Interview with Bumblefoot
by Tony Papercut
From Brooklyn, NYC, Ron Thal a.k.a. Bumblefoot is a very talented and accomplished musician. If you are wondering whether this guy deserves playing with Guns N’ Roses, listen to “Abnormal” and see if you should reverse the question.
Doomsday Dept
Tell us about your upcoming CD?
What is it going to be like? What should we expect from it?
Bumblefoot
It’s funny, I never know what kind of vibe an album is going to give off until it’s in its final stages. I’ve been letting people hear it now, and they all come back with the same initial reaction, they say it reminds them of the Sex Pistols mixed with Queen. I’m very happy with the album, I really pushed myself in ways I hadn’t before. Spent extra time on trying different amps and mics, and pushed myself vocally to sing in ways I hadn’t before. Guitarwise I think there’s a better balance between melody and crazy technical stuff, and a better guitar tone than I’ve had in the past.
Doomsday Dept
What is it like to play in GN’R? Do you feel like, “Hey it’s me Bumblefoot!” or “Hey, I know I’m a hired gun but I like it!”?
Bumblefoot
I don’t feel like a hired gun because my heart is in it. My time with Guns is becoming “years” now, it includes writing guitar parts and recording, touring all over the world, being part of everything, and being who I am. That doesn’t feel at all like a hired gun. But I know people love to assume the worst, haha, fuck ‘em.
Doomsday Dept
Lately we’ve seen pics/videos of you playing Les Pauls — does that mean that the “foot-guitar” era is over?
Bumblefoot
With Guns I play a lot of Gibsons — they fit the vibe more than a guitar shaped like a Monty-Python-esque giant foot, ya know? I play the Vigier fretless with Guns, and Parkwood acoustic guitars too.
Doomsday Dept
Why do you have a long nail on your thumb? Do you like to pick your nose... that hard?
Bumblefoot
Oh c’mon man, that’s nasty...!
Doomsday Dept
What bands/musicians are/were your biggest influence?
Bumblefoot
Kiss, for their energy. Beatles for their musicality. Eddie Van Halen for the innovative playing. Hendrix for the vibe. Man, so many... but those are the main ones...
Doomsday Dept
What kind music have you been listening to lately?
Bumblefoot
Rough mixes of my album for the last six months. I can’t remember anything before that... usually I’m listening to Motown and old funk, R&B. The Spinners, Earth Wind & Fire, Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Curtis Mayfield...
Doomsday Dept
What was the last live concert you saw from audience?
Bumblefoot
Just saw UFO, before them was Rob Zombie and Ozzy, Clutch and Coheed & Cambria, My Chemical Romance, Roger Waters... and Hookers N’ Blow.
Doomsday Dept
Several months ago there was info at Wikipedia that you were going to make an appearance in one of the Lost episodes. Did you do it or not?
Bumblefoot
Don’t believe anything you read on the internet.
Doomsday Dept
Your favorite movie/book?
Bumblefoot
Favorite movie — always changes... gonna say “Gummo”. Although every time a Quentin Tarantino film is on, I have to watch it.
Doomsday Dept
Tell us about your worst gig experience (if there is one).
Bumblefoot
Too many to tell, haha. There was one show in Toulouse, France in 2002. We had a headlining tour of about two-dozen shows, this was our third show in, and the drummer freaked out, out of nowhere, and said he “couldn’t fight his demons and was quitting music” and was quitting the tour after this show. We were fucked. And the sound system for the venue kept blowing out, starting from 10 seconds into the first song. It was baaaaaaad. The drummer kept screwing up, saying he couldn’t hear the monitors. He started playing the wrong song three times in a row and I got pissed, said something about how “these people paid to see us play and we owe them a good show”, they applauded, I was pissed. I kept asking our engineer to turn up the drummer’s monitors, finally he said over the speakers, “I can’t turn him up, that guy has to...” and points to the engineer on the side of the stage. I said jokingly, “ohhhh, so he’s the one...” and pointed to him... Well, we made it through the rest of the show, but it wasn’t easy. The drummer immediately got out of the venue and to a train station before I could get to him. As I’m packing up, the other engineer (not our engineer, but the venue’s engineer that was supposed to be doing our monitors...) comes over to me saying how “it was dicky of me to say that”, and all this shit. I didn’t even know what he was talking about, it turns out he was referring to my pointing him out. I told him it’s usually a light-hearted show with a lot of joking around, and it wasn’t meant to be something mean. He then continued to say that “it was dicky of me to say that.” After all the shit that happened in this gig, and now having no drummer and twenty more shows to do, I was ready to take it out on this asshole and bash his fucking skull into pieces. He was of no help during the show, don’t think he even introduced himself to us, now he’s picking a fight after not being there for us — what the fuck?? I didn’t let that asshole get the best of me, I just packed up, and worked on getting a drummer.
Doomsday Dept
Have you ever met Slash in person? Before or after joining GN’R? Was he nice?
