White Lion

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American Rock musician Vito Bratta, of the group White Lion, performs onstage at the Poplar Creek Music Theater, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, July 12,1989.

“I get off stage, and Paul and Gene want to talk to me: ‘We think you’d be perfect for Kiss. Would you consider playing a Les Paul?’” White Lion’s Vito Bratta on the time he nearly joined Kiss – and his failed Ozzy Osbourne audition

By Andrew Daly published

The ’80s shred icon explains what stood between him and the gig of a lifetime with Ozzy – and why he turned down Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley

Vito Bratta

“People would tell me, ‘Oh, you sound and play just like Eddie Van Halen.’ It got under my skin enough that I called Eddie”: Vito Bratta, one of the definitive ’80s shredders, looks back on a career of world-beating solos with White Lion

By Andrew Daly published

The legendary White Lion guitarist sits down for a rare interview to share the stories behind the solos, what it’s like to record with Jimi Hendrix’s Strat plugged into Leslie West’s Marshall, and why his recording career began with disappointment

Marcus Nand performs live

Meet the daredevil guitarist taking on Vito Bratta's hair-raising White Lion solos – and winning his hero's approval

By Andrew Daly published

Mike Tramp sideman Marcus Nand reveals what it's like to step into the shoes of one of '80s shred's most revered players, how he struck up a friendship with his idol, and what makes Bratta distinct from every other virtuoso

Vito Bratta

“A f**king disaster”: Vito Bratta says White Lion’s debut album left him “devastated” – here’s why

By Matt Owen published

The virtuoso doesn't harbor too many fond memories of White Lion's 1985 LP Fight to Survive, and that's partly because of the guitar tracks that made it onto the final album

Vito Bratta performs onstage with White Lion

Vito Bratta recorded White Lion’s All You Need is Rock 'n' Roll with Jimi Hendrix’s black Stratocaster – and Leslie West’s Marshall amp

By Matt Owen published

West's 100-watt Mountain Marshall is still owned by Bratta, who got his hands on the fabled Strat through Al Kooper – who was gifted the guitar by Hendrix himself

Vito Bratta

Vito Bratta names 11 guitarists who shaped his sound

By Andrew Daly published

The virtuoso behind White Lion’s platinum rock sound pays dues to the players who showed him what to do on guitar (and what not to do), and recalls an emotional encounter with Eddie Van Halen

Vito Bratta (left) and Eddie Van Halen perform onstage

Vito Bratta recounts emotional meeting with Eddie Van Halen: "I was touched enough to where I had to leave the room, go to the bathroom, and cry"

By Jackson Maxwell published

"I got a lot of s**t from people who said I was aping his style," the White Lion legend told Guitar World in a recent interview. "He didn’t agree"

Vito Bratta performs onstage with White Lion at the Ritz in New York City in 1988

Watch Vito Bratta bring the house down at New York's Ritz club with White Lion in 1988

By Jackson Maxwell published

This pro-shot footage of the band's blistering performance of Fight To Survive shows why Bratta is considered by many to be one of the era's greatest guitarists

Vito Bratta of White Lion poses with a headless Steinberger

Vito Bratta reflects on the ‘80s, when White Lion were kings of the hard-rock jungle, and the guitar rulebook was being rewritten by Eddie Van Halen

By Matt Wake last updated

In this rare interview, the Staten Island virtuoso discusses White Lion's rise and fall, and talks about the influences that made him stand out in a crowded field of hot-shot players

‘Museum’: Former White Lion Vocalist Mike Tramp Talks New Music, Guitars and Touring

By James Wood published

Interview: The 'Pride' of Mike Tramp

By James Wood published