Maybe you know George Benson from “Give Me the Night” and “On Broadway,” or maybe you’re a deep-cut head who loves The Cookbook and “Valdez in the Country.” In this episode, we’re covering our favorites, with help from guitarists Molly Miller and Dan Wilson, and some words from the maestro himself. Is Benson the most responsible user of smooth grooves? Listen to find out.
Can You Smell What George Benson is Cookin'?
USE CODE PG10 for 10% off your purchase at https://robertkeeley.com/
“‘Angel Of Mercy’ is a song that I’ve been kicking around for several years but we never got the right performance until [producer] George Drakoulias suggested we give it another try on this album,” notes Campbell. He adds, “[Heartbreakers’ drummer] Steve Ferrone plays on the song and really makes it great. The feel of the song reminds me a little of The Rolling Stones and a little of the Heartbreakers, but it’s pure Dirty Knobs. It’s a burst of high octane, adrenaline, and one of the high points on the album.”
Featuring appearances from artists including Graham Nash, Lucinda Williams, Chris Stapleton and fellow Heartbreaker Benmont Tench, Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits is due June 14 via BMG. Pre-order the record HERE and see below for the complete tracklist.The band recently shared the album’s first single “Dare To Dream” featuring Graham Nash accompanying Campbell on vocals. Consequence hails the song as “a straightforward rocker with a sunny disposition,” while Rolling Stone calls it “an inspirational ballad about learning to live in the present.” The track is complemented by a Chris Phelps-directed music video shot in Tulsa, Oklahoma including footage from The Church Studio where Mudcrutch—the precursor to Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers—made their first studio recordings for Leon Russell’s Shelter Records as they made their way from Gainesville, Florida to Los Angeles in 1974.
Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs - Angel Of Mercy (Official Visualizer)
Campbell is on tour throughout the summer in support of the new record, kicking off the run of shows with a co-headline appearance alongside Larkin Poe at Illinois’ Off North Shore: Skokie Music Festival on June 21. See below for a complete list of dates.In additional to Campbell, The Dirty Knobs features fellow Heartbreaker Steve Ferrone on drums, Chris Holt (Don Henley) on guitar and Lance Morrison (Don Henley) on bass.Campbell also appears on the forthcoming tribute record Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty—out June 21 on Big Machine Records—performing the Heartbreakers’ track “Ways To Be Wicked” alongside Margo Price.
With Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits, Campbell and the Dirty Knobs (named after tech slang for a broken amp dial) have made the most expansive and dynamic album of the Dirty Knobs’ one-of-a-kind ride. The group was founded in 2000 by Campbell as a writing and club-date project outside the Heartbreakers. The group finally got on record with 2020's Wreckless Abandon and 2022's External Combustion, both made with George Drakoulias and Martin Pradler, who return to co-produce the new album with Campbell.Those LPs, Campbell says, were the Knobs “trying to find our way as a rock & roll band.” “Now it’s down to great songs,” adds Campbell, “the depth in the lyrics and chords.” He recalls something Petty once told him: “Tom said, ‘I love the English language. There’s so much you can do with it.’ I'm discovering that, too. Looking for rhyme schemes, the right word. At first it was a struggle. Now that door has opened,” Campbell says. “I’ve turned a corner” on Vagabonds, Virgins & Misfits. The Dirty Knobs are “still a rock band but growing into different feels.”
Enter our giveaway for a chance to win an ESP Kirk Hammett Signature LTD KH-V with EMG Bonebreaker pickups. Don’t miss out – the giveaway ends on July 24!
EMG Kirk Hammett Bone Breaker Signature Humbucker 2-piece Pickup Set - Black
Kirk Hammett has been ripping up solos for Metallica for over 30 years. Riffs on Ride the Lighting, Master of Puppets, and the Black Album are a must learn for all rock guitarists. For Kirk, his tone starts with EMG pickups. “Metallica’s crunch sound is often cleaner than people expect”, says Kirk. “My taste in tone has definitely changed over the years. I don’t like to use as much distortion these days—I prefer my tone to be nice and crisp”.
The Kirk Hammett Bone Breaker set is the result of taking the success of Metallica tone and adding some new elements without sacrificing gain for clean or vice-versa. By making slight pre-amp adjustments and combining Alnico 5 and Ceramic magnets the perfect tone-beast was created. The Bone Breaker set consist of the BB-B Ceramic bridge and the BB-N Alnico 5 neck pickups. If you are looking for rhythm or lead tone, the Kirk Hammett Bone Breaker set offers crisp crushing leads or smooth rounded rhythm tone at the flip of the selector switch.
Make sure to check the instructions for pickup measurements before purchasing to compare your existing pickups with EMG models.
ESP LTD KH-V Kirk Hammett Signature Electric Guitar - Metallic Gold
NOTE: Due to ongoing challenges in the global supply chain, instruments purchased from ShopESP that are not currently in stock may take an extended time frame to be delivered.
As the lead guitarist for Metallica, the biggest heavy metal band of all time, Kirk Hammett has inspired generations of musicians over the past 40+ years. Kirk’s solos are a crucial part of Metallica’s dominating sound, and he has relied on ESP for decades to make guitars that meet his every need. The LTD KH-V is the newest addition to the Kirk Hammett Signature Series. It’s available in three different versions: Black Sparkle with black hardware and black pickguard; Red Sparkle with gold hardware and gold pickguard; and Metallic Gold with gold hardware and cream pickguard. The KH-V offers neck-thru-body construction, with an extra-thin U-shaped three-piece maple neck and korina body at 25.5” scale. Its Macassar ebony fingerboard features pearloid wave inlays and 24 extra-jumbo frets. The sound of the KH-V is powered by a set of Kirk’s signature EMG Bone Breaker pickups, with the BB-B ceramic bridge and the BB-N alnico 5 neck pickups for crisp, crushing leads or smooth, rounded rhythm tones at the flip of a switch. Controls of the KH-V include volume, tone, and a three-way pickup selector toggle. Other pro features include a TonePros bridge with string-thru-body and LTD locking tuners. Includes ESP deluxe hardshell case.