Guitars: Brian Moore Custom; Ibanez Phil Collen II Destroyer; Ibanez RG Strat w/three active EMG pickups & Floyd Rose tremelo; LTD Alex Laiho w/ one passive EMG pickup, Floyd Rose tremelo.
Head: Line 6 Flextone 2
Cab: Laney 4 x 12, Celestian speakers or whatever backline I get.
Strings: Di'Addario 10-49 gauge
Other: Johnson J-Station emulator, POD Pro rackmount
Recording: Fostex digital 16-track
Influences
Bands that keep me going: Porcupine Tree, Katatonia, Opeth, Nevermore, Evergrey, Redemption, Anathema, early Pain Of Salvation, Novembre, Zero Hour, etc.
The ones that got me started:
Guitar: Mark Reale & Riot, FATES WARNING! Queensryche, Testament & Alex Skolnick, early Metallica, Dream Theater, Eric Johnson, Chris Poland, Tony McAlpine, Vinnie Moore, Sanctuary, Megadeth, Cacaphony, etc.
Vocals: John Arch, Geoff Tate, Bruce Dickinson, Ray Alder, Jeff Scott Soto, Robert Lowe, etc.
It would take forever to list all the bands and musicians that have affected me through the years and continue to do so today.
Sounds Like
Various styles, but mainly progressive metal/rock with lots of melody and a dark moody vibe.
I'm a songwriter, guitarist/lead singer and sometimes bassist. This is just a separate page for me to put up songs I've done myself or with current/past bands & artists.
August, 2008: Vocals for Iron Cobra, a cover project based in Middletown, NY. I sang Journey's "Separate Ways." The songs covered by Iron Cobra are mainly classic hard rock tunes given a modern kick in the ass. All proceeds from their upcoming album will go to the Humane Society. Check them out on my top friends list!
COMPLETED Spring, 2008: Vocals for guitar madman Toby Knapp (ex-Onward), for his latest solo album, "Misanthropy Divine." We did this through the mail between NY and Wisc. but never actually met!
Guitars/vocals/songwriter for WithinAnotheR, which started as a trio from 2001-2003. All demos are from this period.
During WA's inactive time, I contributed a solo for Pure Sweet Hell, featuring Van Williams of Nevermore. I just did one solo. The album was released on Crash Records
In early 2004 I headed to Miami to audition for the singer spot for Mick Cervino's (Ex-Ritchie Blackmore, Yngwie Malmsteen) Violent Storm project, but got the guitar spot instead. We recorded a little, some of which wound up on the Japanese version of the album. It was later remixed & produced by KK Downing of Judas Priest and released worldwide. Don't know if my contribution made the final cut, but at least Japan heard it.
Summer, 2004 saw me headed for Saskatchewan Canada to fill in as lead singer for Into Eternity. The band played Progpower V, then toured Europe w/Kataklysm. We also played Progpower Europe and finished up in Reykjavik, Iceland.
I got back to NY in Nov., 2004 and stagnated a little, then went about reforming WithinAnother in 2005. The original drummer and I joined up with a new bassist, another guitarist and a lead singer, all incredible musicians. WithinAnother, now a 5-piece, played a lot of shows on and off until 2007 when the members drifted off to attend to other musical endeavors and life in general. This lineup was extremely talented and I'm hopeful some of us can collaborate in the future.
On the horizon is the next Transient album, which I'll be doing some guitars for, and vocals for my friends in Livesay who are recording an EP.
Hey man! Should be closing on the house the first or second week on December if everything goes well. Thanks for asking. Anything new going on with you?
Hey, Dean. See that comment just below mine? All I can say is "Ditto!" It was great having you over again, you'll have to come back soon. We all had a great time!
Hey man, I had a great time jamming with you last night. Your chords and sense of melody are totally original sounding. Lets jam again soon bro......Rob
Glad for you and Toby right now. I am interested in what is going to happen with "Misanthropy Divine". Franko at Rock it Up Records got lots of pics and I can't wait to see the new layout and your lyrics will be printed in there too. Cool things are happenin!
Again, Dean- thanks so much for your rocking compliments. I'll say it again and again: coming from you, I'm honored! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to you and Sue, also! Give her my best :) :)
Lol..no, that was because I had to work during my leave on something my manager is actually getting paid to do, but you know what it's like, she likes the
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