Bumblefoot

Former GN'R ax-slinger Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal returns with a slick new instrumental album, assisted by Brian May, Steve Vai and Guthrie Govan

- ANDREW DALY

FROM HIS EARLIEST days as the apple of Mike Varney's eye to stepping in for Slash in Guns N' Roses, it's always the same for Ron Thal, aka Bumblefoot.

"With every album, the inspiration comes from living life, from whatever you're feeling in the moment," he says. "Suddenly a riff pops into your head, and that expression of whatever you're feeling and experiencing turns into a song. That pretty much sums up my last couple of years of putting wackiness to music."

Bumblefoot's “wackiness” has led to lots of friendships, too. An example is Guthrie Govan, who features on “Anveshana,” track number nine from Bumblefoot's new instrumental smorgasbord, ...Returns!.