Yesterday I turned 54 years old (Nov 2) and I don’t feel a day over 70. In all seriousness, I am proud of advancing in age. Some people sadly never made it to 30 or even 40, so this is what you young people call a “milestone”.
I received many nice birthday greetings and more are coming through. It’s nice when people take the few seconds to reach out, always a good feeling.
Last night after dinner, I saw a cool story posted by Don Jamieson (THAT METAL SHOW) and of course had to share it all over the place. He seems to dig my strange guitar work so no complaints here! As busy as he is, knowing that he took the time to listen to my new album ACT NATURAL is another one of those “pinch me” moments. So as you see above, I took a screenshot and am letting the bragging rights kick in.
BTW: The gig I did last weekend with Evolution was cool, the vibes were nice at Barrel 28 (Florida, NY). And as I always say, expected the unexpected. One song that was not on the set list yet some ladies requested was Shania Twain’s “Man, I Feel Like A Woman.” I learned it on the spot.
I’m still rollin’ along, promoting ACT NATURAL, which turned one month old yesterday. Down to 16 copies which is great. Didn’t beat out MOOD SWINGS for fastest-seller and that’s perfectly fine. Glad it moved so quickly in such a short period of time. “Nobody buys CDs anymore.”
I just shot that notion down.
Did three interviews over the course of a month, starting with Metal Mistress, then DJ JD, and just this past Saturday with Metal Maiden Vicki. All of them were a lot of fun, lots of laughs, lots of useless trivia (courtesy of yours truly). I have at least two more interviews pending so keep checking the UPCOMING EVENTS page.
Oh and I am going to perform soon?
Yes, this Saturday October 28 with the band Evolution at Barrel 28 (Florida, NY). I played with them back in March at Tony’s Pizza in Sparta and it was cool. I think this one will be better as I am more familiar with the songs. Couple of new ones I had to brush up on, and as I tell my students, “Play til you’re sick of it, that means you are doing it right.”
And while there will be no Rock Hard shows until 2024, I posted the dates and venues on the UPCOMING page anyway. (I am hoping Supernova needs me for a couple of gigs…hint hint!)
And what about my own music? I have to come clean: What I play does not make people run to the nearest club. Just a fact. I am not putting down my own stuff. If anything, I am super proud of it. But have to be realistic about things. If I do one show next year, fine. If not, I won’t lose sleep. While I am still shocked that I can put out a ninth album filled with crazy music and have it sell, I also know that if I said “Steve Bello is playing this club soon”…crickets. I was never part of any “scene” (and there is none). I’m definitely an island unto myself. Works best for me.
Now I need the Professor to build a radio out of coconuts.
Ever since ACT NATURAL was released on September 22, things went from zero to 150mph in seconds flat.
Not that I’m complaining!
Did a Q&A with DJ Metal Mistress last Wednesday and as always, lots of laughs were had by all. We seem to be good at improvising and taking the piss out of each other (in a nice way of course!) If you want to know my whereabouts in the coming weeks, you can head over the the UPCOMING EVENTS page to find out.
It’s easier than typing it all out here again!
But you will notice that I am Mr. Fill-In with various cover bands in the area. Hoping to get my own trio back in action if a show comes up but am in no madcap rush to do anything. Promoting the cd is my priority right now, and with the slew on interviews coming up, I want to be on my game.
Hope some of you can tune in to any of the Q&As coming up. And if you can swing by a cover gig, then cool.
Pic taken Oct 4, 2003 at Rondo Music w/manager Audrey
Take a good look at that picture. History was made that day, October 4, 2003 to be precise.
I became “Ibanez artist endorser Steve Bello” that day.
There’s a LONG story as to how this happened but the short version is this: I helped Chris Broderick (then of Jag Panzer) get a deal with Ibanez by making one phone call. I didn’t expect anything to happen. And even though it did happen, I didn’t expect anything for me in return. I was 33 at the time, working in a music store (not the one pictured above), and my dreams of being a supposed guitar god were in the rear view mirror. But the guys at Ibanez had other plans.
They asked me “What guitar do you like?” and I said “The Steve Vai Universe” (seen above). When I received it, the rep Angelo asked me “Will you do clinics?” and I said SURE! Then he threw this at me: “You have any music to sell?” Guess I do now! Because of this, I made my first album TWISTED METAL in 9 hours w/drummer Darren Patrick (I played all the guitars and bass on it) and then was off to give my first-ever clinic at Rondo Music in Union, NJ. The store has long been defunct now.
