Richard Fortus Interview

     Getting to interview one of my 3 favorite guitar players ever, is a dream come true. Richard Fortus is an incredible talent and has played with many artist such as but not limited to Gun N' Roses, Pale Divine, Rihanna, The Dead Daisey's, Thin Lizzy, and even the Psychedelic Fur. He is a St. Louis native that has worked his way to be one of the most in demand guitar players around today. He is a true inspiration to me personally.

 

   

Patrick (P)
Richard Fortus (RF)    

     (P)---First of all Richard thank you so very much for taking time away from your schedule to answer some questions. I really do appreciate it.   

   
     (P)---What is one of your favorite memories playing with one of the best St. Louis bands ever "Pale Divine?" 

   
     (RF)---I remember playing the Blue Note in Columbia, MO. Our album had just come out and we were playing 2 sold out nights there. I'll never forget walking out onstage and that feeling of "wow, we made it!". I think that particular venue was so important to me, because we'd tried so hard to get in there for the longest time.
     
     (P)---You have played with everyone it seems. I think you are honestly one of the best guitar players on the planet. Where do your guitar influences come from? What music shaped you into the player you are today?

     (RF)---I am constantly looking for new music to inspire me. Be it old or new. I've always had an insatiable hunger to discover new music. It's a passion that has consumed me from a very early age. So it's hard to narrow down what has really shaped me as a musician.

     (P)---I really enjoy the footage I have seen with you playing for "The Dead Daisies". What an incredible band. It seems like you and Dizzy Reed are really enjoying playing in that project. How long are you guys gonna be touring with them?

     (RF)---As long as we can! We are having a blast. It's such a thrill to have the honor of playing with these guys every night. It's pretty hard to beat playing with a rhythm section like Charley Drayton and Darryl Jones!
  

  
    (P)---What was it like playing beside Scott Gorham while you were touring with "Thin Lizzy"? What is he like as a person?

     (RF)---Scott is one of my favorite people in the world. I'm on the road with him right now. He's got so many great stories and he's such an awesome player. He was such an icon to me when I was a kid. He was the epitome of what a rock n' roll guitarist should be. He always looked amazing, had a great tone and was the pinnacle of cool. He paid me one of the greatest compliments once that I will never forget. I feel a real bond with him and every time i see him, no matter how much time has passed, it always feels like I just saw him yesterday.

    (P)---I have seen all the spectacular guitars you posted on your website www.4tus.com. What are some of your favorite guitars you have?

     (RF)---The Official Website of Richard Fortus www.richardfortus.com I really need to update my site. There is only a fraction of my collection on there. I need to document everything and post it all. My amp collection has surpassed my guitar collection at this point. I have a pretty stellar amp collection. I was just speaking with Charley about my "desert island guitar" choice the other day. I think that if i had to pick one guitar. I would probably choose my '73 gold top Les Paul Signature. It's not really a Les Paul. I have 2 of them, but there is one that is just amazing. Everything about it is perfect and it's one of the greatest sounding and most versatile guitars ever.

     (P)---So I really like the guitar work you have done with Gun N' Roses. It has to be amazing to play with a front man like Axl Rose. I have a weird question about your time with GNR. What is your greatest memory of playing with Robin Finck in GNR?

     (RF)---We used to do a duet together. Some nights it would be really really special, where we really connected. He's one of my favorite musicians and i always loved playing with him. There were a couple of really religious type of moments that we shared together during those duets.

     Thank you so much Richard for doing this interview, honestly a true pleasure.

Cherry Lips and Ivory Tone

Cherry lips and ivory tone,

The black dress she wears,

shimmer’s in the light.

From her head flowing down to her

Thighs.

She see’s nothing but

This is her time, her time,

to be free.

It’s art to her no matter,

What the people see.

They say Art is in the eyes of

the beholder.

What beauty can you have in art,

If it has all been pushed aside.

In 1990, education was good.

We were brought up with an artistic side.

People still felt like believing in dreams.

They were certain they could succeed.

A girl should express herself any

way she pleases.

If you can’t see through the

your “promised path”.

You probably will never understand.

What your missing’s without trying the right handed path. 

When your Jesus doesn’t come,

Remember all that you could have done.

The girl with the dreams,

Will ever be free

 Living would have just been fun.

Instead your stuck in a miserable one.

But this girl’s a wildcard.

She is not scared to live her live.

She will created and spin in

Her beautiful dress.

Knowing she is fulfilling a dream,

This is the start of everything.

Every night she see’s the crowed.

She knows she is herself now.

Art is fleeting this country that everyone

“love’s so much”.

Bite the hand that feeds,

And blood is all you’ll see.

-------Patrick Houtz

Aaron North "One of the last true rockstars."

