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 Guitarist
2 Guitarist
-Paul Nelson-
The "Look" Interview
May/June 2002
Halford Guitarist
Metal Mike Chlasciak Talk's Hard with Guitarist PAUL NELSON (Liege Lord)
Metal Mike: Paul, here is my first complement
to you. I have really enjoyed your "look" solo release and I do not
particularly like fusion type based music. There I said it, Metal Mike
likes a fusion album .... I thought the CD was very well arranged and
interesting to listen to. You still showed your proficiency on the guitar,
but you really made a cool statement. The sound/production quality is
also 1st class, great. When did you get interested in that type of music?
PN: Thanks man! I got interested in that style when I attended Berklee
College of music being a big fan of groups like UFO, Judas Priest, Sabbath
(believe it or not) when I went in. Fusion type music, Holdsworth, Jeff
Beck, DiMeola, you name it seemed to be my happy medium between Jazz
and my heavier tastes. Studying with Steve Vai and Steve Khan didn't
hurt either. LOL
MM: When was "Look" released and judging from
your favorable press you must be pretty happy with the way it was received?
You sure did a lot of legwork in getting this album to all the press,
etc.
PN: 2001 and yes I was very pleasantly surprised by all the good press,
airplay and sales and the fact that my fans who knew me from my heavier
side allowed me to stretch without cutting my head of. I mean I do my
own thing anyway but it's great when you have support without desertion.
As far as promotion I do have management which is important as well
publicists to help out spreading info but a lot still rests on my shoulders
as well, at least for this type of project.
MM: People in the Metal Community mostly must know you from your guitar
playing in the Metal Blade act Liege Lord. Tell me more about the band.
When were the records were released? You guys did something recently
right at the Wacken Festival? On that note, also tell me about that
Warner video...
 PN:
Liege Lord released 3 albums Freedoms Rise on Black Dragon Records and
when I joined Brian Slagel of Metal Blade signed us and we released
Burn to my Touch and Master Control in the later half of the eighties.
To my surprise all of our catalogue was re-released due the bands cult
status over the years. Yes, this lead to a reunion show at the Wacken
Open Air fest in Germany where Joe Comeau (Vocalist on Master Control)
and I performed. An estimated 40,000 + attended the fest and after words
an interview along with some live footage I did was included on a VHS/DVD
documentary released this year by Nuclear Blast/Warner
MM: Paul, you seem to be very involved in self
promotion. I mean really doing it right, professionally and all. I know
from my own experience, the packages take so much time, etc. I always
fight between actually playing guitar and telling people about it, ha.
Do you sometimes fight the same demons?
PN: Yes! All the time. I'm very involved and you are so right practice,promote,record,travel,practice,promote,travel,record,promote
oh yea sleep if you can. What a life!!! You gotta love it...
MM: I see you on many guitar based albums benefiting
Jason Becker, NYC, etc. D o you think that there is a slight more interest,
even a weird resurgence in the guitar circle world?
PN: The Jason Becker tribute and upcoming NYC benefit CD that you and
I are both on are very special projects to me as I'm sure to you as
well, to have your guitar playing help do such good really makes it
all worth it. In answer to your other question the Internet has been
very instrumental (no pun intended) in helping the guitar and all it's
musical off shoots become more in demand. It's about time!!! -
MM: Tell me about some of the tribute albums you
will be a part of in the near future. I have heard some Century Media
related releases? What are your other current projects... what are you
working on now?
PN: Joe Comeau and I were asked to take part in 2 tributes for Century
Media so we recorded the song "Too Scared too Run" for their Uriah Heep
Tribute and "Dungeons are Calling" for their Savatage tribute due out
soon world wide. It was great to work in the studio with Joe again the
tracks came out really well. I just finished shooting footage for the
NYC Charity DVD discussing the song we covered (Speak by Queensryche)
and my thoughts regarding 9/11. I will have a track on Jason Becker
Vol ll there are a whole lot of albums and things are in the works.
I guess my website www.paulnelsonguitar.com would be a good place to
go for more specific info.
