1. You are very much in touch with Savatage fans through savatage.com. In
a way, you've become something of a spokesman for the band. What affect has this had on
you as a performer and artist?
First off...hello and thanks for the interview. I think the biggest
affect it has on me is that I feel a huge responsibility to make sure Savatage stays true
to its fans. As a performer, I know they are proud to be fans of the band, so I push
myself to make sure that they have someone to be proud of. The fans are a big reason that I keep pushing myself as a
guitarist. Plus their support of me thru the times of change has been very inspiring to my
playing on this new CD.
2. Which bands/artists did you listen to as a teenager?
I listened to Kiss, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Rush, Beatles, Deep
Purple,
Triumph, Maiden, Nugent, Saxon, Accept, Scorpions, MSG, Riot....I was a metal head!!!
3. Which bands/artists do you listen to now?
The same ones!!!!
4. All-time favorite albums?
Kiss Alive, Sabbath - Sabotage, Maiden - Piece of Mind, Wings over
America - Paul McCartney, Rush - All the World's a Stage, Hall of the Mountain King!!!
5. How would you describe Savatage's upcoming album Poets &
Madmen?
It is very Cool!!! A classic Sava-CD. All the things you ever liked
about us rolled into one cd!!!
6. Which guitarists influenced you the most? And what was it about
them that attracted you to their
styles?
Michael Schenker...he was a great soloist...so was Ace Frehley.
There are too many guitarists I have stolen from!
7. You have been heavily involved in the songwriting on Poets &
Madmen. Could you give us a glimpse at the songwriting process and what you, Jon and
producer Paul O'Neill each brings to the songs?
This CD...Jon and I wrote most of the music. Pretty evenly. Of the
13 songs, I co-wrote 11. Paul listens to what we have and will either love it, hate it, or
help change it. He has a great ear. He brings things out of the music I would never hear.
Then Jon writes some melodies in advance, but a real lot with Paul. Paul writes most of
the lyrics and Jon fills in the blanks. It is a unique process, but it is working very
well. Jon and Paul are both amazing writers and have helped my writing a lot.
8. Because of the departure of guitarist Al Pitrelli from Savatage
to Megadeth, will you be doing all the guitar work for Poets & Madmen?
Yup.
 9. Who or what has influenced you the
most in the process of writing and recording the new album?
I think there are a lot of things...the fans for one. They have told
us what they want to hear. My personal life...it was a tough year and a lot of that is in
the riffs!!! Good for everyone! Very Heavy! Then there is the pressure of me doing the
guitars on a Savatage all by myself, in the beginning, I was not even onstage with the
band. Now I am the lead guitarist. That has inspired me, I want to make Criss Oliva proud.
10. How do you think Poets & Madmen differs the most from Dead
Winter Dead and The Wake of Magellan?
It is more straight forward. Way more guitar oriented. Plus, Jon
sings half!
11. You're a close friend of John West (former Artension vocalist
and now current front man for Royal Hunt). Any chance we will see the two of you do a
project together?
I believe I will play on John's new solo CD in the late Summer. I
did a song on a Maiden tribute CD with him. It was called Slave to the Power on Meteor
City records.
12. I know you follow sports pretty closely. Which team is your
favorite and why?
Every sport I have a different favorite. I like all the NY/NJ teams
except for the Islanders!!!! I have to lean towards the Mets, Giants, Devils and Knicks as
favorites.
13. Thanks for the interview. Would you like to add anything else?
I can't wait for everyone to hear the new CD...it will be worth the
wait... |
