We had the chance to speak with Jared James Nichols at a very special moment — right in the middle of his recent U.S. tour opening for Michael Schenker this past September. With barely a day off between shows, the American guitarist and singer joined us from New York City, bringing the same high-voltage energy he delivers on stage.
In this conversation, we look back on his experience supporting legends like Joe Perry, his close friendship with musicians like Frank Hannon (Tesla), and his deep connection with the Spanish audience — a country where he’ll be touring this coming November, performing brand-new material from his upcoming album, released via Frontiers Music.
Blues, rock, and raw authenticity. That’s Jared James Nichols — and this is his story in our exclusive interview.
David Aresté
M.S: Hi Jared, it’s a pleasure to have you back with us… you’re currently on tour with Michael Schenker — how’s the tour going?
Jared: Yes, it’s amazing. Thank you for having me. I’m having so much fun right now. I’m in New York City — we have the day off today — but so far, I’ve done 10 shows with Michael and I have 13 more to go.
M.S: Earlier this year, you did a couple of shows opening for the Joe Perry Project as well — how did that opportunity come about, and what were those concerts like?
Jared: Oh my gosh, those shows were incredible — real rockstar moments. I’ve actually been friends with Joe Perry and his family for many years, so when we were asked to open those shows, I was thrilled. It was an amazing experience. Just like with the Michael Schenker crowd, there were a lot of people at those concerts who had no idea who I was. So they were like, “Who is this guy?” And to win over that audience was a great feeling.
I love Joe, and I love everyone in his band. It was a truly star-studded lineup — Brad Whitford from Aerosmith, Chris Robinson from The Black Crowes, Robert DeLeo on bass. It was really awesome to be in that company.
And you know what? Joe Perry told me I was his favorite guitar player of the last 20 years — that was such an honor.
M.S: Continuing your great year in the U.S., we caught your shows at the Monsters of Rock Cruise and saw many fellow musicians blown away by your blues power — did you notice that? I believe you had already played Monsters before, right?
Jared: Yeah, definitely. It’s amazing to feel that kind of energy, especially from people who are seeing you for the first time. As musicians, we work so hard to spread our music, but there are always new people discovering it — that’s really exciting.
And yeah, that show was special. Danny Vaughn from Tyketto, Frank Hannon, Joel Hoekstra — all of them were there watching. It was also where I met Michael Schenker, actually. So imagine: Schenker, Tracii Guns, George Lynch, Joel Hoekstra, Reb Beach — all these incredible guitar players watching me perform. I wasn’t nervous, but I definitely had a “holy smokes” moment — like, wow, this is crazy!
M.S: We noticed your friendship with Frank Hannon from Tesla — now that he’s also releasing a solo album, we were wondering if there’s a chance you two might tour together… have you talked about it?
Jared: I would absolutely love to. I love Frank so much — I actually call him “Dad.” He’s like a father figure to me. On his new album, he even dedicated a song to my newborn son, which I thought was incredibly beautiful.
Anytime I get to jam with Frank, record with him, or just hang out, it’s always special. And yes, I’m sure we’ll be doing a lot more together in the future. Hopefully in Spain, too!
Yeah, I’ll tell my agent — book Frank and me, let’s do a big tour together!
M.S: You’re coming back to Spain in November. You’ve got a really loyal fanbase here — what does it mean to you to play in our country, and how would you describe your connection with the Spanish audience?
Jared: I love Spain — and I don’t just say that. If I didn’t live in the U.S., I’d move to Spain. I love the culture, the food, the people, the rock and roll. The energy in Spain is powerful.
The first time I came, it felt refreshing and exciting. What I love most is the passion — Spanish people are very passionate, and I’m a passionate performer, so it’s the perfect match.
There’s this beautiful energy exchange — I feed off the crowd, and the crowd feeds off me. Spain is the only place in the world where I plan a 90-minute set and end up playing for three hours. Every time.
M.S: Is it more beautiful than Nashville? Or just different?
Jared: It’s different. Nashville is full of musicians — it’s a hub where people live, work, and play music every day. But Spain… there’s a different vibe. Of course, there are musicians, but there are so many real music lovers too. People come to the shows because they love music. That’s really special.
There are definitely parallels, though — the love of music is just as strong in Spain as it is in Nashville.
M.S: You’ll be joined by Afrodiziac as the opening act — what can you tell us about them?
Jared: He’s awesome. I met Afrodiziac in Nashville. He’s a blues-rock guitar player and singer with great music and energy. When I saw him perform for the first time, I knew we should tour together.
What’s cool is that we’re different, but our styles blend well — so it brings a great variation to the show. I think audiences are going to love it.
M.S: Will your new album be out by then, or not yet? Will you be previewing any new songs during the tour?
Jared: The full album won’t be out yet, but I will have two brand new singles released by the time I get to Spain.
M.S: The album is coming out through Frontiers Music — a label known for its strong presence in melodic and hard rock. What drew you to sign with them, and what do you think they bring to this new phase of your career?
Jared: I’ve got a lot of friends who’ve worked with Frontiers, and some big names like Dave Mustaine and Lynyrd Skynyrd have recently signed with them, which is really exciting.
I wanted a partner that could help make my music more accessible worldwide — and when I met with the Frontiers team, I loved their energy and enthusiasm. It just felt like the perfect match for where I want to take my music.
Now, wherever I go — in Spain, across Europe, or anywhere — I’ve got a strong team behind me, and that’s huge.
M.S: Looking at your discography, it’s already been 10 years since your first album — how do you see your evolution as an artist over the years?
Jared: It’s crazy to think about. My first album was literally the first time I’d ever been in a recording studio. So it really feels like growing up — each album has been a step forward.
Over time, my music evolved. I experimented with different sounds and styles. My last record was essentially recorded live in the studio, which was a super cool experience.
And now, with this new album, I feel like it brings together everything I’ve done so far. The biggest thing I focused on this time was the sound and the listener’s experience . There are more songs to sing along to, more moments where the audience becomes part of the show — and that’s what I’m most excited about.
M.S: Over the past decade, you’ve played with legends, toured the world, and really solidified your style. Looking back, what would you say has been the most important moment or achievement in your career so far?
Jared: Oh man, that’s such a tough question. I’ve been so lucky — there have been so many amazing moments.
Of course, being on stage is always incredible, but honestly, some of my favorite memories are the more personal ones — like hanging at a bar with Billy Gibbons or having dinner with Zakk Wylde.
Simple moments with people I admire — those are the things I cherish the most. And what’s even cooler is that many of my heroes have become close friends. That’s probably the greatest achievement of all.
M.S: To wrap things up, here’s a classic question we ask every guitarist we interview… how many guitars do you own?
Jared: Oh no! [laughs] I’d say around 25. It’s a lot, but not that many compared to some players.
My wife… well, let’s just say, every time I bring another one home, she gives me that look — “Really? Another one?”
M.S: Jared, it’s been a real pleasure speaking with you again. Would you like to send a message to all your fans in Spain and to the readers of our magazine?
Jared: Yes, absolutely. To all the people of Spain — get ready! I’m so excited to come back and perform for you. It’s going to be high energy, it’s going to be special, and Spain will be the first place in Europe where I play songs from the new album.
So thank you for your support, and I can’t wait to see you all very, very soon!
David Aresté