The Johnny Beane Podcast

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we’re talking about Testament guitarist Alex Skolnick and his five tips for becoming a better guitar player.

Skolnick is known for his work with Testament, but he’s also an accomplished jazz guitarist with the Alex Skolnick Trio. His approach to improving as a musician is all about staying honest, staying positive, and developing your own identity.

Alex Skolnick’s 5 Guitar Tips:

• 1. Be honest with yourself
Know where your playing is right now. Accept what you need to work on, put in the practice, and don’t be afraid to admit there are players better than you.

• 2. Enjoy the process
Don’t let learning guitar become overwhelming. Start with songs and ideas that inspire you. Small victories can make bigger challenges feel achievable.

• 3. Don’t try to be someone you’re not
Skolnick remembers Joe Satriani telling him not to get too caught up in Yngwie Malmsteen’s style. Appreciate your influences, but develop your own sound and identity.

• 4. Don’t let negativity bring you down
There will always be incredible players online and people who get more recognition. Stay realistic, but don’t turn that into negativity. Keep playing and focus on what music means to you.

• 5. Practice what you haven’t mastered — perform what you have
Use practice time to work on the difficult stuff. When you perform, play the material you know well enough that you can focus on the music, the band, and the audience.

Skolnick’s biggest message? Keep learning, keep improving, and keep becoming your own guitarist.

What do YOU think is the most important piece of advice for becoming a better guitarist? 🎸👇

#AlexSkolnick #Testament #GuitarTips #Guitar

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen on Johnny Beane TV, we’re getting more of the conversation you thought you’d already seen! 👀

The original talk was just the beginning. The conversation featuring Robert Vargas, Alex Van Halen, and David Lee Roth went beyond what was included in the original TEDxFargo release — and now, we’re finally getting more.

🔥 The extended cut drops Friday, October 2 at 12 PM CT on the TEDxFargo YouTube channel.

What else was said? What did we not get to hear the first time?

Because some conversations deserve a little more time.

#VanHalen #RobertVargas #AlexVanHalen #DavidLeeRoth #ExclusivelyVanHalen #TEDxFargo

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we’re talking about Cheap Trick guitar legend Rick Nielsen and the incredible collection of guitars he’s putting up for auction — including one of the wildest guitars ever built!

🎸 Rick Nielsen’s famous five-neck Hamer — the 2004 “Five Neck” Korina, played on stage and estimated at more than $175,000.
🎰 Nielsen originally imagined a six-neck guitar that would spin like a roulette wheel before settling on five necks in a row!
🔥 His legendary 1975 Hamer Standard, custom-built for Nielsen, is also being auctioned and is estimated at $200,000–$300,000.
🇯🇵 The Hamer Standard was used during Cheap Trick’s legendary Budokan performance in Japan in 1978, as well as major appearances in the early ’80s.
🎸 The collection also includes two 1968 Gibson Explorers and a rare 1963 Guild Merle Travis, one of only three ever made.
🤘 Nielsen’s love of collecting guitars started early. His parents owned a music store, and after seeing The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, he bought his first Les Paul — a 1955 Goldtop for just $65.
❤️ The auction will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a cause close to Nielsen’s heart.
🏛️ The live auction begins October 24 at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum at the Historic Nashville Municipal Auditorium.

Rick Nielsen has spent decades building one of rock’s most recognizable guitar collections — and now fans and collectors have a chance to own a piece of that history.

But what do you think — would YOU spend $175,000 or more on Rick Nielsen’s legendary five-neck Hamer?

#RickNielsen #CheapTrick #HamerGuitars #TalkingGuitars

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we’re talking about a seriously unexpected guitar collaboration: John Mayer, PRS, and Land Rover Defender have teamed up for a new Silver Sky collection featuring actual Defender paint colors — and, finally, a factory black pickguard on the Silver Sky SE!

John Mayer tells Guitar World that this collaboration is about much more than putting a car logo on a guitar. It’s about color, design, accessibility, and pushing the Silver Sky in a new direction.

