This was an amazing interview!! For sure one of my favorites!!
1) Were you in a band in school?
Oddly enough, no. I had started learning how to play guitar in 10th grade but was too busy still being a kid and hanging out with friends. I didn't really start getting serious about wanting to play in a band until the end of my senior year.
2) What instruments do you play?
Primarily, it's just guitar and bass but I can play a bit of everything, although not very well!
3) Have you ever taken lessons?
Technically, yes, but I learned everything by ear. The story goes... My mom thought it would be best if I was to play guitar, I should learn how to read music. So, she books my first lesson at 'Jim Terry's Music' and the guy wants to show me how to read/play "Mary Had A Little Lamb/Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". I tell him, "I don't care about these songs, I want you to show me how to play AC/DC." I was ready to rock! So, he made me a deal: if I learned how to read/play those two songs and being I already knew bar chords from people showing me, he would show me how to play a song. Fair enough.
The next lesson comes and I showed him I learned how to read/play the two songs. It was his turn. I brought in 'Back In Black' by AC/DC and he proceeds to listen to and figure out how to show me how to play 'Hell's Bells' but I couldn't get over the fact that it just didn't sound quite right. There were a few notes in there that didn't sound like what was on the record. I watched his method of how he was "listening" to what was being played and trying to figure it out so I figured I would do the same thing when I got home.
It served me well to study his method because not only did I learn how to play the song correctly on my own, I went on to learn the whole album! I discovered that I had an "ear" for music!
It was one of the most defining days of my life.
4) When did you start playing?
I always loved music but I never really thought about wanting to become a guitar player until I was 12-13. The neighbor kid got one and was flaunting it to the other neighborhood kids, so of course I needed to have a guitar too.
Fate would intervene a week later and my younger brother noticed that the neighbor down the street put a Kimberly Tele at the curb for trash pickup the next day. My mother went to go retrieve it and they wouldn't let her just take it from the trash... They wanted $20 for it! So, she reluctantly paid them. The cool thing was, there wasn't a damn thing wrong w/ it. I can remember being SOOOOO disappointed when I couldn't "automatically" play it! It made me determined to learn how.
5) What made you want to become a musician?
I can name three specific and sole reasons I knew I wanted to be a musician:
A) I was very young and saw a Queen concert that was televised.
B) The moment I saw the inner album sleeve of KISS ALIVE II
C) Watching the 'California Jam '78' on TV and Ted Nugent was "killing it"!!!
Those moments just brought out my inner 'rock star' and made me determined.
6) Who are your musical influences?
I am being influenced all the time by music that moves me. Early on it was AC/DC, Sweet, Angel, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Grand Funk, Joe Walsh, KISS, Ted Nugent, Aerosmith & Heart then as I hit high school it was Ozzy, Sammy Hagar, Def Leppard, Motley Crüe, Quiet Riot & Scorpions. When I was playing in bands it was Metallica, Guns-N-Roses, Shotgun Messiah, Tesla and, oddly enough, early Goo Goo Dolls.
There are even current bands that move me now such as ISSUES, Falling In Reverse, Escape The Fate, Bring Me The Horizon and A Day To Remember. Anything heavy with great melodies.
7) Where do you get your inspiration for your original songs?
A LOT of inspiration just comes from 'noodling' around on the guitar until I touch upon a riff or melody that speaks to me. I try different rhythms and patterns until I get to what shapes up to be a song. I may not be thinking about anything in particular. It's the process which inspires me.
8)What bands did you listen to as a teenager?
Pretty much the same ones that I mentioned as my influences. I was pretty much on a steady diet of Ozzy, AC/DC, Motley Crüe and Def Leppard, all throughout my high school years!
9) What new/newer bands do you listen to?
I mentioned this earlier in my influences as well. Currently, I have 'ISSUES' in my car's CD player. 'A Day To Remember' just RRRRRROOOOOCCCCKKKKSSSS!!!
10) What advice do you have for young musicians?
Practice. Practice. Practice. Don't get discouraged. It will be tough in the beginning but if you keep at it, you will become amazing! Don't be afraid to break the rules. Don't let anybody tell you you're doing this or doing that the wrong way. If it sounds good the way you play it, then it's correct. Part of the fun as a musician is discovering new sounds, techniques, etc. Have fun doing what you love.
11) Anything else you'd like to share or say?
Also, seek out others on the same path as you. Other musicians with the same likes/loves as you. I have developed life-long friendships with others who share the same passion as me.
And lastly, don't do anything 'half-heartedly' Commit to being the best at what you choose. I would be 10 times the guitarist I am now if I didn't go into it 'half-heartedly' at first. Musically speaking, I lost out on a lot of years I could have been perfecting my craft.
