The Johnny Beane Podcast

🎸 On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we talk about Bernie Tormé’s turbulent eight-gig stint with Ozzy Osbourne following the tragic death of Randy Rhoads.

After Randy’s death in March 1982, Ozzy Osbourne was devastated, but the Diary of a Madman tour still had to continue. Bernie Tormé was brought in to help finish the remaining shows — and it became one of the most difficult periods of his career.

🔥 We talk about:

• How Bernie Tormé ended up joining Ozzy’s band after Randy Rhoads’ death
• Stepping onstage with Randy’s guitars, pedals and amps
• The emotional pressure of trying to replace one of rock’s greatest guitarists
• Why Tormé felt he couldn’t simply play like Randy Rhoads
• His relationship with Ozzy during one of the darkest periods of Ozzy’s career
• The infamous story of Randy’s pedals seemingly turning on by themselves
• Why Bernie ultimately walked away after only 7–8 shows
• How Brad Gillis eventually stepped in and helped Ozzy continue the tour
• Bernie Tormé’s place in the history of Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads

🎸 Was Bernie Tormé the right guitarist for Ozzy after Randy Rhoads?

Join the conversation in the comments, and thanks for watching Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV!

#OzzyOsbourne #RandyRhoads #BernieTorme #HeavyMetal

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen on Johnny Beane TV, we’re getting ready for a major moment for Van Halen fans!

The wait is almost over. The complete TEDxFargo conversation featuring Alex Van Halen, David Lee Roth, and artist Robert Vargas premieres online tomorrow, giving fans their first chance to see the full, much-talked-about event.

The conversation, titled “Beyond Boundaries: How Human Experience Informs Art and Music,” was filmed on July 30 during TEDxFargo’s 2026 “CHARGE” event in Fargo, North Dakota.

Here’s what makes this premiere especially significant:
🥁 Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth together on stage
🎤 Their first on-stage appearance together since Van Halen’s final concert at the Hollywood Bowl on October 4, 2015
🎨 Artist Robert Vargas joins Alex and Dave for a conversation about art, music, life experiences, and the creative process
⏳ Van Halen fans have been waiting more than six weeks to see the complete conversation
📺 The full TEDxFargo video premieres tomorrow!

I’ll have the official TEDxFargo video pinned in the comments section, so be sure to check it out once it premieres.

What are you hoping to hear from Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth? Join us in the comments and let’s talk about it!

#VanHalen #AlexVanHalen #DavidLeeRoth #RobertVargas #TEDxFargo

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we’re checking out Gibson and Epiphone’s bold new Miami-inspired electric guitars! 🎸🌴

Gibson is bringing the Miami vibe to the Gibson Garage Miami with eye-catching Miami Blue and Miami Pink finishes on models like the Les Paul Special, Les Paul Junior Double Cut, and SG Standard ’61.

Epiphone is going even bigger with Vice City Pink, Vice City Blue, and Bumblebee Yellow, giving models like the Explorer, Flying V, SG Standard ’60s, and Les Paul Custom a serious ’80s-inspired look.

We’ll also take a look at the Gibson Custom SJ-200 Art Deco, exclusive MESA/Boogie gear, and other Miami Garage exclusives.

Which one would you want to play? 🎸🔥

#Gibson #Epiphone #ElectricGuitar #Guitar

🎸 On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we talk Steve Lukather!

The Toto guitarist looks back on an extraordinary career working with some of the biggest names in music — including Eddie Van Halen, Michael Jackson, George Benson, Ringo Starr, Joni Mitchell and Quincy Jones.

🔥 Some of the highlights:

• 🎸 Eddie Van Halen — Lukather recalls the first time he heard Eruption, meeting Eddie in 1978, their friendship, and how they supported each other throughout their careers.

• 🥁 Ringo Starr — Touring with Ringo and becoming close friends with one of his childhood heroes.

• 🎤 Michael Jackson & Quincy Jones — The story behind Lukather's guitar work on Beat It and Human Nature, including Quincy’s advice to turn down the distortion.

• 🎶 George Benson — How Lukather helped write Turn Your Love Around, which became a massive hit and earned him his first Grammy.

• 🎹 Joni Mitchell — Working on Wild Things Run Fast and Dog Eat Dog, and what it was like walking into a studio with one of his musical heroes.

• 🎼 1,500+ albums — Lukather reflects on his incredible career as one of the most prolific session guitarists in music history.

“I’ve had an extraordinary life. I’m one lucky guy.” — Steve Lukather

What a career. What a player. 🎸

#SteveLukather #EddieVanHalen #Toto #TalkingGuitars

On this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV, we take a look at a fascinating new guitar collaboration that brings together legendary guitar builder John Cruz, formerly of the Fender Custom Shop, and Chinese guitar brand Farida Guitars.

Cruz has unveiled his first guitar design with Farida — the JC-1, a vintage-inspired S-style guitar that combines classic looks and tones with some interesting modern features.

And there's a lot to talk about!

🎸 The Farida JC-1
🔥 Designed by former Fender Master Builder John Cruz
🇨🇳 Cruz's first guitar design with Farida Guitars
⏱️ 273 days of development went into the JC-1
🎸 Vintage-inspired S-style design
🌳 Two-piece alder body
🍁 Bolt-on Canadian maple neck
✋ John Cruz's custom "JC Comfy C" neck profile
🌹 Rosewood fingerboard
⚪ Olympic White finish
🐢 Tortoiseshell pickguard
🎨 Light relic finish inspired by how vintage guitars naturally wear
🎛️ Modern Features

The JC-1 isn't simply a vintage-style S guitar.

It features three custom-wound single-coil pickups, developed by Cruz and the Farida team, designed to deliver a '60s-inspired sound.

The control layout is particularly interesting:

🎚️ 5-way pickup selector
🔊 Master volume
🎛️ Master tone
🔀 Blend control for combining neck and bridge pickups

That blend control allows players to mix the bridge and neck pickups in positions 1 and 5, giving the guitar some tonal options you wouldn't normally get from a traditional S-style setup.

🛠️ John Cruz's Approach

Cruz says building a great guitar starts with the wood. He personally weighs body blanks and even taps on them to listen for their individual characteristics.

His philosophy is also heavily focused on the player.

"I am a guitar builder but I am also a guitar player."

For Cruz, playability is at the heart of the instrument — the guitar needs to be something a player wants to pick up and play every day.

💰 Only 60 Being Made

Farida reportedly plans to produce just 60 JC-1 guitars, making this a very limited run.

The guitar has been suggested at around $1,989, which is an interesting price point for a high-end, relic'd instrument designed by a former Fender Master Builder.

🤔 The Big Question

Could this be a sign of where the guitar industry is heading?

What happens when a world-class American guitar builder teams up with a Chinese guitar company and gets the resources to build the guitar he wants?

Would you buy a guitar like the Farida JC-1?

That's what we're talking about on this episode of Talking Guitars on Johnny Beane TV!
#JohnCruz #FaridaGuitars #GuitarBuilder #TalkingGuitars