After the clinic, I was told “You’re in!” In what? “You’re with Ibanez now as part of the team.” Really?! I was not signed, not touring, basically a nobody in music. Yet they got me in sideways, so to speak. (By today’s standards, I would NEVER stand a chance!) So in the blink of an eye, I went from feeling like hanging up my heavy metal hat to being an endorser with Ibanez guitars.
So I did a thing last Saturday night. I rocked hard with Rock Hard. Even though it was a fill-in gig, it was still awesome!
“Tell us the story, Steve!”
I was in the cover band Naked Glory with bassist Tom Tsilionis (far left in pic) and he left after I did. He re-started Rock Hard with some friends and singer Alana (you can guess who she is in the pic, right?) The drummer and bassist quit the week of the gig at Bardi’s in Pequannock. So I reached out to Tom, and he said “If I can find a drummer in time, the gig is yours.” He got James Bruno (with the cool goatee) and that was it. No rehearsals, no pressure, just loose fun with about 30 songs in front of a good crowd.
Yeah I like that.
We did songs by Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Motorhead, Judas Priest, as well as some 90s stuff from Bush, Blur, Lit, and Hole. Threw in some Rob Zombie, Clutch, and Deep Purple too. Ah it was sweet!
As of now, I’m a hired gun for this band as my schedule is packed with teaching but am sure another gig will pop up soon enough. It felt great to crank out hard rock/heavy metal after doing party songs with other cover bands. I had fun with those bands too, but this stuff makes me sweat and swing my hair around. And I learned something about myself with this gig: I am not the most original guitarist around, but I am unique and creative, even when doing covers. I bring my A-game all the time. You won’t see a statue on stage.
On another note, copies of ACT NATURAL are moving faster now, which is terrific!! I plan on releasing two more videos before the year is over, so keep your eyes and ears peeled.
The day has finally come. After a couple of months waiting and waiting…
ACT NATURAL is here!!!
The UPS truck came at 12:30 today and delivered the box of coolness. I did a quick Facebook live to show the unveiling (they really taped that box up good!) And then I packed about 25 pre-orders or so. My hand is tired for signing cds but a promise is a promise! I sign EVERY single copy, period.
So while the download was made available on Aug 27, the official release date is September 22. Double deuces! Orders can be placed through the WHAT’S IN STORE page, so dig in!!
And now for something completely different…
HUH?! A gig?!
Okay you may be asking yourself “What’s going on here?” My friends Tom Tsilionis (bass) and Alana Quartuccio (vocals) have a cover band called Rock Hard. They specialize in doing hard rock/heavy metal anthems from the 70s til early 2000s. Tom and I were in Naked Glory last year and even though our tenure in that band was brief, we stayed friends (there’s a rarity for ya). When his guitarist abruptly quit this past Monday, I offered to help out. I know what it’s like to have someone bail last-minute; most performers like to leave others in a Catch-22 situation. But Tom found a drummer, Jim Bruno (I will meet him for the first time on Saturday) and sent us the set list.
Have to admit, I’m pretty excited about this. I’m playing a variety of songs (I won’t spoil the surprise here) that make my heart race. Plus not only do Tom and I reunite for this gig, but Alana and I will be on the same stage together for the first time ever! She plays guitar and sings in a punk band, Six To Eight Mathematics. Her band and mine had done shows in the past MANY years ago. She only sings in Rock Hard, no guitar (she likes not lugging gear HAHA). So we are all pretty fired up about doing this. Even if it’s only this one time, I have a feeling it will be awesome!!
The show is at Bardi’s Bar & Grill in Pequannock, NJ.
Those of you who enjoy hearing my soothing voice can now listen to this ad infinitum.
And ad nauseum?
This interview is from last Wednesday’s show THE TAKEOVER w/host Jeff Rickett on CBJRadio.com. You will hear Jeff ask me some GREAT questions, some definitely from left-field but I always had answers ready. Gotta think fast on your feet sometimes, and this Q&A was no exception.
