Friends, clients & cool shit...
Greg Howard of 3 Monkeys Amps was gracious enough to send me this pic of Brad Whitford’s rig from rehearsals for AEROSMITH’S residency in Las Vegas, along with a wonderful email telling me how much he digs the amp…WOW. Brad bought this particular Del Rio head a couple years ago, so flattered to have it on deck & going to work with one of my all-time favorite bands.
A shot JOHN SHANKS shared while tracking a new BON JOVI record with a ROCKSHOW head. PHIL X stole it for a bunch of his tracks as well. DUDE!!!
Frankie Ballard with THE Rev. Billy F. Gibbons & Billy’s Del Rio...the coolest cats in ANY room!
Vince Gill…shit! The man. he owns this Bar Fly and a matching Del Rio. in addition to studio duties, both frequently serve as his “Time Jumpers” amps. When designing these, I wasn’t exactly thinking “Western Swing”…I’ll be damned, they kill it!
How did I know that Rick would want a b&W checkerboard Del Rio?
when Rick Neilsen digs your stuff, prepare to do some custom work! I am honored to have my amps used for 95% of the guitars and a bunch of the bass tracks on CHEAP TRICK’S new record.
Tom Petersson came in for overdubs with this stuff…was not supposed to be a photo op, but C’MON…too cool.
Tom Petersson dialing in the Fat Basstard at Love Shack
My old pal TOM BUKOVAC at soundcheck with the great JOE WALSH. great gig! tom has gotten so good, he doesn't even have to fret notes anymore...he just thinks about 'em.
BUK recently picked up this ROCKSHOW head for his studio rig. A week or two later, I got a text with this pic & the simple caption “THIS THING KICKS ASS.” It has been on every record he’s done since.
Willie with Steven Tyler at farm aid 25 in Milwaukee, 2010
The incomparable Frankie Ballard's pair of touring amps...the only two "EL RIO" models, built for frank & named after his fabulous album of the same name. I really love this cat & his band...they're the shit. go see them!
the RRB rolled out another great record and hit the promo circuit, appearing on "the Tonight show", "late night with david letterman", and a bunch of other stuff. Geoff was gracious enough to use (and prominently display) his new del rio on several of these shows.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the back of a bus, willie nelson was tuned in to watch his homies doing their big tv thing. after the broadcast, he called Randy & co. to offer congrats, and find out where he could get one of those amps. a couple days later, I got a call.
Willie and Lukas in Dayton, oh.
Willie, Ray Benson, & Mickey at Willie's annual 4th of july picinic in Austin.
Our pal Josh Cross rockin’ this Del Rio in LA for a Kimmel taping with Justin Moore.
this was fun...the "Ebo Booth" at Cedar Creek Recorders in Austin (another favorite of mine!), tracking a new record with Johnny Chops & the Razors, spring '17. the Del Rio got a ton of action...way more than I expected. that verb...
Eugene Rice from American Mile (formerly Brothers Collective) with his custom Del Rio combo with reverb & custom cab in "Eugene Green”…the first one!
the "ebo Booth" at dockside studio in Maurice, LA (coolest studio on earth), tracking the RANDY ROGERS BAND's self-titled third album (possibly my favorite!).
Radney Foster's "Revival" record release show at the exit/in, possibly his first show with that amp. it appears to be hangin' just fine with the hippie's old AC30...no small feat!
Another day at the office…