MM: Paul, you have done a lot of stuff from clinics
along side of George Lynch, Vivian Cambell, to recording with Liege
Lord for Metal Blade to touring worldwide, to scoring for TV. What else
do you want to do with your playing and music?
PN: Writing and playing the guitar music for the WWF's XFL (Extreme
football League) was a blast having your music blasted in every major
stadium in the country and televised to over 13 million the first night
alone on NBC, TNN, and UPN really helps one get excited about TV and
Film scoring. I've done many commercials here and in Europe and enjoy
that aspect of music very much. I do want to continue to record solo
albums and keep up with the clinics, touring, and guest spot recording.
MM: What can we expect from Liege Lord in the
future. More shows, or albums perhaps?
 PN:
As long as the fans continue to want more from Liege Lord we will do
our best to oblige anything is possible. www.liegelord.com
MM: Which manufacturing companies to you have
a working relationship with, which products do you endorse and why?
PN: I currently have endorsement agreements with Ernie Ball Strings
and DiMarzio Pickups. Ernie Ball lists all of their artists on the back
of each one of their string packs marketed globally. I'm honored that
they have recently included my name among their prestigious list of
guitarists. I have been using their products, as well as DiMarzio pickups
which are in all of my guitars, for many years now. In the past, as
seen in guitar magazine ads, I have been with companies such as ESP,
Randall and Dean Markley.
MM: Britney Spears or Jennifer Lopez?
PN: Can I have a sandwich?
MM: Tell me where interested fans can purchase
your releases and get inside the Paul Nelson guitar world.
PN: All Liege Lord albums are available everywhere world wide. I guess
the most direct route would be through www.metalblade.com. My solo project
"Look" can also be found just about everywhere. The easiest might be
to go to my official web site: www.paulnelsonguitar.com or even www.guitar9.com
Amazon etc...
MM: Paul, thanks for your time. I have enjoyed doing this, best of luck
with your playing, your hard work deserves the best. And all you readers
check out Paul's albums .... Metal Mike says so!!
 Guitarist
2 Guitarist
-Metal Mike Chlasciak-
The "Territory: Guitar Kill" Interview
May/June 2002
Liegelord Guitarist
Paul Nelson Talk's Hard with Halford Guitarist METAL MIKE CHLASCIAK
Paul Nelson: Mike, I just have to say that your solo project "Territory:
Guitar Kill" smokes beginning to end. From the introductory guitar assault
of "Shredaholics Anonymous" to the great vocal "Bedroom Eyes" and experimental
instrumental tunes in between. Great killer guitar crunch rhythms mixed
with technically amazing guitar speed, tight production and a dash of
occasional humorous dialogue ending with soulful acoustic work paying
homage to late great Mr. Randy Rhoads (That's right I was listening!)
A very diverse CD indeed. Kudos! So what leads to the creation of such
a "Fusion" of Metal ideas? Can you explain your writing process? Inspirations?
MM: Thanks Paul. It is always great when your stuff is appreciated and
just as you said my stuff can be pretty out there, so it is not for
everyone. The thing is that if some people like what I do, then they
become really die hard fans. As far as writing, you know these solo
Cd's allow me to just do whatever I feel like, from the heaviest thing
to a classical piece. I don't go researching demographics or going to
the mall counting kids wearing Yngwie shirts, I just play my balls off,
and I believe if it's honest it will be appreciated. I have so many
ideas, I have notebooks full of titles, CD's full of riffs, just not
enough time to release it all. But to answer your question directly:
I just follow my heart.
PN: This is actually your third solo recording?
Are they getting easier? Haha...Any interest in producing other artists
in the future?
MM: Ha, ha and NO, they are not getting easier, ha. Actually it will
be some time before my next instrumental release. I'm concentrating
on Halford 100% and then some vocal related albums.
PN: What amplification and recording techniques
did you use to get such a tight rhythm sound as well as those fluid
lead tones and effects? Do you double any parts? Is your live setup
the same?
MM: Well, I use Marshall. JMP-1 Pre-Amps, Marshall EL34/ 100 Power Amps.
