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 Every once in awhile, a young guitarist steps into the spotlight with an unique guitar style that creates a buzz in the music industry. Guitarist Alex Grossi is part of a new breed of Hollywood musicians that are carving an inspiring new edge to Metal. Alex Grossi has a Rock and Roll resume that would make any 80's musician proud These days, Alex is performing non-stop with QUIET RIOT as well as the occasional stint with GUNS-N-ROSES keyboard player DIZZY REED'S ultra-fun party band HOOKERS-N-BLOW. The Quiet Riot guitarist has a guitar technique that can easily be compared to a young Randy Rhoads or Eddie Van Halen.
I recently caught up with guitar virtuoso Alex Grossi while he was on tour with Quiet Riot for this Exclusive Interview with GlamMetal.Com TM....ENJOY!
Hi Alex, How are you? I hear that you will be performing with Hookers N' Blow on the first week of the tour in New Orleans. Are you looking forward to performing in New Orleans? It is so good to see music is thriving once again in New Orleans.
Hi Deb, great to hear from you! I am looking forward to playing in Louisiana w/ Dizzy and the boys....It is great to see things getting better down there.
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Last time I saw you perform with Hookers N' Blow was in Worcester with Jizzy Pearl. Now it is so good to see Dizzy Reed will be performing with HN'B this time around. What can the fans expect to see at the upcoming HN'B shows?
More of our usual bullshit, Maybe a new song or 2, we'll see..... We did however, have a member of N'SYNCH fill in for DIZZY when JIZZY couldn't make it one night!..... say THAT 3 times fast!
Guns n’ Roses are one of the greatest Rock and Roll bands of our generation. What have you enjoyed most about touring with Dizzy Reed? What have you learned from performing Dizzy Reed? He is such a phenomenal keyboard player, and HNB features the best musicians from the Los Angeles area.
I wouldn't say we are anywhere near the best musicians the in the L.A. area, fuck, I wouldn't even call us musicians, LOL!!! but thank you! -- One thing that I have learned from Diz is that to always stay busy no matter what, when your "main gig" takes some time off, most guys climb the walls, HN'B gives all of us a chance to keep our chops up and stay busy. Check WWW.HOOKERSNBLOWME.com for all dates.
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The metal scene has gone through so many different phrases over the years. I can remember when GN'R first came out, and they had that Glam-metal image. At the same time, Axl and the band also had this hardcore punkish sound. How would you best describe GNR?
To me, any band --- or anything, for that matter will go through a natural evolution as time goes on...
You recently toured Europe with Love/Hate. How has flying changed since 9/11? Do you find it more difficult to go on tour in Europe?
It is difficult to fly ANYWHERE right now, but it is all for our own safety.
Alex, it is so good to see that you are touring with Quiet Riot again. How does it feel to be playing with one of the top bands from the 80's again?
It feels great to be working, Kevin and Frankie are a blast to tour with, there is no B.S. w/ QUIET RIOT-- more bands should run their shit that way.
It is cool to see that Chuck Wright has also returned. How does it feel to be performing with Chuck again?
Chuck and I have always got along, I think surviving the "BAD BOYS OF METAL TOUR" together made us pretty close right off the bat!
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Quiet Riot has a huge following at GlamMetal.Com. Actually, the band will be performing on Labor Day Weekend at the Rhythm Cafe in Bridge, PA on Sept 2. What can the Quiet Riot fans expect to see at the show? I know this is going to be a mega event for the club, and everyone is looking forward to the event.
I am looking forward to that weekend, it will be our first run back after taking August off, We will be ready to rock! For ticket info check out www.glamslamproductions.com
Alex, I have seen you perform many times, and your recent performance with Quiet Riot in Hartford was outstanding. I really enjoyed how you gave the Quiet Riot hits, a modern day approach, but at the same time you still manage to capture their classic bluesy sound. Were you a big Quiet Riot fan growing up?
Thanks Deb,Yes, of course I was!, I think anybody who had electricity in the 1980's remembers that guy in the padded cell wearing a metal mask on his face....The main thing I have realized that if people come to a show they want to hear what they know, I have been doing my best to be true to the songs, while still being "me".
Last summer, you performed with Quiet Riot on the RNST. This summer you had the opportunity to perform at Waterstock Festival with Poison and Cinderella and Dokken. What was it like to perform at the Waterstock Festival this year with Cinderella again?
It is always great to see those guys, Jeff Labar and Tom Kiefer are all killer guitar players, and their entire camp is a class act all-around. I actually just took my mom to see them in Hartford last week, we had a blast!
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Do you have any recent guitar endorsement news that you would like to share with us?
I have recently been working with PAUL REED SMITH on my own model, I went down to the factory and checked it out in May, the first one is now done and is being photographed as I type this. I should have it anyday. If anybody actually wants one they can be ordered through PRS's "Private Stock" section..... and oh yeah, it only comes in one color..... PINK GLITTER!!! for more info, go to WWW.PRSGUITARS.COM
Is their anything else that you would like to say to all of your fans at GlamMetal.Com TM?
Just Thanks for coming out to all the shows and for being supportive, check out www.ALEXGROSSI.com or www.MYSPACE.com/alexgrossi to get all the latest on me, and check out www.FRANKIE-BANALI.com for all things QUIET RIOT.
Thank you Alex, Best of Luck with Quiet Riot, and I hope to see you perform real soon!
Thank you Deb, see ya soon!
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