SMOKE THIS: A George Lynch Interview
Another Exclusive Interview by Dave Roberts,
Guitar Resource Magazine
Copyright 1999 Dave Roberts, All Rights Reserved.
I recently Interviewed guitarist George Lynch of Lynch Mob (formerly of DOKKEN) and include a detailed review of his new “SMOKE THIS” release due in stores in September.
Straight out of the Arizona badlands, guitar great George Lynch marches his Lynch Mob back into battle with their new, hard-hitting, 13 track release, SMOKE THIS. George debuts his all-new line-up along with a fresher, much more aggressive sound.
This revised Mob is still motored by influential guitar mentor George Lynch’s commanding riffs and shredding solos, but now he’s accompanied by equally powerful, yet rhythmical vocals belted out by Kirk Harper, former lead singer of the Tempe, Arizona based band OIL.
Drummer Clancy McCarthy, also recruited from OIL, joined Lynch’s new Mob in 1998. The finishing touches were added to Lynch’s project as he brought in Bass Guitarist Gabe Rozales from Laguna Beach, California.
The texture of their aggressive-progressive sound remains the essence of who George has always been; solid guitar virtuosity driven by pounding percussion and a fierce baseline but SMOKE THIS takes a left turn from the previous Lynch Mob sound vocally, as well as technically. Once again, Lynch allows himself to go against the grain from his previous projects in order to achieve the sound he desires.
This release rocks and is currently available through Sacred Groove Merchandising located on George Lynch’s website at www.GeorgeLynch.com.
Lynch Mob’s official site and audio can be found there as well (MP3 and Real Audio form). SMOKE THIS is going to be released on Koch Records on September 15 and will be available everywhere!
George Lynch was born September 28, 1954 in Spokane, Washington and moved to California at an early age. George started playing guitar at 10. George played in his fair share of assorted basement and garage bands. By the mid/late 70s, George already had built a large cult following as one of L.A.’s hottest guitarists touring the club circuit playing alongside other L.A. club guitar gods Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads.
George emerged from the L.A. scene in 1981 as he teamed up with Don Dokken to form the band Dokken. George’s showmanship, songwriting and guitar mastery were finally in the forefront and he continued to dominate the guitar god decade of the 80’s with DOKKEN pumping out hit-after-hit including smashes like “Alone Again”, “In My Dreams”, “It’s Not Love” and countless others.
During the bands on-again off-again relationship in the 90’s, George pursued a solo project with various talented artists. This included Dokken drummer “Wild Mick” Brown (who joined Lynch on future Lynch Mob projects prior to returning to Dokken in 1998) & DOKKEN Bassist Jeff Pilson The solo project was called Sacred Groove in which George took a different approach with his writing and playing style. This included the Latin felt “Tierra Del Fuego”, a much cleaner, softer “I will Remember” (a personal favorite of mine) and more progressive harder stylings as well.
In George’s A.D. years (after Dokken) a more seasoned Lynch pursued many guitar projects and with each project George differentiated styles and earned more respect by his fans and peers alike by displaying this diversity of his styles and techniques. This diversity of styles continued to be present as George formed Lynch Mob and arranged brassy mixes, Bluesy overtone and newer vocal styles along with his awesome guitar mastery. George continues to change with the newly-reformed Mob; bringing a crunchier, much more aggressive sound.
Recently I had the honor of talking with George about his new sound, album and about guitars in general.
DR: Thank you for your time Mr. Lynch. I would like to first ask you to briefly sum up your SMOKE THIS release.
GL: It’s a snapshot of a flood of ideas and possibilities I’ve been free to explore since leaving my old band
DR: Unlike your old band, this new Lynch Mob has a much different sound….much more aggressive. Other than the change in sound, how would you describe the George Lynch as he appears on SMOKE THIS as opposed to the old George?
GL: I feel a sense of liberation. Now, I’m only restrained by my own imagination and skill. There are no encumbrances as far as band limitations or personality issues yet.
DR: Because of this new line-up, do you feel the song-writing process is an easier or a more labored process than you are used to?
GL: Much easier. The problem is that there is far too many possibilities. Gabe has played in some serious death metal bands, as well as a sort of bebop/R&B thing. Kirk has his hip-hop influences and a hard rock/metal background. Clancy has some serious jazz flavored chops. It’s an interesting blend of musical styles.
DR: Other than their obvious talent as musicians, what do you enjoy most about working with the new Mobsters?
