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The newest episode of “AC/DC Past The Thunder” options Italian AC/DC fan Filippo “SoloDallas” Olivieri discussing a narrative spanning 4 a long time, three continents, a prolific inventor and ultimately a summons to the recording studio from the band’s guitarist Angus Younger.
In the course of the present, Olivieri, an inventor and an obsessive music aficionado, claims he was profitable in copying the extremely coveted AC/DC philosophy, sound and guitar tone that had in any other case been misplaced eternally.
Born in Texas and raised in Rome, Fil Olivieri, founding father of SoloDallas, had been obsessive about AC/DC‘s “Again In Black”. In a quest to duplicate the album’s distinctive guitar tones, Olivieri started buying the identical tools utilized by lead guitarist Angus Younger, however as shut as he bought, it was apparent there was nonetheless a key ingredient lacking.
“The sound nonetheless wasn’t there,” claims Olivieri. “I had made so many errors, a lot cash had been spent…the key ingredient was this unthinkable factor.”
Three a long time and tens of hundreds of {dollars} later, Olivieri was stumped, till he found the antiquated Schaffer-Vega Range System, a wi-fi machine beforehand utilized by Angus Younger to run round on stage whereas enjoying, however since defunct. It was, the truth is, the lacking hyperlink to AC/DC‘s elusive tone.
Early adopters of this uncommon machine embrace KISS, Eddie Van Halen, THE ROLLING STONES, PINK FLOYD, Bootsy Collins, Peter Frampton, Frank Zappa and… AC/DC, who started utilizing the Schaffer-Vega Range System as an impact within the recording studio, starting with 1978’s “Powerage”, proper up by means of to 1988’s “Blow Up Your Video”. However over time, authentic inventor Ken Schaffer had stopped producing the machine and even AC/DC was pressured to shift its signature sound for the subsequent 25 years. It was Olivieri who lastly tracked Schaffer and acquired his blessing to rent a group of electronics consultants to reverse engineer his know-how, beneath the brand new firm identify SoloDallas, and roll out the primary models appropriately titled The Schaffer Duplicate.
All through this system, Olivieri performs a number of AC/DC traditional cuts, even providing up a before-and-after demonstration utilizing his machine, showcasing a sound now dubbed by the business as, “Immediate Angus”.
After witnessing SoloDallas meticulously replicate a number of AC/DC classics on YouTube, a fan despatched a handwritten letter to Angus Younger which learn, “This loopy Italian man has this factor. It’s essential hear it, it is nice, it is going to provide you with your sound again.”
After AC/DC‘s guitar hero had caught wind that somebody had found his long-lost guitar tone, the saga got here full circle when Schaffer and Olivieri have been sequestered to satisfy Angus Younger on the Warehouse Studio in Vancouver throughout the band’s recording periods.
“I am subsequent to my hero, I do not know what to say,” laughs Olivieri, who was then granted permission to play a number of of Angus‘s guitars. “I used to be able to be blown away, it is bought to be a magic guitar, my hero solely makes use of magic stuff,” he thought, “No, he makes use of common guitars and common strings!”
Olivieri then introduced Younger with The Schaffer Duplicate GT #001, the very first unit produced. The Scottish-born Australian guitarist was so impressed how completely this machine reproduced his signature tone, he ended up utilizing The Schaffer Duplicate throughout all future AC/DC data in addition to reside live performance excursions.
The Schaffer Duplicate’s repute inside the SoloDallas neighborhood has grown steadily with a roster that features FOO FIGHTERS, MUSE, Steve Stevens, Richard Fortus, Ronnie Wooden, Dweezil Zappa, Tony Iommi, Richie Faulkner, GREEN DAY, Johnny Lang, Neal Schon, Sting, Lenny Kravitz and lots of extra. This machine has since acquired the Guitar Participant‘s Editors’ Choose award, and stand-alone impact was chosen for inclusion in Guitar Participant journal’s Corridor Of Fame.
“AC/DC Past The Thunder” podcast options skilled actors, authors, athletes, cooks, CEOs, comedians, musicians, media hosts, wrestlers, even battle heroes, all paying homage to one of many best bands of all time, AC/DC. Friends have included Slash, Corridor Of Fame MLB pitcher Trevor Hoffman, “SNL” comic Jim Breuer, U.S. navy battle hero Mike Durant from the movie “Black Hawk Down”, professional wrestler Chris Jericho, classically educated Croatian duo 2CELLOS, in addition to Eddie Trunk, Dee Snider, Dweezil Zappa, Scott Ian, Lemmy, Chris Slade, Mike Fraser, HELL’S BELLES, and lots of extra.
“AC/DC Past The Thunder” was created by duo Gregg Ferguson and Kurt Squiers, who each stop their jobs and got down to seize a feature-length documentary as the last word homage, however didn’t safe the band’s approval. Ferguson and Squiers then determined to unearth these tales of well-known followers discussing their affinity for AC/DC and harness that vitality right into a podcast with the assistance of sound engineer Eric Kielb. From archival interviews to all new visitor episodes, “AC/DC Past The Thunder” is now in its third season with over 150,000 streams.
“AC/DC Past The Thunder” may be heard on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any of your favourite podcast apps.