     If you don't know who Aaron North is you should. He played guitar in a great band called "The Icarus Line". He also toured as the guitar player with "Nine Inch Nails". Aaron was everything you want in a rocker. He was unpredictable and did what he wanted. Everything I have ever read about him indicates he never cared what people thought of him. Sadly a few years ago Aaron had a breakdown that will be explained more in depth, when you read the article I'm getting ready to post. I can honestly relate with Aaron a lot. The past 10 months I have fought some mental health issues such as terrible anxiety attacks and bad bouts of depression. I have always had problems just took till 30 for them to really have effects I couldn't avoid." Last right before his breakdown Aaron had an amazing band called Jubilee. The record he was working on had many guest from Josh Homme to Dave Grohl. It pains me to know that album will most likely never see the light of day.

     Check out the Spin Magazine article that was recently done with Aaron discussing his situation and what happened that made him fall from the grace of Rock ' N ' Roll. Aaron North's "Sad Decent from Nine Inch Nails to Nowhere"

Aaron North Live with "Nine Inch Nails"

Aaron North recording a "Jubilee" Song with Josh Homme

Aaron North with all the gear he currently has in storage.

This video is amazing. Aaron North freeing Stevie Ray's guitar.

Jubilee "Rebel Hiss" Official Video.

     I will always admire and look up to Aaron North no matter if he returns to music or not. He is the embodiment of what Rock'N'Roll should be in my opinion.

High on Fire realses new song and video!

I just wanted to share how amazing the new High On Fire song is. Check it out below.

Jordan Condery......Rising Star

          I first saw Jordan Condery playing with his band "Even the Dead Love a Parade". I was so impressed with his band live. They absolutely slayed. I can say this he is definitely one of the best up and coming metal front men out there. Here is some questions to enlighten you and who this man is.

    

 

     Patrick Houtz (ph)---Your band "A Better Hell" is incredible. How did the band come about and what year did you start this project?

     Jordan Condery (JC)---We initially decided we wanted to play together in a drunken stupor at a Halloween party in 07, i believe. I was a singer with pages upon pages of lyrics/ideas and no band and he had been wanting to put something together and finally start jamming with other musicians. Funny thing is, he wasn't even a metal guitarist at all.

     (ph)---Awesome! I know we both have a similar love for the band eyehategod, did they have an influence on that particular project?

     (JC)---Absolutely. We are both huge fans of them. Riffs for days, man.

     (ph)---While we are on that topic. I think Mike Williams is a genius. Do you have similar thoughts on him as a frontman and writer

     (JC)---Mike is one of my favorite writers. I actually read his lyrics before I ever heard EYEHATEGOD believe it or not. I was at a friends house and the Confederacy of Ruined lives booklet was laying out, so I started flipping through it and loved the hopeless gutter style he had. He creates such desperate images with his words.

     (JC)---I actually have a first edition of Cancer as A Social Activity. One of my most prized possessions
   
     (ph)---I was the same. His writing is incredible. It wasn't till about 6 months after I read some of his work that I started listening to eyehategod. You are one of the only people I know who has an eyehategod tattoo other than myself.

  

     (JC)---yes sir!

     
     (ph)---What is your favorite eyehategod album?

     (JC)---Confederacy has my favorite riffs and Dopesick has my favorite Mike performance...he just shreds his throat...

     (ph)---I completely agree with you actually.

     (ph)---So let's talk about Even the Dead Love a Parade. I remember seeing you guys open for Eye Empire and Drowning Pool in Miami, Oklahoma, I was completely blown away with your band live. How did you get involved with the band?

     (JC)---That was a really fun show btw.

     (JC)---They had been looking for a singer for the band, and I believe it was Matty who had stumbled upon A Better Hell, he then internet stalked me until he found a way to give me a call at my work, and then asked if I would be interested in putting some vocals to a demo or two they had. and it just snowballed from there, man

     (ph)---What are your future plans with Even the Dead Love a Parade?

     
     (JC)---Currently working on getting some new music out!

     (ph)---Badass, can't what to hear it.

     (JC)---Thats all that is certain as of right now. Next year should be interesting though. Excited for us to kick into overdrive

     (ph)---What are some of your other influences outside of eyehategod? These influences could be bands or even writers.

     (JC)---So many..Acid Bath...a lot of sludge... all Todd Smith's projects, He is Legend..

Queens of the Stone Age...

As far as outside of music inspirations...

the human condition..finding ways of channeling and trying to understand all the horrible things we see in this world and committing that to sound...

     (ph)---It's nice to talk to someone with similar influences as me. Well Jordan thank you so much for your time. Next time you play close to me we with have to drink some beers and talk about sludge metal.

     (JC)---absolutely my friend.

