Podcast 7: Interview with Scranton

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Taken from Margaret Scranton’s myspace page: I started playing guitar the day after seeing Van Halen at the Cow Palace in 1982. I was a baby. Having four older brothers and sisters listening to Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath and Jimi Hendrix, I grew up on major rock bands. When I started playing, Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen were my greatest inspiration. Today I have new favorites, but those two guys bring me back to my roots. I was fortunate to meet Randy’s mom and give her a song I had written about him. She is a beautiful woman. When I set out to be a solo artist, I wanted to play with the best musicians I could find. The music was and is the most important thing. Tom Hunting formerly of “Exodus”, played drums. Brian Templeton, formerly of “Karma Coda”, played bass guitar. Then I did something I got from “Moby”. I had 4 singers come in to each sing a song. They are Chrissy Barlow, Katherine Sawyer, Diane Ahern and Ronda Najera. I wanted to use voice as an instrument, not have the singer define the music or it’s identity. Carlos Santana was also an inspiration to go in this direction. I included my first instrumental, which I think came out great. In 2007, I recorded another album, “Genuine Article”, with a new band. We are now “Scranton ” and are currently booking shows in the Bay Area. In my spare time, I play with the Hormones, an all-girl Ramones tribute band. In addition to my music, I teach guitar to kids, which brings me closer to music. I’m a fine art “film” photographer, and show my photography online and do gallery shows a few times a year. You could say Ansel Adams and Randy Rhoads gave me life.

Rock guitarist extraordinaire Margaret Scranton, lead guitarist of Scranton. Photo By Jane Tyska

Previous Podcasts:

• Podcast 6: Interview with Steve White
• Podcast 5: Interview with Tom Stanton
• Podcast 4: Interview with LA Jones
• Podcast 3: Interview with Luke Mulholland
• Podcast 2: Interview with Tallan ‘The T-Man’ Noble Latz
• Podcast 1: Interview with Anthony Contreras

Show Notes

1. Margaret Scranton in Nov 09 issue of Guitar Player Magazine!
2. Eddie Van Halen
3. Tallan Noble Latz
4. Jane Tyska
5. Benny Goodman
6. Randy Rhoads
7. Ozzie Osbourne
8. Led Zeppelin
9. Rush
10. Pink Floyd
11. Wendy Russell
12. Freddie Freelancer
13. The Hormones
14. Bonnie Raitt
15. Female guitarist who ROCK!
16. 1960 Reissue Les Paul Classic
17. Martin Acoustic Guitars
18. Fender Jazz Bass
19. 1971 Fretless Fender P-Bass
20. 1967 Gibson J45 Acoustic Guitar
21. Jaco Pastorius
22. Open Mic’s
23. Randy Rhoads CSUN Scholarship
24. Margaret Scranton Photography
25. Ansel Adams
26. Jane Tyska: Photojournalists Oakland Tribune
27. Motown Studio A
28. James Jamerson
29. Marvin Gaye

Be sure to check out Scranton’s links:

http://www.myspace.com/margaretscranton

http://www.sonicbids.com/scranton

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Margaret-Scranton-Band/37754801897
http://www.reverbnation.com/scranton

http://www.imeem.com/scranton

http://www.ourstage.com/epk/scranton

http://www.bandsofthebay.com/band/Scranton

http://www.bebo.com/scrantonband