JOHN NOTTO PREVIEWS THE HIGH-FLYING L.A. RIFF-ROCKERS’ HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SOPHOMORE ALBUM

By Joe Bosso

Dirty Honey, caught in the act of recording their next album in Byron Bay, Australia; [from left] Jayson Bean, Justin Smolian, Marc LaBelle and John Notto

GLENN MOSSOP

WHEN DIRTY HONEY’S John Notto spoke with Guitar World back in 2021, ahead of the release of his band’s self-titled debut album, the guitarist exuded supreme confidence. “There was no doubt I was going to succeed as a guitarist, and I knew this band would go over,” he told us. “I know that sounds bold, but for me, failure just wasn’t an option.”

Reminded of his words today, Notto lets out a laugh. “Wow, it’s so funny to think I said that,” he says. “I’m normally not so arrogant. I think I was trying to sum up the band’s mentality at the time. We were dealing with a lot of skepticism, so we took a mantra of, ‘we’re going to get there however we can.’ We had to rally each other. But it’s nice to put your dreams out there and be held accountable for them.”

During the past two years, the L.A.based quartet (which also includes singer Marc LaBelle and bassist Justin Smolian, along with new recruit Jaydon Bean on drums) has found a sizable audience for their action-packed, good-time brand of hard rock that draws heavily from Seventies groups such as Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith and AC/DC. Notto, in particular, has garnered significant praise for his modern approach to classic guitar sounds.