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ANDY ENGLAND An interview with instrumental metal guitar speedster, Andy England. PB: Hey Andy, where's home for you? ANDY: I live in Leeds Alabama, right outside Birmingham Alabama. PB: When did you get into playing guitar? ANDY: 22 years ago.. when I was 20. I dreamed of playing guitar as a kid but didn't pick it up till I was 20. Glad that I did, just wish that I would have sooner. PB: Who are your biggest musical influences? ANDY: Ace Frehley, Dennis Cameron, Paul Gilbert, Rex Carroll, Zakk Wylde PB: Tell me about your gear: at least what you use most of the time? ANDY: Okay, I'll run down my list: 1) Custom built 85 Kramer Baretta w/ Seymour Duncan JB pickups, Floyd Rose trem. 2) Kramer Baretta FR404S/D with Dimarzio Tone Zone in Bridge and Floyd Rose trem 3) Ibanez Performer Acoustic 4) Late 80's Crate GS 150 watt combo 5) Marshall JCM 900 Dual Reverb 100 watt head w/4x12 Marshall slant cab 6) Dunlop Crybaby Wah 7) Boss GT-6 effects processor 8) Monster Cables I use the 85 Kramer most of the time cause I love it's thick sounding JB pickups. I use the Baretta FR404S/D for the really really fast solos because it's slim tapered neck lends itself to faster playing. PB: How long have you been a Christian? ANDY: Since January 1983. My brother and his friends from church led me to the Lord. PB: How does being a Christian affect your perspective on music? ANDY: I believe music is a gift that we should use to worship and praise God and that's what I want to do. I want to express my love for Jesus Christ in song so that others may hear the message of salvation. I believe metal is a great tool for witnessing to the lost. PB: Where on the web can people check out your music and learn more about you? ANDY: My demo 'Joyful Noise' is at soundclick.com--just type in 'Andy England' in the search box to navigate to it. I also have a yahoo group-- Christianmetalguitarist that anyone who loves christian metal guitar can join. I'm currently writing music for a future self release CD featuring guest appearances by Dennis Cameron of Angelica/Cynical Limit and Tim Gaines of Stryper. Check Andy out at myspace www.myspace.com/gtr1963 |
JON HOOPER |
Special guests on SHRED |
DAVID JACOB David sent me a really great song! I fell in love with it and approached him about making it part of SHRED. He graciously said, "Sure!" The version you'll hear on SHRED is David doing all the acoustic guitar work--with my percussion, bass, keys, lead guitar work & miscellaneous artisitic touches sprinkled in! Here's what David emailed me the very first time he listend to the finished version of "HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND"... "DUDE YOU'RE THE MAN!!! :-) I can't believe how awesome the song turned out! Man, you really did a great job! I really really like the blistering solos and how much the bass adds to it at the end of the song. its amazing!!! Thankyou again pastor brad :-) God bless!!! --David" David played all the accoustic parts on "Have a good weekend." David, Thank you so much for being part of this very special project! --PB An interview with instrumental "accoustic/emo/metal guitar wizard, David Jacob PB: Hey David, where's home for you? DAVID: I've always lived in the nice city of Racine, Wisconsin. (This will also be my shortest answer...just a warning) :-) PB: When did you get into playing guitar? DAVID: I've always had a guitar...ever since I was about 2 years old. I never seriously started playing it until I was about 10. My mom started teaching me the basics... I took off from there. I took guitar lessons for about two years, which helped my technique. I've been practicing on my own since then, working on speed, chords and every other skill that a guitarist would like to build. I'm no where near as good as I'd like to be, yet some crazy people think I'm the fastest and most creative 19 year old guitar player in all of Racine and Kenosha. Hahaha! PB: Who are your biggest musical influences? DAVID: Well, if you mean acoustic guitar playing, I really admire Michael Hedges. I think he writes some of the most creative and beautiful melodies ever played on an acoustic guitar. Now, for the electric guitar, my influences consist of a mix of Six Parts Seven, Explosions In The Sky, Red Stars Theory, Deftones, Steve Vai, Al DiMeola, Joe Satriani, and of course Phil Keaggy! ...and Pastor Brad! :-) PB: Tell me about your gear...at least what you use most of the time? DAVID: For the electric guitars, I have a Yamaha Pacifica 112 (which I hate), an Ibanez S470 (which is nice), and a Parker P-42 (which I love passionately). On the acoustic side of life, I have an old Gibson something or other. Its probably 80 years old and worth a lot. It has a lot of spirit to it...I truly like that. Then, I have a beautiful Martin DCXE. I ordered it as a Christmas present and it came the next May or something