I won’t spoil anything for you, if you never heard this before. But get ready to crack up because some of the chats are downright hysterical and nothing is off-color. Well, Jeff slips a word somewhere but nothing your kids haven’t heard before, right?
So click on the link and be prepared to spit your drink out from laughing so hard.
Oh and copies of ACT NATURAL will be here very soon!!!!
My pedalboard's been in hiding since June. Pic to remind me of what it looks like.
So here we are into September. Still have some summer left despite various stores putting up Fall (and Xmas?!) decorations. Been raining like crazy here but it’s still summer, okay?!
That was the weather, now onto the music…
I have sent out free downloads of ACT NATURAL to those who pre-ordered. Some time remains to take advantage of this deal until the physical cds are in my hands. And I’ve heard some interesting reviews from friends about the new music, ranging from “This is your best/heaviest” to “You sound happier.”
Happier?
Well, when I wrote the music for what became MOOD SWINGS, I was definitely in a depressive state. I never hide that from anyone. I felt that music was reflective of what I was dealing with. And yes when I wrote “Force Quit”, I honestly thought “This will be the last song I ever write and record.” I forced myself to quit performing and all that stressful stuff. But of course, the cd sold well, people wanted to see my trio perform live, so like Motley Crue, I came out of “retirement”.
Minus the middle school drama.
But with ACT NATURAL, the writing definitely has more of an upbeat feeling to it. The songs are still heavy and aggressive but, as one friend put it, “I can put this album on repeat.” Hmmm…did I do something right? Maybe. But all I did was write new music.
I have been setting up interviews to promote ACT. I already did a phone chat with Jeff Rickett at CBJ Radio last Thursday, which will air on Wed Sept 13 at 9pm EST. Also have another live Q&A with CT McManus on Wed (twice the Bello!) at 7:30pm which will be done via Streamyard. Also waiting word on doing interviews with Metal Maiden Vicki, DJ Metal Mistress, DJJD, Tom Hanley, Debbie Mazella…whew! I’m tired thinking about all this but someone’s gotta do the running-around.
And yes, some have asked me “Will you play live?” And my answer is the same: I would like to do one show this year, and one next year. That’s it. I don’t find myself missing the stage as in recent years. My trio played two shows last year and they were stellar, possibly the best I ever did. Yes, I tried getting on the bill with Living Colour/Extreme at Starland but they are not having any opening bands on their tour. Fair enough. I do not like selling tickets, too old for that. As I said earlier, it’s too stressful. I like not having my heart race 200mph trying to get even 20 people to see me perform.
All I care about is people hearing the new album, and really enjoying it.
Clear your calendars…alert the media…prune the hedges of many small villages…
ACT NATURAL is coming!!
The ESTIMATED release date will be between September 22-October 2, 2023. After quite a few setbacks, delays, and other outside external forces, the cds are going to be pressed this Tuesday at DiscMakers. And even though I’ve been doing this for a hundred years, I still get those butterflies in my stomach (or was it the lunch I had?) when I hit the CHECKOUT button to pay for the process to begin.
So if you want a free download of ACT NATURAL while you wait for your signed hard copy, pre-order here: What’s In Store After the official release date is announced, this offer is over. But will still sign cds 🙂
“Walk Through Lightning”, second single/video from ACT NATURAL
Here you go…the second single/video released from my new album ACT NATURAL, entitled “Walk Through Lighting”.
There is a true story behind this…
But first, upon listening, you will hear this one is more straight-up heavy metal akin to Judas Priest/Loudness, and there is an intentional Deep Purple nod too. Mike Sabatini said it reminded him of “Fight Fire With Fire” by Metallica, which is very cool too. So whomever you think this sounds like…it’s still ME 🙂
Now for the true story…
Back in 2016 (!) I was going for one of my regular walks and was about a mile from home. Clouds rolled in, so I thought “I better get movin’!” Started raining, which I expected. But what I didn’t expect were lightning bolts shooting across the sky and some were THIS CLOSE to me!!! I never ran so fast in my life (well, since high school) and when I got home, I wrote down the words “walk through lightning” on a sheet of paper. So I have had this title for seven years.
And now it’s a nifty little tune 🙂
Pre-order ACT NATURAL on the WHAT’S IN STORE page!!
OFFICIAL WEBSITE FOR 7-STRING GUITARIST STEVE BELLO 
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