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The Kenny Aronoff Sessions — Music
The Kenny Aronoff Sessions

Sit front row center with Kenny Aronoff, one of the most accomplished drummers in rock and roll history, as he pulls back the curtain on the real secrets to success. Watch him go one on one, in deep conversation with other legends and leaders in the worlds of music, entertainment and business on his new show, “The Kenny Aronoff Sessions”
From the glamour of the spotlight to the grit and grind that it takes to make it to the top, Kenny and his A-List of guests will take a deep dive into the remarkable stories and powerful strategies that have propelled them to the pinnacle of their respective industries. With unrivaled experience and real-world insight, Kenny guides listeners on the road to success. Exploring key ingredients for achieving greatness and sharing the lifetime of wisdom he has gathered from working in the heart of the music business for over 40 years. Whether you’re a musician, a business leader, or simply seeking inspiration and guidance, “The Kenny Aronoff Sessions” is the perfect mental map for anyone navigating the wilderness of their wildest dreams as they rock and roll towards their own dreams of success.

Copyright: © 2023 Kenny Aronoff

Latest Episodes:

Joe Bonamassa | #005 The Kenny Aronoff Sessions Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to an electrifying episode of The Kenny Aronoff Sessions, where the stage is set for an unforgettable and intimate encounter with the legendary blues guitarist, Joe Bonamassa. With his exceptional talent and unyielding dedication, Joe has left an indelible mark on the music industry, pushing the boundaries of his craft to unprecedented heights. In this captivating conversation, Kenny and Joe delve deep into the themes of hard work, self-discipline, and unwavering determination - qualities that have propelled them both to remarkable success. From Joe's humble beginnings as a young guitarist to his record-breaking achievements on the prestigious Billboard Blues chart, his awe-inspiring journey stands as a testament to the transformative power of relentless dedication.

Throughout their conversation, Joe shares his insightful anecdotes and reflections on his remarkable career. With an unwavering commitment to authenticity and a constant drive for growth, Joe offers a unique perspective on navigating the ever-changing landscape of the music industry. From the impact of social media to the challenges of staying relevant, his words will resonate with aspiring musicians and entrepreneurs, inspiring them to forge their own paths with unwavering passion and resilience. With each story and insight, Joe's devotion to his craft shines through brilliantly, earning him the new moniker of ‘Unstoppable Joe Bonamassa’ - a gift from his good friend, Kenny, of course. Brace yourself today for an unforgettable conversation that will not only allow you backstage access to the career of a music superstar, but will undoubtedly ignite your own passion and leave you inspired to pursue your dreams with determination and dedication as well.

Episode Highlights:

The origin of Joe’s passion for playing music and the guitar
Key ‘moments of truth’ and influential people in his career
How PBS put Joe ‘on the map’
Important qualities in achieving and sustaining success
Joe’s musical style and influences
His writing process
Joe’s guitar collection
Changes that he and Kenny have witnessed in the music industry
The inspirations for Joe and Kenny’s signature looks
Joe’s plans for the future
Playing Carnegie Hall

Quotes:

"Becoming successful is about hard work, self-discipline, and perseverance."

"You have to care and want it more than the next guy."

"Everybody is an amalgamation of their influences."

"When he picked up the guitar upside down, he invented this thing that created riffs and tunings. And nobody sounded like him."

"Finding solutions to problems or finding solutions to things in general requires creativity."

"If you have to ask that question 'Why?', then you don't get what it's like being a collector."

"You want to go out on top, making the best music of your life."

"I became the guy in the suit and the glasses. And it was just kind of a perfect storm of things happening all at the same time."

“I'm a nice guy, but I play with bad intentions.”

Links:

Leland Sklar | #004 The Kenny Aronoff Sessions Jun 01, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to a sensational new episode of The Kenny Aronoff Sessions, where this week our host sits down for a chat with fellow legendary musician, internationally renowned bass player, Leland (Lee) Sklar. With a career spanning over five awe-inspiring decades, Lee has solidified his position as one of the most accomplished and most heavily in-demand bass players in history, and his extensive discography and collaborations with iconic artists such as Phil Collins, James Taylor, and Lyle Lovett are a testament to his unparalleled talent. Today, he and Kenny review his extraordinary personal and professional journey, and explore his unique approach to music, his unwavering dedication, and his practice of maintaining a positive attitude and strong work ethic in the industry.

Together, they emphasize the importance of hard work, self-discipline, and perseverance - qualities that have propelled them both to the top - and highlight the significance of continuous growth, self-validation, and the unwavering commitment to deliver their absolute best in every performance. Lee goes on to recount his work with Phil Collins, underscoring his exceptional talent, versatility, and artistry as a drummer, singer, and songwriter. The commitment that he shares with Kenny to adapt to changes in the industry as a strategy to ensure success is also examined, and Lee even reveals what may be lingering in his iconic beard!. As you listen in today, you will not only be regaled with truly fascinating inside stories from the world of music, but you will also learn precisely why absolutely everybody in the business is eager to work with the amazing Leland Sklar and want him as an integral part of their team.

