacted the lives of hundreds of musicians. Thanks to his band Hush and the Robert Berry Band he has worked with everyone from Sammy Hagar to Steve Howe to Don Airey to Joe Lynn Turner. His most famous collaboration however has to be with the prog band 3 with Berry himself and the legendary Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer. The band didn’t last more than a couple of years when Emerson decided to disband the group, and then died by Suicide in 2016.After much deliberation Robert decided to continue with band under the name 3.2 .I caught up with him to talk about what he says would be the last 3.2 album, Third Impression. We dove deep into the making of the album, Roberts career, progressive music and what the future holds for him. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For more information on Robert and his work and tour dates take a look at his website 

http://robertberry.com

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“I didn’t know how he would react to what I was doing. So I warned him before he listened. I said, “Look, I changed the middle section of your song.”

Now in my mind, he’s either going to have his bodyguards kick me out for butchering his song, or he’s going to like it. And so he gave it a listen, and he turned to me and went, “Wow, thank you so much for having the passion to not just come in and blaze a solo, but to actually care about the song, and make it better.” 

That was a conversation between Eddie Van Halen and Michael Jackson after Eddie Van Halen had recorded the guitar solo on Beat it.  Like David Deal said in a column by fusing Rock and R&B Eddie Van Halen helped Michael Jackson become more culturally relevant with Beat it. 

Eddie Van Halen's contribution to the world of music is extraordinary. Even more so his contribution to the guitar and inspiring hundreds of thousand’s of people around the world. 

Paul Brannigan is a former editor of Kerrang! and Planet Rock magazine, and a current contributor to MOJO, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer, Kerrang! and Louder. He has previous written books on Dave Grohl, Metallica and much-missed Motorhead legend Lemmy. 

I caught up with Paul from his home in North London to talk about his new book Unchained: The Eddie Van Halen Story,. In an hour long conversation filled with humour and insight  we reflected on how he put this book together and we then delved into the Van Halen story, one of immigration, opportunities, imagination, and hard work. As we reflected upon the time Paul first met Eddie we also spoke of things that I was very curious about like the influence of his brother Alex on the band and on Eddie, his son Wolfgang Van Halen and of Eddie’s love and respect for his family. 

Eddie Van Halen passed away on October 6, 2020 in Santa Monica, California after a long battle with cancer. , The Van Halen story is quite a dramatic one but one that Paul has tackled with respect and affection in his book, pairing original interviews with meticulous research to bring to life the story of a genuine musical virtuoso who changed the course of rock ’n’ roll.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Paul's book Unchained - The Eddie Van Halen story is now available across the world and online and available in multiple formats.

https://www.amazon.com/Unchained-Eddie-Van-Halen-Story/dp/1637583508

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Dead Romantic are a melodic hard rock band from the UK.  I caught up with Mike, Dan and Sam from the band to talk about thier new single and music video Waste of Who I am , the upcoming album, what touring will be like now,  how they found music and a whole lot more. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Check out the new single Waste of Who I am at https://deadromantic.com

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Joe Louis Walker is one of the greatest bluesmen of his generation. He is a four-time Blues Music Award winner and 2013 Blues Hall of Fame inductee who has appeared on multiple Grammy-winning albums. He is known worldwide as one of the genre’s top musical trailblazers—a mesmerizing guitarist and soul-testifying vocalist.  I caught with with Joe from his home in NY to talk about his upcoming release ECLECTIC ELECTRIC.  A 11 track album ]comprised party of originals but also finds Joe applying his watermark to some classics including The Eagles hotel California,  the Rolling Stones Make no mistake and muddy waters two trains running.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For tour dates, merchandise and info https://joelouiswalker.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Follow Tales from the Road Facebook https://www.facebook.com/talesfromtheroadofficial Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talesfromtheroad/ -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google | Gaana |Audible You can also read, watch, listen via our website https://www.tftrmedia.com Hosted & Produced by Vikram Chandrasekar and Moving Pictures Media