BShea’s Profile

URG Interviews Blacklist Union
by Brian Shea, Band & Public Relations, UltimateRockGods.com

In 2006, Blacklist Union released "After the Mourning", the rest was history. Before they knew it, they began gathering a large underground following. The clubs throughout California were getting rocked and the various branches of their street team were doing their jobs well. That momentum was only capitalized upon with the July 2008 release of "Breakin' Bread with the Devil". As the positive album reviews poured in from various media outlets, other members of the rock and roll community began to take note. In late July, Steven Tyler, the legendary vocalist of Aerosmith, called Blacklist Union "the most real rock and roll band [he's] heard in 20 years. Recently, the band's official MySpace page had reached over 50,000 fans, only further proving that Blacklist Union is well on their way to being among today's rock and roll elite. Blacklist Union's man up front, Tony West, recently sat down and fielded some questions from UltimateRockGods.com.


UltimateRockGods.com: First of all, what was it like to receive a compliment from a true legend of rock like Steven Tyler?

Tony West: It's an absolute honor that Steven Tyler has said such flattering things about us. The guy is the epitome of rock and roll and the king of rock, that's for sure.

URG: What, in your mind, sets you apart from the rest of the rock groups releasing music today?

TW: The thing that sets us apart is that we don't have anyone to answer to and we don't have anyone telling us what our music should be like; or what we should dress like. Believe me, we want the label push, but we want it on our own terms and we're about to get it. We've had lots of offers from record deals to management deals to booking agent deals and we have turned them all down because not one of them had any honor in them. This is our life, not some hobby like building model cars or some shit.

URG: What type of equipment do you guys prefer to use?

TW: We use Les Pauls and Marshalls for our guitar sound and Ampeg for our bass gear. Sean also uses DW drums.

URG: Do you have a ritual or something you always do before you go on stage?

TW: Before I go on stage, I actually meditate for 20 minutes. I also try to keep away from people to stay in my element and not over extend my element until after the show; so if you want to buy us drink, wait until after show time!

URG: If you could go back in time and relive any gig, what would it be?

TW: If I could go back in time to a gig? It would probably be the Ritz gig in Detroit, Michigan - April 28th, 2007. We showed up at 1:00 pm and didn't go on stage until 1:00 am and we were fucking wasted. We drank all day long; it was disastrous. But, we came back a month later and made all the haters eat their words.

URG: After you put out "After the Mourning", you developed somewhat of a strong following. Where do you hope that "Breakin' Bread with the Devil" will take you?

TW: "Breakin' Bread with the Devil" is about to make us a household name and I am looking forward to that.

URG: What can fans expect from your next release?

TW: Fans can expect our next release to be even more kick-ass than the first two CDs!

URG: What has been, in your opinion, the coolest thing that your success has allowed you to do?

TW: The success we are now receiving has enabled us to meet and hang out with a lot of our childhood heroes. Having their respect is awesome!

URG: Can fans expect a national tour anytime soon?

TW: We've done quite a few tours and will be touring real, real soon again.

URG: Are there any bands you'd love to go out and tour with?

TW: We'd love to go out with Mötley [Crüe], Buckcherry, Gypsy Pistoleros, or Turbonegro. That would be a few.

URG: Are there any artists that you're really into right now?

TW: I'm really into Sixx: A.M., Gypsy Pistoleros, Turbonegro, and a band out of the UK called Orson. I also love listening to our new CD to tell you the truth!

URG: Alright, for my last question, I wanted to see what you would do if you were in charge of putting together a supergroup of any artists, alive or dead, that Blacklist Union would open up for on your next tour. Who's at each spot?

TW: The dream band would be this...
Vocals: Axl Rose
Guitar: Slash
Guitar: Izzy Stradlin
Bass: Duff McKagan
Drums: Steven Adler

Need I say more?


