Digital Nations Interview 2010
DN: Talk about the record. Where did you get the idea from?
Well with the new Record I wanted to combine my melody driven songs with a heavier feel. I also wanted to get back to writing a more listener friendly album. My last record Next Big Adventure, was quite Shred happy LOL and I think it was written with guitar players in mind. With Shreddtime Stories there is some serious ripping going on, but they are in songs non-guitar players will like. Think of the Scorpions Rock you like a Hurricane where you have a great song and a killer guitar solo.
The theme of the album is like and old school monster comic book from the 50's and 60's and the songs are supposed to read like stories you would read at bedtime. Some Scary, some Adventure filled etc.
DN: What is the inspiration behind this album?
I just wanted to put out a bunch of songs ranging from Rock to Heavy to Middle eastern to sing a long etc that felt like now. Many instrumental records feel old school and probably this one as well to a point LOL but I wanted to try to modernize the genre. Many of the tracks are in Drop D and some are in 6/8 and one has a 7/8 time passage as well so it does have a different feel to it.
DN: Who are the musicians that play on the record?
TD: I was lucky enough to have Fred Bartolomeo aka " Frankenstein " play Drums and Jimi "The Wolfman" Ward play Bass. David Shankle guest solo's on Drop D Symphony.
Fred and I met at NAMM a few years back he joined my solo band. We have played together a ton so it was a no brainer for him to do the record. He is a rock solid drummer who just knows what to play and where. I wanted a very straight but not so straight its boring groove going on. Fred was able to not only lock it down but do it it a very cool way where it feels like more is going on. And not that Fred can't unload, cause he can bring the pain and does on a few tracks lol!
Jimi and I also met at NAMM and have also played at NAMM show for years together. I always loved playing with him. I knew I wanted him to play Bass on the record. I asked him if he wanted to do it and he was like when and where?LOL So he flew out to Chicago for the sessions and really just blew me away. He just thunders when he plays! He and Fred anchored the groove and that made it so easy for me to do my thing.
Dave Shankle is probably one of the fastest guitar players on the Planet and a really nice guy. He traded solo's with me on my last CD and I wanted his insane skillz on this CD as well. I always feel if you want to push yourself, you need to play with the best. His playing pushed me to play faster cleaner and be more tasty while doing it. I think anyone who listens to Drop D Symphony will agree that we put on a show. I am not sure if the technology exists to accurately count all the notes played on that track. Dave really smokes!
DN: Who are some of the bands that influenced you when you were growing up?
TD: My Mom listened to a lot of different music from ABBA, BeeGee's, Pink Floyd to Alice Cooper and everything in between. She liked Elton John a lot and Paul McCartney and I listened to a lot of Wings etc. I think I have a strong sense of melody in my songs and that comes from those early influences.
DN:Do you have any projects that you are working on right now or any in the future? Any plans to tour?
TD: I am working on a Christmas CD right now that should be out in November and I have 10-12 shows coming up. Plus I plan to do everything possible to tour the world opening for Steve Vai on his next tour! I am also looking for a singer to do a vocal project.
DN: Any cool stories you would like to share with us about the recording process?
TD: Jimi flew in on a Wednesday night and we were supposed to learn the songs go over any trouble spots as a unit on Thursday. Practice Thursday day, gig at night, then tighten the songs up Friday day and start recording Friday night Saturday, and Sunday. Well Fred had a death in the Family and had to leave on Friday night at 7. So we rehearsed Thursday day then did a gig then back to my Studio, Studio T, to start recording that night. I think we got back around 12 and recorded til 3 or so. Then got up ands cranked out the whole CD from say 9 A M til 6 when Fred got up from his throne and went straight to the O'Hare for his flight. Pretty much non-stop. And Fred nailed his parts as well! Talk about crunch time. We did Bass and Drum keepers so Saturday we touched up Bass and rythmn guitars. I did the lead guitars a week later over a long weekend. I was amazed at how in such little time the tunes just came together. I actually wrote the middle part to the Introduction in like 5 minutes because it wasn't totally done and we were running out of time LOL so they said what have you got and I played the first idea I had and that was it !
DN: What was the most challenging part of making this record?
Well, I wanted to make this the best all around record I have done, as far as songs playing and production. I think we accomplished that. The boys played their asses off and I did my best to wreak havoc on the fret board like I never have before. We worked hard to get killer tones and play well. I tried to write the best songs I could. It was quite a daunting task. So all of that was a huge challenge.
DN: Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering support creating this album?
TD: First off I want to thank Fred, Jimi and David for their incredible talents in making this record! If not for their time and effort it would not be the killer CD it is! I also want to thank all our families for their patience and support. I want to thank my Grandpa, Thaddeus Dudley "T. D" Clark for all his inspiration and helping make me the person I am today. I miss you Grandpa, thanks for showing me the way. A huge thanks goes out to Mike Ault, whose incredible skillz as Producer, Engineer and general keeper of mayhem, for getting the best performances out of a bunch of guys trying to fit 50 pounds of stuff in a 10 pound bag. His work on 5 Dirham and Moroccan Bedtime Story made those tunes come to life.
I want to thank all of the people and product companies who have worked with me over the years. Mike at Nady, Scott at EMG, David at Dean Markley, Julie at Jim Dunlop, Tim at Mesa Boogie, Tyme at Sans Amp/Tech 21, Rocktron, Turbotrem.
Finally I want to thank Steve Vai and Sean Carpenter at Digital Nations for making me part of the family. One big black leather metallic family LOL.
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