Note: I didn't post the ful interview. The full interview is available at
https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/richard_fortus_true_innovation_often_comes_from_ignorance.html
Richard Fortus: 'True Innovation Often Comes From Ignorance' Richard Fortus is perhaps best known to the world as Guns N' Roses longest standing axeman (Slash was in Gn'R for 11 years. Richard has been in the band for 14 years). But when he is not fulfilling his role in GN'R, he spends his days as a well-respected session musician who has played on records and shared the stage with a diverse crop of artists that includes Fiona Apple, Thin Lizzy, N'Sync, Rihanna, Puddle of Mudd, the list goes on.
His resume also boasts film soundtracks and video game scores. At the moment, Richard's primary focus is the Dead Daisies, a supergroup that has consisted of a rotating lineup of musicians from the upper echelon of rock 'n' roll. The current lineup consists of John Corabi (M?tley Cr?e) on vocals, Dizzy Reed (Guns N' Roses), Marco Mendoza (Thin Lizzy), and Brian Tichy (Whitesnake). In the following interview, we take a look at the untold Richard Fortus story. Richard respectfully declined to comment on future plans for Guns N' Roses but has stated in a recent interview that he believes that 2016 will be "a big year for Guns N' Roses."
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You've been put in your fair share of challenging situations in your musical career, I'm certain. What has been the most challenging part of being in a band like GN'R? What is the most challenging part of being in Dead Daisies?
The most challenging part of being in such an iconic band, such as GN'R, is trying to remain respectful of the integrity of the parts and songs while still maintaining your own identity. Of course, with the new material, it's a totally different challenge. The biggest challenge there, is finding appropriate space within a 3-guitar context. With the Daisies, it's a very different thing. I think the biggest challenge there is to walk the line between the format of the band, which is unapologetically retro, and bringing something fresh to the table.
We could (and perhaps someday we should) spend a very long time talking about the amazing collection of gear you've got in your arsenal. Guitars, like people have unique backstories - where they came from and where they've been. Which guitars or amps have the most interesting backstories and could you share those with us?
I've got some good ones. I have a 1973 Fender Starcaster that I bought from Ted Turner of Wishbone Ash. I also have a 1959 TV Les Paul Jr. that was owned by Steve Marriott (Small Faces, Humble Pie). I have a couple of old Marshalls that are very special to me, that I bought from Mick Mars (M?tley Cr?e). You're right, we could spend a LONG time talking about this subject!
Do you bring your vintage guitars on the road or are they strictly for studio use?
The last vintage guitar that I took on the road with me was when I was touring with Thin Lizzy. I took a 1956 TV Les Paul Jr. Jimmy Gravity (my guitar repair guy), convinced me that I owed it to the fans! It got pretty beat up, but I'm glad I took it. Ultimately, guitars SHOULD be played, not collected! Lately, I've been using these amazing guitars made by Leo Scala. They have that magical feel, tone and mojo of a vintage guitar. Truly amazing instruments. Also, I love my James Trussart guitars. They are also true works of art.
Leo Scala makes some great guitars.
I think he is the finest craftsman of solid body instruments that I have found. I have never heard a better sounding Les Paul style guitar and aesthetically, he is unsurpassed.
Your Trussart Strat has a left handed headstock on it. Are they made like that or is that something you requested? Do they have any other mods?
I'd asked James to put the left handed headstock on because I like more tension on the low strings. It gives it more of a piano-like quality, while the upper strings are easier to bend, with less tension. I also asked him to reverse the angle of the bridge pickup. The pickups were clones of my favorite Strat (a 1960 slab board). They were made by Arcane Pickups and they are absolutely beautiful.
What is your favorite guitar pedal and why?
I don't think I have a favorite pedal per se. There are a few that I rarely am without. My Spaceman Saturn V and my Lovepedal Eternity are mainstays. I also love my vintage EchoplexEP3's.
How does your guitar rig setup differ between GN'R and Dead Daisies?
My Guns rig is completely different! I have 2 Voodoo R4-100 4 channel custom heads. 2 iso cabs, a Fractal for the wet right/left part of my tone and drawers full of pedals through a switching system. I usually travel with about 14 guitars (as opposed to 3 with the Daisies). Whole different world.
You've said in past interviews that you are a musicophile and you like to study music in the places you visit. Certainly Cuba must have been a cool experience. Is there anywhere in the world that you would really love to experience the musical culture?
I would really like to study the classical music of India. It's a music that I've always been intrigued by and I find so incredibly beautiful and moving. I've been in India, but not around that world of music.
How did hearing punk and alternative rock for the first time influence you? What was it about that music that spoke to you?
At the time when I first became exposed to that genre, I was firmly ensconced in older classic rock. Mainly art rock and prog, and also in jazz and fusion. What the alternative world opened my eyes to this idea that music can be very effective and can move you without much technical ability. Also, true innovation often comes from ignorance. I loved how genuine and unaffected that genre was. There was no masturbatory musicianship; they were simply trying to make art that was compelling and engaging.
Will you ever put out a solo record?
If I ever became convinced that anyone really wanted to hear one! Highly doubtful.
What has been your fondest memory of your time in Guns N' Roses so far? How has working with the great talent in that band influenced you as a musician?
There are so many wonderful memories I have from the last 14 years with GN'R. It would be impossible to pick a favorite. Ironically, I'm sitting in a hotel here in Brussels and Guns stayed here in 2010. Tommy Stinson and Dizzy and I found a grand piano in the breakfast room of this hotel. We asked the manager of the hotel if we could use the piano that night to record some music. We put one mic on the piano and positioned ourselves around the mic and recorded (and filmed); a song that Tommy wrote called "One Man Mutiny." We put it up on YouTube and made available as a free download. That's a very special memory of making music that I'm still proud of with two of my best friends. Life doesn't get much better than that.
Do you have any advice to guitarists who are just starting out?
If you are playing for any other reason than for the love of music, stop. You have to love it more than anything else if you want to continue to get better and if you have any aspirations of making it your career.
Interview by Justin Beckner
Ultimate-Guitar.com (C) 2015
https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/richard_fortus_true_innovation_often_comes_from_ignorance.html
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