Steve Janowsky: The Review Fix Rocktologist: Richie Ranno Interview

Richie Ranno is best known as lead guitarist of 1970s band Starz, a group that influenced countless other bands including Bon Jovi, Poison, Motley Crue and Cinderella.

The Bronx born Ranno, whose formative years were spent in New Jersey, was in the band Stories (“Brother Louie”) and formed Starz with Peter Sweval and Jeff Grob, who had been in the band Looking Glass (“Brandy”-1972). Starz’s mixture of heavy rock and power pop on their debut, “Starz,” (1976) “Violation,” (1977) “Attention Shoppers” (1977) and “Coliseum Rock” and their live effort, “Live in Action” (both 1978), underscore the fact that they are under-appreciated though hailed as a template for bands that followed. Kerrang magazine put the first two Starz albums on its list of the most important Heavy Metal albums of all time.

Ranno currently plays with Richie Ranno’s All-Stars and is recording new original material. He will be attending the National Rock Convention, the weekend of July 30, 31 and August 1st. ReviewFix recently spoke with Ranno who talks about his early days on the road, auditioning for Starz, Les Paul guitars, Jimmy Page, Kiss,Peter Gabriel, Rolling Stone Magazine and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It is an honest, revealing and rocking interview.

You can listen to the interview by clicking the link below:

Richie Ranno Interview