Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal is a celebrated guitarist, vocalist, composer, producer, and educator with a career spanning over 30 years. Known for his groundbreaking techniques, his innovative guitar style includes fretless guitar, and ’thimble technique’ (playing with a metal cap on his finger to extend the range of notes)
Bumblefoot’s band credits include lead singer and guitarist of the legendary progressive rock band Asia (2019, with Geoff Downes, Carl Palmer, Steve Howe and Billy Sherwood), guitarist of progressive rock band Sons Of Apollo (2017 - 2022, with Mike Portnoy, Derek Sherinian, Billy Sheehan and Jeff Scott Soto), rock group Art Of Anarchy (2011 - 2024, formerly including STP/Velvet Revolver vocalist Scott Weiland, Creed vocalist Scott Stapp and Disturbed bassist John Moyer), and progressive metal group Whom Gods Destroy (with Derek Sherinian, Dino Jelusick, Yas Nomura and Bruno Valverde), as well as sharing the stage with Nancy Sinatra, Brian May, Joe Satriani, Lita Ford, members of KISS, Van Halen, and many more. As lead guitarist of Guns N’ Roses (2006 - 2014), Bumblefoot toured sold-out shows all over the world, headlining festivals with crowds up to 150,000. Bumblefoot’s unique ‘fretless guitar’ can be heard throughout Guns N’ Roses’ 2008 Chinese Democracy album.
Bumblefoot is also an accomplished composer whose music is often heard in TV, film and video games, including the theme song to VH1’s “That Metal Show”. Bumblefoot is an Adjunct Professor at SUNY Purchase College teaching music production, runs international “Bumblefoot Music Camps”, works with U.S. Embassies around the world on cross-cultural music programs, has his own line of award-winning hot sauces, and works with dozens of international charities visiting orphanages and children’s hospitals around the world with guitar in hand.
*Voted #1 in “100 Greatest Hard Rock/Metal Guitarists” (JUL 2005 - Digital Dreamdoor) *Voted “2005 Guitarist Of The Year” (JAN 2006 - Guitar Part magazine France) *Voted #4 in “The 20 greatest shred guitarists of all time” (JUN 2011 - MusicRadar / Total Guitar magazine) *Voted “Best Guitarists of 2013” (Jan 2014 - ROCKwell UnScene magazine) *Listed in “The 16 best rock guitarists in the world right now” (DEC 2017 - MusicRadar) *Voted “Best Guitarist Of 2017” (MAY 2018 - Sounds Like New magazine) *Listed in “The 11 best prog guitarists in the world right now” (DEC 2018 - MusicRadar) *Voted in 2020 Readers’ Poll “Top 10 Best Guitarists” (JAN 2021 - PROG magazine) *Listed in “Best Guitarists Of 2021” (Dec 2021 - Gig Time magazine) *Listed in “Top 75 Hard Rock + Metal Guitarists of All Time” (JUN 2023 - Loudwire)