As you can probably tell from the way Tony answered some of the questions, he has no lack of confidence in his band and their ability to become rock royalty. That does not mean that he does not remain grounded and remember what is important. Before the interview, I was told, "its the fans that pay our bills and we dont lose sight of that." That, combined with their integrity in the search for a record label, combined with their amazing ability to produce rock records just shows that these guys deserve all the success they have received. You can check out Blacklist Union on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/blacklistunion and if you like what you hear you can buy both of their albums on iTunes!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

UltimateRockGods.com Interviews Myles Kennedy
by Brian Shea, Band & Public Relations


Myles Kennedy is know by many as the man who stepped up to the microphone with the boys from Creed to form Alter Bridge, but that is far from the whole story. Kennedy has been musically involved in some way for the vast majority of his life, but the beginnings of his major recording career can be traced to 1991's album "Journey" by Cosmic Dust, where Kennedy simply provides his guitar talents. After the Cosmic Dust project, Kennedy stepped up to the microphone for another project called Citizen Swing. The band stuck together for two albums before going their separate ways. Kennedy's first real taste of success came from The Mayfield Four. Over the course of their three-album career, they went from local favorites in Spokane to a popular, nationally touring act. After the release of their third album, "Second Skin", in 2001, the band split. Shortly after the split, Kennedy was asked to audition for, what would eventually become Velvet Revolver by his Slash. Though that fell through, Kennedy found his long-deserved success in the form of Alter Bridge. The band has sold well over a million albums world-wide and has been a force to be reckoned with in the charts since their debut album was released in 2004. At it's peak, "Open Your Eyes" reached #2 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Charts. Myles Kennedy recently took the time to sit down and answer questions from UltimateRockGods.com as the August 2008 Artist of the Month.




UltimateRockGods.com: What was your first real musical experience?

Myles Kennedy: I guess my first real musical experience was the night I brought home my first trumpet in the 5th grade. I took it in the bathroom and and tried to figure out how to make a sound. It sounded like a small farm animal was being tortured.

URG: Can you trace it to one moment for when you realized that this was what you wanted to do with your life?

MK: They day I picked up a guitar was the day I knew I would be doing this with my life.

URG: What artists greatly influenced you?

MK: Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, Gun's and Roses, Jeff Buckley, Sting, Radiohead, and Marvin Gaye.

URG: Have you ever taken singing lessons or are you completely/mostly self-taught?

MK: Yeah, I took some lessons to help keep my voice strong on the road. It was the best investment I ever made.

URG: I noticed that on your first couple projects, you only played guitar. What drove you to step up to the microphone?

MK: Being that I lived in a small town with a finite amount of singers, it was what I had to learn to do. As a young songwriter it was very liberating not to have to depend on anyone but myself to convey what I was hearing in my head.

URG: Do you play any other instruments? Do you have a desire to learn anything else? If so, what are they?

MK: I played trumpet and very bad piano. I would love to learn to play the drums.

URG: What exactly happened after Slash asked you to audition for the band that would eventually become Velvet Revolver?

MK: I received a four song demo of some of the tunes they were working on. I spent about two weeks laying different vocal ideas down. Since I was a huge fan, I worked very hard on it. Unfortunately, once I finished the songs, I never sent them back. After coming off the heartbreak of the Mayfield Four era, I just wasn't convinced I was ready to jump back into the music business. Not to mention my gut was telling me that I was the wrong guy for the job. Since I didn't want to waste any of their time being indecisive, I called Slash and told him how I felt. It was a tough decision, but the right one at that point in my life. It was a huge honor to be considered.

One thing I do want to clarify is that I did not turn it down so that I could join Alter Bridge. The Alter Bridge opportunity didn't come up for over a year and a half after the VR thing.

URG: What was it like stepping into the lead singer role of a band that was already seasoned as a unit among themselves and with a different singer?

MK: At first it was a challenge but I think it was good for me. It definitely gave me thick skin.

URG: What did you think of the inevitable comparisons of Creed and Alter Bridge?

MK: The comparisons between the two bands don't seem to come up like they used to. Maybe that's because I don't pay any attention to what is said in the press.

URG: What are your plans for Alter Bridge, both near and distant future?

MK: We plan on touring through the end of 2008. Then we will figure out what plan B is.

URG: Do you have any new projects you're working on or planning to work on?

MK: I have so many songs that I hope to release someday. The ones that won't make it onto AB recordings will see the light of day somehow.

URG: Are there any artists you would love to work with in the future?

MK: Too many to name. So much talent in this world to learn from.

URG: Are there any bands that you're really into right now?