Thank you for the interview! This was fun!
1) Were you in a band in school?
Oddly enough, no. I had started learning how to play guitar in 10th grade but was too busy still being a kid and hanging out with friends. I didn't really start getting serious about wanting to play in a band until the end of my senior year.
2) What instruments do you play?
Primarily, it's just guitar and bass but I can play a bit of everything, although not very well!
3) Have you ever taken lessons?
Technically, yes, but I learned everything by ear. The story goes... My mom thought it would be best if I was to play guitar, I should learn how to read music. So, she books my first lesson at 'Jim Terry's Music' and the guy wants to show me how to read/play "Mary Had A Little Lamb/Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". I tell him, "I don't care about these songs, I want you to show me how to play AC/DC." I was ready to rock! So, he made me a deal: if I learned how to read/play those two songs and being I already knew bar chords from people showing me, he would show me how to play a song. Fair enough.
The next lesson comes and I showed him I learned how to read/play the two songs. It was his turn. I brought in 'Back In Black' by AC/DC and he proceeds to listen to and figure out how to show me how to play 'Hell's Bells' but I couldn't get over the fact that it just didn't sound quite right. There were a few notes in there that didn't sound like what was on the record. I watched his method of how he was "listening" to what was being played and trying to figure it out so I figured I would do the same thing when I got home.
It served me well to study his method because not only did I learn how to play the song correctly on my own, I went on to learn the whole album! I discovered that I had an "ear" for music!
It was one of the most defining days of my life.
4) When did you start playing?
I always loved music but I never really thought about wanting to become a guitar player until I was 12-13. The neighbor kid got one and was flaunting it to the other neighborhood kids, so of course I needed to have a guitar too.
Fate would intervene a week later and my younger brother noticed that the neighbor down the street put a Kimberly Tele at the curb for trash pickup the next day. My mother went to go retrieve it and they wouldn't let her just take it from the trash... They wanted $20 for it! So, she reluctantly paid them. The cool thing was, there wasn't a damn thing wrong w/ it. I can remember being SOOOOO disappointed when I couldn't "automatically" play it! It made me determined to learn how.
5) What made you want to become a musician?
I can name three specific and sole reasons I knew I wanted to be a musician:
A) I was very young and saw a Queen concert that was televised.
B) The moment I saw the inner album sleeve of KISS ALIVE II
C) Watching the 'California Jam '78' on TV and Ted Nugent was "killing it"!!!
Those moments just brought out my inner 'rock star' and made me determined.
6) Who are your musical influences?
I am being influenced all the time by music that moves me. Early on it was AC/DC, Sweet, Angel, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Grand Funk, Joe Walsh, KISS, Ted Nugent, Aerosmith & Heart then as I hit high school it was Ozzy, Sammy Hagar, Def Leppard, Motley Crüe, Quiet Riot & Scorpions. When I was playing in bands it was Metallica, Guns-N-Roses, Shotgun Messiah, Tesla and, oddly enough, early Goo Goo Dolls.
There are even current bands that move me now such as ISSUES, Falling In Reverse, Escape The Fate, Bring Me The Horizon and A Day To Remember. Anything heavy with great melodies.
7) Where do you get your inspiration for your original songs?
A LOT of inspiration just comes from 'noodling' around on the guitar until I touch upon a riff or melody that speaks to me. I try different rhythms and patterns until I get to what shapes up to be a song. I may not be thinking about anything in particular. It's the process which inspires me.
8)What bands did you listen to as a teenager?
Pretty much the same ones that I mentioned as my influences. I was pretty much on a steady diet of Ozzy, AC/DC, Motley Crüe and Def Leppard, all throughout my high school years!
9) What new/newer bands do you listen to?
I mentioned this earlier in my influences as well. Currently, I have 'ISSUES' in my car's CD player. 'A Day To Remember' just RRRRRROOOOOCCCCKKKKSSSS!!!
10) What advice do you have for young musicians?
Practice. Practice. Practice. Don't get discouraged. It will be tough in the beginning but if you keep at it, you will become amazing! Don't be afraid to break the rules. Don't let anybody tell you you're doing this or doing that the wrong way. If it sounds good the way you play it, then it's correct. Part of the fun as a musician is discovering new sounds, techniques, etc. Have fun doing what you love.
11) Anything else you'd like to share or say?
Also, seek out others on the same path as you. Other musicians with the same likes/loves as you. I have developed life-long friendships with others who share the same passion as me.
And lastly, don't do anything 'half-heartedly' Commit to being the best at what you choose. I would be 10 times the guitarist I am now if I didn't go into it 'half-heartedly' at first. Musically speaking, I lost out on a lot of years I could have been perfecting my craft.
Thank you for the interview! This was fun!