Bumblefoot
We haven’t met, but I’m sure we’ll bump into each other one of these days.
Doomsday Dept
What’s your favorite cartoon/animated movie?
Bumblefoot
South Park, Simpsons, Family Guy... best stuff on TV. Aqua Teen Hunger Force too, that show is fucked, haha...
Doomsday Dept
Do you smoke/drink?
Bumblefoot
No. You get one body, one brain, ya better take damn good care of them, and be grateful you have whatever health you have.
Doomsday Dept
Do you ever get tired of making music? What makes you keep inspired?
Bumblefoot
There are times I get burnt out, but it’s usually because some asshole is trying to poison progress with drama and negativity. Cut those people out of your life — they’re empty black holes — don’t let them steal your light.
Doomsday Dept
What do you think about Van Halen reunion? Was it a good idea or they shouldn’t have done it?
Bumblefoot
Only Van Halen can answer that. I’m glad to see them out there playing. And if people are enjoying it, then it’s a good thing.
Doomsday Dept
“Just got new medication after years of hibernation..” — true story or just a song?
Bumblefoot
True story. The Normal album is autobiographical... well, mostly. Songs always have a piece of the writer in them, so I guess everything is sort of autobiographical, whether the events, the philosophy, something...
Doomsday Dept
If you weren’t playing music — what would you do?
Bumblefoot
Producing other bands, and helping them achieve their goals.
Doomsday Dept
Do you like Monty Python? What’s your favorite sketch/episode?
Bumblefoot
Love Monty Python!! Hard to pick a favorite... just off the top of my head, ex-parrot, mountaineering expedition, spam, lumberjack, motorcycle grannies, The Holy Grail, Policeman’s Ball, fish dance, funny walks, complaints... haha, so many...
Doomsday Dept
Michael Jackson or Prince?
Bumblefoot
Prince.
Doomsday Dept
Robert De Niro or Al Pacino?
Bumblefoot
Both are great, but I gotta give De Niro the edge on this one. Goodfellas, Taxi Driver... yeah.
Doomsday Dept
Iron Maiden or Metallica?
Bumblefoot
I love both, but Iron Maiden was a very big part of my youth, musically. I remember browsing the record store and buying Killers, just taking a chance because I liked the album cover. As soon as I heard it, I had my parents take me right back to the same store and I bought the first album... my cover band played a lot of Maiden, back when I was 14 or 15...
Doomsday Dept
Do you have any pets?
Bumblefoot
Four crazy cats.
Doomsday Dept
Do you believe in UFOs and aliens? Ever seen any?
Bumblefoot
I thought I saw UFOs two years ago while at the Download Festival in England. Then I realized it was just people throwing piss bottles.
Doomsday Dept
Is Chinese Democracy actually happening? When is it gonna be finally released?
Bumblefoot
We’re currently in negotiations with the label.
Doomsday Dept
If you could have one of these superpowers which one would you choose?
— see-through-clothes vision,
— turning any object into a cheeseburger,
— the ability to speak perfect Korean?
Bumblefoot
A. I can get a cheeseburger if I really want one, and I can learn to speak Korean. A is the only option. Well, getting a cheeseburger, and turning something into a cheeseburger could have two different applications, but I find that 1) most people that I would turn into a cheeseburger already are cheeseburgers, and 2) if a deranged lunatic attacked me with a chainsaw, maybe it would help to turn the chainsaw into a cheeseburger, but probably not, because chainsaws don’t kill people, deranged lunatics with chainsaws kill people. And too many cheeseburgers kill people. So I’m sticking with A.
Doomsday Dept
But there’s always a price to pay! To activate your new superpower you have to do one of these things:
— Quit Guns N’ Roses
— Marry Paris Hilton
— Move to Bulgaria
Bumblefoot
Tough choice. Not A.... can I do both, B and C? Wait, I’m already married. So not B... Bulgaria it is. A nice little bungalow by the Black Sea — sounds nice.
Doomsday Dept
If you were able to resurrect three dead musicians (who would return in their top shape, not a “Pet Cemetery” type of condition) — who would they be?
Bumblefoot
Hmmmmm.... Tchaikovsky, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison.Doomsday Dept
What’s your advice to the young (or old) guitar players who feel like “Damn... that Bumblefoot guy is so awesome, I wish I could play like him but since I don’t — fuck it... I give up guitar... I will never reach his level, he’s too ingenious...”?
Bumblefoot
Music is not a competition!! It’s personal expression, and no two people are the same, and you shouldn’t compare. Be who you are, and give something to this world that only you can give.
Oh, did you miss the Chinese Democracy question? Read the interview again. Maybe it’s about time people (mostly fans) stopped already fucking with the album fourteen years behind the schedule? It’s released when it’s released, why would you care? Listen to the new Bumblefoot album instead – Abnormal. Review it five out of five stars.
