Power Chord : One Man's Ear-Splitting Quest to Find His Guitar Heroes

Power Chord is the story of one man’s epic pilgrimage to gain rock enlightenment from the gods and guitar heroes of the Golden Age of heavy metal. Author Scott McKenzie set off to make contact with the legendary metal superstars he worshipped in his rural Kentucky youth—men like George Lynch of Dokken, Glen Tipton of Judas Priest, and Ace Frehley of KISS—hoping to gain wisdom and a better understanding of the electric guitar mystique. The result is a veritable treasure trove of enthralling behind-the-scenes stories and “where are they now” revelations that will delight anyone who has ever felt a Mötley Crüe, Guns ’N’ Roses, or Black Sabbath song reach out from the speakers and grab them by the ears. When Scott McKenzie was a young man, he thought he saw God ... The deity was all in black with knee-high silver boots, a patent-leather breastplate, and full face makeup, clutching a beautiful, custom Les Paul guitar. Ace Frehley, lead guitarist for the rock group KISS, wasn't God'but hearing his piercing, shrieking, screaming, outrageous guitar solos was a transcendent spiritual experience for a boy from rural Kentucky, making him feel uplifted, a witness to a higher power. Two decades later, a grown-up Scott McKenzie vowed to meet Ace Frehley in the flesh'as well as the other gods and demigods who have held divine power over a generation of worshipful metal fans: legendary guitar champions like Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest and Phil Collen of Def Leppard, hallowed names like Steve Vai, Warren DeMartini, and John 5. Power Chord is a chronicle of Scott McKenzie's epic quest to stand in the presence of metal greatness'to meet his omnipotent guitar gods face-to-face and get them to divulge their otherworldly secret Details The Author's Efforts To Track Down The Legendary Guitar Heroes Of The Golden Age Of Heavy Metal, Including Slash, Ace Frehley, Eddie Van Halen, George Lynch, And Mick Mars, And Get Them To Share The Secret To Their Success. Prologue -- The Hardest Working Slacker In The World -- First Sighting -- Musical Debates And The Saving Grace Of Video Games -- A Rocking Tour Of Evansville Guitar Stores -- The Guitar Hero Constellation And Plans For A Pilgrimage -- A Midwestern Metal Escape -- Hitting The Road -- A Soggy County Fair -- Guns, Blades, A Mechanical Bull, And Some Useful Chord Tips -- A Phone Call From Space -- Play From The Heart -- The Virtuoso -- Guitar Hero Calling -- Blood, Sweat, And Strats -- Grandpa Sex, Ringer Tambourine Players, And Rocking The Whisky -- The Man With The Pointy Guitar -- Bending Behind The Nut -- The View From The Kiss Stage -- Stage Fright -- Going Kamikaze -- Epilogue. Thomas Scott Mckenzie. __Power Chord__ is the story of one man’s epic pilgrimage to gain rock enlightenment from the gods and guitar heroes of the Golden Age of heavy metal. Author Scott McKenzie set off to make contact with the legendary metal superstars he worshipped in his rural Kentucky youth—men like George Lynch of Dokken, Glen Tipton of Judas Priest, and Ace Frehley of KISS—hoping to gain wisdom and a better understanding of the electric guitar mystique. The result is a veritable treasure trove of enthralling behind-the-scenes stories and “where are they now” revelations that will delight anyone who has ever felt a Mötley Crüe, Guns ’N’ Roses, or Black Sabbath song reach out from the speakers and grab them by the ears.