ELTON JOHN’S MATT BISSONETTE JOINS ALL ACCESS LIVE

Matt Bissonette attended the University of North Texas’s jazz music program. In the early- to mid-1980s, he toured and recorded with jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. For part of his time in the Ferguson band, he played alongside his brother Gregg, which the brothers have done several times in their careers. Matt moved to Los Angeles in 1983 where he played in many Top 40 bands, one of which was the band Airplay at Disneyland where he met a girl singer named Chariya who he later married and has been married to for 26 years. Matt continued to work with artists such as Sheena Easton, Gino Vanelli, A-440 a band with producer Nick Brown.

In late 1987, he replaced Billy Sheehan in the David Lee Roth band. Along with guitar innovator Steve Vai, Matt’s brother Gregg (on drums) and keyboardist Brett Tuggle, Matt toured the world behind the former Van Halen vocalist’s Billboard #6 album Skyscraper. In 1991 Gregg and Matt joined Joe Satriani’s band for The Extremist album and tour. Matt continued working with artists such as Brian Wilson Don Henley Julian Lennon, Steve Perry Matt also wrote and produced several of his own albums including The Mustard Seeds, SPOT and other solo ventures, He has also produced 3 solo records with his brother Gregg.

In 2003, Bissonette reunited with his brother to back Ringo Starr on a US tour. In 2004, Matt played with vocalist Boz Scaggs on Scaggs’ Greatest Hits Live CD and DVD. In 2000 Bissonette became the bass player for Rick Springfield, while singing in his own band 3The Squirts” with guitarist George Bernhardt and drummer Rodger Carter. Springfield and Bissonette collaborated on 3 albums Venus in Overdrive, Songs For The End Of The World and Rocket Science. Bissonette is currently the bass player for Elton John, replacing the late Bob Birch.

SKID ROW’S ROB HAMMERSMITH ROCKS ALL ACCESS LIVE

Rob’s musical journey began at an early age in a small town outside of Buffalo, NY. Starting out in the cover scene, Rob quickly developed an appreciation for a solid back beat and playing for the song. An approach to drumming that he still considers the foundation for his style today.

Later settling in Atlanta, GA, Rob’s drumming quickly gained attention in the rock underground. Rob spent many years touring and recording with Atlanta rockers “Rockets to Ruin” and toured with “Gunfire 76” featuring “Murderdolls” frontman Wednesday 13. Rob also maintains a busy schedule of recording and working with many different bands and artists throughout the country.

In April, 2010, Rob was offered the drum position in the multi-platinum selling rock band Skid Row. When asked about his new gig Hammersmith answered “Having always been a fan, it is an honor to be asked to join the band. The band’s music and history holds a special place in both my life, and the lives of so many loyal fans. To be a part of that history is the chance of a lifetime.”

ALL ACCESS LIVE WITH ARCHIE’S ICE CREAM & SHANT KEUILIAN

Shant and I share a love of music and pugs, and plan to rap about the myriad of amazing experiences he’s had, delivering the sweets to iconic events across Southern California. His famous ice cream truck can be spotted backstage at hundreds of events per year, from arena rock and hip-hop shows to local school and charity events. Celebrity after celebrity have snapped photos while splayed out on the ice cream truck lounge’s leopard-print couch. They each leave an autograph on the truck’s walls in their wake.

“It’s like a mini museum on wheels,” co-owner Shant Keuilian, 47, of Orange said about the truck. “It’s an ice cream truck on the outside, and on the inside, a museum. They flip out because they’ve never seen anything like it.”

ERIC “BOOTS” GREENE JOINS ALL ACCESS LIVE

Eric “Boots” Greene is a music industry business professional and has been drumming since he was two years old in his hometown of Philadelphia. He admits to being blessed with the gift of music ever since he can remember. From performing at his family’s church, to his self-teaching of keyboards, instruments and learning The Wiz entirely by ear, he has had a profound aptitude for music, and knew he was meant to perform with top entertainment industry leaders. While still in his teens, he started touring with Jill Scott and ultimately performed with numerous well-known musicians including Wiz Khalifa, Alicia Keys, Cardi B, Pharrell Williams, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, P-Diddy, Common, Kelis, Ferg, Patti Labelle, and Snoop Dogg. Boots is a talented songwriter and producer, having written, mixed, mastered and produced three of his own albums, as well as for other artists, including more than 10 albums for unsigned artists. He also an author, writing the short non-fiction book entitled, The InstruMENTAL-list, which captures the real life of being a musician, artist, father and man. Boots just wrapped up shows with hip-hop legend EMINEM, which provided some pretty remarkable stories for All Access Live!