🔥 Here's what's happening:
🎸 PRS + John Mayer + Land Rover Defender have created a new Silver Sky Color Collection.
🚙 The guitars use actual Land Rover Defender paint colors and paint codes.
🎨 The US Silver Sky gets four heritage Defender colors: Arles Blue, Willow Green, Portofino Red, and Sandglow Yellow.
🎸 The SE Silver Sky gets Petra Copper, Sedona Red, Carpathian Grey, and Woolstone Green.
🖤 The SE models introduce something Silver Sky fans have been asking for: a factory black pickguard.
🇺🇸 Only 500 of each US Silver Sky model will be produced.
The SE models aren't technically limited editions, but they're scheduled to be available through mid-2027.
Mayer says the black pickguard appearing on the SE was intentional — he wanted to give something special to the more accessible line.
Mayer also talks about how he learned that many players may choose to stay with an SE forever, rather than viewing it as simply a stepping stone to a Core model.
🎨 The collection continues Mayer's long-running obsession with guitar color and product design, inspired by everything from cars and watches to fashion and lifestyle brands.
🚗 Fender and Gibson have famously used automotive-inspired colors in the past — but this collaboration takes that idea in a new direction by using actual Defender paint.
🎯 John Mayer's bigger idea

Mayer says the guitars aren't supposed to look like they've been designed with four wheels attached. Instead, the collaboration is about telling a color story and bringing the heritage of Defender colors onto the Silver Sky.

And that makes this a pretty fascinating guitar-industry crossover.

So here's the question:

🤔 WOULD YOU BUY A PRS SILVER SKY IN A LAND ROVER DEFENDER COLOR?

Are these colors a great fit for the Silver Sky — and what do you think about PRS finally putting a black pickguard on the SE?

Let me know what you think in the comments!

Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV — Rock. Riffs. Real Talk.

#JohnMayer #PRSSilverSky #GuitarGear #ElectricGuitar

September 27, 2007 — Charlotte, North Carolina.

Nineteen years ago tonight, Van Halen officially hit the road with David Lee Roth for the first time since 1984! 🤘🔥

After more than two decades apart, Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen and 16-year-old Wolfgang Van Halen stepped onto the stage at Bobcats Arena in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 18,000 fans.

And Van Halen was BACK.

The 2007–2008 tour went on to become the highest-grossing tour in Van Halen history at the time, with more than $93 million in ticket sales and nearly one million fans attending shows across the U.S. and Canada.

🎸 Opening Night — Charlotte, NC
📅 September 27, 2007
📍 Bobcats Arena, Charlotte, North Carolina
👥 18,000+ — SOLD OUT
🎤 David Lee Roth returns
🎸 Eddie Van Halen
🥁 Alex Van Halen
🎸 Wolfgang Van Halen
🎶 75 arena shows across the U.S. and Canada
💰 More than $93 million in ticket sales

The crowd looked like it had stepped straight out of 1984 — classic rock shirts, baseball jerseys and generations of Van Halen fans packed into the arena.

But this wasn't just a nostalgia show.

⚡ The Setlist Hit HARD

The opening night featured a barrage of classic Roth-era Van Halen, including:

“Eruption” • “You Really Got Me” • “I’m the One” • “Everybody Wants Some!!” • “Hot for Teacher” • “Beautiful Girls” • “Little Guitars” • “Runnin’ with the Devil” • “Atomic Punk” • “Panama” • “Jump”

And Roth was back in full-on Roth mode — leather pants, high kicks, screams, attitude and plenty of stage presence.

One of the memorable moments came when Eddie slid across the stage on his knees during “Little Guitars”, coming to a stop right at Wolfgang's feet.

There were also touching moments between Eddie and Wolfgang, including a kiss after “Dance the Night Away.”

🤘 And Then There Was Wolfgang

At just 16 years old, Wolfgang wasn't simply standing in the background.

He handled bass and backing vocals, took his place at the front of the stage and quickly became part of the show — something that was especially remarkable considering the enormous shoes he was stepping into.

The absence of Michael Anthony was certainly noticed by longtime fans, but the young Wolfgang held his own.

🔥 The Moment Van Halen Fans Had Waited For

For fans who had spent years wondering whether Eddie and Roth would ever share a stage again, September 27, 2007 was a historic night.

As one concertgoer put it at the time, “Honestly, it was something I didn’t think I would see.”

After years of rumors, lineup changes and uncertainty, the original Van Halen frontman was standing onstage with Eddie and Alex again.

Van Halen was back.

And for those lucky enough to be inside Bobcats Arena that night, they were witnessing the beginning of a tour that nearly a million people would eventually experience.

🎸 September 27, 2007 — Charlotte, NC.

19 years ago tonight.

Van Halen. David Lee Roth. BACK ON THE ROAD. 🤘🔥

#VanHalen #DavidLeeRoth #EddieVanHalen #VanHalenFans