herringblueprint

Guitar Shop, October 1996:

     "Aquarium Rescue Unit is a band that, in the past, has been lumped in with neo-deadhead bands like Phish, Blues Traveler, and Widespread Panic. Wrong. In reality, it's a heavy Southern-fried fusion act with chops to burn. Six string bassist Otiel Burbridge is a killer on the low end, while guitarist Jimmy Herring has the kind of fast, fluid lead licks that would make Steve Morse smile ear-to-ear. Picture Allan Holdsworth or Mike Stern jamming with the Allman Brothers band, and you get the basic idea.

     Here's the hot picker discussing the innards of ARU, his axes, and favorite players: "The funny thing is that when we toured the North with friends of ours like Phish, we'd open up for them. But when we came back down South, all those other bands would open for us. We get lumped in with these acts, although no one in our band has ever owned a Dead album. It's just guilt by association. We're not Deadheads - we're fusionheads!

     For my own influences, I listened to a lot of Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin, Steve Morse, and early on, the Allman Brothers. Holdsworth still can't be touched for originality, either. I listen to a lot of jazz saxophone players too.

     Guitar-wise, I play Strats and SG's. I have a 1970 SG that Derek Trucks gave me; I refretted it and put a stop tailpiece on there. I use that mainly now, but for a long time, it was a '69 Strat. Then it's just a few effects, and a A/B setup of Marshall and Fender amps. Nothing fancy." [Click Here for a diagram of the rig].