GET THE BOOK "The InstruMENTAL-ist" HERE
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CHEAP TRICK’S DAXX NIELSEN JOINS ALL ACCESS LIVE

My buddy and former All Access Live guest Mark Powers joins me to co-host a special drummers’ roundtable chat with the dynamic Daxx Nielsen of Cheap Trick! We talk about the inspiring moment Daxx got the phone call to join the band, just days before leaving on tour with another group, where he finds balance as a father and husband with a band that tours 180 days a year, the importance of establishing and maintaining relationships and Daxx’s forthcoming tour dates playing drums for The Eagles’ Don Felder.

Growing up in a house full of musical instruments, Daxx gravitated towards the drums at a very early age. After high school Daxx traveled the US extensively with his original band, Harmony Riley. Over a period of 5 years Harmony Riley recorded 2 full length albums and 3 EP’s and performed almost 1,000 shows around the US and Canada. Upon the band’s dissolution Daxx packed up and moved to Los Angeles where he quickly got into the studio and touring world. His first break was drumming for surf guitar pioneer Dick Dale.

While on breaks from touring he did dozens of recording sessions, performed anywhere and everywhere with numerous local artists, and formed A Fine Frenzy with singer/songwriter Alison Sudol. This led to years of touring and recording with Brandi Carlisle, Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons, The Smashing Pumpkins, and numerous others. Since March of 2010, Daxx has been the touring drummer for the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTED band CHEAP TRICK, performing over 1,000 shows with them and recording the critically acclaimed Bang Zoom Crazy Hello.

Daxx co-wrote and drummed on the score for Oscar Award Winning documentary UNDEFEATED.

Some of the other projects Daxx has been involved with over the last few years are; drumming two nights for Eddie Vedder, drumming for The Fab Faux, as well as recording with numerous projects.

Check out Daxx’s Instagram for updates here.

THE RETURN OF GINGER LYNN!

Well, you asked for it, folks…. she’s back, and TOTALLY uncensored. I had to break this into two parts, because you can’t handle the scandal in just one sitting! For members of ALL ACCESS LIVE with KEVIN RANKIN, you’ll get to know the legendary Ginger Lynn Allen like no one ever has. Her amazing history with Charlie Sheen, Billy Idol and more, she’s got stories for days. We get behind the magic in her creative space, both in her uniquely special jewelry and inimitable paintings. JOIN and BECOME A MEMBER NOW to get closer to Ginger!

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GUITAR LEGEND MIKE STERN JOINS ALL ACCESS LIVE WITH KEVIN RANKIN

One of the great jazz guitarists of his generation, Mike Stern has the unique ability to play with the finesse and lyricism of Jim Hall, the driving swing of Wes Montgomery and the turbulent, overdriven attack of Jimi Hendrix. Growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, Stern revered all three of those guitar immortals, along with such potent blues guitarists as Albert and B.B. King. Aspects of those seminal influences can be heard in his playing on the 18 recordings he has released as a leader or in his acclaimed sideman work for Miles Davis, Billy Cobham, the Brecker Brothers, Jaco Pastorius, Steps Ahead, David Sanborn, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Joe Henderson and the all-star Four Generations of Miles band.

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MIKE COLLINS SCREAMS FROM THE ROOFTOPS on ALL ACCESS LIVE WITH KEVIN RANKIN

For over two decades, Mike Collins has been one of the busiest and most sought after drummers and percussionists in the Pacific Northwest.

He’s a graduate of the Musicians Institute of Technology and has studied independently with drummers Michael Shrieve (Santana, George Harrison), Zoro (Lenny Kravitz, Sean Lennon), Graham Lear (Santana, Reo Speedwagon) and world renowned instructor Chuck Silverman.

He’s played venues throughout North America sharing the bill with artists such as Little Richard, Cheap Trick, Joan Jett, Cake, Pat Benatar, Sheryl Crow, George Clinton, Sara Mclachlan, Jason Falkner, Gin Blossoms, Sebastian Bach, Veruca Salt, Soul Asylum and many others. His drumming and songwriting has been featured on local, national and international television and radio. Mike was also the featured drummer on Portland’s American Idol knock-off “Gimme The Mic”.

