Andy Timmons is someone I've jammed with many times over the years, and we always have a great chemistry when playing together.
Being a fan of pop music and rock bands, I am a reluctant convert into the art of instrumental rock music.
From the start, I held the pick in an unusual way. I used to bend my thumb way back in order to get a good angle for fast playing. I played that way for 10 years.
The first song on my first album is not a song - it's a guitar solo! It's called 'Frenzy,' and it's pretty much nonstop maniacal guitar playing. I had just turned 19, and I had some serious muscle then.
I grew up in the '70s, so I even love the music that I didn't like from that era.
With Racer X, whenever we have time, we try to put a record together. And that's always fun because the guys in the band are great friends and I don't think I ever laugh as hard as I do when I'm with the Racer X guys.
Just about every rock band and every guitar player from 1964 to 1984. To me, that's the golden period of rock. From the first Beatles album hitting America to the last Van Halen album with David Lee Roth. That's where all my favorite rock exists.
At the time, it all seemed pretty normal. It was okay to have a pink guitar and glow-in-the-dark pants, and play with a drill. 1987, that was the worst year. I think that was the worst year for capes and for hair!
Music and guitar are my favorite things, so it's fun to get together with other people who share the passion and talk about the details.
Everyone has to start somewhere! I certainly didn't sound great when I first started playing, and I remember all my guitar teachers, both good and bad, and what it felt like to struggle with even the simplest of things.
Teaching is just something that has come naturally to me. I didn't set out to be a teacher. I wanted to be a Beatle! But there were only four of them, so the job openings were really limited.
There's nothing like sitting down and playing music with somebody. It breaks down all the barriers in life.
When I look back at the span that Mr. Big lasted, we had some unbelievable times. But there were grueling times, too.
Being in a band is hard. Even if you like somebody, you start to argue over silly things.
A rock band with vocals is what I always wanted to be a part of; in fact, it feels very natural for me.
I prefer playing in songs where I have a tempo, groove and harmonic map to hang on to.
Teaching the guitar is a constant source of inspiration. I sometimes think I get more out of the lessons than my students.
Tony MacAlpine not only plays guitar, but is a stunning classical piano player, so he can show how that influence molded his guitar playing.
My brain has been programmed to listen to music a certain way because of the Beatles.
I went from wanting to be a Beatle to becoming a 'widdly-widdly' guitar player.
