You Say It's Your Birthday: Elvis Presley

For his 11th birthday, Elvis Presley got his first guitar. Young Elvis wanted a rifle, but the guitar was cheaper. Thanks Dad! No, really - thanks Dad. Elvis would have been 74 today.

EVH Wolfgang Teaser at USA Today

OK, we admit it. Here at the Zoo we know lots of details about the new EVH Wolfgang guitars that are about to be unleashed upon the world, but we can't tell you much about them until this Friday (Jan 9th). So, lets watch Eddie Van Halen spill some beans right now instead. Click here to jump to Eddie's video interview with USA Today. And The Music Zoo will go live this Friday with the whole EVH shebang from our website.

You Say It's Your Birthday: Malcolm Young

AC/DC's secret weapon for the last 36 years has been Angus' brother, Malcolm Young. While Angus spins around on the ground wearing shorts, Malcolm holds it down like nobody's business on rhythm guitar, usually playing his Gretsch signature model. Malcolm is said to be the brains behind all of AC/DC's business dealings, and anyone's measure of success, he has done all right. He turns 56 today.

Live From Anaheim: Daily Coverage of NAMM '09

This year, The Music Zoo will be posting our annual NAMM coverage directly from the Anaheim Convention Center floor. Watch our blog starting Thursday, January 15, for our take on what's worth seeing in the NAMM 2009 smorgasbord.

The Wisdom of Les Paul

Esquire Magazine recently published these quotes from 93-year-old Les Paul, who still plays a weekly gig at the Iridium in New York City. He's a real Guitar Hero, kids:

"It's not technique -- it's what you have to say.

I got the mumps. They threw me in a crib so I wouldn't roll out onto the floor. And there's a big bay window in my house, and that window stayed perfectly still until that train started to chug. At a certain speed, I could reach up and feel the pane, and that glass pane would vibrate. I said, Doggone, there's got to be a reason for this. So I go to the kindergarten teacher, and she takes me to the science teacher, and the science teacher takes me to the library and reads it off to me -- "This is called resonance." That was the beginning.

The audience, they're not professionals. They just love music. It isn't necessary to play over their heads to be admired.

You can't go to the store and buy a good ear and rhythm.

I got out of the car and there was a knife in my neck. The guy says, "Don't move." And the drummer got out of the car, and he got a gun in his head. This was my entrance to the South Side of Chicago. But it was necessary, because I wanted to play jazz.

When rock came in, people didn't know what to do. Even Sinatra, he didn't know what to do. The music was changing. And it's changing now.

Last time I saw Count Basie, he was in a wheelchair. They wheeled him up onto the stage, he sits down at the piano, and he gives the downbeat, and that band played like they were in heaven. And right in the middle, the band cuts. He had to take one hand and put the other on it, and he comes down with one note. And it was the greatest note I ever heard in my life.

I gave up the guitar in 1965. Didn't want to see a guitar. I'd go out and get drunk. When I came out of the heart surgery, the doc said, "Promise me you'll work hard." I said, "I thought working hard is what got me here." He said, "No, working is what will keep you alive."

There are times when you want to go where you used to go and you can't go there. So I'm back to Count Basie lifting his hand. And I find you can stop that show with one note just like you can with a hundred.

I better go play now."

Interviewed by John H. Richardson, September 1, 2008

The New Old: Fender Road Worn Guitars and Basses

Fender's Custom Shop has long been the industry leader in make new guitars look old. The techniques they pioneered on guitars like the Jeff Beck Tribute Esquire® and the Yngwie Malmsteen "Play Loud" Strat® have finally trickled down onto some sweet Fender® USA vintage-style guitars: The Road Worn Series. So go on, take that '50s Strat® to the gig, and spend the rest of the night talking to people instead of guarding the case. Cool hot rod upgrades like 6105 frets have been included because they know we like that. The Road Worn Fenders® should be arriving at the Zoo 1st quarter 2009.

The Music Zoo Nominated For Dealer of the Year

Music and Sound Retailer has released their 23rd annual nominations for their coveted Music and Sound Awards, and The Music Zoo is proud to be nominated in two categories: 2008 Single-Store Dealer of the Year, and 2008 Single-Store Best Customer Service. We would love to win, and we need your vote! Please take a moment and follow this link to vote now. Follow the "Manufacturers, VOTE HERE" link to find us on the ballot. A huge THANK YOU to all our customers for helping make 2008 a great year.