The Shred Zone Interview

Interview for The Shred Zone by Nick Martinelli
1/13/01

I have been playing guitar for roughly 24 years and currently live in Aurora IL. U. S. A. I was born and raised in Chicago IL. and have lived in and around Chicago my whole life

I wanted to play piano initially but my mother couldn’t afford one, so one day I was in my mom’s closet and found an old guitar she had tried to play.  I pulled it out and began to strum it and heard “what the hell are you doing in there?” and knew it was the thing for me. Anything that could annoy my mom this much couldn’t be bad.

I was hyper as a child and played a lot of sports. I soon realized that I just sucked at sports and was more interested in guitar so I put all my energy into playing. I would play 6-8 hours a day when I was in school.

Elliot Easton from the Cars and Drew Abbot from the Bob Seger band. I heard those guys and thought they were the shit.

Strunz and Farah, Dream Theater, Priest, Maiden, Ratt, UFO, 3 Doors Down, Fuel, Sting, Yanni, Whitesnake, Vandenberg

Who are some of your guitar heroes?

Adrian Vandenberg, Al Dimeola, Satch, Vinnie Moore, Gary Moore, Tony MacAlpine, Paco DeLucia, Mike Stern, Peter Frampton, Michael Schenker.

I’ve read that you’re a huge Adrian Vandenberg fan.  Why do you like his playing style so much and how did it directly affect you as a guitar player?

He is really really melodic and super clean, and was one of the first Bach and Rollers. His first album was out prior to Malmsteens Rising Force and he wrote classically oriented songs, not heavy rock songs with neo-classical type solo’s ala Rhodes. His solo’s are so melodic it’s just sickening. He does ton’s of string skips and advanced techniques and has been doing so since 79 or so. He gets no respect at all for being one of the innovators of the genre. Look it up for yourself. I realized I wanted my playing to be really melodic because of him. He showed me it could be cool to be melodic and not just burn

I have always been interested in Latin music. My first CD Personalitites has a Latin Track called El Rio de Tiempo, which is a really cool piece. Strunz and Farah and the Guitar Trio ( Di Meola, De Lucia, Mclaughlin) really opened the door to what could be done with this type of music. After traveling to Spain and seeing real Flamenco music, I learned a lot about the techniques needed to play more authentic Spanish music. Lots of right hand staccato playing is necessary to get that Flamenco flair. Plus a lot of Phrygian mode.

What bands or projects have you been involved with in the past?

Seeing that you’re an independent artist, how did you get on the Ted Nugent and Bad Company tour?

What formal or informal training do you have?

What is your favorite part of your playing style?

I reviewed and loved your new album “Perspective” can you describe what listeners will get, if this were a sales pitch?

Well, you get the songs of Satch, the melody of Vandenberg, the jams of MacAlpine, and the energy of a rollercoaster! That about sums up my new CD.

Describe the styles you use and why you chose to write songs certain ways?

When I write a CD I always try to balance the songs. I always try to write a strong single to sell the CD. “Cincinnati” was the single from PERSONALITIES and “Avalanche” is the single from the new CD PERSPECTIVE. The single needs to be upbeat and extremely catchy.

I noticed that you are a very catchy and melody driven guitar player, using repeating licks in every song.  How did you become that way?  Were there any musical influences as far as guitar players or bands that you modeled your playing style afterwards?

George Lynch used to always play a theme line in a solo and then repeat the line and octave higher and I thought that was a great way to make a solo stick in your head. Check out “Breaking the Chains” and “Alone Again” and you will see what I mean.

What other works are you on?  (Albums or compilations, with release years if possible)

I contributed a solo on TracerX’s Tracing the Heavens CD from 2000. I played on the song Eye Spy up in the Sky. I also contributed 2 songs to Guitars at an Exhibition CD in 1999.

Favorite Scale or Mode? Mixolydian

Favorite key?  All

Favorite trick or lick, trick or both?  Lately, using Chromatic runs.

Suggested Theory books or readings:

“In the Beginning” by Ron Middlebrook
The Guitarists Picture Chord Encyclopedia by John Pearce.
Any of the Guitar Grimoire series and any Jamie Aebersol books and CD’s.

If you could choose any Heavy Metal band to be in what band would you join?

Ozzy Osborne, Dokken, Extreme. I wouldn’t mind playing in Stings band or the Chili Peppers, or Fuel or 3 Doors Down for that matter

You have a really fret board breaking style, how did you get to the level that your currently at?

I spent many a day in my bedroom practicing like crazy. Since I never took any formal lessons if I got stuck on something I would go down to Guitar Center and find the guy just rippin out and tell him How awesome I thought his playing was. Then hit him up for licks and tricks that I couldn’t figure out on my own. This worked like a charm.

What advice can you give to ammeter and beginner players?  Practicing tips, etc...

Use new heavy picks, keep fingers parallel to fretboard at all times, curve fingers slightly when fretting notes and keep your elbow from your side.  The basics are most important!

If you could own any guitar on earth custom made or already in production what guitar would you buy?

Well, I love Vandenberg guitars but I really don’t have a particular type I love. I do like the new Music Man guitars though.

