BIOGRAPHY
Blues- Rock guitar hero, Lance Lopez (born September 30, 1977) has been influenced by Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Albert King, Freddie King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Jeff Beck has described Lopez as "a very exciting and intense blues guitarist". Lopez was mentored over the years by both Texas Blues-Rock guitar legends, Billy Gibbons and Johnny Winter. Lopez was 16 years old at the time he met Gibbons in Dallas, and met Winter later in his career, often saying it was Winter who taught Lopez how to play slide guitar.
INDEX
Stevie Ray Vaughan & B.B. King
Starplex Amphitheater, Dallas TX, June 1990
(pic taken by Lance Lopez)
Lopez in the 1990's
EARLY DAYS
Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Lopez began playing the guitar at the age of 8 when his father got him a beginner acoustic guitar for Christmas. He attended rock concerts at the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum in Shreveport, Louisiana in the 1980's with his older siblings and with school friends from his neighborhood. As a child, Lopez saw bands such as AC/DC, Van Halen, Kiss, Ozzy Osbourne, Rush and Metallica which made a lasting impression on Lopez at a very young age. At the age of 12, he moved to Dallas, Texas, to live with his mother. Two weeks after arriving in Dallas, Lopez would attend the Benson and Hedges Blues Festival at the Starplex Amphitheater. There he would witness a life-changing event. On the bill was B.B. King as well as Texas Guitar Legend, Stevie Ray Vaughan. After witnessing Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble's set and then B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan jamming together, Lopez's life would change forever.
At the age of 12 Lopez dedicated his life to studying and learning how to play all styles of Blues music beginning with the study of Robert Johnson and all Delta Blues music, working his way up to the electric Chicago Blues of the 1950's and the harder edge British Blues of the 1960's. Two years later, Lopez's Mother sent him to reside with his father in New Orleans, Louisiana. By the age of 14, Lopez was playing guitar with local bands in bars and nightclubs in the French Quarter, and all over New Orleans, where he started his career as a professional musician. His time in high school was split between New Orleans and Southwest Florida, when his father moved to Port Charlotte, Florida from New Orleans. All this time, however, Lopez continued to play in local clubs on evenings and on weekends in South Florida.
SIDEMAN ERA
Lopez moved back to Dallas, Texas with his father when hewas 17 years old. He was immediately recruited by Stax Soul Singer/Blues Legend, Johnnie Taylor, as one of his touring guitarist and toured in his band around the infamous "Chitlin Circuit" for six months, where he also performed with artists such as Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Little Milton and Bobby "Blue" Bland.
At the age of 18, Lopez was hired by legendary modern Blues multi-instrumentalist, Lucky Peterson with whom he toured the world with for three years. During this time Lopez established a friendship with legendary drummer/vocalist Buddy Miles, after meeting him at the Belgium Rhythm & Blues Festival in Europe. Miles then moved to Texas and they began discussing musical projects to begin working on which Lopez then became the guitarist for a couple of brief spells for the Buddy Miles Express.
After forming a short-lived trio with legendary session bassist, Chuck Rainey(Steely Dan/Aretha Franklin), Buddy Miles began mentoring Lopez, on the songwriting techniques that were used in collaboration with Jimi Hendrix and Billy Cox in Hendrix's legendary short-lived trio, Band Of Gypsys.
Lopez & Lucky Peterson
performing in France, 1996
Lucky Peterson & Lopez
Terra Blues, Greenwich Village NYC
Buddy Miles & Lopez in the studio,
working on "First Things First"
Summer 1998
Lopez performing in Texas, early 2000's
GOING SOLO
Lance Lopez and Buddy Miles lived together in a large ranch-style home in Fort Worth, Texas filled with musical equipment were all-night jam sessions and songwritings sessions were neverending, leading to Miles co-producing Lopez's debut album, First Things First (1998). Miles and Lopez parted ways briefly near the completion of the album and Grammy Award winning Producer/Engineer, Jay Newland was brought in by the suggestion of Lucky Peterson to complete Lopez's debut offering. Lopez released his debut album independently and sold copies through his website and at shows. Grooveyard Records reissued his debut album with bonus tracks in 2007.