Episode Highlights:

Why so many artists want to work with Leland Sklar
Being a professional session player and so much more
Touring vs.recording
The Section
One of the greatest game-changers in Lee’s career
His evolution as a musician
Lee’s work with Phil Collins
His photography and Everybody Loves Me
Lee’s Clubhouse’ and his YouTube channel
Lee’s beard and t-shirt
‘You adapt or you die’
The Immediate Family band and documentary
Lee’s touring videos on YouTube
Having a 5-year plan

Quotes

"I really try to maintain an enthusiasm during the course of the project - a certain amount of levity and joking around and stuff to keep the atmosphere light."

"You have two options… you can say 'Yes' or you can say 'No'. And if you say 'Yes', it comes with an obligation and you show up and you give the best you can give."

"Your life is like all these roads that suddenly splay out and there's different roads and you hope that you're following the right path that day, but none of them necessarily are wrong.”

"I don't care if I get called for hip-hop or anything. You go in, you make your ears available to all of this."

"I'll never be as great as I want to be, but I'm willing to spend my entire life trying to be as great as I can be.”

"The first audience deserves as good a show as the last audience."

"If you do something and you've proven over and over again, if you just do what you're feeling, you will get results."

Links:

Leland Sklar's Website

Bill Burr | #003 The Kenny Aronoff Sessions May 25, 2023

Show notes

Pull up a chair, kick back, and get ready for a warm and thoroughly entertaining chat with Kenny and his very close friend, Bill Burr. World renowned comedian, co-creator of the critically acclaimed Netflix show "F is for Family," and self-described ‘Dad drummer’, Bill joins our host for a wide-ranging and laugh-filled conversation covering such topics as school experiences and the Kennedy Center Honors to their shared love of sports, performing, and iconic musicians.

In this candid and lively discussion, Kenny and Bill touch upon several themes that resonate with their personal and professional lives including the challenges and adventures of touring, Bill’s momentous Fenway gig, and his love for, and comparison of, music and comedy. Together, they also explore the exhilaration of performing live, the preparation that goes into it, and the importance of being true to yourself in building a successful career. Join these Titans of their trade here today as they share laughter, anecdotes, and thought-provoking perspectives while weaving together the worlds of music, sports, and comedy - a revealing and unforgettable conversation between two brilliant minds that is certain to leave you craving more.

Episode Highlights:

New York City then and now
The evolution of Bill’s touring habits
Bill and Kenny’s love of sports
The Kinks
Bill’s experiences with radio DJ’s
His Fenway show
The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees
Capitalism and consumption
“Be exactly what you are”
Bill’s early interest in becoming a musician
Bill and Kenny’s school experiences
Kenny’s Kennedy Center gig preparation process
Some of their favorite musicians
Kenny’s Nashville experience
Vinnie Colaiuta and his love of Garry Wright’s The Dream Weaver
Kenny “playing to the back of the audience”
Bill’s comparison of music and comedy

Quotes:

"Just focus on the end zone. Don't worry about what they're saying. But of course, you worry about what everybody's saying."

"That's being rich. If you can, anytime you want, you can just walk out and go get some ice cream, like, you're rich."

"One of my biggest strengths is I know what I suck at."

"I still have that thing where I think I'm an idiot because I just have my report cards playing on a loop in my head."

"Just because you see the page doesn't mean you know it."

"That's what it is. I bombed on that one. I'm going to keep going."

"A drummer like Vinnie will appreciate great music no matter what it is."

"It's so much easier to get free as a comedian because you're already speaking."

"It's all the same thing. It's knowing your instrument and being able to go into flow and improvising after you've got all this skill."

"The balls it takes to do stand-up, you'd think that you then wouldn't have any fear. But it's like your act becomes like this safety blanket."

Links:

Joe Satriani | #002 The Kenny Aronoff Sessions May 18, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to another electrifying episode of the Kenny Aronoff Sessions, where Kenny engages in a captivating conversation with his great friend, the legendary Joe Satriani. Universally acknowledged as one of the world’s greatest guitar players, Satriani has left an indelible mark on the world of music with his unique style, sound, and just sheer amount of talent. With an impressive track record of 15 Grammy nominations and over 10 million albums sold, he stands as the best-selling instrumental rock guitarist of all time. Today, Kenny and Joe embark on a fascinating exploration of Satriani's journey from his early days as an athlete and musician to becoming a virtuoso guitarist and visual artist all the way up to his upcoming tour with Kenny. .

As their conversation unfolds, it becomes evident that Joe Satriani is not only an extraordinary musician but also a charismatic and collaborative leader and team player. From his early collaborations with Mick Jagger to his experiences as a solo artist and with supergroups like Chickenfoot, Satriani's story is one of resilience, passion, and the pursuit of musical excellence. As Kenny guides the conversation here today, you will come to further appreciate the transformative power of music as well as the importance of discipline and collaboration in achieving success. Just as importantly, you will get to enjoy that rare privilege of witnessing two dedicated friends thoroughly enjoying themselves as they swap stories and a few laughs while reminiscing about their journeys to the top of their respective fields. Prepare to be inspired as you embark upon this thrilling adventure through the life and career of Joe Satriani and learn some of the secrets behind his undisputed musical genius.

