I have been playing guitar and singing since I was 13-14. I started playing because I heard Hendrix at Woodstock through my brothers album collection. I played my first paid rock gig at 15. By 25 I had played to various sized audiences from small bars with small rock bands, Jazz combos and a classical trio of guitars, to the big venues around town like Ruth Eckerd, Van Weizel, USF Sundome, Bayfront Arena etc with USF's chorus and the Florida Orchestra. I have continued to variously make my living from my BA in music, and my MFA in visual art, now teaching digital audio at the college level.
What was the first concert you ever went to?
1974 Veterans Memorial Columbus Ohio i saw Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention. Overnight sensation Apostrophe and One size fits all were on the menu. I went with my next door neighbor Jim Bradley his Mom and her boyfriend. We were thrilled. His mom, not so much.
What gear do you use?
I use a 1968 Gibson SG (were I a Samurai this is my sword), A 1990 Japanese made1957 reissue Stratocaster (which I L -o -v -e), I use a stunning 2002 Korean made trans Amber Epiphone Les Paul with Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates pickups that I simply cannot put down. My acoustic is a hand made Yamaha CPX15SA that is quite unparalleled in my opinion.
Who was your biggest musical influence growing up?
Hendrix, Zappa, Little Feat, Talking Heads, King Crimson, Yes, McLaughlin, Beck, Weather Report, and of course like oh so many of us in my generation,The Stones, the Beatles and the Who. I am probably best described as an eclectic prog rocker with blues & southern Rock undertones.
Are you in a band? Have you been in bands?
I have been in allot of bands over the years. My current band is Echo Pulse. We play play Classic to Contemporary rock and original content. The band has been together for over 2 years as of 4/12. We are from lower Pinellas County area of Tampa Bay Florida. The Band Consists of Chip Neville on guitar and vocals, Wayne Searles on drums and vocals, Bill Schlotterlein of guitar & vocals and Jay Dubrock on Bass & vocals. I also play in the duo Dream Marina. I it's myself and Greg Lesar on Arp Odessy We play cosmic psychedelia
If you could jam with anyone, who would it be?
I could spend all day playing along with Airto Moreira on percussion, Jaco Pastorius on bass, Wayne Shorter on soprano and Joseph Zanawul on keyboards. Yes, I essentially am saying I want Weather Report as my backup band. I guy can dream right?
What's the biggest audience you ever performed to? What's the smallest?
I have played to an empty room (& got paid) and big rooms like 10,000-15,000+ (And didn't get paid) Life is funny that way...
You're stuck on a desert island and only get to bring one album with you. What do you pick?
I think if the scenario was a DESERT Island, I would not want something light. It would have to be transcendent. Music for ceremony and special event after all someone has to pedal the bamboo bicycle to produce electricity for the record player right? Okay ready?
King Sunny Ade and his African Beats, - Aura
Seriously. This album is in the permanent top 5 albums of all time in my humble opinion. My brother Robert (thanks again Bob) picked it on cassette tape out of the bargain bin. I have no idea whatsoever what they are singing about but I can sing word for word the entire album from memory. Stevie Wonder plays harmonica on track one. I had the good pleasure to see the band in 1986 Jannus Landing St. Pete open for Jimmy Cliff. Sean Daily of the St. Pete Times named that one of the 10 best concerts of all time in St. Pete. I was there and he was absolutely correct. After Kind Sunny's show Jimmy Cliff took us all to task opening with Bongo man has come. I get serious chills just remembering it.
Permanent top 5 LIst
Kind of Blue - Miles Davis
King Sunny Ade & his African Beats - Aura
Weather Report - Black Market
Frank Zappa - Roxy & Elsewhere
Mickey Hart - Planet Drum
+Top 10
The Heartbeats - Spinning World
Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland
Dresden Philharmonic - Beethoven's 9th Symphony
Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians
Dixie Dregs - What If
Ok this is my list today. It may vary at times but it does center on these choices.