“Neon Highway Blues”, Gary’s latest release, carries its 11 tracks with the confidence and assuredness of a veteran, and the freshness of someone who’s still in the process of discovery and refinement — with the help of famous friends such as Eric Gales, Lance Lopez, Josh Smith and Hoey’s 17-year-old son Ian Hoey. The release of “Neon Highway Blues” will, of course, take Gary Hoey back on the highways and byways for plenty of touring and playing, well, the blues — and ... view more »
“Neon Highway Blues”, Gary’s latest release, carries its 11 tracks with the confidence and assuredness of a veteran, and the freshness of someone who’s still in the process of discovery and refinement — with the help of famous friends such as Eric Gales, Lance Lopez, Josh Smith and Hoey’s 17-year-old son Ian Hoey. The release of “Neon Highway Blues” will, of course, take Gary Hoey back on the highways and byways for plenty of touring and playing, well, the blues — and more. He can’t yet predict where the next road will take him, but Hoey is confident it will be an adventure.
In 2012, he produced and co-wrote The Queen Of Metal, Lita Ford’s latest release “Living Like Runaway” for SPV records to rave reviews. As Music Director for Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp, he’s worked with legends like Joe Perry, Roger Daltrey, Yes, blues icon Johnny Winter, Robben Ford, Leslie West, and KISS drummer, Peter Criss. And he has toured and traded licks with the likes of Jeff Beck, Brian May of Queen, Ted Nugent, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Peter Frampton, and Dick Dale.
With a collection of 21 albums it’s no wonder Gary Hoey is listed as one of the top 100 guitarists of all time. The world renowned rock guitarist’s first break came in 1987 when Ozzy Osbourne liked Hoey’s tape enough to fly him to LA for an audition and encouraging him to move to the West Coast. In 1990 Hoey was signed to Reprise Records with a short lived band called Heavy Bones but followed up in 1993 with a solo album and Gary’s cover of “Hocus Pocus” rocketed into the Billboard’s Top 5 Rock Tracks. He went on to score the successful “Endless Summer II” soundtrack for New Line Cinema and in 1995 started a trilogy of “Ho!Ho! Hoey,” a collection of instrumental Christmas classics that continues each year in his Rockin Holiday shows. And in 2013’s “Deja Blues” he came home to the blues. Gary’s release in 2016, “Dust & Bones,” displayed an exuberant fusion of blues and rock. But whatever style he plays, one thing is certain, Gary Hoey is a fiery, charismatic player who connects with the crowd.
Whether he’s playing scorching originals or classic rock covers, his solos are thrilling and reminiscent of Clapton or Stevie Ray in their fiery youth. One thing that remains consistent is Hoey’s impassioned command of the guitar. He can attack his instrument with feral intensity and then play something very soft and achingly beautiful. This ability to mix feeling, phrasing, technique and tone is the true mark of a master guitarist.
View less
