Finally, my response to Richard! I really think I got the best answer from him (not braggin , i could care less, but i did get a great response)
Hey Rich, thanks for the great response!
I was in a band called Simulcast, we were this mix of rock and
electronica/dance/industrial. Much better suited for Europe...we signed with
an entertainment attorney, ron bienstock...ever hear of him? he used to
write an article in Guitar Magazine, he's somewhat "big" in the business. So
he was shopping us out in Europe, there was some interest, but no guarantee
and I just couldn't risk any more time trying to make it. WHo knows what
kind of guarantee i wanted, there are no guarantee's in life! Me n my
girlfriend were going out for like 8 yrs at that point, i wasnt working b/c
i wanted to devote EVERY minute to "making it"...i dont know, it was just
time to move on.... Kinda sad, but I had to move into the "real world". I
still play out once in awhile though, and I dj...I'm only 29!!!!! LOL
hey, wanted to say I dig that solo you were doing during the first Nightrain
solo. Cool "major" feel to it. Im telling you Rich, you have a great
tone...I know we're always searching for that elusive magical tone, but
your's is cool. Between us (lol), Robin is like.......ummm.....not that
good. I mean, he has a cool look, i actually like his look. But....he makes
so many mistakes and flubs alot. He should play mostly rhythm, you should
take lead, and let that be it. What is the plan anyway with the guitarist
situation? I guess Axl makes it kinda impossible to forsee the future. Has
he given you guys any kind of update recently?
By the way, I always jam along to Madagascar. Are you guys tuned down a half
step at A or Bb?
One last thing, you rocked the November Rain solo....i think you took the
first one, right? totally cool. Bending that G to an A and having it at
perfect pitch is crucial right there at the intro to that solo.......what do
u think of slash anyway? ever meet him? i know you're in a weird situation
and all....how are u dealing with all of this? 2002 was probably crazy for
you??
sorry, one last thing again...lol. Do you switch between a clean and
distorted sound when live, or just clean up using the guitar volume knobs?
if you do make switches for different sections of songs, are u clicking that
on-stage, or is someone controlling it back-stage? i always found it easier
to clean up using the guitar volume knob, unless i needed like a really,
really JC- type clean sound.
sorry for rambling....
- Greg
----- Original Message -----
From: <
4tus@richardfortusonline.com>
To: "Greg
Sent: Monday, November 21, 2005 9:03 AM
Subject: RE: From NYC
> Hi Greg,
> I live in the Lower East Side. I play out every once in a while with
> different things. Keep checking my site for up-coming shows. What
> band were you playing with a few years ago around the city? I was in a
> NYC band called Honky Toast a few years back. We were on Epic records.
> it was a very NY band. My setup with Guns is basically 2 old Plexi
> Marshall's that have been modified by Jose. I bought both of them off
> of Mick Mars. They were his main amps for years. I use those with
> another stock plexi and a 2 Diezels. I have a Bradshaw switching
> system. I use a Hiwatt tape echo and a pcm80 with some pedals as well.
> The pedals seem to change a lot, but mainly use a Klon Centaur and a
> Hermida Mosferatu. On Madagascar i use a Fernandez sustainor guitar to
> get that sound. I flick the octave switch to get that high controlled
> feedback sound. My main guitar is a '73 Les Paul Signature. I have 2
> of them (both gold top's). I have a pretty big collection of old
> guitars, so my live guitar line-up changes pretty regularly.
> As for Brain, he talks a lot of ghetto shit about only doing it for the
> $. Bottom line is, he loves it. He's one of the greatest drummers
> I've ever played with. The dude is just sick! As for Axl, if it was
> strictly business, none of us would have stuck around for as long as we
> have. I consider him family. He's a beautiful human, not at all like
> how he is perceived. You have to realize that he CHOOSES not to defend
> himself in the press. He believes that all that matters is the music.
> I respect that so much. As for Bucket, I was cool with him. Haven't
> heard from him since he left. He's a very strange dude. Not exactly
> "stable", but I got along well with him. He's a great musician. Don't
> give up on us, we are making progress and things are starting to roll
> very quickly now.
> thanks for you kind words and support.
> richard
>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: From NYC
>> From: Greg
>> Date: Wed, August 24, 2005 12:05 am
>> To:
4tus@richardfortusonline.com>>
>>
>> Whats up richard.....
>>
>> my name is greg, im a teacher from westchester, ny by day,and a musician
>> by night. i played the whole nyc scene a few years back, was a fun time
>> but the band kinda leveled off and there was no where elkse to go but
>> down.
>>
>> im 28 yrs old, huge gnr fan, and i saw the band twice in 2002, CT and
>> NYC. you had alot of energy on stage, i gotta hand it to you, its gotta
>> be tough playing old songs written by different people. but you were
>> totally rockin on stage, it was a nice surprise. and u had great tone, i
>> totally dig what you were doing on madagascar. what that pure feedback
>> after the chorus' or a cool delay? whats your live set up when you play
>> with gnr? im a les paul into my versatile Line 6 amp kinda guy, couldn't
>> lug around the marshall 4x12s anymore!! are you coming to nyc anytime
>> soon, as a solo act?
>>
>> of course i have to, by state law, ask you some gnr questions. in all
>> honesty, what is axl like? what about brain, it seems he is only in it
>> for the money. are you guys getting any say on Chinese Democracy, or
>> better yet....is there an album? LOL
>>
>> were you cool with buckethead? what happened with him? does the band like
>> axl as a friend or is it like strictly business? i wonder, how many times
>> a year do u even see him?
>>
>> im patient man, just waiting it out. thanks SOOOO much for any info you
>> can give me.
>>
>> Later...
>
Author