1. At what age did you decide to become a professional musician?
I started playing guitar at 8 years old but decided to become professional at 19
2. Who were your earliest influences?
Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull. J.S. Bach, Beethoven, Pink Floyd, Free, Robin Trower, Black Sabbath, The Beatles
3. If you couldn’t have been a musician, what else would you have become?
I originally wanted to be a jet fighter pilot like my father but when I found out I was red/green color blind and couldn’t fly jets I became a musician. If I couldn’t play guitar I’d probably be with MI5, the CIA or FBI.
4. What do you like to do outside of making music?
Playing with my daughter and watching her grow, Martial Arts, Swimming, Hiking, Skiing, Reading, Shooting, Chess, Working with the LAPD, (I’m a Specialist Reserve Officer currently working with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force), Traveling, getting up onstage for spur of the moment jams and Wild Erotic Sex.
5. What equipment do you use?
Aero3 Guitars, Fender Strats, Taylor Acoustic Guitars, Strum-n-comfort Picks, Dean Markley Strings, MXR Pedals, Morley Pedals, Dunlop Pedals, Engl Amps, Marshall Amps, Petersen Tuners, Graph Tech Saddles, Eavana Nuts, Chandler Echo Unit, Boss Pedals.
6. If you could do a collaboration album with anyone living or dead who would that be?
Steven Tyler. I would love to do a rock blues album with him.
7. You live in L.A. If you were going to get a second house where would that be?
Probably England or Santiago, Chile.
8. Who would you like to see Heaven & Earth tour with?
Aerosmith.
9. What is the best concert that you’ve ever seen?
Equal tie between Deep Purple, Rainbow and Aerosmith.
10. Do you have a favorite song on the new album “Hard to Kill”?
That’s a hard question to answer as it changes every week but at the moment it’s “L.A. Blues” and “Bad Man”.
11. Please come up with a short description of your band mates.
Joe Retta: The dark and moody singer.
Lynn Sorensen: The supercool laid back bass player.
Steve Wilson: Class Clown, essential to have on the road and although he thinks we’re laughing with him we’re really laughing at him. 🙂
Mike Mangan: The quiet keyboard player who explodes into action onstage.
12. Do you prefer the recording or touring experience?
Definitely touring. I get bored in the studio waiting around.
13. What is your favorite part of the world that you’ve visited?
Montreux, Switzerland.
14. What would be your advice to someone starting out in the music business?
Learn the ins and outs of the music business and how it works, (Read “All You Need To Know About The Music Business” by Donald Passman), Work hard at your chosen instrument. Practice when ever you can. Get lessons. Play with as many different people as possible. Avoid drugs and alcohol and don’t play with people who use them, they will waste your time. Be on time for auditions, rehearsals and shows. Be professional. Don’t be a drunk or play high. Make playing your instrument your number one passion. Find a good manager. Have every contract presented to you checked by a music attorney you completely trust. Learn as many different styles of music as you can.
15. What’s the best advice you’ve been given and who was it by?
“It’s not what you put in, it’s what you leave out” Ritchie Blackmore.
“To play a wrong note is irrelevant, to play without passion is inexcusable” Ludwig Van Beethoven.
“Music is the silence between the notes” Wolfgang Amadeus Motzart.