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Tommy · Guru

Podasts and interviews with past and present Shania band members

Tommy · Guru

Derek Frank (current bassist for Shania) talks auditioning for Shania's "Rock This Country" tour in 2015. Skip to 35:30 mark.

Chat With Pros Ep.5 - Derek Frank (Touring, Auditioning, Building A Career In Music)

A SoundLife Interview Series, Making the world more fun, one music lesson at a time!

We talk with touring and studio bassist Derek Frank about touring, auditioning, and building a career in music. Derek Frank is currently the bassist for both Gwen Stefani and Shania Twain. His resumes reads like a who's who list of the top artists in the industry. Derek also just released a new solo album called "Eleven Years Later."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDaHMMjE0Cw

Tommy · Guru

Cory Churko is Shania's long-time band director and guitarist/fiddler/violinist.

Cory Churko talks mixing Shania Twain's Up! album with Mutt Lange and Mike Shipley | Interview

The Jeremy White Podcast presents Cory Churko!

Cory has been involved with #ShaniaTwain for over two decades and played a big part in the sound of her monumental album "Up!". Cory was Mike Shipley's mix assistant at the time and he gives up some in depth facts about the process of mixing one of the most influential albums of the early 2000's with #MuttLange! He goes deep into how mixing frequencies out of syllables made a better mix and how Nigel Green was brought in to help finish the job. Also, was Brad Pitt supposed to be Luke Skywalker...? WARNING: TONS OF NERDY GEAR TALK!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7q7V4g5_e8

Tommy · Guru

Cory Churko is Shania's long-time music/band director and guitarist/fiddler/violinist.

Cory Churko Interview - Rob's School of Music Interview Series

This week on the show we are featuring Music Director, Guitarist, and Fiddler for Shania Twain, the amazing Cory Churko. He's also the guitarist for Toque and played with Slash, Kelly Clarkson, and Reba!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gHRR6ce2Yg

Tommy · Guru

Cory Churko is Shania's long-time band director and guitarist/fiddler/violinist.

"Making It" with Cory Churko (Shania Twain/Kelly Clarkson/Toque)

Brenton On Tour Podcast

Has Cory Churko "Made It?"
I mean, he's toured the world with Shania Twain and Kelly Clarkson, played the Superbowl, been getting paid as a musician since he was a young boy in his family's band, and just recently settled into a residency gig with Shania in Las Vegas.
That sounds like it to me!
However, everyone has their own definition of "Making It' and today, Cory stops by to offer his.
For all things Cory visit: https://www.corychurko.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEfd5s9zsvM

Tommy · Guru

Brent Barcus was a guitarist in Shania's band during the Come On Over and Up! eras (1997-2004).

Brent Barcus talks Shania Twain touring days, Mutt Lange and Audio Branding | Interview 2022

The Mitch Lafon and Jeremy White Show present Brent Barcus!

For all of the #ShaniaTwain fans out there, this one is for you! We take a deep dive into the touring days with Shania Twain, what it was like being on the road and preparing for her first ever world tour to support #ComeOnOver PLUS having Mutt Lange as musical director and potentially having 3 neck guitars made just for one song? All of those tales and more!

We also discuss audio branding and creating audio branding for brands like The Nashville Predators, ViacomCBS and many other national brands. Brent can be reached for projects via LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brentbarcus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Du3QPPFIbI

Tommy · Guru

Guitarist Talks What Shania Twain Was Like to Work With, Addresses Accusations of Her Band Miming and Lip Syncing

Ultimate Guitar | March 10, 2022

The name Brent Barcus isn't one you'll see all over guitar-oriented online and offline publications. However, the guy deserves as much praise as any other guitar hero. Hired by Mutt Lange himself, Brent played guitar in Shania Twain's live band from 1997 to 2004. Most notably, he was a member during Shania's "Come On Over" and "Up!" tours.

And you can only imagine the experience and stories that a musician of his caliber has. Well, Brent Bracus was recently a guest over at The Mitch Lafon and Jeremy White Show to discuss his work with the country legend.