Collins has recorded and/or performed with notable artists such as Earl Slick (David Bowie, John Lennon), Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big, Racer X), Cy Curnin (The Fixx), Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, R.E.M.), Tim Smith (Sheryl Crow, Jellyfish), Freedy Johnston (Rolling Stone “Songwriter of the Year”), David Paton (Pilot, Alan Parsons Project ), Lisa Germano (John Mellencamp, Jewel), Danny Peyronel (UFO, Heavy Metal Kids), Dan Reed (Dan Reed Network), Dilana (The Voice, Rockstar Supernova), Gil Assayas (Todd Rundgren, T-Pain), Keith Slettedahl (The 88, Ray Davies) and a who’s who of local artists including Jon Koonce, Terry Robb, LaRhonda Steele, Stephanie Schneiderman, Thrillbilly, The Nowhere Band, Throwback Suburbia, Ants In The Kitchen and many more.

Collins has also recorded with acclaimed producers Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, John Lennon, Cheap Trick), Mark Plati (David Bowie, Prince, The Cure), Jonathan Plum (Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains), Marc Desisto (U2, Pink Floyd), Jeff Stuart Saltzman (Death Cab for Cutie), Gregg Williams (Dandy Warhols, Sheryl Crow), Duane Scott (ELO, Heart), Brian David Willis (Brad Paisley, John Fogerty), Chris Manning (Jellyfish, Santana), Kelly Gray (Candlebox, Queensryche), Kevin Hahn (Scorpions, Paul Gilbert) and Rob Daiker (Katy Perry, Dan Reed Network) to name a few.

Mike is not only a phenomenal drummer, but will be debuting his brand new Rooftop Screamers single “Souvenirs” (feat. Randy McStine)!  Can’t wait to catch back up with this talented buddy of mine! As promised, here’s the video of this gorgeous tribute to his grandmother Penny:

JIM BRUNBERG JOINS ALL ACCESS LIVE with KEVIN RANKIN

A musician, sound engineer, and producer, Jim Brunberg is probably best known to music fans around Portland as the founder and co-owner of two iconic venues: Mississippi Studios and Revolution Hall.

A podcast project, undertaken with his twin 8-year-old daughters, also gained attention a few years ago. Brunberg and the children hit the road to interview everyone from Oregon’s governor to gun shop owners to Big Foot experts as they explored issues like death, the Second Amendment, fear, memory, and more. Their guiding principle? “Let’s go find out.”

While each episode of Roam Schooled is centered around questions posed by Brunberg’s young daughters, the podcast is for adults. It was named one of the “10 Oregon-Made Podcasts You Have To Hear” on opb.org.

ALL ACCESS LIVE with ANDREW PAUL WOODWORTH

Andrew Paul Woodworth was signed to Sony Records in 1995. The first on the new roster of Jeff Ayeroff’s and Jordan Harris’ The Work Group, Woodworth led his band Elephant Ride into the studio with legendary bassist John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. While the result was a beautiful and sweeping arrangement of angsty, melodic rock, it failed to capture the attention it deserved.

Woodworth, along with Elephant Ride guitarist Dave Martin, then formed Los Angeles staple Virgil. The band was one of the pioneers of the DIY movement and quickly built a large following based on high energy rock shows and well crafted songs. They could have played LA forever but Woodworth longed for something more, something new.

One drunken night produced an ominous re-imagining of the Beastie Boys’ “Fight For Your Right” recorded in a home studio above The Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Music supervisors selfishly scrambled to get permission to use the track. The teen drama, One Tree Hill, won out, despite The Beasties being notorious placement naysayers.

Woodworth now had a solo career on his hands and he wasted no time in putting together a complete album of disparate tracks ranging from electro-grunge to desert country pop, yielding the album I Hate Music.

After showcasing his new material at MuseExpo Los Angeles at The Roxy, Woodworth signed with German label, Rodeostar Records and he toured extensively throughout Europe and Australia.

With his marriage falling apart, and his label crumbling under the weight of a collapsing music industry, Woodworth retreated back to his home town of Portland, Oregon.

Here, Woodworth would find bits of salvation in shared experiences with his musical family.

He quickly thrust himself into the Portland music scene and he had songs featured on 94.7 FM KNRK and on KINK FM’s Homegrown collection.