In December 2000, Lopez and his band made their first touring schedule in Europe, which led to him to supporting both Steve Vai and Jeff Beck the following year. Also in 2001, Lopez opened for B.B. King, and his ensemble was granted the 'Blues Band of the Year Award' at the Dallas Music Awards.
GROOVEYARD RECORDS
Lopez released his third album, Simplify Your Vision (2006). Which was quickly recorded in just three days at Alternative Pop-Rock band, Deep Blue Something's Bass Propulsion Laboratories in Dallas, TX. "Simplify" was a heavy Funk-Blues-Rock approach, offering psychedelic jams and lengthy guitar solos. John Mayer called the title track's guitar solo "...one of the greatest guitar solos ever recorded"
For his next release, Lopez played all of the musical instruments on the recording of his fourth album, Higher Ground (2007). He concluded his Grooveyard Records contract in 2007 with a live album entitled "Live" that was recorded on Lopez's first tour of Europe. The album "Higher Ground" garnered his most well known song to date, "El Paso Sugar". In 2008, in support of the album's release, Lopez toured in Europe extensively, playing at larger music festivals and supporting acts including ZZ Top, Whitesnake, Def Leppard, and Rod Stewart.
Lopez spent time recording his sophomore album for Grooveyard Records, who were based in Rochester, New York. Wall of Soul was recorded in 2003 and released the following year. It was co-produced by, and also featured Eric Gales; plus a guest appearance was made by Doug Pinnick of the band King's X. After the release of Wall of Soul, Lopez performed around Texas, opening shows for Los Lonely Boys and Joe Bonamassa. In 2005, Lopez alongside former Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble and Johnny Winter bassist, Tommy Shannon and Buddy Miles formed the short-lived, "Band of Trouble". The supergroup trio performed on festivals with Rick Derringer, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Joe Bonamassa.
Lopez in his Strat-Era, during the making of the early Grooveyard albums
Jim Gaines with Lopez's Signature Overdrive Pedal
Lopez recording with Jim Gaines in Memphis, TN
WORKING WITH JIM GAINES
In 2009, Lopez signed a new recording contract with MIG (Made In Germany) Music / String Commander, who were based in Hannover, Germany. In 2010, the album Salvation From Sundown, which was produced by the legendary Blues and Rock producer/engineer, Jim Gaines(Stevie Ray Vaughan/Santana/Steve Miller) was released by MIG. It was issued in limited edition format alongside a DVD of the Rockpalast concert recorded on July 25, 2009. Salvation From Sundown was deliberately arranged by Jim Gaines in a Texas blues style, much in the same way he had produced Stevie Ray Vaughan's final album, which led to British Guitar God, Jeff Beck calling Lopez, "a very exciting and intense blues guitarist".
MIG Music released the sixth album from Lopez, Handmade Music in March 2012. As with the previous release, the album was produced by Jim Gaines and recorded at the Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, it was the final album ever recorded on Ardent's famous Trident recording console in Studio C that was used on classic albums such as ZZ Top's "Eliminator" and George Thorogood's "Bad To The Bone". The album saw Lopez shifting into a much more singer/songwriter approach and focusing more on songwriting, rather than endless guitar jams.
SUPERSONIC BLUES MACHINE
In 2012, Supersonic Blues Machine was formed by Lopez, the drummer Kenny Aronoff, and the bassist and record producer Fabrizio Grossi, When Lopez traveled to Los Angeles to meet with Grossi about him producing Lopez's next studio effort. They released their debut album, West Of Flushing, South Of Frisco, in early 2016, which was recorded mainly by the three musicians separately and using Pro Tools technology to bring the various elements together. The same principle was used in selecting the guest musicians tracks to be overdubbed virtually and added to the overall mix. The band was 'augmented' on the recording by legendary guitarists Billy Gibbons, Robben Ford, Walter Trout, Warren Haynes, Eric Gales and Chris Duarte. Supersonic Blues Machine had its worldwide debut concert at the Holland International Blues Festival on June 4, 2016, in Grolloo, the Netherlands.