Over the years I’m sure you’ve owned many types of guitars.  Looking back which is one that you really miss playing on and why?

I had an Ibanez Destroyer that I loved but I traded it in some other guitars a long time ago.  It was just the epitomy of cool! It looked mean and sounded meaner! 

I endorse Seymour Duncan Pickups and have them in all my guitars. That is about all.

It feels good and sounds good and looks good. It is also very lightweight for my crazy stage antics.

What gear are you currently using?

Amps and Processors

    I currently have a Mesa Boogie 50/50 power amp and a Mesa Boogie studio pre-amp for power and general tone.  I use an Alesis Quadraverb for delay, chorus and any other digital effects.  I run a BBE sonic Maximizer to beef up my tone.  I use a DBX dual noise gate and a NADY 1000 VHF wireless unit. All of the previous components are in my rack.

The outboard gear or pedal effects I use are the following:  I use an MXR Phase 90, a Dunlop Wah pedal, an Ibanez tube screamer, Sabine 1500 in line tuners and AX 2000 tuners.

Speakers: I use Marshall JCM 900 4X12 stereo cabinets with 30 watt celestian speakers (Don't quote me on that).  I use Monster Cables to hook it all together.  I run my whole rig in stereo even if I am just utilizing one cabinet.  The JCM 900 have a stereo split option within the same cabinet.  I think it really makes the sound pleasant to the ear, and bigger sounding.

Guitars:  I use ESP guitars MH31, KH502.  Schecter 7 string A shape.  Guitars I use are loaded with Seymour Duncan JB, '59, Alnico pro 2, hot rail and Lil '59 pickups.

Picks:  I use Jim Dunlop 3mm Jazz Stubby picks.

Home Recording:  For home recording and practice or jam situations where I don't want to haul my big rig around I use A Sansamp/Tech21 GT2 amp simulator pedal or Trademark 10 amplifier.

How did you get endorsement deals?

Put together a press kit with your best songs on disc and an informative bio page. Add a cool picture and send it to the artist rep at the company you want to be endorsed by. Then call every other day until someone goes through your pack. DO NOT BE RUDE WHEN YOU ARE CALLING! Just let them know you are very excited and really think you can help push the company’s products. These people are very busy, so be patient.

Recommend any CD’s for our readers to check out?

Any of the bands/artists I have mentioned so far should be checked out.

What do you think of the present music scene in the US?

I don’t know how to answer this one.  Obviously it is not very good for rock music etc. at the moment. It is totally driven by fads and the people in the industry aren’t looking for talent anymore, they are looking for attitiude and baggy pants.  However 95.5 KLOS (one of Los Angeles California’s top radio stations)play 5 songs off my new CD PERSPECTIVE. This gave me some hope that the scene might be turning around.  I was excited that the producer was excited about my tunes enough to play them, and I live in Chicago!  So while it (the scene) does suck a bit the moral is too keep fighting to get your music out there.

Give us your feelings on the current state of instrumental and guitar driven music in the US or worldwide?

I think there are a lot of opportunities out there for ISTGM. I do think many players sit around complaining about how it sucks that ISTGM doesn’t get airplay and write ups in mags and the like but we have to be realistic. We will not get rich doing this kind of music, but if we are smart we can make a great living from it. If gigging isn’t working then try movies, or radio drop-ins –ads clinics etc. You are responsible for getting your music out there. So get off your ass and get going!

 What are you currently up to? (Projects and other industry things.  List websites if applicable)

I am currently licensing tunes from both of my CD’s for movies and news broadcasts.  I just did 2 sold out shows with Michael Schenker at the Chicago House of Blues and I will be performing at the NAMM show in Anaheim CA in January.  I will also start recording my new CD in February.

Some fun questions:

Travel. I love Traveling!

Spinal Tap, Bill and Ted’s excellent Adventure, The Thing, The Mummy, any Star Wars or Indiana Jones films

Favorite actor and actress?

Favorite food and drink?

Favorite book?

Favorite song(s)?

What sports do you enjoy or take part in?

Favorite Heavy Metal Record?

If you could be in charge of getting together a Heavy Metal super band who would you enlist?

Pop quiz!  What happened to Robin Crosby of Ratt?

Is your guitar playing, touring, recording your full time job, or do you do that along with other things to supplement your income?

Favorite music related websites:  The Shred Zone, of course!

Favorite Non-music related websites: Any porn sites are OK with me, Ha Ha Ha Ha!

Favorite Guitar Magazine:  They all have good articles at one time or another.

Can you share some words of wisdom?

Work smart, not hard. Think about what you are doing and the benefit. Try all avenues available to you. Be open to as many things as you can. Take the positive or interesting from bad music if you can and put it to work for you. Most of all make sure to have fun.

Where can our readers go buy your CDs?

Other sites you can be found on at the moment: The Shred Zone, The Guitarists

Lastly, any closing words, or things that come to mind that we may have over looked in the course of this interview?

I’m a Gemini, you asked everything else ha ha ha ha.

Interviewed By Nick Martinelli @ The Shred Zone.com