Joey Stuckey’s new EP, King of Strings, is the first album recorded in Les Paul’s studio in decades. He cut it on Les Paul’s 1957 tube console in a single 10-hour session, mostly in one or two live takes. When we sat down to talk, I wanted to know what it’s like to make music in the room of the master.Joey, a blind guitarist, producer and educator, told me why he asked for Les Paul’s own guitar to go back in its case. He laid out what he thinks makes someone a true “King of Strings,” explained how he got the swaggering, gritty tone on “Born to Be Your Toy,” and described how playing by touch instead of sight shaped his technique. We also talked about why he’d rather follow his eclectic instincts than chase a formula, and he gave a peek at his next record with Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie.
25 Sept 2026
Joel Hoekstra
Joel Hoekstra has played guitar for Whitesnake, Night Ranger, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Cher, and before that he did everything from wedding gigs to playing bass for the Turtles. Through it all he has kept making his own music with Joel Hoekstra's 13, whose latest album, From the Fade, is its heaviest yet. In our conversation, he talks about writing vocal melodies on guitar first, and he laughs at the angry mood behind the lyrics of "Misunderstood." He also explains why his goal was always to be a working musician, not a rock star.
18 Sept 2026
Bumblefoot
Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Asia / Sons of Apollo / Guns N’ Roses) talks about his album, Returns, how creating instrumental songs can be like scoring an imaginary movie, collaborating with Steve Vai and Brian May, and letting the art be what it is going to be. “Whatever feels right and gives a genuine piece of your soul to somebody for them to experience and connect with.”
Who has been a guest on Bands To Fans
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Kenneth Nixon
Ella
Lila
Jefferson
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
316,962
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 67 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
73
Social presence
0
YouTube
82
Engagement
68
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