Same thing live. I have also started using the DOD YJM308 (Yngwie Malmsteen)
pedal, not only because I like seeing Yngwie name in front of me on
stage, but also because it sounds killer. It adds that extra something
without changing your tone. Cabinets are Boogie "Rectifiers": ultmiate
tight machines. Rest is in the hands .... and liquor. Oh, I play my
rhythms once: L and R. Not too much on that. The heaviness should come
from your tone, not amount of tracks.
 PN:
In your bio and on your official site www.planetshred.com it mentions
that you are a fellow Berklee College of music alumni. Any thoughts
or comments regarding your time spent there?
MM: I loved Berklee and got a lot out of it. I was the kid who wore
Yngwie T-shirts and blew up amps. I annoyed all the jazz people, yet
I did well in class: they could't figure it out, ha!! I knew from day
1 that I wanted to be a world class Metal guitarist, so I chose classes
that helped me get there. I had a vision and stood by it. Berklee was
flexible enough to allow that: I took advantage of it. I also precticed
all the time, skipped on some of the fun (like parties & many beautiful
Boston women) and played, I wanted to play guitar for Ozzy or Rob Halford.
Guess what I'm doing now? ha ha.
PN: You also taught guitar for a time early on
right? Don't you have some Instructional material out as well? Do tell!!!
MM: Yeah I have 2 books: "Rodiculos Riffs For The Terrifying Guitarist"
and "Monster Coordination" on Whammy Bar Publication. They are well
written, have a ton of ideas/ licks, etc that I use and exercises to
build up technique. See www.planetshred.com Merchandise section on how
to get them. I sold a ton of them. "Ridiculous Riff" has arpeggios,
crazy pentatonics, tapping, 48 pages of wild stuff. "Monster" is a chops
exercise manual.
PN: Lets back track a little can you describe
your days with bands like Roxxi and yes The Great Kat!? Any metal do's
or don'ts worth passing on?
MM: Metal do's: Follow your heart and play your balls off. Because when
your are in Omaha, your van is broken down, your girlfriend leaves you
and you are freezing your ass off, music is the only thing worth doing
that for. And if the music you are playing means nothing to you, it
will really suck. Metal don't: Don't play bullshit because it pays $5.
Back to your question: Roxxi was a first professional band I was in.
It had an MTV video, and album. I was only 20. The Great Kat offered
me the slot a day after I graduated from Berklee, so I moved into another
signed act, although short lived. All those things were learning experiences
and trials in their own right. It was all worth it. I was playing Metal,
what did I care?
PN: You would have to be living under a rock to
not know that you are part of Metal God Rob Halford's guitar wall. I'm
speaking of the ex-Judas Priest singers recent group HALFORD. How did
you find out you got the guitar position by phone or e-mail, and your
reaction, I'm sure the readers are dying to know...
MM: I came out to LA and to write songs with the Metal God. It wasn't
an audition like can you play this or that, they knew I could play guitar.
So we wrote and then demoed the songs. Last day before Rob drove home,
he shook my hand and told me he didn't need to look any further. That
was it, pure simple and Metal.
PN: I must say that I've seen live tour footage
of your shows with Halford and Overkill through a mutual acquaintance
of ours Joe Comeau singer of Annihilator (ex-Overkill, ex-Liege lord)
and was very impressed by not only the force of the new Halford material
("Resurrection") but especially by the attention paid to specific guitar
details when performing the older Judas Priest classics. How do you
approach covering and mixing in the older Priest tunes in your set as
opposed to staying fresh on the newer stuff?
MM: Well, I believe that the Priest/ Fight songs and the fans, deserve
the respect. That's why I play to my best ability as far as staying
true to the songs. And you know, you can't fool Rob, he knows everything,
so if you are fucking around he'll go (In a British accent), "Something's
not quiete right there Metal Mike?" and I'll go OK. I'll go to my hotel
after reheasrsals and nail it the next time around. He'll look at me
and nod his head. We'll never talk about it again.
PN: Now as both band member and solo artist the
opportunity to appear on many other projects does arise, such as your
appearances on the recent Joe Satriani, Yngwie and Jason Becker tributes.
How about a little info on your involvement with each? Did I hear something
about a Led Zep. Tribute as well?
