I will be doing three more records for them.  The next will be insrumental and should be released in early 2001.  There are also plans to do a vocal project or two.

I really liked the style of the "Meltdown" and "Out of Nowhere" CD's. But it is important to not repeat the same style over and over.  This would be boring for me. The thing that keeps me excited about making records is that I never know what will come out of my head next.  I didn't decide to go back to the earlier style, it just kind of happened naturally.  I started writing songs and my earlier influences started to come out again.

Thank you! This CD is very close to my heart because many of the songs were written about personal things.

It will be interesting to see what happens in the future.  No one really knows what is going on at this point.  The future may very well be on the web, but there is much that needs to be organized and figured out.  If people are downloading anything that they wish without paying fot it, then eventually there will be no more artists because no artist can make music without getting remunerated for it.  This could have a significant impact on our great "artform".

Most of the music is finished.  So far it has turned out basically in a similar style to THE MAZE but a lot different at the same time.  I would say that it is closer in style to Mind's Eye, Time Odyssey, and The Maze than it is to Meltdown and Out of Nowhere.

Well, I wouldn't necessarily say my playing is more "70's," although I think I know what you mean. The music I play in Skol Patrol is more influenced by that era. But I try to do it with a modern sound and feel. People at the shows say it sounds like the same guy with a lot more harmonic knowledge, dynamics and musicianship. Hopefully they're right!

That's definately true, although I'm careful about using the word "jazz." It implies a strict style of music, and I tend to think of it more in terms of improvisation (a lot of musicians have said the same thing, including piano great Bill Evans). But yes, my playing is all about improvisation and interaction. I'm playing with different instrumentalists, not just bass and drums and it's really exciting. I'm interacting with the other players, with the crowd, with my feelings, and I never know exactly what's going to come out. That's why I play music. I just can't limit myself to playing the same thing night after night, and realizing that is what's caused this dramatic change in my playing (not to mention devoting the last several years to intense studying).

It has to do with a couple things. One is that people know me more for my past. In addition, the world of improvisation is a tough one. It's not as appreciated as pop and rock, and to survive as a musician, especially here in New York, you have to work very hard. But it's worth it. Also, I think the idea a known heavy metal guitarist blossoming into other styles is almost unheard of. I think it's too bad because there are so many players out there who put so much time into their instruments, and could do much more with it. Finally, the truth: I really needed to take several years and just practice and study. Could I play Testament well? Yes. Could I play how I wanted to? No.

I'm very proud to present a new project, the Skol Trio. It's an acoustic trio with Matt Zebroski on drums and Reid Tayor on upright bass, (a couple great young players I've met here in New York). These guys, like myself, grew up on hard rock/metal and went on to explore other styles of music. So what we've decided to do is get together and play in an improvisational context. However, while many groups of this type stick to the established repertoire of improvised music, we've decided to combine that with the music we grew up on and still love. So far, we've been combining standards of the traditional "jazz" repertoire ( Kern, Rogers and Hart, Wayne Shorter etc..) with tunes of great hard rock bands (Kiss and Scorpions, for example). I know it sounds a bit crazy, but it works! There's also a bunch of originals I've written for this group. It's nice to be breaking down these categories such as "jazz" and "rock." The truth is that it's all music and we feel that listeners of all types will enjoy it.

This was such a fun CD to do. I have always loved Steve Smith and Ross Valory's playing in Journey. It was an amazing experience to say the least. To have Michael Lee Firkins, Robin DiMaggio, Stu Hamm and Tim Bradford join me on the disc is something I will always treasure. What a great bunch of guys and great musicians.

I don't know!!! There are so many talented and gifted players on there that I have never heard of. It is really scary. I think it is such a great outlet to get your music out there and get your name known. I think it is a great way to go.

I think that it is always about the songs. Forget about HOW or WHAT you use to record or get the idea across. I think alot of artists lose focus that the SONG is what it is all about. Plus, I just have to play what I feel...

I would for sure say with pride that I am a Rock guitarist. I know what I do best and that is play the style and genre that I do now. I can play other styles and licks, but the true depth of me is what I am doing right now.

Ahh...the elusive Spider-Man guitar that no one ever forgets! The Hamer Spider-Man is retired to a nice safe closet in my house. It was an amazing guitar with the graphics and LEDs and all of that, but I just look for something different in my guitars now than I did back then. I have been in love with my Peavey Wolfgangs for some time now. In fact, they just came out with a Wolfgang custom shop so I have a feeling that you will be seeing a new Spider-Man Wolfgang in the near future. You heard it here first!

Joe was one of the greatest guys I could have ever met. A monster of a player and a sweetheart of a guy. A true gentleman and musician of the highest degree.

Theres a lot of good guitar players like Chris Godin, Manu Livertout in Metal style. And of course Sylvain Luc, the best guitar player of the universe !This guy plays any kind of styles, very inspired, he has a great technique, with and without the pick, a strong rhythm a lot of feeling... But like in every countries, it's very hard to perform instrumental rock music here, people never take risk to plan guitar shows. Most of time I do demo, master class, and often play live because music schools organise shows themselves.We don't find concerts easily.That's the way it works here.

Confusion was composed in very short time, all by myself. I had to write all drums, keyboards parts...and we never played together before to record.That's why I didn't feel all the changes inside the song at this point of the album. I couldn't create atmosphere and climat just by working on a computer.

The dedication to J.B, was something natural for me, I was a lot in his music at this time. I have even been to his home, in Richmond, was received by his father who pretended that he was doing fine and not here this day. But I know he was here, but he didn't want to see anyone.We took pictures with his father, he gave me picks. Later, Jason wrote to me and said that his father recognised me on photos, he said he was very affected to see that I came from France to meet him.

Today I don't work in an Ibanez school, never been endorsed by Ibanez too. The deal with Godin stopped when I agreed to play on Peavey guitars, not only on the amps. I have contract with Italian strings, Galli.

I used to play football and when i could't get big enough i went over to the coach's house to tell him i wasn't going to play anymore . While there , the coach's son LeRoy came out with a Les Paul in one hand and a beer in the other . LeRoy started waiing on Hendrix , Sabbath , Van Halen and "new" Ozzy . I became a lifer right then and there .

Marshall JCM 800/100 Watt Amps, Electro Voice 200 Watt Speakers, Gibson Guitars/Les Paul mainly, Boss Chorus/Boss Super Overdrive/Jimi Dunlop Rotovibe/Jimi Dunlop Jimi Hendrix Wah Wah.

Black Label Sciety is my new band . Sonic Brew is the album .

Riffs ... Beer ... Melody ... Beer ... Lyrics ... Beer ... in that order most of the time !!!

Al DiMeola , John McLaughlin , Paco DeLucia , Frank Marino , Robin Trower and Albert Lee .

I love the phrasing and all the right hand picking !

Richie is a great guitarist and can sing his ass off . I haven't heard his new stuff though.

Ya never know ! But it would have to be Brian Tichy , James Lomenzo and myself because that's Pride & Glory . Right now I'm happy as ..... a pig in shit dwelling in the Black Label Society !!!

Play what you love and what's in your heart and if anyone opposes that, tell them to go ... FUCK ... themselves !!!