“Dickey came to one of the shows. He whispers, ‘Hey, is that the guitar I loaned you?’ I said, ‘Yes, sir.’ He goes, ‘Good. Use it for as long as you want’”: Frank Hannon on how guitar instrumentals helped him grieve father-in-law Dickey Betts

Frank Hannon.

Frank Hannon is known for his ’80s rock stylings with Tesla, but he’s not leaning into those sounds on Reflections, his new instrumental album, which has more of a Western tinge to it. “I started taking my guitar playing to another level of simplicity – slowing down and trying to express myself,” he explains.

He was influenced by a series of personal losses, including that of his father-in-law, Dickey Betts. “I was feeling that,” he says. “and also, a few friends had passed away, along with the pain my wife and I were going through.”