Bumblefoot skillfully utilising both necks of his double neck Vigier during the workshop. The top neck is fretless. (Right) His deep passion for music was reflected in his in-depth knowledge about music theory and music genres.
HIS long fingers gliding and nimbly dancing over guitar strings, Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal made it look easy as he charmed growling riffs, screaming solos and foot-tapping melodies from his signature double neck Vigier.
The 200-strong audience in the auditorium at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak were spellbound but definitely under no illusion that they were witnessing the skills of a world-class guitarist and performer live on stage.
Thal’s recent visit to Kuching — his first — was arranged by the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur as part of his Malaysian tour from April 22 to 30.
From the onset, it was clear those present were in for an entertaining time. Thal’s passion for music — for all music, not just rock — and ability to make it accessible to just about anyone regardless of music background makes him stand out not just as an extraordinary communicator and educator, but also an extraordinary musician.
The questions from the audience ranged from fans requests to play his interpretation of rock standards and favourites such as Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven to how it was like to be working with GNR frontman Axl Rose and more technical topics such as music theory concepts. The questions also included how to structure guitar solos into a song, and what type of music equipment he prefers.
The two-hour session felt almost like one was eavesdropping on a casual conversation among friends seated in someone’s living room — thanks to his candid replies to questions, willingness to accommodate on-the-spot song requests, as well as poke fun at himself.
It takes a mischievous sense of humour to adopt a nickname which takes after a bacterial infection that affects the feet of birds and rodents.
Thal shared that many years ago, when his wife Jennifer was in vet school, he was helping her to study. Bumblefoot (ulcerative pododermatitis) was the name of one of the diseases she was studying.
He thought the name had a superhero-ish ring to it, so he wrote a song called Bumblefoot. He went on to title his first solo album The Adventures of Bumblefoot and every song on the album was named after a different animal disease.
Later, when Thal started producing music and performing shows under his own label, he named the band Bumblefoot as he felt it was a good fit with the music they were playing.
After a number of Bumblefoot albums, people came to identify the name not just as a band but as Thal as he was involved in every aspect of the band’s work and music as the singer, guitarist and songwriter — which is how the nickname Bumblefoot has stuck with him until today.
Bumblefoot and a fan pose for a photo.
Inspired
The 45-year-old had an early headstart to his music career.
“I heard a band called KISS when I was five and I thought that’s what I want to do,” he said.
“The KISS Alive! album had just come out and all my friends and my older siblings were buying all these albums and there was a lot of great stuff lying around.”
He remembers the 70’s was an exciting time for a young, budding rock musician to live in as every few month bands such as Queen, Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, and ACDC were releasing new albums and he would listen eagerly listen to them all.
He started playing the guitar when he was six years old, forming a band with an eight-year old and a nine-year old. They recorded their own demos, wrote their own songs, played shows, drew their own comics and graphics, and came up with their own promotional material — something which he continues to do 39 years later.
While Thal may be mostly recognised in this part of the world as the co-lead guitarist of GNR since joining the band’s lineup in 2006, the award winning veteran musician and producer has assembled an extensive portfolio of music and artistic work throughout his years in the industry.
He just released his tenth solo album called Little Brother Is Watching in February and has a number of collaborations in the works, including one with rapper DMC from Run DMC, and another with Scott Weiland in the supergroup Art of Anarchy (scheduled for release this June 2).
Envoy vs rockstar
Over the past few years, Thal has worked with US Embassies all over the world as a cultural envoy, fostering goodwill and mutual understanding between people of different backgrounds and cultures wherever he goes.
“Everybody has the same spirit. Music is so connective, not just culturally and socially. If anything I hope people take away from this (workshop in Kuching) is that they are not so different and that there is always a level we can connect, and music is one of the best,” he told thesundaypost when met briefly after the session.
When asked how different was it visiting as a cultural envoy compared to touring as a rockstar, Thal said it was not all that different but being a rockstar musician is also not what many people think it is.
“I think they picked me to do this (cultural envoy) because naturally, I work well in this environment. I think I am more naturally made for this than being a rockstar.
“Honestly, rockstars are more like party planners. What you see is the party, what you get is the party. The rockstars are doing a lot of work to make the party happen. If it looks like they having a party too, then they are doing it right. That’s the truth behind it.”
He pointed out that there was huge difference between a professional musician and someone who just plays a guitar and does not plan to work.
“The truth behind it (touring as a musician) is that everyone is getting as much sleep as they can, they are eating as healthy as they can, they are exercising as much as they can, and they are doing everything possible to make sure they are as healthy as possible so they can give people the best show they can each night without getting worn down.
“It’s a responsibility that for myself I take it very seriously, and I am not going to abuse myself and then go in front of 10,000 people and not give them everything I could be capable of doing for them. That would be very offensive.”
Bumblefoot sharing his experiences with a packed auditorium consisting of fans of all ages and backgrounds.
Keeping focus
On how he managed to keep himself grounded amidst all the pitfalls of fame and the notorious temptations of the high-flying rock-and-roll lifestyle, Thal said it was important for people to know who they were and why they wanted to do what they did.
“No one defines you except you. There’s no such thing as a rockstar. A rockstar is when you look at that pile of chairs over there and decide they are famous. Does that mean it’s not a pile of chairs? To you, something famous is something you react to but it’s not real. All that stuff is not what defines you.
“I don’t see myself as a rockstar and I don’t see myself as better or worse than other people. And it’s kind of strange when they start viewing you as something other than a person. It’s an unhealthy objectification.
“I like it when people enjoy what I do — that’s why I do it and that’s a good thing. If they enjoy it and appreciate it, I enjoy it and appreciate it as well — it’s mutual. That’s the part that’s good and what I focus on.”
Life’s passion
Thal has managed to find his life’s passion in music very early on in life and turn it into a successful career. Through the ups-and-downs, he has never forgotten what music means to him and he wants to share that with everyone he meets.
“I never got into music for the ego … it wasn’t about ego and attention. All these bands I was listening to at a very young age lifted me so much and made me feel so good. Their music gave me so much energy — good energy — that I wanted to pay that back.
“To this day, that’s what it’s all about. All the other stuff is external — it’s not the core of who you are. It’s that simple. It’s the five-year-old kid who heard the KISS Alive! album and was so energised and lifted by it that he wanted to share that experience with other people. That’s what’s going on right now,” he shared with a big smile.
When thesundaypost asked what would a perfect break or getaway for him look like, Thal said he would not be doing anything different from what he was doing now.
“I would probably fill that time with a guitar workshop. Honestly, this is not work for me. I’m doing this because I want to. At 45 years old, my life is mine and I am doing what I want. I make no apologies for any of it. I am living the way I want to live and doing what I want to do and I’ve never been happier.
“To me if I had the choice of what I want to do in a day, I would be doing this.”
The interview with Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal was arranged by the US Embassy in KL.
For more information about Bumblefoot and his upcoming performances and projects, visit www.bumblefoot.com.