Pastor Brad's 80s Christian Metal Guitar World! The Christian Extreme Interview May 2005 Christian Extreme: How long have you been playing guitar and how many cd's have you released? Pastor Brad: I bought my first guitar, a 1973 Fender Tele Custom Deluxe back in 1982 for 300 bucks. I've had lots of guitars since then-but my tele is by far my favorite. To date, I've released five CDs-GET REAL, Rock You Up, Out of the Hellhole, TELECASTER and The King Has Come… And I just began work on a new project. It's my first totally instrumental CD. I'm calling "SHRED." It's gonna be packed with 50+ minutes of 80s style, shreddin guitar! Christian Extreme: What bands did you listen to growing up and which ones influenced you the most? Pastor Brad: I'll never for get it. I was in the 5th grade, 1977, Mr. Dobinspeck's class… He was a really cool teacher… he had this game we played where we earned play money for our academic work… we had a mock bank account and everything… and every Friday… at the end of the day we had an auction-people brought in stuff to sale and we'd bit on it. Well somebody brought in Kiss Alive… and I bought it… mostly because I thought the cover looked cool! But that was my first introduction to Kiss and to rock. I'd have to say that was the album that defined my musical tastes. I've been influenced quite a bit by several players-Angus Young (AC/DC), Randy Rhoads (early Ozzy), Adrian Smith and Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)… but Ace Frehley and Kiss probably influenced me that most. Christian Extreme: What would you like the listener to gain or get out of listening to one of your cds? Pastor Brad: I want everybody who listens to a PB CD to get both enjoyment and encouragement out of it. Musically, I just want to write great songs… as a guitar player I take a certain sense of pride in the guitar work on each song and lyrically, I want people to know that God is real, awesome, and that He loves them! Christian Extreme: Let everyone know about your latest project. How smoothly did the writing and recording process go with this release? Did you have any other musicians help you out? Pastor Brad: I just released THE KING HAS COME… it's available at www.cdbaby.com/all/pastorbrad. Song writing is always a pure joy for me. I generally don't have to work real hard at it… I write most of my songs on the couch at home--on my acoustic. I keep a jam box and a tape handy at all times… when I get an idea I run into the bedroom and capture it on tape. From there I lay the drums and instruments… I generally write the lyrics last. I always have a "theme" in my head for each song… and the lyrics seem to come pretty easy after I get the music in place. I know it may seem a little bit backwards, but it works for me. As for other musicians… man, I would love to hook up with some! As a full-time pastor, daddy and husband, I really don't have time to do the "band thing" … So, thus far I'm a solo recording artist. I'm really excited about a project I'm gonna do with a bro named Ian Keith Hafner. It's gonna be a Kiss parody project. We're calling it KNIGHTS IN THE SAVIOR'S SERVICE. It's gonna feature 14 classic Kiss tunes! Ian's going to lay the drum and bass guitar tracks… I'm going to handle the guitars and vocals. That will be a cool project. Christian Extreme: Do any of the events going on in the world today such as the war with Iraq or other subject matter come into play when you are writing your lyrics or do you mainly focus on man's relationship with God? Pastor Brad: I think what's happening in the world is always gonna have some impact on your thinking… so world events creep into the lyrics from time to time. But, whatever the song happens to be about… I always bring God into it… and try to share how knowing and trusting Him will affect and bless our lives. Christian Extreme: How would you describe your music? Who is your favorite band of all time? Pastor Brad: Man, I cut my musical teeth on bands like AC/DC, Kiss, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, etc… that's the music I love. And of course-bands like Stryper, Whitecross, Bloodgood, Barren Cross, Saint, etc. have really blessed me too! So-I'm pretty much an 80s style, guitar-driven, metal head… I think that describes my music pretty well. As for a favorite band of all time… that's tough. I used to would have said Kiss hands down… but Jesus really dealt with me on that back in 87 when I finally surrendered my whole heart to him. Kiss is a great band… but they don't exactly encourage me in my walk with the Lord. I'd have to say that today I don't really have a favorite. I just enjoy a little bit of everything and try to listen to primarily to "Christian friendly" bands. Christian Extreme: How long have you been a Christian? How would you describe the feeling knowing that you can help lead someone who's lost to the Loving hands of the Lord Jesus through your music and message? Pastor Brad: I grew up in a Christian home and I was baptized when I was 10… but that was more because lots of other kids in "Jr. Church" were doing it that summer. As I said above, I really surrendered my life to the Lordship of Jesus back in 1987. I could actually write a book here.. my faith journey is quite a story. If you're interested you can check out my testimony at http://www.guitarjams.net/testimony.html . Regarding how it feels to know that I can touch a heart for Jesus with my music… Bro, there's NOTHING greater than that! I love to rock… but it's all meaningless without Jesus! This is what motivates everything I do. Christian Extreme: What's the story behind the your latest cds name? I assume it's because a telecaster is your favorite guitar. Pastor Brad: Yeah… actually, The King Has Come is the brand, brand new one, but TELECASTER is pretty new too! And yep, I love my Tele! It's not a "normal" Tele… She's got a 22 fret Chandler neck, a Khaler locking trem… a mid 60s Gibson "soap-bar" pick-up in the neck position and… after trying about a 1,000 different humbuckers in the bridge position… I finally settled on the stock Fender humbucker… it's just got a great tone. So, yeah… I like my tele. As to why I named the CD TELECASTER… I just got to thinking about the fact that a TV program is called a "telecast"… the idea being that a message or a program is being "broadcast" to lots of people… the play on words is obvious… and I just thought, "Hey, I'm gonna use my TELECASTER to telecast God's love!" Christian Extreme: What Cd's do you have in your Cd player right now? Pastor Brad: Lately I've been listening to a couple really cool instrumental discs… one by a guy named Jon Hooper, called "Doorways to other Worlds" and another by a guy named Joe Nardulli… his cd is self titled. Bro, thanks so much for the interview! Keep rockin for THE ROCK! 80s metal blessings! Pastor Brad |