Whenever I hear someone mention the band Tesla, one phrase usually follows — “They Are SOOOOO Underrated.” Indeed.
The Sacramento hard rockers debuted in 1986 with one of the most killer rock albums of the decade, Mechanical Resonance, and have been at it ever since. Tesla also made acoustic rock cool with Five Man Acoustical Jam, released in 1990. They have continued their legacy through the years with exceptional talent driving the tour bus.
Their new studio album, Homage — out this past Friday on Frontiers Records — pays tribute to some of the band’s favorite vocalists. Those include Etta James, Bob Seger, Hank Williams Sr., and Sam Cooke. The record also honors their own singer, Jeff Keith, who at 68 is still killing it vocally on tour with the band.
Frank Hannon: Tesla’s Guitar Master
Frank Hannon has been Tesla’s guitar player since day one. He is a master craftsman, solo artist, producer, and founder of Frank Hannon Music. Frank joined me on my Carr Stereo Podcast and discussed why paying Homage was important. We also talked about his style of guitar playing and spending more than 20 years as the son-in-law of another guitar master — the late Dickie Betts of the Allman Brothers Band. Frank is one of rock’s most humble people, and it is always a pleasure to catch up with him.
*Editor’s Note: Answers have been edited for clarity and length.*
Terrie Carr: Frank! So many decades of friendship, love, and music. It is wonderful to see your beautiful face again. Thanks so much for joining me on Carr Stereo.
Frank Hannon: Thanks, Terrie. Yeah, it’s great to see you. We were just talking about all the years — gosh, it’s been a lot with you! And we’re celebrating 40 years since our first album, Mechanical Resonance, came out. We used to come to your neck of the woods a lot!
Terrie Carr: The history I have had with Tesla — wow. You guys did the first radio station concert that we did independent, away from all the big promoters, way back when in a minor league ballpark. They didn’t want us using the field, so we couldn’t pack it — but you guys killed it. I can’t believe it’s been 40 years since Mechanical Resonance. And 40 years ago, ’86 was a year where we had a lot of big records. That was a monumental year for hard rock — Slippery When Wet, Look What the Cat Dragged In, Master of Puppets, Megadeth’s Peace Sells…
Frank Hannon: Eat ‘Em and Smile!
Terrie Carr: Yup! Diamond David Lee Roth. Wow, so many. You guys have a new release, Homage, out now. How many Tesla records do we have? We have eight studio, I think, and six live. You’ve got six solo. I said it to you before we got rolling — you are the unsung hero of guitar, criminally underrated, just amazing. Technique and tone. But here’s what I love so much about your playing — anybody can have the technique. There is something that emotes out of you that I don’t always necessarily hear with the most technical players. You are a very special player who makes people feel. This collection has 14 tracks, 13 of which are covers. One is a brand new song called “Never Alone.” This is also a very special record because you’re paying Homage to — stop me if I’m wrong — vocalists. Yes?
The Concept Behind Homage
Frank Hannon: Correct. That’s exactly the concept. When we started this particular project, instead of just doing another covers album, there was a concept behind it. Brian Wheat, our bassist, came up with the word “Homage.” There are many ways of pronouncing it — “Homagio” in Italy. I just did an Italian interview! It’s a tribute to lead singers. It started with the Queen song “Spread Your Wings” and Freddie Mercury — the idea of Jeff being able to sing a Freddie Mercury song. Then it went from that to Elvis Presley, and then to James Brown. They asked me, “Well, Frank, what do you think?” And I said, “How about Bob Seger?” We wanted to show people that at 68 years old, Jeff Keith is still able to sing so many dynamic, soulful types of things. A lot of the vocal tracks on this new record were done in my home studio when we were just making the first demos, and we kept those early takes. Jeff is just able to naturally belt it out, and usually the first couple of takes are the best — and that’s what’s on this record. Someone asked me to describe Jeff in one word the other day in one of these interviews, and I said “Heart.” He’s from the heart, he wears his heart on his sleeve — he’s all heart. Going back to 1984, when I had my home studio and first heard Jeff sing in the club, he came over to my house and we started recording and writing songs like “Modern Day Cowboy” and “Changes” — songs that ended up on our first album. I would set the mic up, I had a little four-track recorder, I’d press record, and he would just start singing. It was instant. I didn’t have to do a hundred takes of vocals — it was just one or two passes, and he just has the natural gift. But more importantly, he sings lyrics and everything from the heart, and that’s how our songwriting has always been. We’ve always taken that approach. And when I play guitar, it’s the same thing. I’d rather play one or two notes that make me feel a certain way — and hopefully make someone else feel — as opposed to using my brain and trying to be a math scientist on the guitar and playing a bunch of numbers.
Terrie Carr: Well, when I watch you play, I hear you and I watch you — your whole body goes into it. Certain people have their whole body go into it. Flea does that. I was watching the Earth, Wind & Fire documentary on HBO — Verdeen White does that on bass. That’s you.
Frank Hannon: Thank you. Jimi did that too….
Remembering Dickie Betts
Terrie Carr: Someone else you remind me of is your father-in-law — if people don’t know, I don’t want to say “was” because he’s still your father-in-law, even though he’s no longer with us. The late, great, amazing Dickie Betts. You’re married to Christy, and you guys have been married for a really long time.
Frank Hannon: Yeah, 25 years.
Terrie Carr: Wow. I interviewed Dickie a couple of times and I loved him — he was a delightful character, always super fun. He’d hit me up talking about how much he loved the Jersey girls because we were spicy and feisty. I always felt like it was a gift for me as an interviewer and radio personality to sit down and pick the brain of someone like Dickie Betts. What was it like for you having him in your life for such a long time? He was a real special guy.
Frank Hannon: Oh, he was so special and so dynamic. Dynamic is the word I use to describe him because he was multifaceted. If you look at his music, he’s one of the greatest unique guitarists. Even Ronnie Montrose told me, “Man, Dickie Betts instantly has the most recognizable guitar sound” — as soon as you hear him, you know it’s him. So as a guitarist, that’s one thing, but as a songwriter, singer, survivor, and artist in general — as a person — as you described, his personality and character could be so fun, and then so serious at the same time. So inspiring, man. The best times I had with him — while I did get to play music with him a few times on stage — were on the golf course or driving in the car, just listening to him crack jokes. He was really witty. He would crack a joke and you’d be like, “Huh? Is he serious?” He would say, “You know, out of all the guys I hate, I hate you the least.” He had that southern dry humor that would catch you by surprise. I learned so much about character and honesty from him. He was the most real, honest character — he wasn’t faking it in any way, shape, or form. What you saw is what you got with Dickie Betts. He was able to detect any nonsense instantly. He told me a story about one time he was at a party — I think Steve Martin and John Belushi and all these people were there — and some guy was being a real jerk. Dickie kept saying, “Hey man, why don’t you just have a good time, settle down?” And the guy said, “Hey, let’s take this outside.” And Dickie said, “You ain’t gonna make it to the door.” As he was standing up, he knocked the guy out cold. Then Steve Martin and all the guys said, “Thanks, Dickie — that guy’s been bothering me all night.” That’s who he was.
Frank also discusses hitting the road with Mötley Crüe and Extreme for a big summer rock tour, and more on Dickie’s final days spent with family. It was a really special conversation with Frank Hannon from Tesla — one of my personal favorite bands of all time. Thanks, Frank — always a pleasure.
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