JOHN NOTTO PREVIEWS THE HIGH-FLYING L.A. RIFF-ROCKERS’ HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SOPHOMORE ALBUM
By Joe Bosso
WHEN DIRTY HONEY’S John Notto spoke with Guitar World back in 2021, ahead of the release of his band’s self-titled debut album, the guitarist exuded supreme confidence. “There was no doubt I was going to succeed as a guitarist, and I knew this band would go over,” he told us. “I know that sounds bold, but for me, failure just wasn’t an option.”
Reminded of his words today, Notto lets out a laugh. “Wow, it’s so funny to think I said that,” he says. “I’m normally not so arrogant. I think I was trying to sum up the band’s mentality at the time. We were dealing with a lot of skepticism, so we took a mantra of, ‘we’re going to get there however we can.’ We had to rally each other. But it’s nice to put your dreams out there and be held accountable for them.”
During the past two years, the L.A.-
based quartet (which also includes singer Marc LaBelle and bassist Justin Smolian,
along with new recruit Jaydon Bean on drums) has found a sizable audience for their
action-packed, good-time brand of hard rock that draws heavily from Seventies groups
such as Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and AC/DC. Notto, in particular, has garnered significant
praise for his modern approach to classic guitar sounds.
“I always get compliments on my tone,” he says. “It’s become a running joke: ‘Aren’t they gonna say I’m awesome? Is it all about my tone?’ I also get comments on my lyricism — people say my solos are memorable. I don’t pretend to be a technical wizard doing a masterclass tour, so if people like what I do, I’m pretty happy about it.”
He singles out a particular bit of praise he received from a fan recently: “One guy told me, ‘You’re the most rock ’n’ roll guitarist I’ve seen.’ Hey, I’ll take it. I learned by listening to gritty, sloppy, wild guitarists of the Seventies, so I’m cool with being thought of in that way.”
The band has been a touring machine of late, playing sold-out theater shows in the States and Europe, co-headlining a tour with Mammoth WVH, as well as opening for big-league acts like Guns N’ Roses, Kiss and the Black Crowes. Ahead of more touring, which includes a slot on Guns N’ Roses’ summer stadium tour of the U.S., Dirty Honey are finishing their second album with producer Nick DiDia (who helmed their first full-length and their d
