Interview: Phil Manning
I was a typical Sixties kid. We always had Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley records, because my sister was into that. Then, along came the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones, and that changed everything.
I was a typical Sixties kid. We always had Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley records, because my sister was into that. Then, along came the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones, and that changed everything.
When I started playing guitar I was very fortunate to have all the great guitar players in the prime of their career to look to for inspiration.
My favorite bands were AC/DC, Motorhead, The Stray Cats, The Sex Pistols and so on, so mainly hard rock, heavy metal, punk rock, and rockabilly/psychobilly stuff.
My music a mix between the aggression of metal and the madness and extravagance of prog-instrumental-rock, I don`t close myself in within just a single genre.
Music is the only thing that transcends this realm. It`s the one form of communication that does transcend everything else in the material world. That`s probably why everybody loves music so much.
It`s much more difficult to attract the audience without vocals. For that reason, it`s very important to build some nice and attractive themes and melodies in instrumental music.
I run a small production company and we are learning the ropes as we go. Someone once said you`re either learning or dying. I prefer to learn.
My latest CD "And So It Goes..." is self released through CD Baby. It was always my intention to release it myself as the thought of trying to pitch it to people was just too depressing!
I owe my entire career to the internet and social media sites. If Mark Zuckerberg knows how much Facebook developed my career I probably need to pay royalties to him!
I`m always looking to better myself as guitarist, not so much the speed or technique but more the touch and sound that I try to achieve.