In late 2017, Lopez was dismissed from Supersonic Blues Machine after he asked to see financial statements from the band's leader Fabrizio Grossi. Lopez was owed royalties as well as fees for performances that were unpaid. Due to Lopez's financial disputes with the band, as well as musical ability disputes he was let go of after the release of the band's second studio album "Californication".
Lopez with Supersonic Blues Machine's gueat guitarists on the Cover of "Guitarist Magazine", Fall 2016
Lopez & Johnny Winter, B.B. King's Club
Time Square NYC, February 2014
Lopez in the Mojave Desert 2017
LIVE IN NYC &
Lopez's next release was Live in NYC (2016), which was issued on Cleopatra Records and produced by former Johnny Winter guitarist/Manager, Paul Nelson. The recording came from Lopez's performing the opening set at, the 70th (and final) birthday party for Texas Blues Guitar Icon, Johnny Winter at B.B. King's Club in Times Square, New York City on February 23rd 2014. Lopez toured extensively with Winter around this time and they had a very close friendship. Winter mentored Lopez, teaching him slide guitar and passing down all of his knowledge of the Blues greats Winter had worked with including Muddy Waters.
Lopez signed with the Mascot Label Group in November 2017. His album on their Provogue Records imprint was Tell the Truth, which was released on March 2, 2018. It was produced by Supersonic Blues Machine band mate, Fabrizio Grossi, and featured much of the same style of recording and songwriting that was featured on the previous Supersonic Blues Machine albums. In early 2018, Lopez was invited to join Provogue's "Rockin The Blues" Tour where he was featured as a guest with Eric Gales in Europe. Lopez formed a quartet with Texas based musicians including long-time friend, guitarist Wes Jeans on second guitar and toured North America extensively in support of "Tell The Truth."
TELL THE TRUTH
RECOVERY
The rigours of touring and the lifestyle caught up with Lopez around this time. Lopez stated "My own personal struggles were overcoming alcoholism, drug addiction and to start eating healthier, lose weight and exercise... I struggled for years drinking and drugging and eating badly while I was drinking... I became very overweight". Once recovered, Lopez noted about performing, "That still doesn't mean every night is perfect... but at least I can walk away and say I did the best I could and I was sober doing it" Lopez talks openly about his recovery and is involved in helping others recover from alcoholism and drug addiction in many different community efforts worldwide.
In late 2018, Lopez relocated to Nashville, Tennessee to re-focus on his health and wellness, in search of a new approach to his personal well being and musicianship. In 2019 Lopez began performing in Nashville for community based recovery events, and by early 2020, Lopez was touring again and poised to return to Europe for festivals and begin work on a new studio album when the Covid Pandemic hit.
"Recovery is the best thing that happened to me, while the worst things were happening to me" - Lopez
Greg T. Walker, Lopez, Rusty Valentine, Kris Bell
Spellbound Recorders, Lebanon TN, 2023
Lopez & Greg T. Walker
Rock Legends Cruise 2025
TWO WOLF
In 2014 while Lopez was working with Supersonic Blues Machine in Los Angeles, former Johnny Winter drummer Tommy Curiale introduced bassist Greg T. Walker, formerly of the Southern Hard Rock band, Blackfoot. to Lopez. Walker was forming a new band called Two Wolf. Lopez flew to Florida and began jamming with them and eventually joined the first version of the band as guitarist and vocalist. Supersonic Blues Machine's schedule began to become full and Lopez was obligated to recording and touring with them and unfortunately no longer had time to continue with the early version of Two Wolf. In 2019 after moving to Nashville, Lopez and Walker reconnected after their good friend and lead vocalist of Molly Hatchet passed away. While they reconnected over the loss of their friend, Walker invited Lopez to return to Two Wolf.