GL: They are monster players, with energy for days. A very physical live band. As people, they are honest and real. The emotional baggage level has dropped to near zero compared to my former band, which leaves a lot of room for positive energy.
DR: I noticed you mentioned the band’s live performance presence; what type of touring is LynchMob planning with this release?
GL: We’re going to stick mainly to planet Earth.
DR: (laugh) I guess we’ll have to stay tuned (www.georgelynch.com) for tour info. I can see how your new Mob must be a very, as you stated, “physical live” band just from the shear power SMOKE THIS generates as it booms out of my stereo. Are you nervous about this album’s reception or performing it live?
GL: We are assuming people are going to hate us. If I see a few younger guys in the audience who aren’t laughing at us, I’ll be happy.
DR: (laugh) You are still George Lynch; I doubt your following will desert you. When touring, will LynchMob play any of the older Lynch tunes?
GL: Yes, but they won’t be easily recognizable. They will be transformed into a sort of rance/lounge/space thing.
DR:That sounds cool. Let’s go back to the SMOKE THIS release, any favorite tracks?
GL: Hollow and Into The Fire. They were fun and sound extra angry. And I’ve always liked the name “Into the Fire”
DR: Although your sound is still unmistakable George Lynch, I dig the solid aggressive crunch that seems to be a little more present on some of the SMOKE THIS tracks. What is your current rig setup?
GL: Soldano Decatone, Genz Benz G-Flex Cabs, Boogie Strategy 290 Power Amp, Zen Buddha pedals and wah, Boomerang pedal, and Roland VG8. I use a Pod or Line6 Amp Farm to record with.
DR: Besides guitar and amp, what is the one piece of your rig that you can’t live without?
GL: Delay.
DR: How about your guitars, any Favorites?
GL: My new ESP silver sparkle Eclipse with F-holes. It looks cool, sounds and plays amazing.
DR: How do you like your new ESP Doubleneck?
GL: The one you saw was a prototype. The new one has a 27″ barritone scale length and a completely different body design, sort of like Gene Simmons’ Hatchet Bass but with 2 necks.
DR: They just keep getting cooler all the time! Do you still remember your first guitar?
GL: The first electric was a St. George P.O.S.G. (piece of shit guitar)
DR: How about the first song you ever learned to play?
GL: Maliguena
DR: I’ll bet there’s more to life than just guitars…what do you do when you need to take a break from the guitar?
GL: Read, go to school, play the stock market, spending time with my wife and kids, playing on the computer, getting lost on extended trips on my Harley, playing business man at the office.
DR:You seem to keep pretty busy . If you weren’t a musician, what would you doing?
GL: An environmentalist, anarchistic, bodybuilding, fund managing, Taoist monk.
DR: Let’s focus on a little George Lynch History now; who are 5 guitarists that influenced you the most?
GL: Allan Holdsworth, Jeff Beck, Jan Ackerman, Eddie Van Halen, and Jimi Hendrix
DR:What was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you onstage?
GL: The crotch ripping out of my pants while wearing no underwear in front of 18,000 people and my tech trying to fix it with a piece of duct tape while I was still playing.
DR: What was your first concert?
GL: Battle of the Bands at South Gate Park Rec Hall, South Gate California, sometime around 1970 or 71.
DR: What is the best guitar advice ever given to you?
GL: Play less, say more. Express your emotions. Music is a language of the heart, soul, and mind that is in many ways purer, and more direct than the written or spoken word.
DR: Great advice. How about the worst guitar advice ever given to you?
GL: Shred, dude.
DR: (laugh) What do you think was the greatest invention for guitars?
GL: Strings.
DR: What CD do you have in your stereo right now?
GL: Die Krupps and the new Limp Bizkit.
DR: If you weren’t doing this interview, what would you be doing right now?
GL: Fixing my drip system, recording on my computer studio, or making babies with my beautiful, exotic 26 year old wife.
DR:What is the meaning of life?
GL: I don’t know. But if you figure it out could you let me know?
DR:Worst job?
GL: Being a rock star.
DR: Thanks for the interview and all of George Lynch fans are going to be looking forward to seeing Lynch Mob when you begin touring. Stay tuned to Be sure to visit the official George Lynch website at www.georgelynch.com for news, downloads, tabs Merchandise, tour dates, real audio, MP3s and more great stuff!!
All materials are Copyright Dave Roberts, All Rights Reserved. All articles are available for use or reprint ONLY by Permission.
Thanks to Dave for permission to reproduce this article in Guitar News Weekly.