We all know Paul Gilbert from Mr. Big,
Racer X as well as his solo albums and various appearences. He was good enough to give us an interview here, check out his website for all the latest at
http://www.paulgilbert.com
Eric: Paul, first of all thanks for taking the time to
talk with us here at guitars101.com.
What are you up to these days?
<font color="orange">Paul:</font> I've been taking a vacation from working and
self-promoting. I was getting so jet-lagged that my
eyes were twitching. So I've been taking yoga classes,
baking pies, and sleeping normal hours. The twitching
stopped after a couple of weeks.
Eric: Love your website, did you make it yourself?
<font color="orange">Paul:</font> A friend showed me how to use the Yahoo template and I
took it from there. My sister showed me how to use
Photoshop, and I immediately started putting my head
into all sorts of photos. I also try to put news of
what I'm doing on there.
Eric: It is indeed cutting edge, what's the deal with the
piano on the entrance page, did you stretch first,
is your back is okay?
<font color="orange">Paul:</font> The Yahoo template comes with some really cheesy
effects. I tried to make the most of them.
Eric: Keith Partridge is the man! While everyone else was
trying to be like Mike, you were trying to be like Keith.
<font color="orange">Paul:</font> Mike who? Nesmith? Douglas? I did want to be like
Michael Jackson, but I lost interest when he went
solo. He ruled in the Jackson 5.
Eric: Do you like to check out fan websites?
<font color="orange">Paul:</font> The fan websites are great because they do things like
lyrics and discographies. I haven't had time to do
those on my site.
Eric: I see that you are staying active with your solo
work, are you currently working with anyone else that we know of?
<font color="orange">Paul:</font> I'm just starting to put some ideas together for a new
solo record. I've worked at such a frantic pace for
the last 7 years, so I'm trying to take my time on
this one. I want it to be really good. My evil twin
brother, Dick Image, plays in the punk band
PINT SIZE.
Eric: What are you currently using for your guitar and amp
setup?
<font color="orange">Paul:</font> My studio is an Ibanez guitar orgy! I love my guitars
and I usually bring 15 of my favorites to my studio
and play them ALL! My favorites at the moment are my
original PGM100 from 1989, and a brand new prototype
PGM with a natural red finish. I play through a Laney
GH100L amp into a Laney 2x12 cabinet.
Eric: What other bands/artists do you like to listen to?
<font color="orange">Paul:</font> Enuff Z' Nuff, Dionne Warwick, The Kinks,
Robin Trower, Silver Ginger 5, Barney Kessel,
Carole King, Seal, Glenn Gould, The Brilliant Green,
old Van Halen, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones.
Eric: Who would you consider to be your biggest influence?
<font color="orange">Paul:</font> The Beatles, The Partridge Family, The Osmond
Brothers, Led Zeppelin, early Van Halen,
Todd Rundgren, and Utopia.
Eric: Who are your top 5 favorite guitarists?
*
Edward Van Halen
* Jimmy Page
* Pat Travers
* Robin Trower
* Alex Lifeson
<font color="orange">Paul:</font> 5 isn't enough! I like so many guitarists!
Eric: Since a lot of us here are Van Halen fans I though I
would get your take on the reunion?
<font color="orange">Paul:</font> It's great that Eddie is doing something again.
He is the master of cool heavy rock guitar playing and
the world needs more of that! I like Sammy, but I wish
that Dave could somehow step into a time machine and
be 27 again to front the band. Those early records
were the soundtrack to my teenage years, so for better
or for worse they will always be my favorites. Since
there is no time machine, I will definitely go with
Sammy. He sings great and I like the songs he writes
too. I hope the guys have fun making music together
again.
Eric: So what's next for you?
<font color="orange">Paul:</font> I won't know until it's finished. It might be the
instrumental record that everyone has been asking for,
it might be crazy pop songs, it might be something
else. I just have to play, write, and record and see
what feels right.
Eric: You have a lot of fans here, anything else you would
like to add for them?
<font color="orange">Paul:</font> Has everybody heard "Superheroes" by RACER X? That
record turned out really well, please check it out.
The guitar playing is insane.
Besides that? Do what you love and do it a lot!
Paul
By Eric Thurber
04/14/04
Linear Mode