like that. It was well worth the wait...and the anger. :-) I have a Laney HC-Hardcore 50 watt amp...I use this for acoustic and electric guitars. It sounds absolutely horrible, but its been with me through the years and across the country when I've played...so its not so bad...I suppose. PB: How long have you been a Christian? DAVID: I've been a "Christian" for as long as I can remember. ...very cliche, I know. When I was about 16, I decided to really really live for God and devote my life to Him. Its nice to be labeled a "Christian"...it just feels safe in a way...but its a lot more than a label or a religion; its a life style and a relationship. Yea, it sounds cheesy, but that's what I know to be true. I've been living for Jesus and giving it my best shot ever since. :-) PB: How does being a Christian affect your perspective on music? DAVID: The way I see it, secular music is nice and there's often times more innovation and talent in secular artist's music. However, with Christian music, .there's just something different about it... there's purpose to it. Its not a "look at what I can do and how much talent I have" kind of music. Its a "Hey, Jesus, wanna hear this really cool love song I wrote for you?" kind of music. That's what makes it so awesome! PB: Where on the web can people check out your music and learn more about you? DAVID: I'm in three bands. Retina: a mostly instrumental solo project. www.myspace.com/retinamusic With Heaven In Mind: an emo band that I play guitar and do back up vocals for. www.myspace.com/withheaveninmind Turn Out The Stars: a hardcore/thrash band that I scream in. www.myspace.com/turnoutthestarsband You can also reach me by AOL Instant Messanger: blackwarp101 Or by E-mail: iamdavidjacob@sbcglobal.net |
* Denotes songs Jon, Andy and/or David appear on. 1. Shred 4:49 2. Pulse 4:48 3. *Redder 3:49 4. God rest ye merry gentlemen 4:06 5. Skipping Along 4:13 6. Jesus Stomp 3:51 7. Angels we have heard on high 4:15 8. *Have a good weekend 5:25 9. *FA 2 5:19 10. Better Daze 4:00 11. The Fellowship 3:46 12. We three kings 3:40 13. *Bring it on 2 4:02 14. *Shred of Heaven 4:30 |
PB's Instrumental Metal Guitar Project SHRED |
An interview with instrumental metal guitar wizard, Jon "Hoops" Hooper. PB: Hey Jon, where’s home for you? JON: I'm at home out in the middle of nowhere. (hahaha) I live out in the country. I love to look out my window and see Gods creation. I am a country boy. I live outside a little town called Millbrook, Ontario, Canada. PB: When did you get into playing guitar? JON: I was 11 years old and my dad brought home my first electric guitar and amp. I was so excited I must of played it for hours. About a couple weeks later I started taking lessons and from then on I have never put the thing down. PB: Who are your biggest musical influences? JON: For guitar it started with Phil Keaggy and then I found stuff from Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Also bands like the Rez Band, Stryper, King's X, Iron Maiden, Megadeth and Deliverance. The list is a long one but those are the biggest. PB: Tell me about your gear… at least what you use most of the time? JON: I collect gear so I have many pieces. I guess my favorite set up is my Marshall JMP-1 pre amp and Peavey Classic 50/50 tube power amp. I run it into a single twelve speaker cabinet. For guitars I like Ibanez, Godin and Peavey. Fx I like gust a little bit of delay. Pretty simple really. PB: How long have you been a Christian? JON: I became a Christian at the age of nine. My mom and dad always made sure we knew the truth. I thank God for my family. Almost everyone in my family is a Christian. Thats including relatives as well. PB: How does being a Christian affect your perspective on music? JON: It affects it greatly. I didn't pursue music for the same reasons others do. I wasn't doing it for the money or to get the girls or to be popular. I have a love for music that I believe God put in my heart. So I use my music to praise Him. Hopefully he uses me to reach others through my music. PB: Where on the web can people check out your music and learn more about you? JON: The web site is http://www.unforsaken.ca. If you go there you can find out about the band I am in (Unforsaken) and my solo project and more about me (Jon Hooper). Check out Jon's site Unforsaken/Jon Hooper |
Andy's intitial response to SHRED... "Got the Cd today Brad. I have to compliment you on the production, sound and overall professionalism this Cd is. My hats off to you!!! You did a wonderful job. It sounds so killer!!! I know it was a labor of love and I'm honored that you let me be a part of it." |
Jon's initial response after giving SHRED a spin... "Hey Brad, I just got the CD today. I have already listen to it. I was like a little kid at Christmas opening the package. Well, I must say I love the CD. All the songs are great. I can see why Rich was so jazzed about it. It was very inspiring to listen to. You have great ideas. I even like the changes to the songs I worked on. I wish we lived closer together. It would be great to work together on songs. Oh well, this method we are doing will have to do." |
