Session Guitarist, Songwriting

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: I've been playing professionally most of my life. I've been in Honeymoon Suite since 1983. I started out playing in local cover bands at 16. After high school I attended Fanshawe College in London Ont. and graduated with a diploma in Music Production. I then moved to Toronto, Canada and after several years, I met Johnnie Dee and joined Honeymoon Suite. A year later we signed with Warner Music and recorded our first album which was released worldwide and went triple platinum in Canada on the strength of 4 hit singles, the first of which was my song "New Girl Now". The band went on to huge success and toured in United States, Canada and Europe in the years that followed. I still continue to write and record with HMS today and also spend time in Nashville co-writing for other artists.

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: The 2nd Honeymoon Suite album entitled "The Big Prize" was one of our best. Produced by Bruce Fairbairn and Bob Rock it sounded amazing. I feel my guitar playing and writing were in top form and I am proud of that album.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Currently I am doing final overdubs on the new Honeymoon Suite album as well as starting tracks for my first solo instrumental cd.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Love the warmth of analog, nothing will ever replace it, but digital is the only way now to work quickly and efficiently.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: I promise to do my best to deliver tracks that you are happy with, and if not, we will work together until your satisfied.

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I love to play & write everyday....it never gets old. I am very fortunate that I can earn a living from music.

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: What are you looking for in your song? What can I bring to your song to take it to the next level?

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Check out my catalogue with Honeymoon Suite. I have played on every album and written almost every song.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: My Gibson acoustic, SG, Les Paul, my pedal board and a Marshall head & cab.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I would say I'm a hybrid between the classical/blues rock style of Ritchie Blackmore and the "play from the gut" style of Eddie Van Halen, with a little of the Mick Jones "Foreigner" style riffing thrown in.

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: It's cliche but "less is more". Recording dozens of tracks will not make a weak song any better. Melody and lyrics are most important, and then build the instruments around them.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Usually melodic rock and heavier rock.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: I am very good at top line melodies and writing sections such as verses, bridges, chorus's etc.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring my own personality into the song but being careful to always serve the song and not myself.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: Songwriting always starts with a riff or chord progression. Establish a tempo and lay the idea down as a sketch to click. Then find the groove and lay down a drum & bass track, followed by rhythm guitars, keyboards and solo's, Finally lyrics and vocals.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: Ritchie Blackmore, Eddie Van Halen, Santana, Billy Gibbons, Joe Satriani, Keith Urban. Mutt Lange, Bruce Fairbairn, Bob Rock, Peter Gabriel.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: iMac W/ Logic, Yamaha NS10 Monitors, Behringer Firepower Interface. Guitars: 76 Les Paul Custom, Gibson SG, 3 Fender Stratocastors, Peavey Wolfgang, 4 Kramer Baretta's, Godin Derry Grehan Signature Model. Acoustics: Gibson Songwriter, Taylor Mini, Takamine 12 String & Classical, Riversong Custom, Seagull. Pedals: Line 6 M13, Line 6 M9, Cry Baby Wah, EH Canyon.