Frank Hannon

Frank Hannon was born on October 3, 1966, in Sacramento, California. Hannon started writing songs at a young age and learned to play the guitar, piano and later the B3 organ, bass guitar, and drums. == Career ==

Tesla In 1981, a fifteen-year-old Hannon co-founded the band Earthshaker which evolved into City Kidd with bassist Brian Wheat in Sacramento, which later became Tesla in 1984 after adding vocalist Jeff Keith, guitarist Tommy Skeoch, and drummer Troy Luccketta. The band adopted the name Tesla to avoid confusion with another band named City Kidd. Their debut album, Mechanical Resonance (1986), featured hit singles "Modern Day Cowboy" and a cover of "Little Suzi," establishing Tesla during the 1980s hair metal era, though the band resisted the glam metal label. Their second album, The Great Radio Controversy (1989), peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard 200 and included the top-ten single "Love Song," co-written by Hannon. Hannon's guitar work, characterized by a bluesy, song-oriented style influenced by artists like Thin Lizzy, Jimmy Page, and Dickey Betts, complemented Skeoch's playing, avoiding 1980s metal clichés like excessive shredding. Tesla's 1990 live album, Five Man Acoustical Jam, pioneered the acoustic "unplugged" trend, featuring acoustic versions of hits like "Love Song" and "Modern Day Cowboy." Hannon formed the Frank Hannon Band with various musicians. The band performed at events like the Wounded Warriors Project benefit in 2010–2011 and released the album Six String Soldiers (2012), collaborating with artists like Dickey Betts and Pat Travers. He hosts The FAR OUT! Podcast, launched in 2019, discussing music and his career. In 2020, Gibson created the Frank Hannon "Love Dove" signature acoustic guitar, inspired by the intro to Tesla's "Love Song." == Musical style and equipment ==

Hannon's guitar style blends blues, rock, and acoustic elements, drawing from influences like Peter Frampton, Michael Schenker, and Dickey Betts. Hannon uses modified Hiwatt Custom 100 amplifiers and effects like the ZVEX Octane3 fuzzbox, Boss Flanger, and VOX wah-wah. == Personal life ==

Hannon has been married to Christy Betts, daughter of Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts, for 23 years as of 2024, and they resided in Sarasota County, Florida for several years and have returned home to Northern California in 2025. His hobbies include working with horses, martial arts, and songwriting. he had a son Alex, also guitarist and who currently played for slam death metal band Boltcutter. In 2024, Hannon temporarily stepped away from Tesla to attend to family matters related to Dickey Betts' health, with Sammy Boller filling in. == Discography ==

With Tesla • Mechanical Resonance (1986) • The Great Radio Controversy (1989) • Five Man Acoustical Jam (1990) • Psychotic Supper (1991) • Bust a Nut (1994) • And others Solo albums • Guitarz from Marz (2005) • Gypsy Highway (2010) • Six String Soldiers (2012, with Frank Hannon Band) • World Peace (unknown release date) • From One Place to Another, Vol. 1 & 2 (unknown release dates) • Reflections (2025) == References ==