Meet Chris Stapleton's Guitarist - Mike Eli LoPinto - Ask Zac 155

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Mike Eli LoPinto along with Derek Mixon, J.T. Cure, and Paul Franklin make up the stellar backing band for superstar Chris Stapleton. LoPinto stopped by for a hang, and he was kind enough to oblige me with a bit of playing and Q&A.
#askzac #mikelopinto #chrisstapleton

[@michaelmarshall9023]

This guy in addition to being the best musician I've ever known... Happens to also be one of the greatest individuals I've ever met. Told him once I hope my children grow to be individuals like him. A man to respect, admire, and emulate, and while it's been a while, I'm sure it holds true to this day. Hope you're doing well Mike, and the old crew remember you fondly and miss you greatly!

[@seanmurphy26]

Saw him with Stapleton a couple months ago, was playing an SG Jr for good portion of the show.. I had to get one..

[@PatrickWitherow]

Speaking of Jacksonville, I just saw him play with Stapleton in Jax a few weeks ago. Awesome sound.

[@LOVERGEIST777]

Mike! Such a badass! I’ve had a beer or two with him at the Red Door. I had no idea he was playing with Stapleton. Good on ya! Subscribed.

[@Mistertbones]

Mike played on the recent album by Lilly Hiatt (John's daughter). Heck of a player.

[@NickRatnieks]

You can't argue with his choice of influences!

[@THEItchybruddah]

First: I can’t tell you how many miles I traveled with a stereo rig consisting of a Peavey Classic 50 and a 62 piggy back Tremolux. It was incredibly versatile and garnered compliments wherever we trucked. I miss it. My back doesn’t but I sure do. Mike sounds great and has obviously done his his homework! Giant props to that young man. He’s definitely got the “Frey in 75” vibe goin! As always, thanks for the insight, sharp, eyes and ears to bring us folks like this fella! You keep many of us sane-er Zack.

[@cherrypickerguitars]

That was sooo good! Such a Stapleton fan, and I love to know who has his back! Re - Lanois, he’s a giant! I’ve meet Daniel many times (I’ve been in the Canadian music biz for 40 yrs) and I’ve actually worked with his brother Bob, co founder of “the shack”, when he was recording and touring with Tom Wilson (Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Junkhouse) Bob Lanois’s musical aesthetic has stuck with me since the early 2000’s, when I was first “exposed” to him. Great choice, Zac! Peace

[@phillipasby9202]

First things first ... Roll Neers! That was super fun and I'd love to hear some more from him! Very cool dude and what a great attitude and outlook!

[@jipes]

Great interview ZAc !

[@j_drichmond]

A drummer friend asked me to get an amp for his music room. I stumbled into a Peavey VTX Classic (solid state preamp with two 6L6 tube power amp)… the phaser alone is worth the price, lovely, musical. I parted reluctantly with but the I think the ‘66 Valco Super Bass will tie me over until I find another.

[@user-xt7yz7qm9c]

Good video. I'm from Pike County, Kentucky. My neighbor was Ryan Price. I had been in a few different bands as a young man and I was approached by my cousin Matthew Hackney whom we call Matt Matt about joining a band with him playing guitar, my cousin Matthew Damron playing drums and Ryan's cousin J.T. Cure playing bass. J.T.'s sister Jill had been married to my cousin Gerald so I knew J.T. and his brother Bo fairly well. I saw their mom a few years ago and sat and asked about J.T. The last time I saw J.T. was when he and another young guy came into John Paul Moore's drum room while we were all hanging around and the guy he had with him had no beard that I remember and didn't really say much. He never offered to sing either. Not sure to this day but I think it might have been Chris though I could be wrong. This was long before they became famous. J.T. is great and Chris is phenomenal. They deserve all their success and I'll have to watch out for more of Mike here. Seems like a good guy and talented guitarist. God Bless and thanks for reading.

[@user-xt7yz7qm9c]

It's funny he mentions Clarence White not because he wasn't a great and influential guitarist but because my cousin Susie as I stated in another of your videos on the second B-Bender was Clarence's wife.