MM: Well as a guitarist I enjoy doing such things. The only thing with
that is that I don't want to do too much of that stuff as it wears out
your name, so I had to say no to quiet a few things lately. But, you
know, I love playing music and collaborating with talented people. The
Yngwie tribute album was my first. For the Zep album for Locomotive
Music, I jammed with Consotrium Project (Ian Parry - Elegy, Casey Grillo
- Kamelot) on 'Immigrant Song' for that. It sounds great. The Jason
Becker tribute was fun also. I went over Ron Thal's place to record
my solo and he just blew my mind with his playing. He's fucking incredible.
Satriani CD has some ripping solos I did.
PN: Ok let's talk about the perks, Endorsements!
What companies do you endorse? And are you happy with their support?
MM: You want to talk about perks? How about walking into a NYC bar,
and the owner saying "Go behind the bar and drink all you want". Or,
Playboy models hanging out at your photo shoots. Now that's perks I
can appreciate my brother !! But outside of liquor products and occasional
soft porn, I also andorse stuff from Jackson Guitars, Marshall, D'Addario,
Planet Waves, Seymour Duncan, Digitech, DOD, Morley, Carver, Guyatone,
TKL Cases, Mesa/ Boogie, New Rock Boots. And honestly I am happy with
their support. I must be and they are happy with the cortesy and the
way I treat them as well. If a company is 'not into it' and puts me
on the back burner, I thank them for their business and find someone
who 'is into it'.
PN : From what you have seen up close in the trenches can you describe
the differences between the metal scene in Europe and the USA. And more
importantly the differance between the groupies! And remember kids read
this aswell!!! MM: Well, they are different and they are all great.
Previously I thought that Europe cared a lot more, and was less flavor
of the month, who's hot now type of mentality. But, in reality Halford
is received so well wordwide, that I think the fans that like what we
do are just awesome, wherever they might be. I'm talking about fans
of Metal, I don't care about anyone else. Groupies: well in the US they
are to the point no BS, Europe is nice after they are drunk, Greece
they like to stay out late, Japan is pretty crazy and South Amerca you
can just go down into the lobby of the hotel and get your pick. But,
I don't know for sure, I'm a married man. You think I'm lying, but I'm
not. PN: Which band first gave you the metal bug and what is your definition
of true metal? Power Chords all down or alternate picking?
MM: True Metal is not being afraid to wear your studded wrist band on
stage and giving a big fuck off finger to anyone who doesn't like it.
Real first bands that gave me the bug were Loudness, Yngwie and Twisted
Sister, although I recently realized the latter was just a bunch off
soon to be desperate clowns wearing make-up.
PN: Favorite road food?
MM: Liquor and well pizza. No matter what I write here, we always end
up eating pizza, ha.
PN: So Mike! What's next on your to do list? Projects,
Clinics, Touring, Halford? And where are some of best places to order
your CD's from ?
MM: Halford is always on my to do list. And next is our world tour and
a new album. We will also travel to new some new places, see some new
and old faces and we will spread the gospel of Metal. You can order
my CD's thru: SB Prods. www.ballbusterhardmusic.com/sinbad.htm (See
this magazine for ads) as well Century Media/ Nuclear Blast Records
Order Toll Free 1-800-250-4600 (www.centurymedia.com), www.guitarnine.com,
Leviathan Records Order Toll Free 1-800-755-2316 www.leviathanrecords.com,
www.metalmayhemmusic.com, selected retail outlets and more Metal spesiality
distro's. See ads advertising my CD's in Metal Edge, Metal Maniacs (Thanks
to SB Prod. and Century Media). You can always order from the official
Metal Mike site: www.planetshred.com.
PN: Well Mike I have to say that I've enjoyed
this Guitarist to Guitarist interview thing. What a great idea! Good
luck to you and congrats on all your accomplishments thus far. Continued
success! Paul Nelson
MM: Thanks Paul. I enjoyed this as well. Keep ripping it up !! I really
wish you a huge continued success !! All interested maniacs please see
www.planetshred.com or www.robhalford.com for the latest news, stories,
photos. See you all on tour. Remember "Friends don't let friends listen
to non-Metal !!" Be yourself and screw the rest !!
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