Frank Hannon releases new album

For decades, Frank Hannon has been recognised as one of rock’s great guitar voices and as the co-founder and lead guitarist of Tesla, his playing helped shape the sound of an era through soaring solos, melodic instincts and acoustic passages that speak to his extraordinary versatility. Tracks like “Modern Day Cowboy” and “Little Suzi” showcased his electric firepower, but it was the Bach-inspired acoustic intro to “Love Song” that confirmed his status as a player with both virtuoso flair and soulful impact. By the time Tesla released their album Five Man Acoustical Jam in 1990, Frank had already demonstrated that his artistic output stretched far beyond arena rock, helping to usher in the unplugged era with a record that highlighted his sensitivity and feel.

Outside the band, he’s enjoyed a decorated solo career that’s seen him explore new textures and collaborations. His discography includes several solo albums, among them the LA Music Awards-nominated Six String Soldiers, while his collaborations feature names such as Rick Derringer, Dave Meniketti, Pat Travers and Dickey Betts. In 2020, Gibson honoured him with a signature model, the Frank Hannon “Love Dove” acoustic, recognising his contribution as a guitarist who’s blended talent with emotion for over four decades.

Now, Hannon unveils what may be his most personal work to date, his brand new record titled Reflections is an all-guitar instrumental album built entirely on first-take performances recorded with nothing more than an Audigo wireless mic and his cell phone. Thirteen tracks of cinematic, Western-tinged instrumentals emerge as a diary of grief, determination and rediscovery. With no other instruments, the spotlight falls fully on his guitar, allowing his intricate fingerpicking, bottleneck slide and melodic phrasing to speak with an honesty that words could not capture.

The album was born in the aftermath of upheaval; for three years, Frank and his wife stayed by the side of his father-in-law, Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers Band, during his final battle with cancer. Following Dickey’s passing, the couple endured hurricanes, a cross-country journey with their horses and the heartbreak of losing one along the way. When they finally returned home to California, Frank retreated to his attic, picked up a cherished guitar and began to play with a mantra in mind: “play guitar like you’ll never be able to play again.” Reflections is the result of those sessions, presenting an intimate work charged with emotion.

Its lead single, “One More Time,” pays tribute to Dickey, whose melodic slide guitar left a lasting mark on Frank’s own playing. The track shuffles with bluesy optimism, accompanied by a video offering a window into his home life, complete with horses and the rare Gibson SG once owned by Dickey himself. Frank calls it “a tip of the hat to melodic slide guitar—the kind Dickey played so beautifully on songs like Pony Boy and Crazy Love. I feel blessed to have spent the past 24 years learning from him and hearing his stories. I really miss him.”

The record is also tinged by the Western Americana of Frank’s upbringing in rural Sacramento, where Johnny Cash and John Denver provided the soundtrack to a childhood surrounded by horses, goats and chickens. That spirit surfaces throughout the album and even in its quiet tributes, such as a nod to cowboy legend Bill Riddle, who once enlisted Frank to score music for his instructional DVD True Grit.

With Reflections, Frank Hannon delivers a record that strips back the amplifiers and production to reveal the very bones of his artistic vision: a guitarist pouring heart and soul into every note. He calls it “a defining moment” that came together naturally and reminded him of his deepest love, the guitar itself. This September, he’ll take the record on the road with a run of solo shows, including a date at Daryl’s House in New York and an appearance at Duane Betts’ Horseshoe Festival in Wyoming, carrying with him an album that feels less like a profoundly personal offering.

Listen to Reflections below