[@crazywisdom2]

Love what you do. Thanks Zak. Great interview ... as always. Saw Chris Stapleton last year. Monster show.

[@AskZac]

Thanks for watching!

[@Jamestele1]

Great video sir. You bring these great interviews to us, and most of these cats are so humble that it's great. Also, you have a way of establishing rapport with musicians, as a fellow musician who could have and ego, but you do not. Makes your interviews perfect. People tend to open up to genuine people like yourself.

[@AskZac]

I appreciate that!

[@electromotorman]

I sold Mike an old amp a few months ago. Nice guy .

[@warrenelyk7927]

I just sold him a Guitar, great guy, Awesome Winnipeg show !!

[@gda08]

Been loving the channel, Zac. Great stuff! Just bought an amp schematic shirt as a thanks for all the information and entertainment.

[@AskZac]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@lilleaton]

I can't believe I wasn't subscribed yet! :) Thanks for the great interview!

[@AskZac]

Welcome aboard!

[@TheFeelButton]

A nice Nashville bed bug welcome! Cheers Zac and Mike!!

[@JasonHobbsGuitarist]

At first I thought that was Jack Pearson in the thumbnail. Great interview with Mike! ✌️

[@John-cw4no]

Zac, Big fan, Love your channel, look forward to your coodercaster video ;) ..am hoping to make one out of a classic vibe. Trust your opinion above all others

[@katienieber5144]

You rock Mike!! From your favorite step sister in law!! 🤪🤪🤪

[@theotheranswer]

Great book recommendation! I unfortunately lent that to an acquaintance and haven't seen it since -hope it found a good home :) Great to hear Chris and Stevie Wonder perform at the grammy's though they could have definitely could have used Mike's playing during the guitar/harpejji solo... Did you hear Heavy Sun by Lanois Zac? A favourite record for me these last couple years...

[@luckyno888]

Mic setup sounds great.

[@BOBBRADLEYCHANNEL]

Awesome.

[@AskZac]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@RB-bp5ud]

Good video Zac.

[@AskZac]

Thanks!

[@iannicholls7476]

Nice one Zac!

[@AskZac]

Thanks!

[@tidepoolbay]

Nice Work! WooF!

[@AskZac]

Thanks!

[@brandonh5363]

The Eagles called from 1976, they’d like Glenn Frey back lol. Great interview!

[@AskZac]

Oh my!!!! Hilarious!!

[@christianboddum8783]

Passive soundhole pickups can work through a normal pedalboard, and double as a faux electric, and work through a normal guitar amp, if nothing else is available 😉

[@gregjohnson6329]

Sick Ed Bickert inspired tele!

[@timothythompson6549]

Do we have your peavey episode to thank for this meeting? If so I think Zac needs to pick up more solid state amps.

[@jltrem]

At first I was thinking "Aren't there LoPinto guitars?", but it's DiPinto.

[@internetmoney221]

Mick Lopinto makes Ithacaster guitars

[@jeffsquires6620]

Mike's comment not a sticker guy is funny. Also not a sticker guy but had to do one as well.

[@reverbdeluxe]

What's on Stapleton's Pedalboard?

[@bluemoth5990]

When he talks about his influences he mentions James Burton playing a Tiger Man solo at the end of the Hawaii show... Anyone knows what he's talking about exactly? Tiger Man wasn't played at that show...

[@carstenmoss5025]

Probably this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/nminqIhrntikjac

[@smelltheglove2038]

I wonder what happened to his buddy he moved to Nashville with?

[@KreeCuthbert]

The guy plays upright bass, but I don’t think he plays out anymore. He has a small pomade business.

[@ryangunwitch-black]

Coming down to Jacksonville and buying up all our tele geetars? 😂😅😡

[@ducky63]

That was bizarre. It was as if an AI version of Zak was asking the questions.

[@onenotesolo256]

It’s either ChatGPT or an FBI interrogation. I felt sorry for the guy 😂 . Lovely chap though, and interesting to hear his story.

[@AskZac]

I was actually there. I think I used an audio plug in to clear things up, and it made me sound a bit less human.

[@ducky63]

@@AskZac still wonderful Zak. 👍