JOHN

Here is my interview with John. I enjoyed talking to John about everything in here, I’m sure you’ll enjoy reading it!

Michelle: How long have you been playing the guitar?
John: Almost 20 years.

Michelle: Who are your biggest influences?
John: Eddie Van Halen, Randy Roads, Warren Demartini, Yngwie. All the guys that are well known, except Jimmy Page.

Michelle: How many bands have you been in?
John: Not very many, just my own band and Enuff Znuff.

Michelle: How long has Pinch been together?
John: Since 1993.

Michelle: Have you been in that band since it first started?
John: Yes.

Michelle: What do you do other than play guitar?
John: In Pinch I sing and write all the songs. I record them all onto four tracks and eight tracks. I use drum machines, I program the secquencer, I play all the bass guitar and I play all the guitar parts.

Michelle: The songs I’ve heard are really good.
John: Thanks.

Michelle: Is the band signed?
John: No. I’m trying to get a deal. I’m working on that, I’m shopping into labels.

Michelle: I assume that means their isn’t anything available for the public yet.
John: No, I just have personal demos that I give out to people. Every now and then I’ll give someone a demo but I don’t like to get them out too much because I’m trying to get a deal. I pretty much just give them out to record labels, every now and then I’ll give them to other people like I gave one to you.

Michelle: The tape you gave me was really good, I’d love to hear more.
John: I have tons of songs, I have over 70 recorded. I have a strong set of 15 for sure that would all fit in the same set. I have piano ballads, heavy songs, slow songs, dance songs. But for what I’m doing I have a good slew of 30 solid songs but I’ve written almost 90 songs.

Michelle: How did you come to join Enuff Znuff?
John: Pinch was opening for them at the Peace Fest. I knew them before and they asked me if I wanted to play in the band and do some stuff locally.

Michelle: Alot of people have asked me about your status with the band. Are you an official, permanent member of Enuff Znuff?
John: They aren’t going to get Derek or Gino back, I guess until they find somebody else I’m going to be in the band. I don’t know what their plans are.

Michelle: How was it for you to be in the band after Derek and Gino?
John: I wanted to make it sound good, so I listened to what they were doing. I listened mostly to Derek’s stuff to try to make it sound as close to the record as possible. Gino was pretty good in the band too, he was different and he did his own thing. I didn’t dislike it but I thought you should keep it as true to the song as possible, so I tried to play what was on the record.

Michelle: Do you play on any of the songs on the live album that’ll be out next month?
John: No. I’m not going to be on any of the recordings.

Michelle: Is there anything you want to say to the readers of EZN Express?
John: Thanks alot for checking out the interview and listening to the records!