MK: Steely Dan and Earth Wind and Fire.

URG: You are in charge of putting together a super group consisting of ANYONE. You're the singer, who is your backing band?

MK:
Vocals: Myles Kennedy
Guitar: Jimmy Page
Guitar: Warren Haynes
Bass: John Paul Jones
Drums: John Bonham




Kennedy has been in the industry for the better part of 20 years and shows no signs of slowing down. The greatest part about Myles Kennedy is his ability to bring out the best in his band mates. With the formation of Alter Bridge, the former members of Creed seemed to almost come out of their shells to produce two of the best rock albums of the decade. Kennedy's quote on his MySpace page reads, "Follow Your Bliss" and he has certainly lived by those words. It's obvious that this is a man who truly does what he loves.

Monday, September 29, 2008

UltimateRockGods.com Interviews Ray Luzier
by Brian Shea, Band & Public Relations


Ray Luzier has experienced nearly every aspect of the music industry. He has played with giants such as David Lee Roth, Billy Sheehan and Korn. He has started a band with stars of the industry with Army of Anyone. He has also played in countless other albums with former Dio guitarist Tracy G. Ray's ability to change up his style to suit the various genres that he has played on has allowed him to shine in every project he has participated in. Ray was kind enough to field some questions from UltimateRockGods.com and work harder than anyone else to get these responses to me. After he worked for over an hour on these, a glitch in the computers ended up losing all of his responses. After being great enough to sit back down and do it all again, here's what Ray had to say.



UltimateRockGods.com: You've worked with a lot of high-profile and big-name artists. Who have been your favorites to work with? Were you ever nervous to meet or play with any of them?

Ray Luzier: Yes, I've been fortunate to work with some musicians that I really respect and who have influenced my playing. David Lee Roth is one of the favs for sure. I had a great 8 years playing live and recording with him. You learn a LOT touring the world with one of the world's greatest frontmen. I used to try to figure out "Hot For Teacher" in my bedroom when I was like 14. Had no idea I'd be opening every show with it someday with The DLR! Robert and Dean DeLeo from STP was another great experience. When they asked me to join Army of Anyone, I was blown away. I'm very proud of that record. It was good to be a band member as well, being mostly a hired gun before.

Of course, my new gig, Korn has been amazing! My absolute favorite gig so far. I had no idea how powerful and huge they are until I toured the world with them this year. There's no one like Korn fans! They're so dedicated and die hard, it's crazy. We played tons of cool countries like South Africa, Dubai, Russia, Europe, Australia, Mexico and South America. Check out korn.com for a bunch of videos from it.

URG: I noticed that you've worked with dUg Pinnick on the upcoming Billy Sheehan album. It's been said, "You either love King's X, or you haven't heard of them." What do you think about that quote?

RL: I've been a huge King's X fan for a long time. They're one of my all time favorite bands. I'm a big fan of heavy riffs with beautiful harmonies over them. Everyone go out and buy a few King's X cds now! I was fortunate enough to do one track on dUg's last solo cd "Strum Sum Up" (I posted the tune on my myspace page).

Then Billy [Sheehan] asked to play on his new solo CD called "Holy Cow". He said that he had some guest stars that were gonna be on it. Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top, Paul Gilbert, Tony MacAlpine and dUg Pinnick. dUg's voice sounds so beautiful on it, I actually got choked up the first time I heard it. I'm so happy to be on this cd, the production is great. It should be out around November '08.

URG: We have a bassist on the site that wants to know: "What was it was like to work with Billy Sheehan?"

RL: Billy is, by far, one of the most unique and best players on the planet! I was a fan of his since the Talas days. Then when he got the DLR gig in '86, I knew he was gonna change the way people thought of bass players forever. No one has tone like that. You instantly know it's him. I'm glad to be his friend for the last 6 or 7 years. He's a great person as well as a great musician. He's on my instructional DVD and I played on his 2nd solo CD "Cosmic Troubadour" as well.

URG: What exactly happened to Army of Anyone?

