I started playing guitar in 1977 at the age of 11. I would pick up riffs and progressions from Aerosmith, Kiss, Ted Nugent, and Frampton records. I also started taking lessons from a Ray Eicher at Cambell's Music in York PA,(they are still there). I would bring in records of what I liked and Ray would teach me right off the records, I think the first song I actually learned was jumping Jack Flash. Then my family moved to Cleveland Ohio and I tried to take lessons from this guy who did it straight out of the Mel Bay books. I lasted about a couple of months.At this time my taste in music started getting headier with stuff like Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Yes, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, old Genesis, etc. In retrospect I couldn't play any of the stuff but I loved it ! I also had a real good technical side developing with my fingers and the different tonal things I could do with them like sliding up to a chord from a half step down instead of just playing the chord straight.

Since that time I gained a lot of knowledge about music theory, song crafting, musicianship, tone, and equipment. This all helps in the game of coming up with a format so I can get down to playing, which when you get down to it is what its all about, plugging in and enjoying what you can do with sound. I like being a single guitarist in a band because it gives me more room to experiment with effects and soundscapes without stepping on anybody's territory or pissing somebody off. Its not an ego thing its just easier for me this way. I love using effects like delay, tremolo, distortion, reverb, and a smooth to growling tube tone. I can get just about anything I need from that set-up, whatever else is out there will have to be discovered when I have money for more effects pedals!

I mostly enjoy creating original music, its way less constricting and I can explore the fretboard on my own terms. That way I don;t end up feeling threatened or incompetent because I cant hit a note like John Lennon or play a solo like Jimmy Page, that stuff just gets in the way of the true goal which is to express what's inside. Although people in the audience sometimes like to hear familiar covers, when I play covers I put my own spin on it. What ever the image is, or gimmick, or whatever face the scene is wearing at the time, underneath I can always tell if I'm interested in specific type of music or band, because of the foundations, the tones, the beats, the notes and scales, they cut through the bullshit.

My approach now is that every time the band gets together or every time I pick up a guitar it's a sacred event and I have every bit as much access to the same notes and frets as Carlos Santana or David Gilmore do.