RON THAL (aka BUMBLEFOOT)
Groove magazine:
Interviewer: Describe your style in 3 words or less.
Ron Thal: \"Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.
Hepaticocholangiocholecystenterostomies.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedalian.\"
This describes Ron Thal (aka \"Bumblefooot\") and his music perfectly. An obnoxious punky attitude, mixed with off-center abstract intellectuality, and a sense that he\'s just being himself with you - whether playing lead guitar onstage with Guns N\' Roses in front of 150,000 people at a European festival, or in a one-on-one conversation.
Since the early 90\'s and before joining Guns N\' Roses, Ron had already released 7 CDs, a live DVD, had numerous appearances on compilation CDs and as a guest performer for other artists, appeared on magazine covers, and toured internationally headlining venues and guitar festivals. Now, in his third year recording and touring with GNR, his 8th and latest solo album, \"Abnormal\", is being released July 1st, 2008. Abnormal is being described as \"Sex Pistols meets Queen, with innovative guitar and a quirky Zappa-esque twist...\"
As a child, Ron would play Bach pieces with his feet. Today, his guitar-work can also be heard on the entire Guns N\' Roses \"Chinese Democracy\" album, the Latin acoustic guitar of Jessica Simpson\'s \"Irresistible\" dance mix, and as far off as CNN-Turkey station IDs. Live, he\'s just as diverse, whether jamming to an audience of 10,000 people on stage with Joe Satriani, or at fundraisers with Nancy Sinatra, Cyndi Lauper, composer Fahir Atakoglu, and jazz legend Allen Toussaint. Ron volunteers much of his time for fundraisers and to help non-profit organizations, including Rock Against Diabetes and MS Research Foundation.
Ron is also a record producer and songwriter for artists and publishing companies. Often working out of his own studio in Princeton NJ, he has written theme songs and background music for shows on MTV/VH1, FuseTV, CW, SpikeTV, Oxygen Network, Carlin Publishing, and SEGA, SSI and Atari videogames. As a hands-on engineer, his work has included FuseTV\'s \"Talking Metal on Fuse\", recording, mixing and mastering the audio of live performances that included Zakk Wylde, Exodus, The Spyderz, members of Overkill, Dream Theater, Anthrax, Twisted Sister, Iced Earth, In This Moment, God Forbid and Warrior Soul.
Ron is also a Professor at SUNY Purchase College teaching music production, does guitar clinics around the world, writes educational articles and lessons for music magazines.
Future endeavors include cartoon voice-overs and his own line of hot sauce.
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