They also discussed setting up live rigs to make it sound like on albums. For this purpose, they also had help from none other than legendary Bob Bradshaw. When asked about the whole process, Brent answered (transcribed by UG):

"We went through everything and he had an assistant that had documented everybody's racks and patches. So what was different between Randall [Waller, another one of Shania's guitar players] and me – Randall came in later. I was the first in with the core guys. I was there most of the early '98. With Randall, we were still looking for that second guitar spot that could sing some leads with her harmonies. He didn't have as much time to tinker around. We only had four weeks to get up to speed, I was there for months. So I sat down with him and went through all the different gear and amps and stuff that they used on the record."

"Mine got kind of ridiculous with the refrigerator rack. I had kind of a country setup which was pedals in a rack, [Bob] Bradshaw with the pedals in front of the amps for the country stuff. And then we had all the preamp and power amp for all the slicker pop stuff that I used as well. I had the Bradshaw system going. We went through every sound. He wanted that Fender tone. We had Matchless, we had Marshall, kind of went through all that with him."

Reminded of the song "When," he added:

"So we had to stick with the stereo rig and a model rig. It was fun. I mean, it was the ultimate geek out. It was like – if we need something, we're gonna get it. So there wasn't really any barriers to budget on that. So he wasn't gonna spare any expense to have all the stuff we needed.

"And there was a part on... I'm trying to think which song on the record that there are a couple of key changes. There was a part with a lot of open string jangles. And so obviously, the key change, you have to barre it. Or use a capo."

And then he remembers Mutt Lange's bold idea:

"[Mutt is] like, 'Well, what are we going to do?' We're raising the key, but we're playing it with barre chords and he stopped us. Said 'This isn't gonna work, I want to hear the ringing strings.' I was like, 'Well, we don't have time to throw in the capo.' We talked about roller capos. He's like, 'Well, what if we just have double-neck guitars built and the next neck is the next key?' [laughs]"

"That was pretty genius. Fender's gonna make us like these double necks and we just have two different keys. You know, we just go to the next key and jangle."

Further down the conversation, Brent remembered various accusations that Shania and the whole band were miming and lip-syncing. He said:

"It was pre- all the social media stuff. But there was talk of that. And I remember some of the guys that had played with her previously. No way these guys [were doing it]. Everybody in the band – amazing players. And so we had to know what we were doing."

He also added:

"I think one of her geniuses was always including us. It wasn't like her out there and we were all in black to stand in the back. Yeah, a lot of us do that. They don't know what to do with the band, or they feel like maybe they're going to get showing up or something. But she always had such confidence to let us kind of roam freely. She's like, 'You can walk in front of me, you're never gonna outperform, they're here to see me.' I got that, you know. And she let us roll. She let us roll with whatever. We had different places we had to be at certain times because of pyro or whatever. But besides that, we can just kind of move do what we wanted."

Link

Tommy · Guru

RIP Allison One of Shania's original band members. She was so talented and fun to watch.

Cory Churko @corychurko

One of my good friends left the planet today....@allison.cornell ...She was my bandmate and my friend....Allison was one of the most talented people I ever had the chance to work with...it was an honor to be on stage with her and everyone loved her very much! We love you Allison❤️❤️❤️ You fought so hard and will be missed! Travel safe!!

Pictures - https://www.instagram.com/p/C3iibHRv33V/

1:47 PM ET - 19 Feb 24

http://instagram.com/corychurko

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtBGIEf_1JE

Tommy · Guru

Shania Twain @shaniatwain

Allison Cornell was such a talented and wonderful person. It was a privilege, as an artist, to have her on stage with me through a lot of my touring career. Feeling very sad to hear of Allison’s lost battle with cancer, her memory will live on but sadly another beautiful human has gone too soon from this world. Rest in Peace ❤️

Video clips - https://www.instagram.com/p/C3nQ1uRtL-t/

9:49 AM ET - 21 Feb 24

http://instagram.com/shaniatwain

Tommy · Guru

Cory Churko has announced he has quit Shania's band after 26 years.