"I've been jamming to SHRED for several days now and its awesome! Finally, an 80's
style hard rock album that is nothing but lead solos. No crappy, ethereal, supposedly
"artistic" type stuff...just awesome, skillful, ripping shredding!!! Brad - you done good, my friend...VERY good! 'Have a Good Weekend' is awesome!!" "Follower of Jesus" @ The Christian Metal Realm "Just got this cd and I was blown away! I knew that Brad was a stellar guitar player, but this cd is really smokin'! I hear elements of EVH, Vai, Gary Hoey, and even a bit of Satriani in there. This is some serious metal riffage!" --Nick "Tall Tyrion" @ The Christian Metal Realm |
"I just wanted to let you know that getting Shred made my day yesterday. It
didn't take away the flu but it got me to forget I was sick for awhile and to
get excited about this kind of music. For the year 2005 I think that Shred
ranks high up among Rob Rock's Holy Hell and Audiovision's The Calling." Rob "The Deacon of Metal" Deacon Rochester, NY |
"Brad, the guitarshredding pastor is back again! This time he has got help by his
fellow shredders Jon Hooper (Unforsaken), Andy England and David Jacob. And man
these dudes truly know how to shred! Cause what we got here is a cd filled with
enjoyable guitarsolos, tasty riffs and hooks. It's really enjoyable and all
instrumental... this cd just shreds! If you are like me and love guitar solos this
cd is a must have!" Johannes Jonson --Metal for Jesus.org |
"Shred is a great cd. I just got done playing the Jesus Stomp for a month on
the station and it did very well. I've also been spinning tracks from the out
of the...cd and they are doing well. I also think this is an excellent cd as well.
When your stuff gets thumbs up votes I get all geeked up because I know
someone just got fed a heavy dose of "Metal Praize". Bruce Kingdom Rock Radio |
"This CD "Shred" SHREDS!!!!! This is must have metal at it's finest. Pastor Brad
is blessed with the AWESOME ability to play like the big boys and even better.
It's also must play material at grandma's house during Christmas present opening
time, it will be a tradition through out the years and Grandma will love it,
so get one for her too!" Richard Lynch/SAINT |
Jon "Hoops" Hooper is a shredaholic! You'll see in the interview below
that he has a wide variety of influences in his background--but the ones I hear
most are Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. By that I mean Jon's playing is
packed with "feel," "passion" and "great technique." He's just masterful
guitar player's guitarist! Needless to say, this instumental metal guitar
project was blessed a great deal by Jon's contributions. Thanks Jon!
--PB Jon shreds on: Redder FA 2 Bring it on 2 Shred of Heaven |
I'm so glad Andy agreed to lend his blindingly fast fingers to the SHRED project!
If you're into 80's style metal guitar work, then you know that "speed"
was a big part of the playing in that era! And Andy's got it! He adds
a lot to this inntrumental metal guitar disc. Thanks Andy! --PB Andy shreds on: Redder Bring it on again Shred of Heaven |
After a few spins--Andy writes-- I've been listening to 'Shred' everyday for hours on end now and to tell you the truth.. my favorite song on there is 'Better Daze'. I can't keep that melody out of my head. That is the best metal instrumental I've ever heard. It literally gives me chills to hear it everytime. I only wish I had written it.. ha ha!!!! |
"What's in a name? In the case of Pastor Brad's Shred, a lot! This CD indeed does
shred. When I think of that word I tend to think of guys like Satriani, Vai and
Malmsteen. Well, Pastor Brad and friends are also in that same school of instrumental
guitar rock. The difference is that Pastor Brad is a bit more melodic
and probably a bit bluesier than those guys as well. Think more along the lines
of Steve Morris, or even Van Halen without vocals. Each song on this CD tells
a story. Whereas some instrumental CDs tend to be a bunch of riffs for the guitarist
to lay down some choice wankey, Pastor Brad has actually written songs for
which the guitar leads to tell a story over. Yes, the songs actually have hooks.
Brad brought along some friends to help him out as well. Fellow shredders Jon
Hooper (Unforsaken), Andy England and David Jacob all lay down some choice chops
as well. While the entire CD is a solid listen, a couple songs that really
stood out to me was "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Angels We Have Heard on
High". I would actually love to have an entire CD of Christmas music like this.
(Hint, hint Pastor Brad)." Scott Waters/Ultimatum & No Life Til Metal |
Sample tunes available at all these locations! |