Ernie Ball (c.1930 – September 9, 2004) was an American entrepreneur, musician, and innovator, widely acclaimed as a revolutionary in the development of guitar-related products. He began as a club and local television musician and small business entrepreneur, building an international business in guitars and accessories that would eventually gross US$40 million a year.

Early years[link]

Born Sherwood Roland Ball in Santa Monica, California, USA, “Ernie” Ball grew up in a musical family. His grandfather wrote the standard, When Irish Eyes Are Smiling^[1] and his father was a car salesman who taught Hawaiian steel guitar on the side.^[2] Although Ball initially picked up the steel at age nine to please his father, he became bored and gave it up. In his early teens he began to take a renewed interest in the instrument, practicing as many as three hours a day. Within a year he was a member of the Musicians Union.^[3]

Musician[link]

While still in his early teens, Ball began playing professionally in South Central Los Angeles beer bars. By age 19 he joined the Tommy Duncan Band playing pedal steel guitar. Duncan, the former lead singer with Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, took the band on tour through the Southwestern United States. During the Korean War, he did a tour of duty in the United States Air Force Band, playing guitar and bass drum.^[4] After the military he returned to Los Angeles and continued playing in barrooms and lounges, until landing a job on the 1950s “Western Varieties” program at KTLA television.^[5] The position soon gained him wider recognition in the Los Angeles music scene and led to studio work and teaching jobs.^[6]

Entrepreneur[link]

Sometime in 1957 or 1958, Ball opened what was arguably the first music store in the United States to sell guitars exclusively, in Tarzana, California.^[7] When music sales reps criticized him for refusing to sell drumsticks and other instruments equipment, Ball replied, “I just want to sell guitars.” He was repeatedly told that a guitar store would never be a success, but the words rang hollow as people began to come from miles around to visit the shop.^[8] Eventually, the products spawned from his company would sell in more than 5,500 stores and be exported to more than 70 countries of the world.^[9]

"Slinkys"[link]

With the guitar-based rock revival of the 1960s, Ball noticed that beginning students were having difficulty playing the bestselling Fender #100 medium gauge strings, particularly in holding down or bending the stiff 29-gauge third ("G") string. At the time, it was common for a set of strings to have a "wound" third string. He approached the Fender company with the problem, suggesting a lighter gauge but was rebuffed. Ball convinced a string manufacturer to make him custom sets with a 24-gauge third string which he sold in his store.^[10] It was the beginning of the Ernie Ball brand. Located not far from Hollywood, the store began to attract a large patronage of professional musicians, including The Beach Boys, Merle Travis, and The Ventures. Ball also began to notice the practice of "slack stringing" among players who discarded the bottom sixth string and added a banjo first string on top. This resulted in an overall lighter gauge set with a plain third string. Again, he contacted Fender with a suggestion for a lighter set and was turned down. This time he continued the quest with Gibson who scoffed at the idea. So, once again he ordered from the manufacturer naming the product the Ernie Ball Slinky.^[11] "Slinky" strings traveled the country with the pro musicians who used them and before long, Ball was receiving mail orders from individuals and stores. Still not a string company, he ordered separate strings in various sizes and displayed them in a makeshift case allowing musicians to experiment in creating their own sets. It took off, and in 1967 he sold the store and moved his string business to Newport Beach, California.^[10]

Today Ernie Ball Slinkys are used by many world famous guitar players. A very small sampling of these guitarists includes:Slash, Buckethead, Juan Alderete, DJ Ashba, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Dave Coletta, The Edge, Daniel Wadley, John Fogerty, Charles Gallant, Synyster Gates, Delvin "Chickenscratch" Johnson, Janick Gers, Billy Googs, Buddy Guy, Steve Vai, Tommy Kessler, Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, Albert Lee, John Mayer, Dave Navarro, Jimmy Page, Brad Paisley, John Petrucci, Omar Rodríguez-López, Mick Thomson, Chris Broderick, Daron Malakian, Angus Young, Christian Chestnut, Dave Murray, Curt Kirkwood, and Paul Gilbert.

