Classic Rock Revisited founder jeb Wright recently caught up with new TESLA guitarist Dave Rude. The following is a brief excerpt from the interview:

Jeb: How did you get this gig?

Dave: "I have my own band and we have a MySpace page. It has been up a couple of years. Frank (Hannon) actually found me on my MySpace page. Frank and I have a mutual friend. Frank was looking for a guitar player. He went under the guise that he was looking for his solo band but he was really looking for someone for Tesla. He went to someone else’s site that he knew and I was on his top friends. He clicked on me and checked it out and sent me a message. We met at a club and went over some cover tunes and got along really well and a week later I was on tour with his solo band and training to be on tour with Tesla. People ask me if it was a stressful audition. I tell them it was just like hanging out with friends. I am sure you have talked to all of them before and you know that. It is so cool to hang out with them. They have no ego. It was just like joining a local band."

Jeb: How long did it take you to fit in musically?

Dave: "It was really easy. I am younger but we have the same background. I was always the odd one out in my generation because I didn’t like the new stuff. I listen to the classic radio station all the time. I had been a Tesla fan since I was a little kid so I knew their music. In the FRANK HANNON BAND we played a lot of Tesla songs and we practiced on the bus a lot to get me ready."

Jeb: Tommy (Skeoch) was a huge member of that band, both as a musician and as a visual part of the live show. Were you nervous about replacing him?

Dave: "Tommy was a big part of the band and I was a huge Tommy fan and I still am. I was not that nervous because I felt so at home. I was a little worried that the fans would not take it well because he was such a big figure in the band but they have been great. The Frank Hannon tour helped because I met a lot of the fans at the shows. They were in small clubs and we would hang out. Everyone embraced me really well and when it transferred into Tesla then everyone already knew me. I was expecting 'Where’s Tommy' signs but everyone was really cool. Tesla fans love their guys and they love the music. I think they are happy that the band is still going."

Go to this location to read the complete interview.