Gretchen Menn Explained

Gretchen Menn
Birth Name:	Gretchen Menn
Genre:	Rock, progressive, instrumental
Instrument:	Electric and acoustic Guitar
Associated Acts:	Zepparella

Gretchen Menn is an American guitarist and composer who has her own original instrumental work and is also the lead guitarist for Zepparella, an all-female Led Zeppelin tribute band. She was included in Guitar Player Magazine '50 Sensational Female Guitarists'^[1] and Guitar Player Magazine '50 Years of Extraordinary Players.'^[2] In 2017 she was one of 11 female guitarists selected to contribute a track onto She Rocks, Vol. 1, a compilation released on Steve Vai’s label: 'Favored Nations'.^[3] In 2017 she was nominated by readers of Vintage Guitar Magazine as 'Artist of the Year', alongside Allan Holdsworth, Steve Vai, Dan Auerbach, Rik Emmett, and Andy Timmons.^[4] She has provided lessons for Acoustic Guitar Magazine, JamPlay - an online guitar lesson provider,^[5] and has been a 3-time counselor at Rock and Roll Fantasy Camps.^[6]

Biography and early playing

Menn started playing guitar as a teenager. She attended Smith College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in music while studying classical guitar with Phillip de Fremery.^[7]

Zepparella

See main article: Zepparella. Menn is an original member of Zepparella, a Led Zeppelin tribute band founded in 2004 which currently performs nationwide.^[8]

Solo career

Menn's first solo album Hale Souls was released in July 2011. Her second solo album, Abandon All Hope, was released in December 2016.^{[9] [10]}

Discography

Solo

• Abandon All Hope (2016)
• Hale Souls (2011)

Zepparella

• Live at Sweetwater (2016)
• Zepparella (2014)
• A Pleasing Pounding (2008)
• Live at 19 Broadway (2005)

Lapdance Armageddon

• Lapdance Armageddon (2010)

Francis Bakin

• Conversation with Francis Bakin (2009)

Sticks and Stones

• Unbreakable Strings (2007)

The House of More

• The House of More (2006)

External links

• • Zepparella Official Website
• Vintage Guitar interview with Gretchen Menn

Notes and References

1. Web site: 50 Sensational Female Guitarists.
2. Web site: 50 Years of Extraordinary Players.
3. Web site: 'She Rocks, Vol. 1: A Collection of Kick-Ass Guitar Goddesses' Triumphs. 2 February 2017 .
4. Web site: 2017 Readers' Choice Awards. Vintage Guitar. 11 December 2017.
5. Web site: Gretchen Menn: Electric Guitar Techniques for Creativity. JamPlay.com.
6. Web site: Jam With Joe Perry and Jason Bonham - Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp - Music Events Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp.
7. Web site: Gretchen Menn: The Complete 2010 Interview - Jas Obrecht Music Archive. jasobrecht.com.
8. Web site: Zepparella - Gretchen Menn Bio. www.zepparella.com.
9. Web site: Gretchen Menn Releases Concept Album Based on Dante's Inferno.
10. Web site: Zepparella's Gretchen Menn Discusses Her 'Inferno'-Inspired Album, 'Abandon All Hope'. 26 January 2017 .