Marketing innovation[link]

Ernie Ball did not create anything new—he simply saw a demand and improved upon existing products and found ways to better fulfill market demands.^[10] By the early 1970s he took the company global by establishing distributors in Europe and Asia.^[6] Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend and other rock icons were stringing up Slinkys, a trend that continues into the present, making Ernie Ball the second biggest string manufacturer in the country. He was unorthodox in his management methods, disregarding market surveys, preferring instead to test products in the marketplace to see if they would succeed.^[12] He regarded profit-and-loss as necessary evils and trusted his instincts. In the early eighties the company bought the Music Man Company, expanding into the production of high quality guitars, basses and amplifiers with Leo Fender making the instruments and Tom Walker building amps.^[13] Ball, along with former Fender employee, George Fullerton, was instrumental in the development of the first modern acoustic bass guitar, introduced under the Earthwood brand in 1972. Although unsuccessful, surviving models are highly collectable.^[14] In 1985, the company was moved to a new facility in San Luis Obispo and remained there with all of it operations until early 2003, when the company relocated its string manufacturing to Southern California’s Riverside County. Under his leadership it grossed more than $40 million per annum.^[15] The company established an annual Battle of the Bands contest and participated in other trade events nationwide.^[16]

Battle of the Bands[link]

In 1997, the very first Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands kicked off at the San Francisco Warped Tour. The Battle of The Bands 1 had 18 stops in its first year and developed into a long-lasting relationship with Kevin Lyman and The Warped Tour.^[17]

Personal life[link]

Ball had diverse interests including collecting cars, surfing and flying airplanes. He also authored a series of books and manuals on guitar playing. He was married and had three sons, Sherwood, David, and Sterling Ball, and a daughter, Nova.^[18]

Death[link]

Ball remained active in his company until his death 42 years after its founding. He died from an ongoing, undisclosed illness on September 9, 2004, leaving the business to his sons and other family members. He was buried near his home at San Luis Cemetery in San Luis Obispo, California.^[11]

See also[link]

• Michael DeTemple

References[link]

External links[link]

• Ernie Ball/Music Man Company
• Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands
• Guitar Player story Captured 7 April 2007

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Albert Lee
Albert Lee The Corner Hotel, Melbourne, August 2007
Background information
Birth name	Albert Lee
Also known as	Mr. Telecaster
Born	(1943-12-21) 21 December 1943 (age 68) Leominster, England
Genres	Country Rockabilly Rock and roll R&B
Occupations	Musician, Songwriter, Musical director
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano, mandolin
Years active	1959–present
Labels	A&M, Diamond Records, MCA, Heroic Records, Castle, Magnum, Polydor, Sugar Hill
Associated acts	Heads Hands & Feet, Emmylou Harris, Eric Clapton, Rodney Crowell, Ricky Skaggs, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, The Everly Brothers
Website	www.albertlee.co.uk
Notable instruments
1952, 1953, 1960 Fender Telecaster Ernie Ball Music Man custom Albert Lee Signature Model 1958 Gibson J-200 1958 Gibson Les Paul Custom Gibson Everly Brothers model 1958 Fender Stratocaster

Albert William Lee (born 21 December 1943 in Leominster, Herefordshire, England) is an English guitarist known for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique. Lee has worked both in the studio and on tour with some of the most famous musicians which stretch through a very wide of genres. He has additionally maintained a solo career and is noted as a composer and musical director as well.

Early life[link]

Lee grew up in Blackheath, London. His father was a musician, and Lee studied piano, taking up the instrument at age seven.^[1] During this time, he became a fan of Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis. He took up guitar in 1958 when his parents bought him a second-hand Höfner President which he later traded in for a Czechoslovakian Grazioso, the forerunner of the Futurama. Lee left school at the age of 16 to play full-time.

Career[link]

Early career in England[link]

Lee was with a variety of bands from 1959 onwards, playing mostly R&B, country music and rock and roll. In addition to Buddy Holly, his early guitar influences included Cliff Gallup, Grady Martin, The Everly Brothers, Scotty Moore, James Burton and Jerry Reed.^[2] Lee first experienced commercial success as the lead guitarist with Chris Farlowe and The Thunderbirds. Lee says that he enjoyed playing the Stax-type material, but he really wanted to play country music. Consequently he left Farlowe and the Thunderbirds in 1968.

During his time playing with Heads Hands & Feet, Lee became a "guitar hero", playing his Fender Telecaster at breakneck speed.^[3] Heads Hands & Feet became a very popular live band in the UK, making appearances on The Old Grey Whistle Test and also in Europe, where they appeared on the German music programme Beat-Club.

