Where Are Rock’s New Guitar Heroes? Meet Shredder Jared James Nichols — Guitar. It drives the rock and roll bus. Rock and radio have always embraced shred. Eddie, Eric, Jimmy, Keith, Slash, Nancy, Satch, Lita — I could go on. It seems the guitarist as a whole doesn’t mean as much to the rock format as it used to. Or maybe that’s just something we keep telling ourselves. The classic heroes are top of mind, but the new generation of Guitar Gods? Almost non-existent when it comes to rock radio airplay. They are here, making music. Rock Radio, listen up.
I first met Jared James Nichols when I became a fan of his 2023 release and decided to bring him out to my radio station to play for the fans. A pickless Gibson hero and ambassador, whose hulking presence and power vocals take over every room he plays. Who showed up to the radio appearance? Men, women, and kids holding their guitars to get signed. In fact, one kid rode his bike to the event. Jared not only signed it, he rode it around the radio station parking lot. Jared blew through his own songs and a few covers, including Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen.” That day, I was sold. Jared is a guitar hero — the incredible talent, looks, and personality that rock stars are made of.
Why Rock Radio Needs Its Guitar Gods
You can often find him at the NAMM convention, jamming with greats like Paul Gilbert and Steve Morse. Zakk Wylde and Keith Richards are fans. Why did I decide to highlight Jared in this week’s column? Because rock and radio need our Guitar Gods. Kids are playing, guitar sales are solid, and rock fans love guitar.
Jared James Nichols releases his fourth full-length, “Louder Than Fate,” on Friday, June 5th, on Frontiers Records. I recently got some time with this mega-talented player for my Carr Stereo Podcast. We broke down tracks from the album and discussed being a Gibson Brand Ambassador — alongside Slash, Dave Mustaine, Jerry Cantrell, and Lzzy Hale — recording at the Foo Fighters’ 606 Studios, and where his brand of blues-infused hard rock and metal fits into today’s crowded and often similar-sounding landscape.
*Editor’s Note: Answers have been edited for clarity and length.
Terrie Carr: One of my favorite guitar players of all time. We’re coming in hot, baby, because we have a fourth studio record which is coming out on Frontiers Records on June 5th, which is called “Louder Than Fate,” and it is a tour de force. Congratulations, my friend. Wow.
Terrie Carr: I’m ready for you to bench press me anytime I see you.
Jared James Nichols: Thank you so much. Thanks for having me, Terrie. It’s always so great to see you and talk to you and hear your voice.
Jared James Nichols: Laughs.
From Wisconsin to the Viper Room
Terrie Carr: You came in as this young kind of kid, making your name and getting top of mind for guitar people. I guess it was 2010-ish, maybe?
Jared James Nichols: Yeah, I would say 2010-ish. I got on the road and I got on some tours and started to mingle a little bit like 2012, 2013. I moved to California from Wisconsin when I was 20, and that was in 2010. Then once I got there, it took a while to figure out my bearings. But yeah, I would say 2012, I started to play shows in Los Angeles. I played the Viper Room. That was my first show in LA, which was insane. Then I started to do these small runs up the coast. Then one thing led to another, and I got on my first tour, which was in 2013, and that was going out to Sturgis to play with Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top and making a run of it. It was one of those things where it was like, “have guitar, will travel,” so I just didn’t stop.
The Pickless Wonder Becomes a Gibson Ambassador
Terrie Carr: You didn’t need your picks! (Jared plays pickless.) Just have guitar, will travel — the Pickless Wonder! And then you became a Gibson ambassador. You got on that list, which is crazy.
Jared James Nichols: That’s crazy. I am from the same town in Wisconsin that Les Paul is from, the guy that they named the guitars after. I’ve loved guitar and that’s been like my passion since I was like 14, 15. And I had this amazing interaction where I started to work with Gibson when I moved to California. And I would go and play at events for them. I got to jam with Robby Krieger of The Doors and do these really cool events. And one thing led to another. And I started getting known through the circles as a Gibson player. And yeah, I would say 2019, they offered me my first signature guitar. I’ve had three since then, another on the way. And then about two and a half years ago, they announced me as a brand ambassador alongside Slash, Dave Mustaine, Jerry Cantrell, Lzzy Hale. It’s crazy. I’m so lucky. I’m so honored and thankful. And yeah, I love Gibson more than I can ever imagine and say.
Terrie Carr: I love the production on this record so much. Talk to me about who you worked with. It’s Jay Rustin, right?
Jared James Nichols: Yeah, Jay Rustin.
Terrie Carr: He just got who you are. He got what this record needed to be. He got the sound. It’s amazing.
Recording “Louder Than Fate” at the Foo Fighters’ 606 Studio
Jared James Nichols: And what’s amazing, too, is Jay, he said, “Hey, let’s go to 606,” which is the Foo Fighters Studio. So what you’re hearing on all of those songs — the drums, the guitars, all of that — was basically tracked live and energetic at 606 in Los Angeles. So even just being there and using that gear and having that experience was something I’ll obviously never forget, but it was just like the energy was right. And it felt like we were making a record. It wasn’t like, “okay, let’s try this, let’s try this”…. It felt like the band, the trio with Jay steering the ship. We just had this great chemistry that made a record!
Chemistry indeed. “Louder Than Fate” is everything a guitar-driven rock record should be. Check out Jared and his band — a killer power trio — on tour too. Riffs drive rock. Radio, your audience will digest a fresh riff master. In fact, they are waiting for one.
For the full interview, check out this week’s Carr Stereo Podcast — Stream Carr Stereo with Jared James Nichols on Podcast Platforms
Jared James Nichols Carr Stereo Podcast Video Interview
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