OUR AMBASSADOR
MATTEO DI GIOIA
Matteo Di Gioia is the guitarist of Destrage, an Italian band that boasts Japanese, European, and American tours. Their sound is an explosion of energy and eccentricity, perfectly in line with their visual style, primarily overseen by our very own Matteo. Besides being a highly talented guitarist, he is an Art Director, a director (mainly creating advertising spots), and a party animal.
We are truly delighted to collaborate with such an eccentric and multifaceted individual!
We are proud to introduce Camilla to you, voice and guitar of ROS and the right-hand of the new Italian pop-star Rosa Chemical.: we’re proud to have her as our new endorser.
Thanks to her, our straps will grace the biggest Italian stages!
CAMILLA
JOSH SMITH
Blues rock guitar virtuoso, singer-songwriter and producer, Josh Smith is hailed the world over as a master guitarist with raw talent and power to spare. Blending his signature mix of blues, rock and jazz into dynamic original songs, Smith is known for his incendiary live performances, whether at the Grammy Awards or the Kennedy Center Honors with Mick Jagger, Raphael Saadiq and others.
Along with touring the world, recording and performing with renowned artists such as Joe Bonamassa, Eric Johnson, Andy Timmons, Kirk Fletcher and others, Smith is also a producer and owns Flat V Studios in Los Angeles. He has produced artists Reese Wynans (Joe Bonamassa), Eric Gales, Joanna Conner, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Jimmy Hall, Artur Menezes (winner of the Eric Clapton 2019 Crossroads Festival) Seth Rosenbloom, Jamey Arent and many more.
Tyrone grew up in the fast rising music scene in Austin Tx and was heavily influenced by many blues musicians. Muddy Waters gave him a harmonica at an early age and his Uncle Stevie Ray Vaughan would give him his first 2 guitars.
Since the early years, he has performed with Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Doyle Bramhall, Doyle Bramhall II, (Little) Jimmy King, SRV’s Double Trouble, Pinetop Perkins, John Popper (Blues Traveler), Robert Randolph Band, David Grissom, and Eric Gales. In February of 2015, Tyrone appeared on the cover of ‘Rockstar’ magazine.
“2001 GRAMMY® Award writer “Best Blues Album”. – Tyrone Vaughan
Tyrone Vaughan was inducted into the Texas Blues Hall of Fame on February 24th, 2019.
Tommy Katona (Tamas Katona), born August 15th 1984, was raised in Pecs, Hungary. At the early age of four, the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan became one of his biggest musical influences.
Tommy’s father, Tamas Katona Sr., is also a great blues guitarist. At the age of nine Tommy started playing with his dad’s band and was regarded as a child prodigy. His inspirations were T-Bone Walker, Albert Collins, BB King, Buddy Guy, Albert King, Freddie King, Jimi Hendrix and at last but not least his father Tamas Sr.
On his early life opened for Mick Taylor of the Rolling Stones, played with Memphis blues legend Eb Davis, shared stage with Muddy Water’s son, Big Bill Morganfield and the great Chicago harmonica player Sugar Blue.
Tommy recorded and released his first original album “Let Your Fingers Bleed” and began touring in the spring of 2007. Tommy and his Hungarian band “Full Blast” were fortunate enough to play at the Puisto Blues Festival in Finland. They had the prodigious opportunity to open for the great Johnny Winter. They also played in Italy and opened for Cyril Neville of the Neville Brothers.
While in Texas, Tommy played with many musicians and had different musical projects. As well as constant performances, Tommy also teaches guitar during the day.
In 2009, he records unreleased material with local bands, and then goes on tour to promote them.
In 2010, he founded Pink’s One, of which he is guitarist, singer and spokesperson.
With them, he treads the stages of theaters, squares and arenas, playing for more than 300 dates throughout Sicily, recording several Sold Outs.
In the summer seasons 2014, 2018 and 2019, he goes on tour with the band using the precious collaboration of Machan Taylor, backing vocalist of Pink Floyd during the world tour of A Momentary Lapse Of Reason (1987-1988).
Still with Pink’s One, he also records 4 live DVDs, including a significant live performance of the Echoes suite in the iconic setting of the Greek Theater of Syracuse.
ALE DI MAURO
NINO HELFRICH
Nino Helfrich is a guitarist from Hamburg Germany. Aside from his numerous solo releases, he plays guitar for German Speed Metal legend IRON ANGEL, Symphonic Metal band Neopera and Heavy Metal band INNER AXIS.
His original music is a blend of 7-string rhythm parts, melodic choruses as well as technical solos. He released three solo albums on which he collaborated with well known artists such as Angel Vivaldi, Björn Strid (Soilwork), Chris Clancy (Mutiny Within) and Christoph Wieczorek (Annisokay).
As guitarist of Speed Metal legend IRON ANGEL, he played on the band’s fourth Studio Album ‘Emerald Eyes’, which was released in 2020 through Mighty Music/Target.
Helfrich has also been a long term private student of Martin Miller, who is regarded as one of the best guitarists worldwide in his genre.
Nino Helfrich proudly endorses Ibanez Guitars and ENGL Amps.
Jazz & Blues, Skiffle, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Guitarist, Banjoist and Vocalist.
From cruises, theatre and cabaret, to performances for the Royal Variety, Warren James has had a varied career of 30 years, so far, has shared billing and performed alongside prestigious stars such as Brian May, Joe Brown and Lonnie Donegan, to name a few.
Having performed in Germany, America and Canada, Warren specialises in delivering nostalgic, fun performances that include the magnificent songs of his hit parade heroes, including: Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Eddie Cochran, Joe Brown and Lonnie Donegan.
In addition to his solo career, Warren tours with a number of first class and highly respected traditional jazz and blues shows that perform the music of the 1920s and 1930s.
In 2019 he created his own packaged theatre show and then in 2022 “Walk on Back to Happiness” was staged to great success around UK theatres.
A loyal user of Le Rockskin guitar straps, Warren James has his own unique, slim leather strap with miniature rivets in an out of phase pattern. The same theme, designed for him by Scottish guitar enthusiast, Ross McNab is used across all of his guitars – including his Tanglewood TW40 OanE for which he is an official Tanglewood Brand Ambassador.
“I am delighted to be a member of the Le Rockskin family, their custom designed straps are nothing short of incredible and their eye to details is nothing short of impeccable… To see a design in your mind and then to find it drawn out in beautiful artwork and in no time at all, hand made and delivered from Italy in just 24 hours – it was magnificent!”.
WARREN ‘LONNIE’ JAMES