International success[link]

In 1971, Lee performed with Deep Purple's keyboard player Jon Lord on a live recording of Lord's Gemini Suite. That opus was a follow-up to Deep Purple's Concerto for Group and Orchestra. Ritchie Blackmore had played the guitar at the first live performance of the Gemini Suite in September 1970, but declined the invitation to appear on the live studio version, which led to the involvement of Lee. Other performers were Yvonne Elliman, Ian Paice (Deep Purple), Roger Glover (Deep Purple), Tony Ashton and the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by the late Sir Malcolm Arnold.

Lee left for Los Angeles, California in 1974 and joined The Crickets through his friend bassist Rick Grech (Blind Faith) who also included Sonny Curtis and Jerry Allison. The band cut three albums together including A Long Way From Lubbock. He also received many offers of session work. In 1976, Lee was asked to join Emmylou Harris's Hot Band, replacing one of his heroes, James Burton, who was returning to perform with Elvis Presley. The Hot Band featured other musicians such as Ricky Skaggs and Rodney Crowell. Starting in 1978, Lee worked for five years with Eric Clapton, playing and singing for a live concert recording at the Budokan in Japan.

Lee was responsible for The Everly Brothers 1983 reunion concert and was its musical director.^[4] He played regularly with the Everlys for over twenty years.

In 1987, Lee was invited by Gerry Hogan to headline at a steel guitar festival in Newbury, Berkshire. Lee was at first intimidated by the prospect of having to front a band, however, the gig was successful and he now tours with Hogan's Heroes on a regular basis. Hogan's Heroes are renowned for attracting celebrities to their gigs. Stars such as Eric Clapton, Tommy Emmanuel, Lonnie Donegan, Dave Edmunds, Marty Wilde, Willie Nelson, Nanci Griffith, Don Everly, Emmylou Harris, Sonny Curtis and Rodney Crowell have all jammed with the band at one time or another.

In 2002, Lee appeared at the Concert for George. Also in 2002, Lee received a Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance for Foggy Mountain Breakdown from the CD Earl Scruggs and Friends. In September 2006 Lee took part in Primal Twang: The Legacy of the Guitar—the first definitive theatrical journey through the guitar’s colourful and surprisingly controversial 3500-year history. Lee appeared at the 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival on 28 July and performed with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings at the Ahmet Ertegun tribute show at The O2 in London on 10 December. A new Albert Lee and Hogan's Heroes album entitled Like This was released in spring 2008 to coincide with their European tour. Lee continues to work in the studio and tours on a regular basis with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings. He lives in Malibu, California.

Awards, accolades and legacy[link]

Albert Lee performing, 2006. The guitar is a Music Man Albert Lee

Lee has received many awards for his playing, including the five times consecutive winner of Guitar Player magazine's "Best Country Guitarist".^[5] Lee is known within the music industry for his speed of playing and his technical virtuosity^[6] and yet by the same token, one of the most melodic, playing slower passages approximating the sound of the pedal steel guitar with his Music Man and Telecaster guitars which are equipped with B-Benders.

He is known as "the guitar player's guitar player"^[6] because of the presence of so many guitarists, famous or unknown, everywhere he performs. Albert Lee is also referred to as "Mr. Telecaster".^[7] A long-time Telecaster player, Lee wrote a foreword to A.R. Duchossoir's book detailing the history of the instrument.

Albert Lee's song "Country Boy" helped to redefine country guitar for a whole generation of players, and was later to become a huge hit for multi-instrumentalist Ricky Skaggs.

