Can you give us a brief history of your
playing career?
I've been playing every day for 42 and a half years. I started
with rock 'n roll and blues, moved into acoustic music, found
my way into jazz and eventually country guitar and classical music
before coming full circle to rock and blues. Along the way I've
been a studio musician for 29 years, a member of Supertramp for
23 years and a solo artist/band leader for 19 years. I like to
play all kinds of music, but my own music sounds a bit like blues
and jazz and rock fusion.
What inspired you to start playing guitar?
It was Roger McGuinn of the Byrds and George Harrison.
What was your first electric guitar?
A Japanese four pickup thing... I have no idea what it was but
I was happy to have it!
What are your top 5 favorite records?
Kind of Blue - Miles Davis
Electric Ladyland - Jimi Hendrix
We'll be Together Again - Pat Martino
Wheels of Fire - Cream
Standard Brands - Chet Atkins & Lenny Breau
But this list changes all the time!
What was the proudest moment and/or performance
of your playing career?
There have been many! When I go to a far away country and people
in the front row know the words to my songs I am very proud. I
might have written those lyrics in the kitchen of my house in
California, and here they are singing them in Italy! Or sometimes
I'll hear an interview by a famous guitarist on the radio and
he'll say I was a big influence...
How did you hear about Reverend?
I saw them at the NAMM show in Los Angeles, played them and
loved the sound!
What Reverend guitar(s) are you using?
Reverend Guitars are not really my main guitars, more like my
secret weapons! I have the Manta Ray, a Slingshot and a Rocco.
I like the P-90s a lot, especially through a little amp cranked
up loud.
What do you like about your Reverend guitar?
I don't worry about them at outdoor venues or on long tours. I
can ride them hard and put them away wet! In the studio they always
have a vibe that's completely different than my Gibsons and Fenders.
What amps and pedals do you currently use?
I probably have 40 different amps. I keep six in Europe alone.
I like Vox, Marshall, Dr Z, THD, Fender... there are so many classics!
My pedal collection is around 165 on three different pedal boards
and loose in various drawers in my home studio and in my cartage
trunks. I believe I have a good example of nearly everything!
That has always been my goal as a studio musician, but as I developed
my solo career I became much more selective and only acquired
the gear that enables me to make the guitar sound like I want
it to sound.
Do you have any unusual hobbies, skills,
or pastimes you'd like to share with us?
I like to wash my car. I get after it once or twice a week.
I like to barbecue and I like Johannes Vermeer's paintings.
Do you have any advice for up and coming
players?
Don't sell it if it sounds good, unless it's to me!
Please tell us about any of your current
projects, tours, cds, etc. we should know about:
I'm on tour around 4 months a year all over the world. My
newest CD is called Take
One Step and uses the Rev Rocco on a song called "You
Bring Me Down." My latest book is called "Improvising
Without Scales." I always have something cookin'... next
year a new CD!
