Man, has
it really been 20 years since the first Billy Idol
record? Since 1982's "Billy Idol", guitarist Steve
Stevens has created a huge body of high caliber work
with myriad artists of myriad styles and enjoyed both
critical and commercial success. (for more info and an
interview with Steve, click READ MORE)
In 1982, Steve played on both the debut Billy Idol
album and on the solo album of KISS drummer Peter
Criss. He went on to tour with Idol and then entered
the recording studio, as a full musical partner with
Billy, to create what is still regarded by many as one
of the best rock-n-roll albums of all time, 1983's
"Rebel Yell". From his incredible & flashy soloing to
his subtle use of textural compositions - not to
mention his stunning visual antics on videos for the
title track, "Eyes Without a Face", and "Flesh for
Fantasy" - Stevens helped catapult Billy Idol to the
top of the charts and to sold-out concert stages.
By 1986, Stevens was known as
a bona fide guitar god and musician extraordinaire,
had recorded the theme song (which would later win him
a Grammy Award) with Harold Faltermeyer for the Tom
Cruise movie, "Top Gun", and was putting the finishing
touches on the next Billy Idol album, "Whiplash
Smile". Soon after, Steve left the Idol camp and
recorded with a wide variety of artists, including
Cars frontman Rick Ocasek, the Thompson Twins, Steve
Lukather, Joni Mitchell, Robert Palmer, and Michael
Jackson. He also stepped in for several over-the-top
live performances with Thompson Twins (at the Live Aid
concert), Michael Jackson (for the video "Dirty
Diana"), and more. In 1989, he released his first solo
album: Steve Stevens' Atomic Playboys.
By 1991, he was in the studio
and on the road with former Motley Crew frontman Vince
Neil, and followed by amassing an impressive list of
studio credits - from album soundtracks to jazz piano
tracking to work with Japanese icon Kyosuke Himuro. In
1998, he recorded the first of two incredible CDs as
one-third of the Bozzio, Levins, Stevens project with
drummer Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa, Steve Vai, Missing
Persons) and bassist Tony Levins (Peter Gabriel, Carly
Simon, King Crimson), dubbed "Black Light Project". He
followed that with another huge list of credits,
including the BLS follow-up "Situation Dangerous".
Perhaps his most impressive
and reaching work, however, is his 2000 solo release,
"Flamenco A Go-Go". The album features a fusion of
predominantly electronic music stylings with a
dazzling array of talented performers (live strings,
vocals, percussion, and the like) and, of course,
Steve's virtuosic guitar playing. All the guitar work
is done on Steve's hybrid nylon-string guitar, and it
is infused with a distinct flamenco sensibility. It is
an amazing dream of sonic vision and paves new
ground...ground we all hope Steve will explore soon on
a new solo album.
For now, however, Steve has
reunited with Billy Idol to tour and record a new
album. If their "VH-1 Storytellers" CD is any
indication of things to come, things are definitely
looking good! Soon, you can check out Steve's new
web-site (www.stevestevens.net), but for now you can
keep up-dated regarding Steve's projects at Billy
Idol's web-site (www.billyidol.com).
I had a chance to speak to
Steve recently, and he answered a few question for
TinFoil readers.
==========
1) What are your current
projects?
At the moment, I am writing
material for a new Billy Idol record as well as
formulating a concept for my next solo record.
2) How do these differ from
your past work?
These days, all projects that
I am involved in are started in my home studio - which
means I am able to spend a bit more time "tweaking"
things.
3) Do you have one project
that you are most proud of as a guitarist?
I would have to say my solo
record, "Flamenco A Go-Go". It's the first time
listeners really get a chance to enter my own
imagination!
4) Can you give our readers a
run-down of your basic gear (live and/or studio)?
In my home studio I use some
amp modeling units, as you can get sounds so quickly.
These include a Pod Pro, SansAmp, and Amp Farm for
ProTools. When recording my keeper guitar tracks, I
still use a combination of my old Marshall Plexi heads
(I have 6!), Peavey 5150 II, and a vintage Vox AC30. I
use whatever guitars the track calls for.
Live, I use the Peavey 5150's
and a bunch of stomp boxes mostly made by Mike Fuller
of Fulltone.
5) Who would you cite as
early influences, and who are you favorite new
players?
I have been through stages of
loving different players at different times of my
life. Jeff Beck still is the most expressive soloist
in guitar. Steve Howe in the early days for his
amazing use of styles other then blues. Robert Fripp.
Curtis Mayfield for his songwriting.
Currently, I'm listening to
Sigur Ro's.....amazing band. Lots of electronic
stuff...Groove Armada.
6) Can you give a few tips to
aspiring players?
Listen to styles other then
what you naturally play. Listen to the greats...Miles
Davis, Burt Bacharch, Debussy.....all
the
stuff you thought only your folks dug (hahaha!!!).
7) What are your future
plans?
Billy Idol stuff.....and I
would like to get more involved in film music.
8) Thanx for talking to us,
Steve!
Yeah!