Despite positive press from Melody Maker and New Musical Express, Lee has never achieved any great commercial success in terms of record sales during his career, but more as a live performer, session player and sideman, perhaps due to his self-effacing stage presence. Lee has been described by his peers who include Jimmy Page and Ritchie Blackmore, as a complete gentleman who does not know the meaning of the word ego.^[3]

Earl Scruggs, commenting on Albert Lee has stated: "I have been a fan and admirer of his guitar work from the first moment I heard him play. I am constantly amazed at his talent. I am sure there are many guitar players who have been influenced by his style and will continue to be influenced for years to come. Albert is in every sense of the word, a genuine guitar wizard".^[8]

It is widely quoted that Eric Clapton is on record as stating that Albert Lee is, in his opinion, "the greatest guitarist in the world." Emmylou Harris has stated that Lee is "a brilliant guitar player. His sound is unmistakable—often emulated, never equalled. When Saint Peter asks me to chronicle my time down here on earth, I'll be able to say (with pride if that's allowed) that for a while I played rhythm guitar in a band with Albert Lee."^[9]

Reflecting on the Heads Hands & Feet period of his career, Lee has stated: "What amazes me is how many musicians in Nashville have a copy of our first album in their personal record collections, and still ask me what happened to the band."

Guitar collection[link]

Albert Lee owns more than 25 guitars, including Don Everly's Gibson J-200. The Gibson Guitar Corporation made one for Don Everly and the other for Phil. The guitars have an all black, high gloss lacquered finish, and are equipped with twin Everly Brothers white pickguards. The Everly Brothers manager Wesley Rose had wanted the guitar to be presented to the Country Music Hall of Fame, but Everly informed him that guitars like that should be played, not kept sitting in a glass case. Don Everly presented it to Lee, along with his Gibson Everly Brothers model.^[2]

Eric Clapton gave Lee the Gibson Les Paul Custom that he played while with Delaney and Bonnie. Lee also plays his signature Music Man (the guitar shown in the photographs) and a 1950s Telecaster (both with custom B-Benders), a 1958 Stratocaster and a Martin 000-28 acoustic.^[2]

Confusion with Alvin Lee[link]

Albert Lee is often confused with Alvin Lee^{[citation needed]}. This confusion has led to Alvin Lee being incorrectly credited on many albums in the past^{[citation needed]}.

Partial Band List[link]

• Chris Farlowe And The Thunderbirds
• The Crickets
• Country Fever
• Green Bullfrog
• Heads Hands & Feet
• Emmylou Harris and The Hot Band
• Hogan's Heroes (guitar and vocals)
• Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings
• Biffbaby's All Stars, featuring: Albert Lee, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Morse, and Steve Lukather. In association with Ernie Ball products

Discography[link]

Solo albums[link]

• Albert Lee — Black Claw/Country Fever
• Poet And The One Man Band — Poet And The One Man Band LP(actually Heads Hands & Feet) (1969)
• Heads Hands & Feet — Heads, Hands & Feet LP(1971)
• Heads Hands & Feet — Tracks LP(1972)
• Heads Hands & Feet — Let's Get This Show On The Road!
• Heads Hands & Feet — Jack Daniels Rare Old No.7
• Heads Hands & Feet — Old Soldiers Never Die LP(1973)
• Heads Hands & Feet — Home From Home - The Missing Album LP(1968; unissued until 1995)
• 1979 - Albert Lee — Hiding
• 1982 - Albert Lee — Albert Lee
• Albert Lee — Speechless
• Albert Lee — Country Guitar Man (Re-release of "Old Soldiers Never Die" by Heads Hands & Feet)
• Albert Lee — Gagged But Not Bound
• 1982 - Albert Lee — Real Wild Child(It's the very same omonimus 1972's album, with a different tracklist order and an adtional song - "Ain't Got No Reason").
• Albert Lee — That's All Right Mama
• Albert Lee — Heartbreak Hill
• Albert Lee — Road Runner
• Albert Lee — Advanced Country Guitar (DVD)
• Albert Lee — Master Session (DVD)
• Albert Lee — Country Legend (DVD)
• Albert Lee — Highlights (DVD)
• Albert Lee — Guitar Heroes (DVD)
• Albert Lee — Country Boy (DVD)
• Albert Lee — Guitar Techniques (DVD)
• Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes — In Full Flight!
• Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes — Tear It Up
• Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes — In Between The Cracks
• Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes — Live In Paris (DVD)
• Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes — Like This
• Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes — Live at the Stazione Birra – Rome, 2009 (DVD)

Featured appearances (partial listing)[link]

