Tell me about your top performances.
I think sharing the stage with some of the best artists out there definitely has made our careers
very exciting. Playing with Black Sabbath right before Ronnie James Dio passed away, was full
circle for me. Would’ve really been cool if OZZY was there.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Since we do the Silver Springs Fleetwood Mac tribute I think it would be very cool to collaborate
with Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac. His style is second to none.
Who has been your most influential teacher or mentor?
I never had a teacher for music. What was important for me was sitting down and just learning
every hit rock song out there. That opened my horizons, and I remember playing in a reggae
band touring because they needed some musicians as some of the musicians could not come
from Africa, and that was a great learning experience. I was conned into playing some country
music which we never performed but I did learn like 50 cover country songs, and again that was
a really cool experience because some of those guitar players are incredible with the finger
picking and precise style.
Have you ever taught or mentored another musician?
I actually do that as I’m a voting member of the Grammys and I teach through a company called
Forte, with that connection from the Grammys. I love helping others learn. I try to bring myself
back to when I first started playing and teach in a way that is very conceivable to a beginner or
even a more skilled musician.
What was your worst performance?
Well, sometimes you take gigs that you feel like you should’ve never taken and you say what
the hell am I doing here? I remember being in Europe for instance and just everything went
wrong. Our driver got arrested and we had to walk with all of our equipment. We have no idea
where we were and our cell phones didn’t work. We try to take everything we can and our
motto has been, we will play anywhere, anyhow, anyway, so long as we can and that really has
put us in some shitty situations as well as some incredible situations.
How do you deal with disinterested or unruly audiences?
I try to ignore, and you can always or most of the time kind of walk away from a person who is
drunk and wanting to cause problems. After all you’re dealing with alcohol, so you better put
your big boy pants on and have a thick skin in this business for sure.
Do you prefer to work alone or collaboratively?
I guess my preference is alone however, I do enjoy collaborating as well.
What are your favourite venues to perform at?
We’ve played so many. I enjoy The Casino Ballroom Hampton Beach NH. It’s got the history
that goes back over 50 years.
What inspires you as an artist?
I look at myself as a very spiritual person, not religious, but I know that there’s something out
there that has watched my back, given me signs to go by. I feel like I’ve connected with other
musicians that have moved on, passed away, and they were able to find a conduit like myself
that’s open to that kind of thing. Who really knows right?
How do you nurture your own creativity?
No matter what I am always practicing and rehearsing and that keeps me fresh and I know that I
have to do this if I want to be the best that I can. I’ve always done this, I was the guy at the party
with a guitar in the corner, while everybody else was getting shitfaced, I was playing that guitar.
Do you have trouble with performance anxiety And how do you overcome it?
I would say 95% of the time I have zero anxiety and I think anxiety is a good word for it instead
of stage fright or scared or being nervous. Probably when the show is a huge show with
thousands of people or maybe some really important people are coming. It’s important to
understand that if you look at it like it’s just another show at a bar down the street you can really
eliminate that anxiety 100%. It’s all a matter of perspective.
What are your favourite musical genres, and are there any you dislike?
I love a lot of different genres of music from rock, metal, pop, funk, punk, acoustic, folk to even
old 70s dance music with the great bass lines. I love a lot the old stuff, the new stuff. Shit, I
even like Elvis and Johnny Cash. I don’t particularly like jazz or acid jazz.
How do you differ from most other artists?
As a band, we come with energy and we share that energy with the crowd. We don’t look at it
like hey look at me I’m on stage, we look at it like we’re all here together right now in this
moment, which will be gone and passed soon and where yesterday is gone and the future isn’t
guaranteed then it’s right now, right here in the moment and together we are enjoying ourselves.
How do you think your previous bandmates would describe you?
I don’t know you’d have to ask them.
How did you first get into music?
As soon as I could walk, there was an organ in the house and I played it and then I got a guitar
then I got some drums. My great grandfather on one side had his own orchestra in Italy, and my
other great great grandfather on the other side, had his own orchestra in Germany, and the
Philharmonic Orchestra in Germany actually recorded an album of my great great grandfather‘s
music and that was pretty cool to get the CD
What instruments can you play?
Guitar, piano, bass, percussion, drums, and singing.
Where do you see your musical career in 10 years?
Hopefully I will be touring as I do and it’s important to not get yourself tied down to a particular
dream so to speak of being a superstar and having lots of money and cars and houses and that
kind of freedom. I think one of the most important lessons in life is to be satisfied and completely
happy with what you’re doing as long as it’s what you want to be doing in life. Every show to me
is like Christmas. It doesn’t really matter how big the show is or how small it is. I enjoy it either
way.
Which instrument is your favourite to play?
Guitar.
Which instrument is your least favourite to play?
I would say Drums just because the drummer really has to keep going for four hours, possibly
and you really need to be ready for that. We have a lot of energy on stage. We don’t just stand
there and play and that is pretty demanding as far as energy. But we can go off on a tangent,
and let’s say Alyssa is doing her solo and I can lay back, but the drummer is still going.
What would you say is your greatest strength as an artist?
Having the ability to listen to everything that’s going on as far as the music in the particular
song. I remember when I was younger, just a kid, I was told that they be going through my
music with a fine tooth comb and sure enough that is what happens and it ended up being me
that had to go through it with a fine tooth comb going down to the 64th of one beat to make sure
everything is copacetic and tight. Having the ability to listen to the EQ and the sound and being
able to mix that in a live situation on the spot, I think is very important. And then, of course,
connecting with the universe, and with your friends and the crowd, and never having an ego that
is blinding. I think humility is quite important. When people say oh you’re a great guitar player I
say well thank you but I just got a couple tricks up my sleeve is all.
What would you say is your greatest weakness as an artist?
I’m not close to being the best at anything compared to anyone else. I don’t try to be, or claim to
be. But I do try to be the best I can be.
Who is your favourite musician?
Well, ironically, I keep going back to Black Sabbath because they were innovators and the
music has stood the test of time for each member in Black Sabbath. You can listen to the
drums from Bill Ward, or the bass from geezer Butler or the guitar from Tony Iommi. And of
course, the vocals of OZzy. It was so innovative for their time. Listen to some of his melodies
vocally. They were at the tip of the spear.
What is your proudest accomplishment as a musician
Having the privilege of sharing the stage with some of the greatest bands in the world.
What interests or hobbies do you have outside of music?
If I’m not performing, recording, writing or working on production, then hopefully I’m just chillin,
being at peace.
New Album/Ep In The Works?
We always have a trove of material that we are working on, the never ending story.
Who/How Came Up With The Band Name?
I did. I looked at this entire planet at one point in the past being The Garden Of Eden, and with
all its corruption and deception I thought, wouldn’t it be nice to go somewhere else for a bit.
Thus Leaving Eden.
Future Plans Hopes?
Continue all that we are doing.
Changes In The Industry For You?
Shows are starting earlier and ending earlier which is ok. Your not playing till 2 am anymore.
People actually go out earlier. Unless you’re in NY.
What first got you into music?
My older brother turning me on to great bands.
Who inspired you to make music?
My dad always acted as if I was the greatest when I clearly wasn’t. Especially in the beginning
when I completely sucked. He made me feel like I should keep going when no one else did.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
It’s an eclectic array of different genres all mixed in. We never stick to any one style. The lyrics
are based in reality. Some speak of hope, while others speak of distress.
What is your creative process like?
Connecting with the source and listening.
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Lindsey Buckingham Fleetwood Mac. Such a great player and writer. Never really cared about
them when I was a kid, but learned to appreciate them later.
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
That’s a great question. Probably again I would say Lindsay Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac.
We continue to tour, our schedule @ https://leavingeden.com/tour. All
We do is play Live and record as far as work. We’ve been fortunate enough to have shared the
stage with so many great artists, touring The USA, UK & Canada sharing the stage with
hundreds of the biggest national bands in the world including; Lacuna Coil, In This Moment,
Black Sabbath (Heaven & Hell), Ronnie James Dio, Rob Zombie, 5 Finger DeathPunch,
Disturbed, Marilyn
Manson, Alice Cooper, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZTop, Puddle of Mudd, Korn,
Killswitch Engage, Buckcherry (Jefferson Starship, Big Brother and The Holding Company,
Country Joe, 10 Years After, 40th Anniversary
Woodstock) Shinedown, Dropkick Murphy’s,
Alice in Chains, Papa Roach, Bret Michaels,
Halestorm,Theory of a Deadman, Avenged
Sevenfold, Seether, Hell Yeah, Trapt, Dope, Soil, Fuel, Queensryche, Saving Abel, Hinder,
Damage Plan, 7Dust, Sebastian Bach, SoulFly, Days of the New, NonPoint, DrowningPool, The
Misfits, The Butcher Babies, Collective Soul, MushroomHead, Mudvayne, Chevelle, Godsmack,
Powerman 5000, 10Years, Taproot, Gin Blossoms, Michael Schenker (UFO, MSG & The
Scorpions) Herman Rarebell (The Scorpions), Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden), Kittie, One eyed
doll, Uncle Kracker, Tremonti (Creed/Alterbridge) Lamb of god, Slayer, Stone Sour, Motorhead,
Blackstone Cherry, HOOKERS & BLOW Featuring GUNS N’ ROSES, QUIET RIOT, W.A.S.P.
Members, Steven Tyler, Ted
Nugent, Lita Ford, LA Guns, Trixter, Warrant, Apocalyptic Review(featuring members of Godsmack) Adelitas Way, Scott Stapp (The voice of Creed), Pop Evil,
Ratt & many more.
What is one message you would give to your fans?
It’s always the same message that without our friends, we are nothing. Who would we perform
for, who would listen to our albums or watch our videos? We are always so thankful and never
forget where we came from, ever.
What is the most useless talent you have?
I don’t know, playing with my balls?
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
No singing in the shower.
What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?
I do a lot of recording, engineering production, videos, so I think I’d still be doing all that stuff.
Where have you performed?
We have performed in 47 States USA, toured up in Canada and over the pond in the UK. We’ve
played in front of 20,000 + people. Nice energy for sure.
What are your favourite and least favourite venues?
There’s a place right on the ocean in Hampton Beach New Hampshire called the Casino
Ballroom and I think it’s cool because Led Zeppelin played there, Janis Joplin. I remember in
England somewhere we played at rock city, which is pretty cool. I think artists like Nirvana and
Elton John played there. I remember this one place it was down south somewhere near the
cotton fields, and it wasn’t even open to the public on a regular basis, they just opened it up for
us to play and it was dirty and seedy and we wouldn’t even stay in the so-called hotel they
provided because it was so bad. I remember Eve took one look and said nope. I’m not sleeping
in this place.
Do you have any upcoming shows?
Link to our tour schedule: https://leavingeden.com/tour
How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?
Both ways, good and bad. Good because anyone in the Universe can listen, while I think it
closes, boxes some in where their reality is solely based in virtualization. Very sad indeed. Gotta
get out there and live.
What is your favourite song to perform?
One of ours called see My Soul:
Love the lick and the lyrics.
Which famous musicians do you admire?
I’ve again been fortunate enough to play with most of my favorite players above.
What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?
Never really with the law other than traffic violations, I was at least smart enough or lucky
enough to divert trouble. Probably the most trouble has been with other brain dead,
unenlightened people, fools.
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
My dad told me everyone is where they choose to be in life.
If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
All rock radio stations need to play new music during a decent high traffic listening time block,
not just on a late Sunday night when most are sleeping. Give back to the community you are
serving. People like good new music.
What’s next for you?
Continuing our journey!
Twas my pleasure.