In early 2020 Lopez accepted the invitation and returned to the band this time with his original replacement, Kris Bell of American Idol star, Bo Bice's band and local North Florida Rock drummer, Rusty Valentine. In late 2020 Lopez and Bell began getting together and jamming, writing songs and working on the Two Wolf set list at Lopez's "Jam House" in the Lenox Village area of Nashville. Lopez made his live debut with Two Wolf on the Rock Legends Cruise in 2022, where the band remains a fan favorite and has performed on every Rock Legends Cruise with them ever since. After their fiery performance on the Rock Legends Cruise, pre-production began at Walker's Camp in the swamps of North Florida to start working on putting an album together.
In early 2023 Lopez arranged for Two Wolf to enter his close friend, Nettie Freed's (granddaughter of famous 1950's Rock N Roll DJ, Alan Freed) Spellbound Recorders in Lebanon, Tennessee to begin work on Two Wolf's debut album. Two Wolf along with producer/engineer, Chris Justice worked on the band's debut album on Spellbound Recorders for over one year. Spellbound has a house connected to the studio so the band could live and work there. The band and Justice put in lots hard work and dedicated long hours to their debut album which included covers of Blackfoot deep cuts and favorites as well as heavy rock material from Lopez and Bell. After the album was completed in the Summer of 2024, Lopez arranged for a deal with Cleopatra Records in early 2025. Two Wolf's debut album is set for release June 6th 2025 and sees them returning to their home on the Rock Legends Cruise to perform on the High Seas in early 2026, as well as national touring in the Summer and Fall of 2025. Their brand of Heavy Southern Rock is always a crowd pleaser for those familiar with Blackfoot's legacy as well as fans of the modern Southern Rock movement.
TROUBLE IS GOOD
Lopez began working with guitarist, producer and songwriter Joey Sykes who had written songs for Supersonic Blues Machine and his "Tell The Truth" album. In mid 2020, at the height of the Covid pandemic, Lopez and Sykes began working on another studio album, virtually, in the same way the Supersonic Blues Machine albums had been made. Sykes was sending basic tracks from his studio in Los Angeles and Lopez was overdubbing lead guitars and lead vocals from his then home that was called the "Jam House" in the Lenox Village area of Nashville. Lopez concluded his overdubs in what he called the "House Of Tone", which was a house in the Donelson area of Nashville that he shared with other touring guitarists. Sykes recruited powerhouse drummers such as Greg Bissonette, Brian Tichy, Bobby Rondinelli and John Hummel for the tracks they were producing. The real sonic magic of "Trouble Is Good" happened when legendary engineer Justin Cortelyou (Paul McCartney/Kiss/Deep Purple/Hollywood Vampires) agreed to mix the final tracks.
Lopez in Nashville, TN 2023
In June 2023, "Trouble Is Good" was released on Cleopatra Records. The long-awaited studio album featured heavy Blues-Rock tracks co-written by Sykes and Lopez about their struggles surviving the Covid pandemic and how they endured through those times. Many people were forced into doing something constructive and positive during the pandemic, hence the title "Trouble Is Good". The album was met with critical acclaim from both the press and fellow musicians. Lopez began touring in support of the album on the West Coast at Cadillac Zack's Blues Shows where none other than legendary guitarist, Robby Krieger of The Doors, welcomed Lopez back to Los Angeles after a 5 year hiatus. Touring continued in Florida and on the East Coast and in late 2023. His successful "European Comeback Tour" in the Fall of 2024 brought Lopez back to his international audience in Germany, France and Switzerland, and other European markets.
NOW
Lance Lopez continues touring internationally with his Nashville-based power trio and is preparing to record a live album/video in Montreux, Switzerland as well as returning to the studio for another studio album.
