Features: Ron Thal

Staying Out of Trouble with Ron Thal

photos by Larry DiMarzio

Guitar players and all musicians have to keep in mind that music comes from your spirit, mind and heart: it does not come from your hands. If anything, it ends at your hands. That is where the music comes out. Don’t spend so much time thinking about what your fingers are doing. Instead, think about what kind of feeling you want to give people. Sharing a piece of yourself with them making a connection is what it’s all about.

What motivates me is making people happy and having a good time. We could be playing for a hundred thousand people at a festival in Europe or a hundred people at a bar in New York. Bringing people together even if it’s for just a couple of hours is all worth it.

I’ve been keeping busy... trying to stay out of trouble. Yeah, right!

Last year, I toured; playing guitar with Guns and Roses. We did 75 shows in 23 countries, I had a great time. This year, I have been playing for some local fund-raisers and producing artists at my studio in New Jersey. I’ve been starting to get that itch to produce another solo album. I better start writing some songs!