By: Vinaya Saksena | Published: Thursday, January 15, 2026
MEMBERS George Lynch - Guitar Andrew Freeman - Vocals Jaron Gulino - Bass Brian Tichy - Drums
To fans of heavy guitar music, the name George Lynch needs no introduction. As the lead guitarist in Dokken and then his own band Lynch Mob, he has had an influence on other players that transcends genres and generations. In the more recent years of his career, Lynch has increasingly pushed the stylistic boundaries of his playing via numerous other bands and side projects, including KXM, Project Nfidelikah and The End Machine. It is with Lynch Mob, however, that he has had the longest (almost) unbroken streak of musical output.
The band's existence, however, has seemed close to ending for good on more than one occasion in the last few years, beginning with Lynch announcing a decision to retire the name due to the ugly racial connotations of the term "lynch mob" in American history, in the wake of protests sparked by the death of George Floyd. After a rebranding attempt with the name George Lynch And The Electric Freedom, however, Lynch decided to resume recording and touring under the name Lynch Mob, until after the release of the band's 'Babylon' album. At that point, the band embarked on a tour billed The Final Ride, which Lynch said would be the last under that name.
Later, however, Lynch revealed that the band had begun recording one more album, which was released in late 2025 as what was billed as the band's final studio album, 'Dancing With The Devil'. By this time, the lineup that had recorded both that album and 'Babylon'--featuring bassist Jaron Gulino, vocalist Gabrial Colon and drummer Jimmy D'Anda--had indeed been retired, with vocalist Andrew Freeman and drummer Brian Tichy joining Lynch and Gulino in what was initially billed as George Lynch And The Mob. Not long after this, however, Lynch revealed that he had changed his mind about the use of the name Lynch Mob, with the new lineup now operating under that name, and 'Dancing With The Devil' status the band's final album apparently being reconsidered by Lynch.
But while the recent history of Lynch's primary band has been somewhat convoluted, his track record of churning out masterful guitar work has proven much more consistent over the same timeframe. 'Dancing With The Devil' is a solid and well-produced album, and Lynch still actively maintains other endeavors, including various side projects, guitar clinics, and development of guitar-related products--the latter of course including his decades-long endorsement relationship with ESP Guitars.
Maximum Metal's Vinaya Saksena caught up with Lynch for what turned out to be a good-humored, freewheeling discussion of several topics, including Lynch Mob, his signature Arcane Mr. Scary guitar pickups, a couple of underappreciated projects of his, and a rather surprising revelation about the recording of a vintage Dokken record. Drummer Brian Tichy also made an appearance for a bit of friendly chat and to share some news regarding an amusing new Lynch-inspired spinoff idea of his.
Live footage recorded at Recorded at Angel City Music Hall, in Manchester, New Hampshire, 2025.
