When you dial up George Lynch, you're never quite sure what kind of ride you're in for. The legendary guitarist—best known for his work with Dokken and Lynch Mob—is equal parts shredder, philosopher, and stand-up comic. I caught up with George over the phone for a conversation that ranged from 80s tours and the new The End Machine album to the state of democracy and ordering brides from Estonia. Buckle up.
The Name Game: From George to Spartacus
We started with introductions. Or rather, misintroductions. I told George my name was KUBU—technically the name of the station—and eventually revealed my real name, Zoran Theodorovic.
“Jesus, that’s cool,” George said. “I got stuck with George.”
But apparently, not for long.
“I had it legally changed to Spartacus.”
Yes, you read that right. The man now owns a full Spartacus outfit, complete with codpiece and shield.
Talking About... George
“I love interviews,” George said early on. “As long as we’re talking about me.”
That set the tone for a tongue-in-cheek discussion on ego, attention, and what happens when conversations drift away from his favorite subject: himself.
“I fall asleep,” he joked. “Then I wake up and ask, ‘Enough about me—what did you think of my last album?’”
The Mail-Order Bride Bit (Yes, Really)
George explained that his wife sometimes monologues on the phone while he goes off to write a song.
“She hasn’t learned the art of conversation yet,” he quipped. “She’s from Estonia—mail order bride. Ordered her out of a catalog.”
To be clear, he was being dryly sarcastic, as is his style.
Reflections on Eastern Europe
George reminisced about a trip to Romania in the 90s with his young daughter. Despite warnings about trains and lawlessness, they had a “fascinating time,” traveling over the Transylvanian mountains and soaking up history. He admired how Romania stood against invading forces in centuries past, musing how history might’ve changed had they not.
On Politics, Empathy, and Brain Wiring
When I asked him about the upcoming U.S. election, George didn’t hold back.
“Dread is the word,” he said. “It’s a scary moment for democracy.”
He spoke about the rise of authoritarianism and his belief that humanity is split roughly in two—between those driven by empathy and those by fear and self-interest.
“Greedy and fearful versus hopeful and empathetic,” he said. “Over the long arc of history, hopefulness wins—but we don’t have the luxury of time anymore.”
The End Machine: Not Just Another Rock Record
We eventually got around to his new project, The End Machine. The title, George admitted, wasn’t meant to be ironic—but it kind of works that way. The music is a response to everything going on in the world.
“I wish I could use music to advocate more clearly for the things I care about,” he said. “But I’m not a lyricist, and I’m not a singer.”
That’s where vocalist Girish Pradhan comes in. According to George, Girish managed to bring heartfelt depth to the lyrics, without sounding preachy.
“We tried to make a meaningful record that also rocks.”
Critics, Fans, and the “Shut Up and Play” Crowd
George does read reviews—sometimes—and welcomes honest critique.
“But when fans say, ‘Shut up and play guitar,’ I just think... would you say that to Hendrix? To Dylan?”
From 80s Glory to the Final Ride
Looking back on his 80s touring days with Dokken, George remembered the early years as the best.
“Before the success, before the rewards. When the hunger was real.”
As success grew, internal band issues took a toll.
“It was very depressing. We were on the cusp of something, and then it fell apart.”
On Kiss, Kings X, and Poison
Was George a Kiss fan?
“In a way,” he said. “I loved the imagery, the whole design of the band. But the music? Not really.”
He shared surprise that Kings X never became a huge band—“They should be massive”—and still doesn’t quite understand how Poison got as big as they did.
“Which maybe means I don’t understand the world,” he laughed.
The Future: Lynch Mob Rides One Last Time
Lynch Mob is currently on its “Final Ride” tour, wrapping up in spring 2025. George and Jeff Pilson (Foreigner) plan to focus on The End Machine after that.
“No touring plans until then,” George said. “But that’ll be the main focus going forward.”
Final Thoughts
As we wrapped up, George left me with one more insight, borrowed from Doug Pinnick of King's X:
“‘I’m too old to give a f***,’ he told me. And that’s freeing. We know we’re trying to do the right thing, so why not speak our minds?”
In the end, it’s not just about riffs and solos for George Lynch. It’s about using the platform—however imperfectly—to say something that matters.
Postscript: Zorro & Spartacus Ride Again
Also, let it be known: George once let me touch his biceps while I was dressed as Zorro. He usually charges extra for that.
Stay heavy. Support the underground. Long live metal.
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