• Bo Diddley — The London Bo Diddley Sessions
• Jerry Lee Lewis — The London Sessions
• Eddie Harris — E.H. in the U.K. (Atlantic, 1973)
• Emmylou Harris — Luxury Liner, The Ballad of Sally Rose, Blue Kentucky Girl, Roses in the Snow, Evangeline (Guitars, Mandolin)
• Eric Clapton — Just One Night, Another Ticket, Money and Cigarettes
• John Prine — The Missing Years (Guitar, Mandolin, Piano)
• Rosanne Cash - Seven Year Ache
• Jon Lord — Gemini Suite
• Earl Scruggs — Earl Scruggs and Friends
• Paul Kennerley — The Legend of Jesse James (Guitars, Vocals, Mandolin)
• The Crickets — Long Way From Lubbock, The Crickets and Their Buddies
• Joe Cocker — Sting Ray
• Nicolette Larson — The Very Best Of Nicolette Larson
• Rodney Crowell — The Essential Rodney Crowell
• Dolly Parton - White Limozeen
• The Return Of Spinal Tap — DVD (As himself, playing on "Break Like The Wind")
• John 5 — Death Valley
• Carlene Carter — I Fell in Love
• Foster and Lloyd — Version of the Truth
• Nanci Griffith — I Knew Love
• Hugh Moffatt — Dance Me Outside
• Shakin Stevens — Hot Dog
• Everly Brothers— Reunion Concert (Guitars, Piano, Musical Director)
• Don Everly — Sunset Towers
• The Refreshments — Cover of Chuck Berry's "Let It Rock"
• Dave Edmunds — "Sweet Little Lisa"
• Marcel Dadi — Nashville Rendez-vous
• Bert Jansch — Heartbreak
• Jerry Scheff — Fire Down Below
• Brad Paisley — Play
• Jackson Browne — Under The Falling Sky
• Herbie Mann -Reggae
• Jean-Pierre Danel — "Tulsa Time"
• Arlen Roth -Toolin' Around
• Steve Morse -The Introduction (lead guitar in "General Lee") and Stand Up (vocals and guitar in "Rockin' guitars")

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• The Guinness Who's Who Of Country Music. Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-726-6
• Watts, Derek, (2008). Country Boy: A Biography of Albert Lee. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., ISBN 978-0-7864-3658-3

External links[link]

• Official Site
• Albert Lee and Hogan's Heroes Official website

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Steve Morse
Steve Morse live with Deep Purple in Canada 2005
Background information
Birth name	Steven J. Morse
Born	(1954-07-28) 28 July 1954 (age 57) Hamilton, Ohio, United States
Genres	instrumental rock, progressive rock, hard rock, heavy metal, jazz fusion[1]
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, banjo
Years active	1970–present
Associated acts	Dixie Dregs, Kansas, Deep Purple, Living Loud, Angelfire, Flying Colors (band)
Website	Official web site
Notable instruments
Music Man Steve Morse Signature guitar, Fender Telecaster

Steven J. "Steve" Morse (born 28 July 1954) is an American guitarist and composer, best known as the founder of the Dixie Dregs, and the guitar player in Deep Purple since 1994. Morse's career has encompassed rock, country, funk, jazz, classical, and fusion of these musical genres. In addition to a thriving solo career, he enjoyed a brief stint with Kansas in the mid 80s.

Biography[link]

Early[link]

Morse's father was a minister and his mother a classically trained pianist; both were also psychologists. The family moved to Tennessee, then Ypsilanti, Michigan, where Morse spent his childhood. Although familiar with piano and clarinet, Morse ultimately became interested in guitar after seeing a gentleman finger picking a Dixie melody at a county fair.^{[citation needed]} Morse worked briefly with his brother Dave in a band called The Plague until the family moved to Augusta, Georgia. In the late 60s, he played in a band called Three—named on the day of a local battle of the bands (and finishing 2nd)-- with his older brother; and 12 yr. old keyboardist William Gerald (Jerry) Wooten, a student at the same junior high as, though 1 grade earlier than, the 13 yr. old guitarist. Wooten, at Morse's suggestion (after a tryout—with tentative pointers of the solo- and bass-key style on the Doors' "Light My Fire", at the home of the young Morse) added bass keys (as well as melodic blues scales learned from Steve) to the band—and was known casually as "Steve's Little Brother", by schoolmates and denizens of a local psychedelic youth club, "The Green Onion" where—along with Legion Halls and church functions—the early band performed. Enrolled in the Academy of Richmond County, he met bassist Andy West and, together, they formed the nucleus of the Dixie Grit, adding keyboardist Johnny Carr, guitarist and vocalist Frank Brittingham with Dave Morse drumming. However, this effort was short lived, since covering Led Zeppelin, Cream and the like limited their ability to get higher-paying jobs at local dance halls. West and Morse continued to play as a duet billed as the Dixie Dregs until Morse's expulsion from school in the 10th grade (for refusing to cut his hair) enabled his enrolment at the esteemed University of Miami School of Music. During the 1970s, the University of Miami played host to a number of future influential musicians, including Bruce Hornsby, Pat Metheny, Chuck Schuldiner, Jaco Pastorius and others. Andy West also enrolled at the University of Miami and, with Morse, drummer Bart Yarnall, keyboardist Frank Josephs and violinist Allen Sloan, collaborated in a lab project entitled Rock Ensemble II. Rehearsing and performing Morse's compositions at the University of Miami brought some attention to his credibility as a composer and player. The group compiled a recording used for promotional efforts in 1975. This recording was eventually released as The Great Spectacular in 1997.