     To check out "Even the Dead Love a Parade" go to  Even the Dead Love a Parade (Official Facebook)

     To check out "A Better Hell" go to A Better Hell (Official Facebook)

Rocky Gray and the "Ghost Thief"

     I have always been a fan of the band Living Sacrifice. As a teen I was a huge fan of the album "The Hammering Process", it was one of the first metal records I got into after growing up mostly on country music. It was also nice knowing that a band could make it out of the region that I grew up in. So when I got the chance to interview Rocky Gray the guitar player for Living Sacrifice I jumped at the chance. Rocky also has spent time as the drummer for Evanescence, Machina, and We Are the Fallen. I think he is one of the best musicians out there right now. As always I want to genuinely thank Rocky for taking time to answer a few questions.

Patrick (P)--First of all thank you so much for the interview. 

Rocky Gray (RG)--No problem at all. Thank YOU. 
 
P-- The new "Living Sacrifice" album is incredible, honestly one of the best albums of the year. How long did you guy's take to write and record this album? 

RG--Thanks, we love how the record came out. I think we worked on this one off and on for 2 years.
 
P--You have been very busy since you left Evanescence, playing in Machina, We Are the Fallen, as well as Living Sacrifice. Are you able to balance time between family and music pretty well? 

RG--I can usually balance it all out fairly well since none of the bands are full time, so while one is taking a break I have another one to work with. It's really the only way Ive been able to stay doing music full time. I was working on the Soul Embraced album Dead Alive while I was on tour with Evanescence and after my last tour with Ev we went right into the studio and put out Dead Alive and did some shows then I started working with Machina and We Are The Fallen. It's a pretty constant cycle of projects. Sometimes it gets overwhelming if things get too close together but it all works out eventually.
 
P--You honestly are a fantastic guitar player and drummer. Which do you like to do more? I'm sure being able to play both is a big help when writing songs. 

RG--In writing songs its great to have a good sense of melody and rhythm and I have those both in the toolbox so it helps in that area. Im a better drummer than guitarist for sure. Im much more confident in the rhythmic department. I can do riffs and melody its just not my strongest asset.

 
P--Rocky, is there any song you have worked on that makes you look back and just say wow I created that piece of art? 

RG--You almost never create something all on your own in music. Someone helped out somewhere along the line. The Soul Embraced song Tourniquet that was covered by Evanescence is definitely a high point in my career.
 
P--I am a total gear head, what kind of guitar rig and guitars do you use with "Living Sacrifice"? I am also curious what in your opinion is the best live drum kit? 

RG--For guitar I use 2 Basson 4x12 cabinets with a Line 6 Spider III head and a First Act Custom Explorer with EMG H4 pickups and D'Addario strings. For pedals I use a Bad Horsey Wha, Boss Tuner, Boss Noise Suppressor and a Boss Super Shifter with a Line 6 FBV Shortboard. Sometimes I'll use my Audio Technica wireless but mostly stick to my Planet Waves cables. In Tune Guitar Picks.
LOVE my Crush Drums! Ive played pretty much every major kit on the market and Crush beats them all. I don't have a single complaint live or in the studio. You can hear my Crush kit on the Soul Embraced album Mythos.
 
P--Honestly, thank you so much for the interview Rocky, can't wait to catch you our on the road playing with "Living Sacrifice". 

RG--Thanks! i appreciate the interview Patrick. R

Here is a video to Living Sacrifice "Ghost Thief" off their new record.

For more information of tour dates and whats is going on with Living Sacrifice go to:
https://www.facebook.com/livingsacrifice. Also go buy their new record "Ghost Thief" in stores now it's definitely one of the best records of the year, in my opinion.

Father John Misty

    

     I ran across an artist about a month ago that I honestly can't get enough of, Josh Tillman or now better known as Father John Misty. His 2013 album release entitled "Fear Fun" is a masterpiece in my opinion. The album has so many different elements from folk to psych. He not only wrote a record but also a novel to go along with the album. According to Father John Misty inspiration was found through this method he described with this simple statement:
    
     "I got into my van with enough mushrooms to choke a horse and started driving down the coast with nowhere to go. After a few weeks, I was writing a novel, which is where I finally found my narrative voice…. It was a while before that voice started manifesting in a musical way, but once I settled in the Laurel Canyon spider-shack where I’m living now, I spent months demoing all these weird-ass songs about weird-ass experiences almost in real-time, and kind of had this musical ‘Oh-there-I-am’ moment, identical to how I felt when I was writing the book."
    

     If you are looking for a guy writing incredible songs and truly conveying his emotion Father John Misty is definitely worth checking out. He is a talent everyone should know about. 

Here is a live video of Father John Misty performing "I'm writing a novel" ........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNu_GJ_PSZY

Also check his website out at:

http://www.fatherjohnmisty.net/