DECEMBER 2011 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM INDIE SCENE s imone Cecchetti Interpreting one of rock’s sacred texts, armed with experience, reverence and blazing guitar

Guitarist andy timmons is well found timmons working a cover of the Fab continued unabated, and he expanded aware that it takes a lot of nerve to Four’s “strawberry Fields Forever” into his horizons by studying classical and jazz approach the crown jewel of his set list. the concert promoter was so guitar (the latter at the university of miami). catalog. nonetheless he and his longtime impressed that he encouraged the group to “i figured that the more styles i learned, the backing group—bass player mike daane include more Beatles tunes in their shows, more well-rounded i’d be and the better and drummer mitch marine—summoned leading timmons to wonder just how far chance i’d have to make a living,” he says. up the courage to offer their new rocked- he could take the idea. “i never thought of His big break came when he met up instrumental rendition of the Beatles’ doing this as a commercial project,” insists noted drummer at a landmark Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts timmons, who included the non-Pepper namm (national association of music Club Band album. “strawberry Fields” as a bonus cut. “in fact, merchants) convention—he was there as timmons admits he was hesitant i didn’t even think i could pull it off. i thought an endorser of ibanez guitars, while Phillips to tamper with a work many consider at best it would be something exclusively was representing tama drums. the two untouchable. “i’m not the biggest fan for the fans. But when i sat down in my began collaborating, which led indirectly of Beatles covers myself,” he says. “so studio and played Sgt. Pepper completely to timmons becoming musical director i decided to do this in a way that was from memory, from start to finish, it seemed for singer olivia newton-John. He went reverential and respectful. i wasn’t trying so much fun. Capturing the essence of that on to tour with acts like , to reinvent the wheel. But if it’s fun and it music became such a wonderful process. and the Beach Boys; record feels right, then maybe it makes sense.” He it provided an emotional connection that with the likes of Paula abdul, approached it so carefully, in fact, that Andy felt really great.” and ; and release a series of Timmons Band Plays Sgt. Pepper was two timmons has been making an well-received solo albums. now all those years in the making. “i was always writing, emotional connection to music for a long experiences have culminated in Pepper, arranging, touring,” he says. “so it became time. He learned guitar at 5, and by 13 was released on his own label and distributed kind of a hobby i’d work on in my spare time. steadily gigging with a group called taylor through fellow guitarist ’s Favored i just kept picking at it.” even with a résumé Bay in his hometown of evansville, ind. nations entertainment. “this project is the that includes everything from several years “i was with them for eight years, and we culmination of my love for the Beatles and with the metal band to became fairly successful,” says timmons, an expression of my love for guitar,” says playing behind mainstream pop acts, this who now makes his home outside dallas. timmons, 48. “nothing else i’ve done has project proved his most challenging yet. “But i knew that making a living with a band felt so easy or so right.” it originated during an italian tour that was a long shot.” His passion for playing –Lee Zimmerman

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