RON “BUMBLEFOOT” THAL Announces Grand Opening Of Bumblefoot Rock Project UK Music School; Video

Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal has announced the grand opening of Bumblefoot Rock Project – an all-ages, all-levels music school in the UK focusing on musicianship, songwriting, recording, music videos and live performance.

“Our mission is to provide a safe, fun environment for youngsters to develop musical abilities. We encourage children to write, record and perform live their own music.”

Visit BumblefootRockProject.com for more info.

Bumblefoot recently released a video for “Don’t Know Who To Pray To Anymore”, from his latest, album Little Brother Is Watching.

Clocking in at over seven minutes, “Don’t Know Who To Pray To Anymore” is a true return to form for the epic music video format, with storyline footage showcasing characters in various stages of life, from childhood to adult, hitting an emotional ‘rock bottom’, faced with a life-changing choice. The stories are left open-ended, so you can ask yourself what choice you would make.

“This song speaks for those that feel lost, betrayed, disillusioned, when we question all we believe in. When we start to lash out, and punish ourselves.” says Thal. “This is a song about being in this place, in our own personal purgatory. We know we need to heal, but we’re not ready to let go.”

Directed by Vojan Koceic, the video was a massive undertaking, filmed in three countries at 12 locations, including the Western Wall in Jerusalem, gaining exclusive access to ancient Roman ruins by the Jordanian border, with the distinction of being the only music video to ever have been shot there (filmed by Director of photography Ami Bornstein). Additional band performances were filmed in Croatia at the Fortress of Klis and the Diocletian Palace (locations seen on the TV show “Game of Thrones”), plus an additional 8 sets and featuring more than 50 actors.

Thal released a music video for “Little Brother Is Watching”, the title track of his 10th CD, earlier this year. The album was issued on February 24th.

“The director, Gabriella Loutfi took a real cinematic approach with the song subject” states Bumblefoot. “Rather than showing the current evolution of Orwell’s 1984 Big Brother, we turned the clock back to 1984 BC, showing how power struggles for control and order are timeless. The video plays out like chapters of a story – dominating rule, a demand for instant gratification, a revolt and the tables turn. Gabriella gave a ‘tip of the hat’ to pioneer filmmakers like Georges Méliès, often choosing organic methods rather than digital effects. An example is the drowning scenes – long blue and white sheets stretching across a room, each end held by crew, being rippled and waved by hand as the actors would descend between them.”  

The album is an eccentric, upbeat collection of modern epic rock with haunting melodies, huge choruses and witty lyrics about life in the digital age and beyond. Specifically, his own life and coming to terms with what we all face – beginnings, endings, and moving on.

The album was composed, produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Bumblefoot at his studio in New Jersey, and also features drummer Dennis Leeflang and a crowd of 100 fans stomping, chanting and singing backing vocals recorded at a listening party in New York.  The album’s first single and title track “Little Brother Is Watching” is now available digitally.

Bumblefoot has over 20 years of releasing music, performing at international festivals, headlining solo tours, won many album of the month/year awards and has appeared on the covers of numerous music magazines as a solo artist. As lead guitarist of Guns N’ Roses, Bumblefoot toured sold-out shows all over the world, headlining festivals with crowds up to 150,000 people. Bumblefoot’s unique ‘fretless guitar’ can be heard throughout GNR’s 2008 Chinese Democracy album.

Bumblefoot has current collaborations that include DMC from the iconic rap group Run DMC, and Scott Weiland in the supergroup Art Of Anarchy.  His music is often heard in TV, film and video games including the theme song to VH1’s That Metal Show. Bumblefoot also works with US Embassies around the world on cross-cultural music programs, has his own line of award-winning hot sauces, and works with dozens of international charities visiting orphanages and children’s hospitals with guitar in hand.

Little Brother Is Watching tracklisting:

“Clots”
“Little Brother Is Watching”
“Argentina”
“Don’t Know Who To Pray To Anymore”
“Livin’ The Dream”
“Cuterebra”
“Higher”
“Women Rule The World”
“Sleepwalking”
“Eternity”
“Never Again”

Bumblefoot explains why he chooses to play “The Pink Panther Theme” as his guitar solo during concerts: