Vinnie Vincent a tool box ????
Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2013 11:22 am
Metal Sludge
20 Questions with Virgin Guitarist Jim Torgeson 9/6/05
http://www.metalsludge.tv/?p=27294
... You also worked for years at the famous "Guitars-R-Us" on Sunset Strip. Did your time working at that store in the heart of Hollywood make it overly interesting at any point? What guitar players came in, who was a dick, & who was cool as hell?
Everyone came in… EVERYONE. Howie Hubberman worked with everyone from Poison to GNR and everybody in town wanted to rub elbows. I made some great friends because of that store. Let me tell you a little about a few who come to mind;
Howie Hubberman – a tornado a of a band manager, kept his file cabinet in his left pants pocket and his bank account in the right. I love this guy and owe a whole lot of knowledge about business and guitars to him. I still talk to him and have nothing but fond memories.
Albert Molinaro – Howie’s partner at Guitars R Us. We still talk, I just bought a pair of Lindy Fralin pickups from him. This guy knows more about vintage instruments than the next 10 experts. I learned alot. Can’t wait to show him my new acquisitions!
Michael Lockwood – he worked at GRUS after Lions and Ghosts split up. In retrospect, he taught me there is value to piping down. Watching him play also taught me to pipe down, musically. I hear he and Lisa Marie Presly are getting married. Totally underrated player. I want a Velvet Elvis.
Robbin Crosby – Came in almost every day he was in town. Took me to El Compadre constantly. A great, huge heart and a tragic ending. Really a great guy though. Just an example of how the party ends for some. He’s the poster child of what can go wrong. His service was sad because so many "friends" didn’t show.
John Frusciante – Man, can that guy pound the dope. He came in so f’d up that $100 bills were falling out of his pockets. He bought a ’63 Strat and didn’t even wait for the case. Then he flagged down a bus and jumped on. What a mess.
Brian Setzer – Class act and a friggin’ kick ass guitar player. Hot (now ex) wife too boot.
The local guys, whether it was Slash, Izzy, CC DeVille, Tracii Guns, Mark V. (the Funhouse guy), the midget from Tuff (love ya George), Ethan from Taz… were all great to deal with. Ego checked in at the door. It was where you went during the day.
Bob Dall and I became friends through that store moe than the Strip. Howie had me buy him a burger over at the Sunset Grill and I decided he wasn’t a pusy and he decided I wasn’t an asshole. Been friends ever since. Howie later told me he knew we’d be best of friends, that’s why he forced me to buy him a burger!
I remember that Mark Worshell from Johnny Crash got a little much to handle when bathing became second (or 50th) priority.
People like Springsteen were great to meet. That guy has a huge presence. The Steely Dan guy was fun and an amazing player. Van Zandt told me that my brother worked for him and that he was still a mess. Polite Southern Gentleman!
The Black Crowes couldn’t play their instruments when they came in! I was stunned that Geffen gave them a deal. When Mark Ford joined, I figured he could give the other guy lessons. They sucked!
I’m actually at a loss at how many people came in. Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, Vinnie Vincent (real toolbox), every LA band, Zakk Wylde, Beach Boys, Jackson Browne, Billy Duffy, Tom Petty, Dwight Yokum, Billy Zoom (mad scientist)… no real dicks in that place. Am I forgetting some asshole?
20 Questions with Virgin Guitarist Jim Torgeson 9/6/05
http://www.metalsludge.tv/?p=27294
... You also worked for years at the famous "Guitars-R-Us" on Sunset Strip. Did your time working at that store in the heart of Hollywood make it overly interesting at any point? What guitar players came in, who was a dick, & who was cool as hell?
Everyone came in… EVERYONE. Howie Hubberman worked with everyone from Poison to GNR and everybody in town wanted to rub elbows. I made some great friends because of that store. Let me tell you a little about a few who come to mind;
Howie Hubberman – a tornado a of a band manager, kept his file cabinet in his left pants pocket and his bank account in the right. I love this guy and owe a whole lot of knowledge about business and guitars to him. I still talk to him and have nothing but fond memories.
Albert Molinaro – Howie’s partner at Guitars R Us. We still talk, I just bought a pair of Lindy Fralin pickups from him. This guy knows more about vintage instruments than the next 10 experts. I learned alot. Can’t wait to show him my new acquisitions!
Michael Lockwood – he worked at GRUS after Lions and Ghosts split up. In retrospect, he taught me there is value to piping down. Watching him play also taught me to pipe down, musically. I hear he and Lisa Marie Presly are getting married. Totally underrated player. I want a Velvet Elvis.
Robbin Crosby – Came in almost every day he was in town. Took me to El Compadre constantly. A great, huge heart and a tragic ending. Really a great guy though. Just an example of how the party ends for some. He’s the poster child of what can go wrong. His service was sad because so many "friends" didn’t show.
John Frusciante – Man, can that guy pound the dope. He came in so f’d up that $100 bills were falling out of his pockets. He bought a ’63 Strat and didn’t even wait for the case. Then he flagged down a bus and jumped on. What a mess.
Brian Setzer – Class act and a friggin’ kick ass guitar player. Hot (now ex) wife too boot.
The local guys, whether it was Slash, Izzy, CC DeVille, Tracii Guns, Mark V. (the Funhouse guy), the midget from Tuff (love ya George), Ethan from Taz… were all great to deal with. Ego checked in at the door. It was where you went during the day.
Bob Dall and I became friends through that store moe than the Strip. Howie had me buy him a burger over at the Sunset Grill and I decided he wasn’t a pusy and he decided I wasn’t an asshole. Been friends ever since. Howie later told me he knew we’d be best of friends, that’s why he forced me to buy him a burger!
I remember that Mark Worshell from Johnny Crash got a little much to handle when bathing became second (or 50th) priority.
People like Springsteen were great to meet. That guy has a huge presence. The Steely Dan guy was fun and an amazing player. Van Zandt told me that my brother worked for him and that he was still a mess. Polite Southern Gentleman!
The Black Crowes couldn’t play their instruments when they came in! I was stunned that Geffen gave them a deal. When Mark Ford joined, I figured he could give the other guy lessons. They sucked!
I’m actually at a loss at how many people came in. Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, Vinnie Vincent (real toolbox), every LA band, Zakk Wylde, Beach Boys, Jackson Browne, Billy Duffy, Tom Petty, Dwight Yokum, Billy Zoom (mad scientist)… no real dicks in that place. Am I forgetting some asshole?
