Ron Thal
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Personal information
Also known as: Bumblefoot
Born on: 25.09.1969
Official website
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Bumblefoot (aka Ron Thal) is a guitarist from NYC with seven albums released since 1995. His music is considered hard rock, bordering on quirky and experimental. Known for his unusual guitar-work, Bumblefoot has been on the covers of guitar magazines around the world. His guitar playing can be heard in the Spanish guitar soloing of Jessica Simpson's Irresistible dance mix, the punky guitar riff of Spike TV's MXC theme song, in the background of MTV's The Osbournes, The Real World, and others.
Bumblefoot works out of his studio in Princeton, New Jersey, where he collaborates with artists as a songwriter/producer and writes for publishing companies, video games and TV shows. Bumblefoot is a volunteer for the MS Research Foundation, a non-profit organization that donates funds directly to Multiple Sclerosis research.
Bumblefoot's first major recording was for a Shrapnel Records' compilation CD "Ominous Guitarists From the Unknown" in 1992, on which he performed a guitar version of Chopin's Fantaisie-Impromptu. He released two more CDs on the Shrapnel label. First was the mostly instrumental album The Adventures of Bumblefoot (1995), where he displayed his eclectic style of rhythms and soloing. His second CD, Hermit (1997) was very much different from the first, more lyrically focused and influenced by grunge, but still showing his impeccably phrased and highly original and technical guitar work . After these two albums with Shrapnel, Ron Thal adopted the name Bumblefoot and started his own production company Hermit Inc on which he released three musically diverse CDs -- Hands(1998), 9-11 (2001), Uncool (2002). He also released a compilation album Forgotten Anthology (2003) with cuts that didn't make it onto the previous albums for various reasons. His most recent release is Normal (2005), which was released on Hermit, Inc and Neanderthal Noise, Inc. Bumblefoot is also a producer for other artists and is active in fundraising for Multiple Sclerosis research.
Inspired by KISS at age six, Ron said his earliest musical goal was to play like Gene Simmons if someone decided to do a KISS version of Beatlemania. At that time his hands were too small for bass, so he decided to focus his attention on guitar. By eight he was covering Led Zeppelin tunes at block parties and even played a hotel in Catskills. He started playing copy tunes in clubs just five years later, and then focused on creating original material on his home 8-track. He later played for New York based group called Legend where he handled guitars and vocals.
In August 1989 he was featured on the Guitar Player Spotlight column by Mike Varney.
"Thal's demo tape is among the most impressive I've ever received. It contains elements of classical, blues and jazz, and at times reminds me of Frank Zappa. His transcriptions are most impressive and detailed, so fans of hot transcrptions may be interested in seeing these musical masterpieces on paper. With its clever melodies, contrapuntal lines, intricate rhythms and ultra complex ensemble section. Ron's sheer musicality will surely gain him much acclaim."
? Mike Varney
Born on: 25.09.1969
Official website
Bumblefoot (aka Ron Thal) is a guitarist from NYC with seven albums released since 1995. His music is considered hard rock, bordering on quirky and experimental. Known for his unusual guitar-work, Bumblefoot has been on the covers of guitar magazines around the world. His guitar playing can be heard in the Spanish guitar soloing of Jessica Simpson's Irresistible dance mix, the punky guitar riff of Spike TV's MXC theme song, in the background of MTV's The Osbournes, The Real World, and others.
Bumblefoot works out of his studio in Princeton, New Jersey, where he collaborates with artists as a songwriter/producer and writes for publishing companies, video games and TV shows. Bumblefoot is a volunteer for the MS Research Foundation, a non-profit organization that donates funds directly to Multiple Sclerosis research.
Bumblefoot's first major recording was for a Shrapnel Records' compilation CD "Ominous Guitarists From the Unknown" in 1992, on which he performed a guitar version of Chopin's Fantaisie-Impromptu. He released two more CDs on the Shrapnel label. First was the mostly instrumental album The Adventures of Bumblefoot (1995), where he displayed his eclectic style of rhythms and soloing. His second CD, Hermit (1997) was very much different from the first, more lyrically focused and influenced by grunge, but still showing his impeccably phrased and highly original and technical guitar work . After these two albums with Shrapnel, Ron Thal adopted the name Bumblefoot and started his own production company Hermit Inc on which he released three musically diverse CDs -- Hands(1998), 9-11 (2001), Uncool (2002). He also released a compilation album Forgotten Anthology (2003) with cuts that didn't make it onto the previous albums for various reasons. His most recent release is Normal (2005), which was released on Hermit, Inc and Neanderthal Noise, Inc. Bumblefoot is also a producer for other artists and is active in fundraising for Multiple Sclerosis research.
Inspired by KISS at age six, Ron said his earliest musical goal was to play like Gene Simmons if someone decided to do a KISS version of Beatlemania. At that time his hands were too small for bass, so he decided to focus his attention on guitar. By eight he was covering Led Zeppelin tunes at block parties and even played a hotel in Catskills. He started playing copy tunes in clubs just five years later, and then focused on creating original material on his home 8-track. He later played for New York based group called Legend where he handled guitars and vocals.
In August 1989 he was featured on the Guitar Player Spotlight column by Mike Varney.
"Thal's demo tape is among the most impressive I've ever received. It contains elements of classical, blues and jazz, and at times reminds me of Frank Zappa. His transcriptions are most impressive and detailed, so fans of hot transcrptions may be interested in seeing these musical masterpieces on paper. With its clever melodies, contrapuntal lines, intricate rhythms and ultra complex ensemble section. Ron's sheer musicality will surely gain him much acclaim."
? Mike Varney