In the very first episode of Axe Lords, we're kicking things off with none other than Alex Skolnick—a guy who’s gone from shredding thrash metal stages to throwing down jazz riffs without missing a beat. Alex talks about his journey, from learning guitar with one of guitar’s greatest players to dropping jaws with his solos in one of metal’s most iconic bands. We get into the nitty-gritty of thrash guitar—writing solos that are fast, furious, and oh yeah, actually good (no pressure, right?). He dishes on his audition with Ozzy, the ups and downs of navigating an industry that isn’t always about the music, and why being a guitar god isn’t as glamorous as it looks. He also shows the Axe Lords how to sweep. There’s no sugarcoating here—just raw insights into his journey from rebellious teenage guitarist to seasoned pro, all while paying homage to the axe-slinging legends like Satriani and Malmsteen who paved the way. With new music on the horizon, Alex’s story is a testament (pun intended) to the relentless grind of a musician who never stops evolving. Axe Lords is hosted by Dave Hill, CIndy Hulej and Tom Beaujour Produced by Studio Kairos. Executive Producer is Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas (Revoice Media). Engineered by Patrick Samaha. Recorded at Kensaltown East. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Theme music by Valley Lodge. Follow Axe Lords @axelordspod.com Watch the video on Volume.com/axelords Follow Alex Skolnick @alexskolnick Chapters 00:00 Discovering Music Through Covers 02:09 The Birth of Axe Lords Podcast 03:34 Writing Solos in Thrash Metal 10:23 The Pressure of Short Solos 12:37 The Influence of Virtuoso Guitarists 18:17 The Ozzy Osbourne Experience 26:52 Navigating the Music Industry 32:37 The Journey to Finding a Guitar 37:34 The Early Days of Music and Band Dynamics 40:51 Parental Perspectives on a Music Career 43:45 Influences and Lessons from Joe Satriani 49:16 The Yngwie Malmsteen Phenomenon 56:55 Guitar Techniques and Signature Sounds 01:06:26 Current Projects and Future Endeavors
Imagine a world where only guitars matter. Welcome to Axe Lords! In every episode, comedian and shredder Dave Hill, producer and best-selling author, Tom Beaujour, and bad-ass luthier to the stars Cindy Hulej hang with musical celebrity guests to discuss why having more guitars is the only true path to happiness and inner peace. Chaos has been known to ensue. Season one welcomes Alex Skolnick, Steve Vai, Chris Shiflett, Karina Rykman, Kid Congo Powers, Matthew Caws, Steve Brown, and more to the Axe Lords studio to talk guitars, gear, and the guitar heroes that inspire them all. Axe Lords is hosted by Dave Hill, Cindy Hulej, and Tom Beaujour. Produced by Studio Kairos. Recorded at Kensaltown East. Engineered by Patrick Samaha. Edited and mixed by Justin Thomas. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Theme music by Valley Lodge.