Rich Briere

Who I'd like to meet:

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One of the bands that I've most enjoyed working with has been Genesis. These Gents are not only among the classiest men on the planet..but they're quite funny as well. Here's a Gibson Press Release concerning the M-Series Project....I'll always be very proud to have been a part of it.

Genesis, one of the most successful rock bands of all time, provided the inspiration for Steinberger's first full-bodied guitar, the GM.

Geoff Banks, guitar and bass technician for Genesis, remembers how it all began: "We had been in rehearsal for the Invisible Touch tour and Mike's [Mike Rutherford, lead guitarist] 5-year old son came in with his 3/4 size Explorer shape guitar. He said, "It looked bigger than Daddy's black guitar," referring to Mike's Steinberger guitar."

Geoff arranged for Steinberger to send a guitar neck, TransTrem hardware, etc., and began experimenting with style and shape. As with any important new idea, the design process had its rough moments. As Geoff recalls: "Mike and I sat down with a piece of cardboard and started drawing shapes. Unfortunately, we ended up with something that looked more like a hamburger than a Steinberger!" At that point, Geoff and Mike wisely enlisted the help of Roger Griffin, the English luthier and designer who has built many custom guitars for top players such as Eric Clapton and Andy Summers.

Roger explains how he developed the design: "I just kept drawing shapes until I got one that looked right. I wanted the curves to work with the rest of the guitar, and for proper balance, a double cutaway was best. I made a plywood cutout and Mike liked it. After some testing, we decided to add half an inch to the width for better access. Geoff suggested the binding, and Mike wanted the curved top. I put it together and we could see right away we had something really special."

Rich Briere, artist representative with Steinberger at the time, first learned of the new guitar during the U.S. leg of the Invisible Touch tour: "Geoff asked me to meet up with the band in Hartford to check out this new guitar. I was totally knocked out as soon as I saw it. It not only looked great, the balance was perfect, and it played like a dream. I called Ned [Steinberger] immediately and he joined us in Hartford the following day. His reaction was identical to mine. This guitar was hot!"

This unique international collaboration of musician, technician, designer, promoter and manufacturer resulted in the first instrument from Steinberger created by an outside designer. That's just fine according to Ned Steinberger: "I think Roger has done a fabulous job combining...Steinberger technology into a more traditional package that appeals to guitarists from all areas of music. My congratulations and thanks to Mike, Roger, Geoff and Rich for making it all happen."

The greatest "healer" for me, you ask???? Music....of course! A Strong belief in "something" helps us to get from Monday to Friday and then we have a couple of days to kick back and play more music or, for some, to get away from music and relax in Golden Silence. :^>)

My musical tastes developed as a result of the "British Invasion" and didn't move for quite some time. For those of you who are under 35, that "Invasion" was not the Revolutionary War, it's the period when Ed Sullivan was keeping us entertained every Sunday Night. Shindig, Hullaballoo, Dick Clark and American Bandstand were life-changing experiences for us, while Lawrence Welk and his crew entertained the Geritol Generation.

Start with the Beatles, the Byrds, and the Beach Boys and move forward from there--Kate Bush, Eagles, Jackson Browne, Buffalo Springfield, Linda Ronstadt, Yes, Pink Floyd. It seems that most of my favorite bands came from England and California. The current period in the growth of musicians is showing lots of promise in my humble opinion and since the current state of the music is, without any doubt, at its very lowest point, we can only hope that it evens out soon and begins running back up that hill. Sirius Radio and a smattering of Computer Bound Indies could lead the charge if we support it, get THEM to stop playing the same tunes over and over again, and put a crush on the two or three MEGA Corps that decide what and WHO we're going to listen to. I know, it's asking for a lot. Let's get involved.........we CAN change the world and put more than 15 people back in the clubs. Support live music!! :^>)

It seems that two-thirds of the sites I hit have a Nashville, New York or Los Angeles address and that many artists are still getting caught up in the "pay to play" scam. That statement won't make me a popular guy with the club owners who are picking your pockets because you're an artist and not a good business person, but I believe that it's something we should get together on. We'd make out better to rent halls or put up live internet sites of our own than we do now; dragging truckloads of gear to play for a half-dozen drunks at 2 am. Is it worth it? "Come Together, Right Now"..........

So what is making music all about?

I think it's kind of like falling in love--as they're both matters of the heart. There are those days when you write a tune or play with someone who has just written a GREAT one and everything just clicks, the way it clicked when you looked into the eyes of your lover and saw the Sun, the Earth and the Stars, sitting right there, close enough for you to reach out and touch. Then there are also days when love is putting up with those things about your lover that absolutely drive you insane!

“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.” Hunter S. Thompson

I've always really liked that quote as it does apply to many parts of Corporate America, not just music. Having just said that, I'm now at a point in my life where I'd like to meet and reconnect with old friends from the "business of making music" as well as everyone who's climbing onto what I see as the future of music: the Independent Labels and Distribution Network.

If you're involved in the future of music and arts and looking to create a Team of Experienced Professionals, I'm interested.......Get in touch and I'll get a resume out to you. If you need a Partner in your CREATIVE music business, LARGE or small, I might be the guy. :)

"Do what you like in order to pay the bills and you'll never have to "work" a day in your life".

I'll keep looking for that "everyone-wins, day gig" until I find it.

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