Jan Kruska from Americanchronicle.com spoke to TESLA guitarist Frank Hannon recently about a number of topics including their newest band member, guitarist Dave Rude. An excerpt follows:

Kruska: Your newest band member, guitarist Dave Rude is filling in some pretty big shoes and he’s handling it quite well. How did the band hook up with Dave?

Hannon: "Tesla was pretty much at a stand still because of the problems we were having with our other guitar player (Tommy Skeoch.) I also have my own band, the FRANK HANNON BAND and was auditioning guitar players for that with the intention of hopefully finding a guy for Tesla at the same time. I was desperately searching, and I started looking on MySpace.com, Dave was actually on my MySpace page as a friend. He had a metal band out of San Francisco. I started looking at his page and checking out his music. I really dug his style. I immediately felt that he was perfect, so I e-mailed him and asked him if he wanted to do the Frank Hannon Band tour. He said he was definitely interested and so he came out on the road with me for three weeks. I was so excited and relieved because I knew, I knew he was perfect for Tesla."

To read the entire interview head to this location.

Four songs from Tesla's new album, Real To Reel, are available for listening at this location. The band's sixth studio opus sees them paying homage to their hard rock heroes and was released on June 5th on their own independent label, Tesla Electric Company Recordings (in partnership with Ryko Distribution).

The streaming tracks include: 'Thank You' (LED ZEPPELIN), 'Hand Me Down World' (THE GUESS WHO), 'Ball Of Confusion' (TEMPTATIONS), 'Day Of The Eagle' (ROBIN TROWER).

The first single, 'Thank You', has been serviced to radio. A video for the track can be viewed here (scroll down the page).

Real To Reel - produced by Tesla and Tom Zutaut and recorded at the Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, TX - is a two-disc 25-song collection of classic rockers from the ‘60s and ‘70s, recorded through a vintage Neve console directly to Ampex 456 analog tape to capture the purity of these timeless and legendary songs.

The first 13 tracks became available on June 5th at retail outlets, while the second disc containing the remaining 12 songs will be available this summer along the band’s tour route with the purchase of a concert ticket. Details are forthcoming.

Here’s the complete track listing of Reel one (sold at retail):

'Space Truckin’' (DEEP PURPLE)

'Walk Away' (JAMES GANG)

'Hand Me Down World' (THE GUESS WHO)

'Bad Reputation' (THIN LIZZY)

'Thank You' (LED ZEPPELIN)

'I’ve Got A Feeling' (BEATLES)

'Day Of The Eagle' (ROBIN TROWER)

'Ball Of Confusion' (TEMPTATIONS)

'Rock Bottom' (UFO)

'Stealin’' (URIAH HEEP)

'Bell Bottom Blues' (DEREK & THE DOMINOS)

'Honky Tonk Women' (ROLLING STONES)

'Dear Mr. Fantasy' (TRAFFIC)

Here’s the complete track listing of Reel two (available with concert ticket purchase only):

'All The Young Dudes' (MOTT THE HOOPLE)

'Make It Last' (MONTROSE)

'Shooting Star' (BAD COMPANY)

'Not Fragile' (BACHMAN TURNER OVERDRIVE)

'Street Fighting Man' (ROLLING STONES)

'Is It My Body' (ALICE COOPER)

'I Want To Take You Higher' (SLY & THE FAMILY STONE)

'Do You Feel Like We Do' (PETER FRAMPTON)

'Beer Drinkers And Hellraisers' (ZZ TOP)

'Seasons Of Wither' (AEROSMITH)

'Saturday Night Special' (LYNYRD SKYNYRD)

'War Pigs (BLACK SABBATH)

Tesla live dates:

June

17 - Albuquerque, NM - Kiba Auditorium
18 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
19 - Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa
21 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
22 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
23 - Norfolk, VA - The Norva
28 - London, UK - Shepherds Bush Empire
29 - Helmond, Netherlands - Plato
30 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Arrow Rock Festival

July

6 - Hartford, CT - Webster Theatre
7 - Allentown, PA - Crocodile Rock
11 - Walker, MN - Moondance Jam
13 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave/Eagles Club
18 - Clarkston, MI - DTE Energy Music Theatre
20 - Fond du Lac, WI - Fond du Lac County Fair
27 - Salt Lake City, UT - Great Saltair
28 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues