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Andy James is a progressive metal instrumental guitarist from the U.K. His sold-out debut solo album, “Machine”, was released in 2005, and received five-star rave reviews. Now Andy has recently completed his follow-up album, “In the Wake of Chaos”, which is due to arrive early this year on Grooveyard Records. Much like our last interviewee, Andy has just returned from the 2007 Winter NAMM Show in California, and now he’s here to discuss his past, present, and future as a virtuoso guitarist.
An Interview with Andy James IC: In 2005 you won a Radio 1 competition and got to jam with Zakk Wylde. Were you surprised to have won?
AJ: Yeah, I was! I had mentioned to a friend of mine one day that I hadn’t heard anything for 2 weeks, and that obviously they didn’t like what I sent them. Later that same day I got a call from Radio 1 saying that I had won!
IC: What was it like meeting Zakk?
AJ: I was waiting in the Gibson offices in London with my girlfriend, and suddenly in walked Zakk with his tour manger and wife. He entered carrying a guitar and a 12-pack of Beck’s beer. Then he started handing out these beers to everyone and sat down. He was really cool about the whole thing. We sat together and talked about guitars, and then we just jammed for about an hour or so. When he left he gave me and my girlfriend a hug and then asked if we were going to his show that night at the Astoria. We said no, so he had his tour manager arrange some tickets for us to go, which was really cool.
IC: You also once got to jam with Vinnie Moore. How did that come about?
AJ: I was at GIT in London at the time, and Vinnie Moore was there to do a clinic. Upon entering the clinic everyone had to write their name on a piece of paper and put it into a box. At the end on Vinnie's clinic they announced that they would pull 5 names out of the box, and those people would get to jam with Vinnie. The first ticket pulled out had my name on it! I couldn’t believe it (although I suspect Shaun Baxter had rigged it so that I got picked for whatever reason). Anyway, the winner of “best guitar player to jam with Vinnie” got to go to Birmingham, to compete in Musicman’s Jam 2000 competition, and I was picked! After the whole clinic Vinnie and I had some photo's taken, and then we just hung out for a bit and talked music and stuff. Vinnie is a really cool guy, and I have a lot of respect for him. At Birmingham was the first time I met the Ernie Ball crew (including Jamie Humphries). I didn’t win the overall competition though.
IC: Is there anyone else you’d especially like to get to play with one day?
AJ: Yeah, I wouldn’t mind having a jam with Andy Timmons or Mattias “IA” Eklundh. Both are completely different players but it would be cool to experience some of their ideas first hand. And just to meet them as people would be cool also.
IC: Your second solo album, "In the Wake of Chaos" is due out on Grooveyard Records very soon. Is there a set release date for that yet?
AJ: I’ve mentioned a few dates in the past, but nothing concrete. For now I will just say, “soon”… within the next couple of months. It was due to be out earlier, but Grooveyard moved premises and all of their releases were delayed. I’ll keep my myspace page updated with news on that.
IC: Now that the album is complete, how do you feel about it? Do you listen to your own music very much?
AJ: Yeah, only when I’m recording it though. I listen to it quite a lot and if I still like it after about a thousand listens then the song is complete. If not I just change it until I do like it. Sometimes I listen just to remind myself of what happens when I put my mind to something. I’m very lazy so that kinda spurs me on a little bit.
IC: Your music sounds very progressive, diverse in styles, and refreshing to listen to. Your rhythm backings are also fantastic, and sound strong and melodic enough to stand on their own - even without the leads! What’s your creative process like, and what inspires your songwriting?
AJ: Thanks dude, well that’s a hard question for anyone to answer who writes music.
Most of the time I’ll have a riff idea that I’ll jam to a drum track, and then I figure out the other bits in my head and join it all together. Other times complete songs will get written in one sitting, and then I can just record them and they're done. Sometimes I’ll have complete mental blocks and won’t write for ages. It’s swings and roundabouts really.
I try and concentrate on melody first and any kind of shred second. It really has to be a song rather than a vehicle for shredding. That way, people will more likely listen to what you're doing. I quite like using harmony in chorus sections, to lift the song and give it a more anthemic approach, almost like vocal bands do.
IC: You have some of the best technique I’ve seen. Who or what inspired you to take your playing to such an amazing level?
AJ: When I listened to Satriani on his “Surfing with the Alien” album, that was the point when I knew I wanted to learn what back then I thought was impossible guitar playing.
... When you are learning, it’s often best to practice stuff you find hard. It’s the only way to really improve I think.
IC: Are there any guitarists that you still look up to now?
AJ: The players that I think are awesome at the moment are Guthrie Govan, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, and Mattias “IA” Eklundh. Those guys are the most amazing players around at the moment.
IC: How many hours did you practice when you were younger, and how does that compare with your current practice / playing schedule?
AJ: When I was younger I used to practice guitar for about 6 or 7 hours a day. It sounds a lot, but when all you love is playing guitar, time just flies by. Anyway, I didn’t have much of a social life during school, so guitar kept me out of trouble. Now I pretty much play for as long or short as I want. I try and play everyday; it keeps your chops up. The only time I really sit down and practice now is when I have a gig (instrumental mainly) or a session with licklibrary.com, and they want me to play the impossible! [Laughs] I teach a lot as well, so that also keeps my hands in shape.
IC: Since this is an instrumental guitar website, what are your favorite instrumental albums?
AJ: My top three would be Steve Vai’s “Passion & Warfare”, Andy Timmons Band’s “Resolution”, and John Petrucci’s “Suspended Animation”.
IC: You recently posted the news that your vocal band “Fallen Ikarus” is sadly no more due to musical direction differences. Do you hope to do more vocal-oriented music in the future? If so, what direction would you like to go in?
AJ: The band I’m putting together right now will mainly be for showcasing the instrumental stuff, so hopefully we can go out and gig. Eventually I see this band getting a singer and going in more of a progressive metal direction. I’m still with the same bass player, and we’re auditioning drummers at the moment. The split was very amicable. We all just admitted we wanted to go in different directions. It’s unfortunate, but it does happen.
IC: What instructional material have you done so far, and what are you planning next in that department?
AJ: I have 3 DVD's coming out through licklibrary.com under the blanket title “Metal Edge”. They will cover a load of different ideas I’ve come up with for my own playing, and hopefully they’ll inspire new life in other people’s playing. The next thing I’m filming is practice regimes using classical chord progressions. Those ideas will be focused on trying to build stamina and technique. Also, I think there are talks of breaking down some of the famous Paganini caprices as well, so plenty to look out for in ’07!
Essential Andy James links: -- Dave B.
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