Hi Folks

Following the worldwide success and critical acclaim of our DVD release
'Strat Masters', we are proud to tell you all about the next project which is well under way now.
'Original Twang - The History of the Telecaster' will be released later this year, to honour what would have been Leo Fender's 100th birthday - but also to pay our respects - and dedicate to a good friend, Leo's former business partner Don Randall. Mr. Randall and his family - and his secretary Wallace Grover have been very kind to film director Michael Bayley Hughes and myself over the past few years. This is our way of saying 'Thank You'.

The film will track the history of The Broadcaster / Esquire / No-Caster and Telecaster from it's humble beginnings in the orange groves of Fullerton, to the latest production at the fabulous Fender factory and custom shop in Corona, California. Once again, we are fortunate to have the eloquent tones of Seymour Duncan's right hand man Evan Skopp, to talk us through the commentary.

Michael and I have just returned from an exhausting - but very enjoyable trip to California, to interview some of the true legends of music. Here's a run down of where we're up to at the moment.

The amazing Albert Lee usually springs to mind when you think 'Telecaster' - and he's right here cuddling a blonde Esquire, as he talks about his favourites - and his incredible playing style.
Steve 'The Colonel' Cropper has played on and produced more records than most of us can imagine. The 'Stax Axe' talks to us exclusively about the great days playing for Booker T and The MG's - and the fabulous Otis Redding - oh, and the Telecaster of course!

If you look up the word 'tone' in the dictionary, you'll probably find the name Buddy Whittington close by. Listen to Buddy ripping through a performance - and then talking Tele's.

Thanks to the kind hospitality of Fender, we were fortunate to catch up with the man who keeps Leo's name right up there at Number One. Richard McDonald is the Senior Vice President for Global Marketing of the world's greatest guitar maker - and talks exclusively about the Fender company - and of course, the guitar that started it all nearly 60 years ago. Thanks to his fantastic staff - Jason Padgitt, Jason Farrell and David Brown, we were able to pin down some of the greatest Tele pickers around - like the legendary GE Smith, who has coloured the music of everyone from Hall and Oates to Bob Dylan.
GE plays some great music for us - and is also joined by 'The King's Tele Master' James Burton. It's coming up to 40 years since Elvis asked James to form a band - and he tells us all about it!
Next up is Greg Koch - and Greg's favourite squeeze for the past few years has been a Telecaster. He's an entertaining storyteller - as well as a 'monster' guitar player, who rips up and down the fretboard for our film.

We were fortunate that our good friend Redd Volkaert flew in especially from Texas, to be with us in Los Angeles for a few days. Redd is not only a fabulous character - he's one of the most versatile and talented players you will ever hear. Redd loves those old 'Black Guards' from the early '50's - and we were able to produce a lovely selection for him to try. Everything from Western Swing to rockin' blues - Redd's got it all covered!

We just had to drive Redd up the Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Barbara and meet our 'California Family' at Seymour Duncan.

Evan and Seymour have always made us so welcome on every trip - nothing is ever too much trouble for them or their wonderful staff. We had a great day at the factory and in the studio - chatting about Fender's - with Redd and Seymour being joined by virtuoso Jerry Donahue for a blast on a selection of lovely old Telecaster's.

A few days in the unseasonably chilly Beverly Hills, saw us linking up with Richie Kotzen - who has just returned from a major European tour, rockin' out with his signature Tele.

Remember that fabulous riff in 'My Sharona'? Well, The Knack's Doug Fieger may have used a Strat and a Vox Super Beatle amp' in the studio - but it was a Telecaster that stole his heart soon afterwards.

Doug loves to play a driving rhythm guitar - and showed us his lovely collection of early Broadcaster's and Tele's.

On our last day in California, we hooked up with the very amazing John 5. This guy has it covered from Marilyn Manson to KD Lang - and no wonder. He can shred the fingerboard with the best of them - or play 'banjo roll' country licks like you've never heard. Talk about versatile.......this guy does it all on a Telecaster. In fact with a huge collection of them, John has something of a 'Tele Addiction' !!!

Thanks to Harvey Goldsmith, we caught up with 'Strat Masters' favourite Jeff Beck at his London office - where he tells us the 'true' story about that famous Fender Esquire with the home-made 'Strat' like' contours he bought from John Maus of The Walker Brothers. Jeff is always entertaining and informative, and he gave us another wonderful eloquent interview about the early days - through to The Yardbirds - and the fabulous band he has on tour right now. Jeff loves his Fender's - and I'm happy to say, the Esquire he plays in the interview is mine!

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A good friend from the days when I worked on Guitarist Magazine - Chris Trigg of Vintage and Rare Guitars, kindly allowed us to use his shop to film Dr. Feelgood legend Wilko Johnson.

Everyone knows Wilko for his manic style and '1,000 yard stare' when ripping it up with a Telecaster - but wait until you see the interview!

Wilko is a real hilarious character - and tells us the fascinating story of his lifelong love of Tele's. We also have some amazing vintage footage of the great man performing on the same bill with Bo Diddley.

We still have a number of great players to catch up with – including Liverpool based Tele’ wacker Keith Xander and Mick Green of The Pirates. Keith Richard's office telephoned me late last Summer, to say he is very interested in doing an interview. Hopefully, we can pin down The Rolling Stones legend in the very near future. The same goes for Billy Gibbons, Chrissie Hynde and Bruce Springsteen - a film about the Telecaster wouldn't be the same without them, so we've sent out the requests and invitations to their respective managers.

A chance to see some of our exciting footage including
EXCLUSIVE interviews with Richie Kotzen, Malina Moye and Al Jardine, founding member of the Beach Boys...

On top of all this, we have some wonderful people speaking about the guitar they all love so much. Author Tom Wheeler knew Leo very well, and relays his memories for us. Norman Harris of Norm's Rare Guitars in Hollywood, shows us some of the cleanest vintage Fender's you will ever see - and talks with passion about the marque.

Well known collector Mac Yasuda and Fender historian Richard Smith are filmed at the Fullerton Museum, reviewing the beautiful Broadcasters, Esquires, No-Casters and Telecasters on display - including Roy Buchanan's famed 'Nancy'.

And then - thanks to Jason Farrell and David Brown, we have unprecedented access to the Fender factory and Custom Shop. This is like a kid being let loose in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory!

We have amazing footage and interviews with the builders and creators of some of the most famous guitars in the world.

And then, to cap it all, the legendary Abigail Ybarra - who has worked at Fender since 1956 - tells us exclusively, what makes her pickups so magical.

Could you wish for more? How about recently discovered film from the Fender factory in the 1950’s shot by none other than Forrest White.

Thanks to Forrest’s son Curtis, we have permission to show some amazing historical footage of the very first productions lines – and prototype instruments you may never have seen before!

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