RL: Too long of a story to write. In a nutshell, we made a CD that we're all very proud of and had a great 4 month tour. The music biz is in a very weird state, as many people know. You can blame it on not enough promotion or not enough touring or people not exposing us enough...whatever. STP's doing a very successful reunion tour now, Rich put a new Filter CD out and is touring and I joined one of the biggest heavy bands in the world! We're all happy right now, although I would have love to do AOA II someday!

URG: So does that mean Army of Anyone fans officially call this a break-up?

RL: At this moment, yes. But I don't have a crystal ball... or at least one that works!

URG: Many rumors have circulated about a ton of B-Sides recorded during the Army of Anyone sessions, aside from the amazing "Good Time to Loosen", will those ever see the light of day?

RL: I doubt it, but there's some really cool youtube videos out from our tours. They have some cool jams and us playing STP, Filter and some Zeppelin covers on there.

URG: In your experience, what has been the most technically challenging aspect about percussion? Was there ever a technique that you took a long time to learn?

RL: Probably just to relax. I'm so hyper, especially on stage. C'mon... I just played in front of 40,000 people a night with Korn. It's hard to control that excitement! I'm always learning new things and trying to improve my playing. My independence always challenges me. Still have a long way to go with a lot of things, but that's what's so great about my job... I absolutely love what I do.

URG: What would you say the best advice you've ever received in terms of drumming has been?

RL: Probably to get my timing together. It's very important for all musicians to work on their timing, especially drummers. It's ok to have chops, but you'll never get a gig if your timing sucks. Go buy a metronome today!

URG: Who was most influential to you as a drummer? Are there any drummers that just blow you away?

RL: Anyone that plays from the heart and moves me emotionally. I could care less how fast your feet or hands are or how big your drum kit is. I'd rather hear Phil Rudd play "Back in Black" than someone playing fast and sloppy. I feel everything I play and listen to the players in the band more than my drumming. I have a bunch of favs, check my myspace page for more. But some are: Terry Bozzio, Jerry Gaskill, Deen Castronovo, Steve Gadd, Dennis Chambers... too many to name.

URG: What was it like to join up with Korn? What can we expect from the upcoming album?

RL: Army of Anyone and Korn have the same management, The Firm. So they heard of me through them. They flew me up to Seattle on Joey Jordison's last show with them. He was filling in at the time. I learned as many tunes as I could. Played 6 songs at their sound check, and they said "welcome to KORN, see you in Dublin". I was blown away to say the least. Our tour this year was unbelievable. A clip of my audition is actually on youtube right now, funny. The original members of KORN are doing solo projects right now. We should be getting together later this year to do a new CD. Stay tuned.

URG: Are there any artists out there that you have always wanted to work with but never have?

RL: I hope it never happens, but if Jerry from King's X ever injured himself, I'd fill in for those shows in a second! Same goes for Abe of the Deftones, love that band. Some others would be Dave Grohl, Steve Vai, Trent Reznor, etc. I've been lucky to work with some amazing people though, I can't complain.

URG: You've done a lot of work Tracy G. Can you say if there any more work planned with him?

RL: I hope so. Tracy and I have worked together for years. He's an amazing guitarist and has great tone. Check out the new video from the Goaded CD on my myspace page and the link is in my favorites to the site. I was actually in World War III with Tracy back in the day for a minute! The singer Mandy Lion, from WWIII, and I toured together after that with Jake E. Lee (From Ozzy). I like Tracy's solo CD "Erector Pili" as well.

URG: Over the past decade you've gone from David Lee Roth to Army of Anyone to Goaded to Korn (and various projects in between). How difficult is it to go from one genre to another?

RL: I'm a music geek. This is all I do everyday. You'll always catch me at a few live shows a week here in LA or listening to a new cd or doing someone's recording. I'm around many different types of music, although rock and metal are my favs. You just have to listen to what you're playing, listen to the players in your band and adjust accordingly. I love the challenge of a new project and trying to make it the best I can.

URG: Finally, here's the scenario. You have been asked to start a new supergroup. You can choose anyone to fill the spots, but you are behind the set. Who do you pick?

RL: It's 3:30 am, too hard to think of exactly who I'd want. So besides being in KORN now (which is my ideal band now), it might be... I'll name a few:

Vocals: dUg Pinnick, Dave Grohl, Seal
Guitar: Steve Vai, Dean DeLeo,
Guitar: Jimmy Page, Angus Young
Bass: Billy Sheehan, Robert DeLeo, John Paul Jones
Drums: Ray Luzier



With someone as talented and experienced as Ray Luzier, there will never be a shortage of work. He will be appearing on Korn's upcoming album. Also, look for Ray to appear on Billy Sheehan's upcoming solo album, coming in November. To experience the full spectrum of what Ray has done, please check out Ray's MySpace page, Ray's Official Site, The Hideous Sun Demons' MySpace page, and Korn's Official Site.

Friday, September 26, 2008

UltimateRockGods.com Interviews Steve Ouimette
by Brian Shea, Band & Public Relations


If you've ever played Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock or Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, you have undoubtedly (and most likely unknowingly) played a song or two by Steve Ouitmette. He has quickly become the man that Activision and Neversoft turn to when it comes to covering songs in the Guitar Hero series. Songs he covered in these games included "Rock You Like a Hurricane" (by The Scorpions), "Barracuda" (by Heart), "School's Out" (by Alice Cooper), "Cities on Flame with Rock & Roll" (by Blue Öyster Cult), "Mississippi Queen" (by Mountain), "Hard to Handle" (by The Black Crowes) and many more. His crowning achievement in the Guitar Hero series, however, is his famous cover of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", where you, the Guitar Hero, have the opportunity to battle for your soul against Lou. Steve took the time out of his busy schedule of covering the world's most well-known songs and hanging out with Lou to come on the UltimateRockGods.com forums and answer some questions.



UltimateRockGods.com: When you cover a song for Guitar Hero, how do you go about preserving the artist's original vision while adding your own flair to the mix

Steve Ouimette: Preserving the original vision of the artist is something I stick to very tightly on covers like "Rock You Like A Hurricane", "Talk Dirty", etc. On songs like TDWDTG I threw caution to the wind and did my best to keep the spirit of the duel in tact from the original. However, to stay true to the original I always heavily research the song down to who recorded it, when it was recorded, where it was recorded and what type of gear they used...all the way down to the type of strings, drumheads, mics, mixer, etc. Since I have a great partner (Ryan Greene) who mixes the tracks, our combined gear makes a big difference. If they used a plate reverb on the drums, so do we. If I can source out the original guitar type, pickups and amp, I do that as well. Of course, there are times when that is impossible so we improvise but always a/b the recording with the original to ensure it's as close as possible.

The most important aspect of any cover is the vocalist. If they're not right it sucks in the first couple of notes. That ends up being a huge focus for me in the research phase and I've come to work with a killer group of people.

URG: have you ever jammed or appeared on any albums with any high-profile rockers? I'd love to hear you just jam and trade riffs with someone like Slash or Dean DeLeo.

SO: Haven't been on anything high profile but it would be a blast to jam with some of those guys. I think Slash is one of the last great rock stars as well and Dean DeLeo is nothing short of incredible.

URG: Who made you want to pick up the guitar in the first place (especially in pursuing it as a career).

SO: I'll go ahead and date myself and say it was KISS. I was a 'lil kid and my friend brought home KISS ALIVE! and that did it for me. Something about Ace Frehley having so much "muscle" in his playing along with the theatrics turned me on to music. From there it was guys like Randy Rhoads, Yngwie, Van Halen and the like. Aside from that the constant discovery of the instrument was so fascinating to me that I couldn't put the guitar down.

URG: I've always wondered what your favorite songs to play are. Both favorite covers that you've done with GH as well as favorite songs to play while just playing around.

SO: As far as songs I enjoy playing, I'd say the most fun of all the ones on GH3 was "Mississippi Queen". Something about digging into those notes, though sparse, is a really great feeling. The riff is ultra-heavy, especially if you consider it dates back to 1970 or so. Plus, when I set up that guitar tone in the big room at the studio it was just mammoth sounding and loud as anything I've ever encountered. For songs outside GH stuff I did a lot with my band, ALIVE! that were a blast. ALIVE! was a 70's tribute rock show I created here with Troy Luccketta from Tesla on drums, Robert Mason from Lynch Mob/Cry of Love on vocals and rhythm guitar, and Dave Henzerling on bass, who played in King Kobra and Lizzy Borden in the 80's. We did all sorts of songs from Zep to Sabbath to Bad Co. and Queen. Heart Breaker/Livin Lovin Maid was my favorite to play.


URG: Have you ever considered forming/joining a band again?

SO: I guess if the timing was right and there was a reason to have a band I'd consider it. At this point in my life the idea of touring doesn't sound like fun like it did when i was 20! When I did ALIVE! with my buddies out here it was really a great time, but the shows took a lot of work to put together and if I wasn't careful they could lose money because they're expensive. I'm moving a lot more into film soundtracks, television and games but will always put out music of my own and continue to push the envelope. To make a long story short, I'd probably put a band together and play locally to blow some steam off


URG: I'm guessing that you played a fair amount of guitar before you got your degree. How did your playing change/improve during the course of progressing through your degree and how have you matured over the years as a guitarist?

SO: I played guitar for about 6 years before I went to college as I began when I was 12. Because I was a classical guitar and composition major the biggest improvement came from understanding harmony, theory and voice leading. In a way it's just having a better grip on music in general. Since I was a big fan of classically oriented players like Ritchie Blackmore, Yngwie and Randy Rhoads at the time it made that direction more solid for me. It wasn't until after college, and really quite a while after that when I started to branch out and finally "understand" music. It's a lifelong process and just knowing how to play is the beginning. Maturing has to do with life experience and writing a lot of music. It isn't until then that you get a depth that doesn't normally happen when you're younger, though that's not always the way it goes.

URG: What is your single favourite piece of gear?

SO: Tough question! Probably "Cap'n Howdy", my Mu-Tron Octave Divider. That's the sound of the final, unaccompanied solo in TDWDTG and I've had it for 15 years. Bought it from Elliot Easton of "The Cars" for $35 and you just can't find them anymore!

URG: That final unaccompanied solo kicks my ass nearly every time yet its one of my favorite parts of the song.

SO: That solo kicked my ass too! Took a while to get that one right for the record

URG: Has Charlie Daniels gotten in contact with you or have you heard of anything about what he thinks about the remake?

SO: I'd heard that Charlie is really upset about the game and my remake of his song. Really bummed me out to know that because I love the original so much. I guess he had a problem with the personification of the Devil and the possibility of the Devil being able to win. Thing is, I did the metal version with guitar because it was tailored to be in a guitar-based game...and it ended up being a lot more popular than I'd ever expected.

URG: I, too, heard that Charlie was upset about TDWDTG being in GH3, and I think the root of the problem is the way the interviewer phrased the question. Lemme try to find the quote really quick.

"...the Guitar Hero version which comes complete with a horned, guitar-playing devil who battles the player and very often wins."

The way I feel, if the interviewer asks it that way, he probably felt that GH3 was trying to change the legacy and story of the song. I wouldn't place blame on you or even so much on GH3, but on the interviewer on that one.

SO: I'd agree that there was a bit of a slant to the interview for sure. Media has a fun way of making interesting stories for sure.

URG: How did the pairing of you with the singer Chris Powers from Razer come about for TDWDTG?

SO: Chris is local here and had recorded at Crush with Ryan Greene, who does all my mixes and engineering of the drums for the games and my personal music. Ryan mentioned Chris to do a vocal track (he also sings on Cities on Flame on GH3). We hit it off immediately and I love his voice. We're working together again and as soon as there's something to show I'll let you guys know. He's a super powerful and LOUD singer. Nearly blows my ears out every time we record together...lol!

URG: I love Chris Powers' vocals as well, I actually went out and bought the Razer album after finding out it was him on TDWDTG. Are there any other vocalists that you worked with on GH3 that have bands out there that I could check out?

SO: I'll let Chris know you bought the Razer CD, that's really cool. There's about to be an announcement of the other game I worked on and there were a good number of killer singers I worked with. One of them, a good friend of mine, is Robert Mason. He sang on the second Lynch Mob CD as well as with another band called Cry Of Love. He's also the singer in "Big Cock"...yes, I said it. Other guys were Brody Dolyniuk, who did "Talk Dirty", "Mississippi Queen" and "Rock You Like A Hurricane". He just sang on Mr. Bones for me. The guy is unbelievable.

