IN A VARIED career that is now more than three decades old, Andy Timmons has made his mark in genres ranging from glam metal and pop to hard rock and jazz fusion. He first came to prominence with the hair-metal band Danger Danger, which scored a handful of hit singles and albums between 1989 and 1992. His guitar solos were always a highlight of the band’s work, combining dazzling technique with hooky riffs, but the musical format was limiting. Timmons found much more room to stretch out after the band’s 1993 breakup when he returned to his previous role, playing fusion with the Andy Timmons Band. He released two essential instrumental rock albums, Ear X-Tacy, in 1994 and Ear X-Tacy 2, in 1997, with the best tracks from each combined for the compilation That Was Then, This Is Now: The Best of X-Tacy, released in 2002 as his debut on Steve Vai’s Favored Nations label.
Timmons spent almost 15 years in the unlikely role of musical director for Olivia Newton John’s live band and continued to work on a variety of sessions, while also recording with Simon Phillips and delivering one of his strongest albums, , in 2006. But undoubtedly the greatest demonstration of his ability to wring the maximum expression from his instrument was highlighted on the 2011, where he conveyed the essence of the various melodies, harmonies and bass lines with just one guitar and no overdubs.
