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FA: How old were you when you learned to play guitar? What music did you like?
I started playing guitar when I was about 10 years old, I was really into punk rock at the time– Black Flag, Misfits, D.R.I….bands like that. I just learned; I never had any lessons or anything. I would just sit in my room, play records, and play until I figured things out.
Then as I learned more I got into Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, and all that stuff. Growing up in the eighties, there were all these guys with pointy guitars and big hair, and I just could never get into that. I was way more into Johnny Marr (The Smiths) and The Edge (U2) and Robert Smith (The Cure). Guys that were coming up with great parts, who played melodically with great tone.
FA: What was your first band?
I was in the seventh grade. We’d play Dead Milkmen covers and stuff like that. We would learn these songs and then we’d write our own little punk songs, just power chord rock. We did it for a while before we knew we were supposed to be in tune with one another.
FA: Did the band have a name?
One of the first bands was named Fair Warning after a Van Halen album; the drummer’s brother was way into that band. The name was apropos in more ways than one. [He laughs.]
FA: If you could give advice to a young player, what would it be?
The most important thing is to be an individual. Figure out who you are as an artist and as a musician, and explore that to the fullest extent.
Something that’s important to whatever you do is learn to be a part of a group, play in a band, listen to other musicians, don’t play to be heard all the time, play what’s best for the song.
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FA: What do you think is the best thing about being a musician?
Not having a day job! (He laughs) My work is play. I play for a living. That’s definitely my favorite thing…and just being creative.
I try to put new ideas into everything I can. I love working w/other artists…I write, produce, record, I love it all. There are two sides to it, your art and your craft. My craft is guitar playing, and art is coming up with new sounds and ideas. You can’t have one without the other.
FA: What would you say is the biggest challenge as a musician?
Staying healthy on the road… and being away from my family (he has two kids). The tours I do lately are great though, I really can’t complain.
FA: Do your kids play any instruments yet?
She likes to sing and she’s got a karaoke machine. We bought her a little First Act piano, though I’ve probably used it more than she has. I use it in recordings all the time, it has a sort of spooky sound.
My 18-month-old son is obsessed with drums…
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