URG: Do you have any newer or unknown bands/artists that you are getting into?

SO: New bands that I like are Avenged Sevenfold, Three Days Grace, Disturbed and even guys like Panic At The Disco. Truth is, I like songs more than I like bands...it's usually something that just hits me. I've got a totally random collection of music. Right now I'm listening to Orff (composer), Fleetwood Mac (Rumors), Slipknot, Foo Fighters, Django Reinhardt and Vayden!

URG: Alright, let me give you a very common interview question. Can you list me your top 5 albums of all-time?

SO: Top 5 albums of all time? Easy!

1. Kiss Alive! (1, not 2)
2. Fleetwood Mac Rumors
3. Marylin Manson, Antichrist Superstar
4. Yngwie Malmsteen, Rising Force
5. Led Zeppelin 4

URG: I've been following the artists on Candy Rat records, as they seem to be focusing on modern acoustic virtuosos like Andy McKee, Don Ross, Antoine Dufour, Nicholas Barron and Kaki King. What are your thoughts on artists like these that are bringing an incredible amount of musicianship on purely acoustic instruments back into the mainstream?

SO: I can remember the first time I heard and saw Michael Hedges play...it was astounding when I realized it was just one person creating all of that sound...it was a wall of music coming out of a single instrument, the Harp guitar. After that there was a boom with Windham Hill Records and guys like Alex Degrassi and Acoustic Alchemy became very popular. It seems like they went to the background for a while but checking out artists like Andy McKee and the others on Candy Rat it's great to see it happening. To think that he's in his 20's and creating that kind of depth of composition is staggering. I have tremendous respect for solo artists that can do what these guys do. They humble me.

URG: I'm sure you actually get asked this a fair amount as well, but have you ever tried Guitar Hero for yourself?

SO: I actually have GH2 and 3 and have played them quite a bit, but the truth is that I suck! Once you get to Expert mode I have no idea how you guys do it. One of the guys at Neversoft told me that the better you are at one, the worse you are at the other! For me the buttons/switch doesn't translate quite the same as strings/frets/pick, but it's clear that they are relative in many ways.

URG: What can we expect from you in the future in terms of work you will be doing both for games and your musical career?

SO: In the future I've got a game coming out this fall as well as a movie soundtrack (pending). I'm also working on an MMO and a few other guitar-related things that should be really fun when they come out. Basically, I'm staying quite busy and having the time of my life thanks to all of you!

URG: I actually just noticed that you have the primary Guitar Hero II cover artist, Marcus Henderson, in your top friends on MySpace.

SO: Hell yes he's on my top friends list. If it weren't for Marcus...well, let's just say he's contributed tremendously to Guitar Hero and deserves boatloads of respect for his work.

URG: I know you aren't supposed to tell us anything about new Guitar Hero releases, but can you at least tell us if Red Octane will have you busy in the future?

SO: I have a great relationship with them and will work whenever they have something for me. Obviously re-records aren't happening as much these days but that doesn't mean you won't hear more of me in the future in GH. Stay tuned!



With the promise of movie and video game soundtracks in the near future, as well as his constant posting of his own original music on his MySpace and iTunes, it's a given that we'll be hearing much more from Steve Ouimette soon. His always evolving sound just shows how diverse a player he is. Whether it's his ability to shred in songs like "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" or his great songwriting ability displayed on his "Seattle Sessions", Steve has always shown a full understanding and knowledge of the instrument.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

UltimateRockGods.com Interviews StoneRider
by Brian Shea, Moderator & Public Relations

Fresh off a North American Tour with Airbourne & EndeverafteR, StoneRider is on fire. Their latest album, "The Three Legs of Trouble" has received great reviews and their popularity is beginning to explode. At the show that I went to, they were the openers, but they not only kept up with the headliners, but they arguably had a better overall set. Afterwards, I remember all of the members not only helping the crew pick up their stuff, but also manning their merchandise table. They showed me that they not only know how to kick ass on stage, but they also know how to treat their fans. StoneRider quickly became a favorite band of mine and I was lucky enough to be able to work with them during their occupancy as UltimateRockGods.com's May 2008 Artist of the Month.