Cory Churko @corychurko

After 26 years with Shania Twain I've decided to move on to new experiences and adventures. I've cherished the travel, music and playing in front of the appreciative audiences. I've cultivated so many deep and loving friendships many of which are still part of my everyday life. I learned skills on the stage and in the studio. I was like a sponge taking it all in from the first day in Dec ’97 to my last show this past November in Abu Dhabi. I truly lived my childhood dream and never took any of it for granted.

Being back in the studio these past few months mixing projects has been a super nice change from the 9 months on the road last year. There are so many facets to the music industry and exploring them all keeps it fresh for me.

I'll be in Europe for part of this summer on a tour but I'll tell you more about that later.

I'm also looking forward to playing some shows with my brothers in @toquerocks starting late July! Lotsa good stuff happening.

It's been nice having some home time with my wife and my fur babies.

I'll see you guys out there again soon!!

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5xVzJfLDh6/

1:48 AM ET - 15 Apr 24

http://instagram.com/corychurko

shaniafan28 · Veteran Member

I wonder what happened. Both Cory and Derek stopped following Shania on instagram. They must be pissed?!?

schnetzka · Senior Member

I do find it kind of odd that he didn't thank Shania for their time together in his post. Probably just reading into it though.

shaniafan28 · Veteran Member

I don’t think you’re reading into it. It’s pretty obvious that it was intentional

Courtney3302 · Senior Member

I mean… he doesn’t sound bitter.

26 years is a long time to work with 1 artist. It could be as simple as wanting to expand his own repertoire.

Tommy · Guru

Wild stories from playing guitar for Shania Twain - Randall Waller

Randall & Suzie describe how Randall got the gig as Shania Twain's touring guitarist and backing vocalist. From auditioning over the phone with legendary producer Mutt Lange to being picked apart in the studio to play perfectly.

From Deep n Meaningfuls with Furzey Ep.41

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uzn_rBRddM

Tommy · Guru

Brent Barcus - Music Director for Shania Twain AND Real Estate Investor!

CLICK LINK BELOW TO WATCH

Chief Guitar Officer - The Podcast

Brent Barcus is the guitar player and Music Director for Shania Twain AND has a real estate investment company! Watch this episode and find out more about how Brent creatively blends a career made of Rock & Roll and Real Estate, including: mixing music for bands; sound design and mixing in stereo and Dolby Atmos for networks like Warner Bros. and Paramount; how he first landed the gig with Shania Twain (and what it was like working with Mutt Lange!); his first audition on TV - on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno!; attending Belmont University in Nashville; how he puts a tour together and how he put his guitar rig together for Shania Twain’s Las Vegas show - including his Fractal Axe FX-III setup, being inspired by players like Brent Mason, Steve Lukather and Dann Huff); how today’s guitar gear compares to working with Shania 20 years ago using Matchless and Marshall tube amps; his passion for real estate investment as a “long game” and the 150-apartment project he is currently working on in Chattanooga, Tennessee as a vehicle for passively investing in real estate; teaching students (as an adjunct faculty member at Belmont University) how to survive in the music industry; his admiration of guitar players and bands like Dann Huff, Steve Lukather, Mister Mister, Bryan Adams/Keith Scott and Billy Idol/Steve Stevens that play the right part (and have the right sound) for the song; a really cool guitar featuring a 70’s Fender body with a Warmoth neck and Wilkinson tremolo (made by Jim Tyler and bought from Dave Phillips at LA Sound Design - who Brent went to school with!) and a Fender Telecaster to keep up on his Brad Paisley (who he ALSO went to school with!) and Brent Mason-style Tele chops!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFm_r3eTkPE

Tommy · Guru

Andrea Whitt played the fiddle in Shania's band.

Andrea Whitt was part of Shania Twain's band for two years during her Last Vegas residency

CountryLine

We sat down with the amazing Andrea Whitt in London ahead of performing at The O2 with Moby. We hear about her past tours with Ariana Grande, Shania Twain and more. As Andrea gears up to release her debut single, as well as running a successful fashion line, it seems there's no stopping this stylish superstar on the rise!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLMZSVuRaNg