I would have to say first and foremost it would be Joe Satriani. After hearing "Surfing With The Alien" for the first time, it totally changed my life! I knew what I wanted to do from that point on. Steve Vai, Jason Becker and Paul Gilbert were very influential also in my playing. I remember when Yngwie Malmsteen came out in a band called Steeler. I was blown away!
As for players that are out today, I also like Eric Johnson, Neil Zaza, Herman Li and Michael Batio.
What kinds of strings and picks do you use?
I use D' arddio 9-42 strings and my picks are anything I find on the floor!
Turn offs?
Laziness, egotistical people, negativity, chavs, plastics, mainly people with no "vision" for anything beyond what is in front of them, jealousy, rudeness.
Do you give guitar lessons?
I do give free advice to anyone who is willing to learn music, but learning face to face? I can't do that yet!
What would be your dream guitar?
Probobly an Ibanez Jem or PGM
What songs do you recommend are best to start from?
Usually punk songs like Smells like teen spirit and American Idiot. If you can't play those 2 songs within a year, unplug your guitar and walk away!
Did you have fun starting out to play?
Sure! When I started out and I couldn't do something on the guitar and I worked and worked on it nothing was more fun or freeing.
What scales do you use/What are your favourite scales?
I get this question a lot and it is a strange one to me because I use them all without realising! It almost like asking a painter what colors he or she uses when all of them are needed and used to complete a portrait. It all depends on what kind of song I am soloing over, the mood I want to convey, melodic content, etc.
The misconception about me is that I know technical stuff about scales and modes. My friends say, "You've got a scale for everything!" But I don't know scales very well! I've always been an ear player.
Why do you use the whammy bar so much in your playing?
Many years ago I didnt used to use it because I was always scared of breaking strings and it ended up being what I call the "snapping bar". After some time, I realized that I was actually using the whammy bar to just fill space without saying anything musically and then breaking 2 or 3 strings a day! . In fact, thats not doing anything musical with it at all!!! Then I heard the way Jason Becker would use it (the song Jewel is a perfect example) and it somehow wound up in my own style. It gives your playing more of a vocal touch. And thats always been my kinda goal: making your instrument like a human voice.
Who are some current guitarists that you admire?
Well Joe Satriani never ceases to amaze me and has been and continues to be a huge influence. I really like Jason Becker. I think his tone and melodic content are really fabulous. I also really like Steve Vai. I think he is the new breed of "guitar hero". Anytime you hear a CD and ask yourself, "How did he do that!?!" you know that he is doing something right. In addition, Paul Gilbert , Marty Friedman and Eric Johnson simply blow me away no matter what they do. Also, I have really been loving a guy called "Bumblefoot". As soon as he plays one note you know it is him. He has a great signature tone and style that no one else has.
Any future plans?
I just wanna keep playing and playing and have my own guitar voice noticed..Oh! That reminds me! As I mentioned in my Guitar Biography, I'm thinking of recording a solo album or something with my fellow shredder Luke (see Stage Show) like a Guitar-Duo Album like Racer X did. Anyway I'll hopefully make a demo CD by the end of the year