StoneRider was courteous enough to sit down and field questions from members of UltimateRockGods.com. The questions ranged in topic from their previous band to their future endeavors to what their dream band would comprise of.


UltimateRockGods.com: How did it feel to completely change your style when you went from Fight Paris to StoneRider? Were you nervous that you might lose some of your fan base or that they might like Fight Paris more?

StoneRider: It felt right. We knew that some of the FP fans wouldn't get it, and we were quite fine with that. StoneRider is a completely different entity, and to compare the two is silly. Anyway, Fight Paris is dead and StoneRider is alive and well, so let's not dwell on the past, but rather, look forward to the future.

URG: Can fans expect to ever hear anything along the lines of Fight Paris again?

SR: If there's a young band out there that wants to rip FP, have at it. Consider the proverbial torch passed to any hormonally charged 17 year old that wants it. First beer's on us, kid.

URG: What do you think about bands like Radiohead & Nine Inch Nails giving out albums for free over the internet? Do you think you would ever consider doing something like this?

SR: It's an alright idea. Radiohead's already said they'd never do it again. But let's face it, they received the exposure that they did because of who they are. Both of these bands had HUGE fanbases already. It seems like a publicity stunt more than anything.

There are plenty of bands giving out their music for free everyday. And if they're not, you can still get their shit for free somewhere online, just gotta find a sharing or torrent site that has it. With that said, go find our record and download it. Save your money for a T-shirt and a beer next time we come to town.

URG: Who inspired you to first pick up your instrument? What bands did you grow up listening to?

SR: We were all inspired similarly. Matt grew up listening to Jimi Hendrix records and jamming with his dad at local bars and clubs. Champ's family has a great collection of records. All of Jason's uncles were in bands, and he got his first electric guitar and drums handed down from them. As for Staxxx, his family comes from Mississippi, so ya know he's got the blues in him.

URG: How did the tour with Airbourne & EndeverafteR come about? I noticed that you are all on different labels and a different brand of old-school rock. Were you guys friends before you toured?

SR: The stars aligned to create the greatest rock n roll tour 2008's ever seen..and probably will ever see. We were not really aware of each other before, but all good friends now, and you can expect to see us playing together again soon.

URG: What is your favorite song to perform live? Other than "Hair of the Dog", do you guys like playing any covers?

SR: They're all a great time to play! We've got a blues jam called 'Swingin' Blade' that will be on a future record that is particularly enjoyable for us. And yeah, we love playing covers. From time to time, when we get the wild hair, we'll do a whole gig of cover tunes.

URG: Do you have any new material that you are working on? What can we expect from your next album?

SR: We've got a load of new material, and we're very excited for folks to hear it. Expect a new jam or two to find its way into our sets over the coming months.

URG: Are there any bands you're really digging right now? What album are you listening to at this point?

SR: There's a few bands here in Atlanta that are bringing some good tunes. Our boys Steadlur and Program The Dead. As for records we're all listening to, there are alot of them. Zappa, The Stones, CCR, Dylan, James Gang and the list goes on and on...

URG: I know that when you're the opening band, it's always tough. You have fans that are there for the headliners and I noticed at the show in Baltimore, the fans were somewhat slow to catch on. Do you find that difficult or frustrating or do you like having to prove yourself?

SR: As a band, you're always trying to prove yourself and outdo what you did before. If it were easy, it wouldn't be near as much fun. We enjoy the challenge.

URG: For the last question in each of my interviews, I like to end on a variation of the same question. That question is:

You are going to open for a new super-group. You get to choose the members. Create the dream headliner for you to open up for.

SR:
Vocals: Bon Scott
Lead Guitar: Jimi Hendrix
Rhythm Guitar: Frank Zappa
Bass: The guy from Free (Andy Fraser), cause he puts the rest of these guys to shame!
Drums: John Bonham


After the hugely successful tour, StoneRider has been busy at work with new material. The shift from the hardcore style of "Fight Paris" to the smooth, dirty, old-school rock style of "StoneRider" was a welcome one. The shift also proved their versatility in their songwriting and performance ability. I can only hope that the new album that they are currently working on provides more of what made me love "Three Legs of Trouble" and that I get to see them again in their next tour.

Saturday, September 20, 2008