Episode Highlights:

Recording and touring as a band
Joe Satriani as both a leader and team player
His choice of music over sports
Learning the discipline necessary for success
Joe’s transition from drums to guitar
His early musical influences
Joe’s first records and first concerts
The story of his first Steve Miller concert
Joe’s early bands
Choosing to pursue instrumental music
His process for writing music
Joe’s painting career
His signature guitars with Ibanez
Others using his music
The impact of Surfing with the Alien on Joe’s life
His influence on other successful musicians
What keeps Joe motivated

Quotes:

“Work with what you have to the fullest extent every day, 100%."

"You're the team leader, but you're this team player and it's really exceptional."

"I'm not a drummer. I'm not cut out to be that guy that keeps everyone together. I might be cut out to float on top."

"For us as musicians, we will play one song a million times, and for us, it's a revelation every single time, a new set of revelations."

"The explosion of FM radio back then, in the mid to late '60s... I listened to all the singles. That's how I got into Kinks and Dave Clark Five, all the British Invasion stuff."

"I still wake up every morning and I want to write what's in my heart. I want to explore the feelings I have and turn them into music."

Links:

Melissa Etheridge | #001 The Kenny Aronoff Sessions May 11, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to this premier episode of the Kenny Aronoff Sessions podcast! This is the first installment of an exciting new show in which Kenny - one of ‘Rolling Stone’s Top 100 Drummers of All Time’ - sits down to chat with the many, many music industry leaders whom he has played with and befriended over the years. Each episode will feature Kenny and one of his famous friends trading stories and insights into the industry gathered over decades of creating and performing some of the world’s greatest music. Along the way, there will be plenty of laughs, just as many glimpses of what goes on ‘behind the scenes’, and, really, just about anything you ever wanted to know about these legendary artists' lives and careers.

Kicking off this inaugural episode, Kenny’s very dear friend and music megastar, Melissa Etheridge, joins him to reminisce about their shared experiences in the music industry, their love of both football and music, and their collaboration in the studio and on tour over the years. Together, they explore Melissa’s incredible journey from playing bars as a teenager to performing for hundreds of thousands at festivals, and her informed perspective on everything from leadership to performance to self-care. And in a moment that you won’t soon, if ever, forget, Melissa recounts her truly inspiring story of the 2005 Grammys where she performed with Kenny while still in the throes of her cancer treatment. Today’s conversation is an entertaining, informative, and thoroughly engaging one between two undisputed leaders in their field whose sincere respect and love for each other is on full display. It is an episode filled with that kind of warmth, ease, and humor that can only be found where true friends talk together, serving as the perfect springboard to this exciting new podcast that invites us all inside the personal and professional lives of these music superstars.

Episode Highlights:

Melissa's love for football and singing the national anthem at the Chiefs' stadium
Her skill as a rhythm guitarist
The first time Kenny and Melissa met and played together
Their work together on “I Could Have Been You” and Brad Pitt’s reaction to it
Their work together on “Scarecrow”
Melissa’s legendary 2005 Grammys performance
Her remarkable journey in the music industry
Kenny’s comparison of Melissa to Patrick Mahomes
Some experiences from their live shows and touring together
CBD use and the importance of self-care
Melissa’s current outlook on life and its impact on the work she does now

Quotes:

"I want the performance of the song to feel like a performance in a big stadium."

"You’ve got to match your singer with your drummer. You can't have a weak drummer and a powerful singer, or a powerful drummer and a weak singer."

"There was this rule, this unwritten rule, that you could only play one woman on the rock radio."

"The more connected I am with my musicians...that bed of music, that tight car that I'm in, of music, that song, I can then stand up and scream and holler out the convertible door."

"It's all about serving the music, and that's how I think Kenny and I got along so well."

"It's about looking at yourself as an athlete and taking care of your body, like an athlete would."

"The experience of being with a live audience and hearing them respond is the best feeling in the world."

Links:

Melissa Etheridge

Trailer May 05, 2023

Show notes

Sit front row center with Kenny Aronoff, one of the most accomplished drummers in rock and roll history, as he pulls back the curtain on the real secrets to success. Watch him go one on one, in deep conversation with other legends and leaders in the worlds of music, entertainment and business on his new show, “The Kenny Aronoff Sessions" From the glamour of the spotlight to the grit and grind that it takes to make it to the top, Kenny and his A-List of guests will take a deep dive into the remarkable stories and powerful strategies that have propelled them to the pinnacle of their respective industries. With unrivaled experience and real-world insight, Kenny guides listeners on the road to success. Exploring key ingredients for achieving greatness and sharing the lifetime of wisdom he has gathered from working in the heart of the music business for over 40 years. Whether you're a musician, a business leader, or simply seeking inspiration and guidance, "The Aronoff Sessions” is the perfect mental map for anyone navigating the wilderness of their wildest dreams as they rock and roll towards their own dreams of success.

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