Joe Smith - AKA "The Baron Von Tappin' - Lead Freakin' Guitar, Rhythm Guitar - November 2022 - September 2023
Joe Smith is a veteran guitar-slinger with years of experience shredding lead guitar on stage and in studio. Joe's main influences include
Steve Lukather, Carlos Santana, Randy Rhoads, Jimmy Page, Michael Schenker, Neil Schon, Eddie Van Halen, John Sykes, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. Band credits include airtime on WVVX along with a library of original releases from bands including Violet Sin, Slander, Plato's Republic, Naked Mile, and Life Number Nine. After a year out in North Carolina jamming in various bands, Joe recently returned to the Chicago cover band scene with a brief stint in High Infidelity and the popular Whitesnake cover band, Bad Boys.
JOE also plays guitar in classic rock cover band HARD WIRE, The Bands website can be found here: hardwirerocks.fun
That is one story, do you believe the following????
Some years ago, in an undisclosed Eastern European Country, a set of twins were born to a Princess who feared for her children’s lives, because the King was oppressive. One twin, named Bo Von Tappin’ was groomed to be a future leader of an ugly country, while the princess faked the death of the second boy, Joe The Baron Von Tappin. Elaborately with a few co-conspirators Joe was hidden away in the basement of a castle, educated by trusty nuns who slipped in and out of the castle under the ruse that they were the spiritual leader of the Princess.
To pass the time, the baron was given a Gibson guitar and access to all the Masters of the Art. He would play hours a day, armed with a Rockman that Tom Scholtz from Boston invented, shredding into his own ears as he practiced the licks of the greats.
At 3 he could not read, but he could shred the “Star Spangled Banner” as Hendrix had at Woodstock.
At 9, he was not allowed the company of friends, but he would stage concerts for the nuns and his Mother, playing the infectious licks of The Scorpions, UFO, Van Halen and the Whitesnake.
Finally a coup d’etat occurred aided by the brave soldiers of the US Special Forces, but they could not save the Princess or Bo, but his Mother did manage to get her son out and safe. Her last words to him before he was grabbed by a Navy Seal, was “Baron, you shred, you shred in memory of your brother and me!”
Now if asked, Joe will shrug and say, nah, that’s just folklore…….. But you and I know, from the skills he shares, we know different.
Shred on Baron Von Tappin’, Shred on!!!!
Steve Lukather, Carlos Santana, Randy Rhoads, Jimmy Page, Michael Schenker, Neil Schon, Eddie Van Halen, John Sykes, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. Band credits include airtime on WVVX along with a library of original releases from bands including Violet Sin, Slander, Plato's Republic, Naked Mile, and Life Number Nine. After a year out in North Carolina jamming in various bands, Joe recently returned to the Chicago cover band scene with a brief stint in High Infidelity and the popular Whitesnake cover band, Bad Boys.
JOE also plays guitar in classic rock cover band HARD WIRE, The Bands website can be found here: hardwirerocks.fun
That is one story, do you believe the following????
Some years ago, in an undisclosed Eastern European Country, a set of twins were born to a Princess who feared for her children’s lives, because the King was oppressive. One twin, named Bo Von Tappin’ was groomed to be a future leader of an ugly country, while the princess faked the death of the second boy, Joe The Baron Von Tappin. Elaborately with a few co-conspirators Joe was hidden away in the basement of a castle, educated by trusty nuns who slipped in and out of the castle under the ruse that they were the spiritual leader of the Princess.
To pass the time, the baron was given a Gibson guitar and access to all the Masters of the Art. He would play hours a day, armed with a Rockman that Tom Scholtz from Boston invented, shredding into his own ears as he practiced the licks of the greats.
At 3 he could not read, but he could shred the “Star Spangled Banner” as Hendrix had at Woodstock.
At 9, he was not allowed the company of friends, but he would stage concerts for the nuns and his Mother, playing the infectious licks of The Scorpions, UFO, Van Halen and the Whitesnake.
Finally a coup d’etat occurred aided by the brave soldiers of the US Special Forces, but they could not save the Princess or Bo, but his Mother did manage to get her son out and safe. Her last words to him before he was grabbed by a Navy Seal, was “Baron, you shred, you shred in memory of your brother and me!”
Now if asked, Joe will shrug and say, nah, that’s just folklore…….. But you and I know, from the skills he shares, we know different.
Shred on Baron Von Tappin’, Shred on!!!!
