Tuesday, August 27, 2019

THE AXEMEN SERIES Greg Brown / Age of Fire




1.Tell us your name and the band you play for

My name is Greg Brown, and I am the guitarist for Age of Fire

2.Who made you want to pick up the guitar

Angus Young for sure. I was 10 when Back in Black came out and it blew me away. From there I got into Van Halen, Iron Maiden and Metallica.

3.Are you self taught or did you take lessons?

I was self taught for the first 12 years but then studied classical guitar and composition. I’ve never taken an electric guitar lesson except for the first 3 months and it was awful, just didn’t click with the teacher which is important.

4. Can you read music, Can you read tab?

Both. After studying classical music I became a pretty good reader. I’ve written a bunch of stuff for orchestral instruments including a few guitar concertos, string quartets and other chamber music.

5.Do you feel like you have your own sound / tone ?

I feel like I have my own style but tone is a quest and it varies from piece to piece. Each song requires different elements and timbres. It could be effects or types of distortion or harmonies. It’s still a work in progress for sure.

6.Tell us about your guitar ( brand ,model . year , color )

My main guitar is a red Samick that I bought back in 1988 after a Fender Strat that I was using got stolen from a gig in Miami. I have no idea what model it is. I recently tried to get another like it but couldn’t find one. When I bought it I was starting to get into all of the neo-classical shredders and it was the first guitar that I ever saw that had 24 frets. I started doing my own arrangements of the Paganini caprices etc. I love that guitar.


7.What about pickups? Passive or active ? Tell us about them

I have the DiMarzio pickup that I just love. Bought it in 1989 or so. Not available on the market now. It’s a humbucker, passive but has 2 pots on each pickup per string. Killer tone.

8.Lets get into amplification, Same drill brand , model , speakers etc
      


Currently I’m using a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, lots of kick and a unique tone in the metal world. I do sit in with blues and jazz bands from time to time so it’s versatile. Stock speakers. I’m still looking around at others for sure but I’m happy with my Fender. Over the years I’ve used Marshall, Peavey and Crate and other Fender models as well.

9.Do you have a pedal board? Tell us about that badboy

I have a Boss pedal board. Currently I have an original Dunlop wah, MXR Phase 90, Boss Super Chorus CH-1, Boss Digital Delay DD3 and a MXR Fullbore Metal pedal. I use the Zakk Wylde pedal for some extra kick from time to time as well as a DOD Death Metal Pedal.
10.Now tell us your Dream Rig in detail….

Probably something in the Marshall line. I grew up listening to so many Marshall artists. They sound great when you crank them but man my neighbors would freak out. I’m still looking. Versatility is huge for me. I like what I’ve played from the EVH line, that little lunchbox is awesome. Not sure I could ever settle on one.

12. Is tone more important or is technique?

I think they need to be symbiotic. I remember when I was a kid and first heard Eruption I was blown away, I had no idea what techniques he was using but it was all there, same goes when I first heard Cowboys from Hell, that guitar tone was incredible but his chops were intense.

13. Name your top 5 guitarist

  1. Eddie Van Halen
  2. Joe Satriani
  3. Paco de Lucia
  4. Jeff Loomis
  5. Yngwie Malmsteen

14.Who is the most overrated guitarist

Different music touches people in different ways. That comes down to opinions, I have mine but people are trying to get a variety of things from the guitar. Some focus on the songwriting, some on shredding, some harmony etc., I just try to do the best I can and focus on that. 

15.Who would you like a one hour private sit down lessons with anyone dead or alive?

That’s a tough one, Jimi would be awesome for sure. That man could just go and go like he was channeling something from another part of the universe. His lines are so thought out and fluid and so engaging. I don’t like everything that Jimi did but I respect the hell out of him, he just went for it. He was the total package, technique, songs, chops, no inhibitions with one foot rooted in the blues and another in the future. Yeah, it would have to be Jimi. 

https://ageoffire.bandcamp.com/track/pink-fluffy-bunnies


 

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