Dixie Dregs[link]

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Steve Morse, Roxy Theatre, Hollywood, CA 28 August 1999. This was the last concert of the Dixie Dregs' tour.

Upon Morse's graduation from the University of Miami in 1975, he and West officially named the group Dixie Dregs. A fellow University of Miami alumnus, Rod Morgenstein, replaced the injured Bart Yarnall and the band commenced performing on a regular basis, interspersing their compositions with covers of John McLaughlin and of southern rock gems. Despite their decidedly non-commercial intent, an increasingly heavier performance schedule eventually led to the attention of Capricorn Records recruiters including Allman Brothers Band manager Twiggs Lyndon and, in late 1976, the group was signed by the vaunted southern rock label.^[2]

Their first effort for Capricorn, Free Fall, established Morse as an important newcomer to the fusion genre, and he was recognised for both his compositional skills (having written all 11 tracks) and his consummate musicianship. Although critically acclaimed as a pivotal jazz fusion album, the LP sold poorly.

What If was released in 1978 to continued acclaim. Writing credits were more collaborative and the band's sound had matured into something a bit more than what defined fusion at the time. Southern rock, classical, folk and country elements combined to form a cohesive and complex pastiche of passionate and highly listenable music. Though supported by a tour, record sales remained flat, but gained Morse and the band received an invitation to perform at Montreux Jazz Festival on 23 July 1978. The recorded performance was released the following year on Night of the Living Dregs. Capricorn went bankrupt in late 1979, and the Dixie Dregs were left without a label.

Arista Records stepped in to sign the band in 1979 to record three albums. Production control was handed to Morse, and Dregs of the Earth was released in May 1980. All eight tracks were written by Morse, and the album peaked at number 27 on Billboard's Jazz Album Chart.

Arista became increasingly concerned about Dixie Dregs' album sales and pressured the band to change their name to simply The Dregs in an attempt to increase the band's visibility in the public eye. Unsung Heroes brought eight additional Morse compositions forward in early 1981, but the name change did little to address Arista's worries. The Dregs were compelled to add lyrics to their next effort, appropriately titled Industry Standard, an apparent reference to executive and management oversight of their creative process.

Despite this, Morse's compositions on Industry Standard began to sound more like his evolving solo work than Dregs' collaborations, and the album stood up to critical and public praise. Industry Standard was voted "Best Guitar LP" by readers of Guitar Player magazine in their annual reader's poll that year. Additionally, Morse was voted "Best Overall Guitarist" in the same poll, an honour that he would hold for five consecutive years (which ended his eligibility by retiring him into their "Gallery of Greats", a distinction shared only by Steve Howe of Yes.) Having fulfilled their commitment to Arista, the band succumbed to the pressures of constant gigging, and disbanded in early 1983.

In the late 1980s, the group reunited for a tour featuring former members Morse, Morgenstein, Lavitz and Sloan. Their return was complemented by a "Best Of" release entitled Divided We Stand. Bassist Dave LaRue completed the line-up for a seven date tour culminating in the 1992 live album Bring 'em Back Alive. Violinist Jerry Goodman, of The Mahavishnu Orchestra fame, filled in for Sloan, who was frequently absent as a result of his busy medical career. They signed a deal with former label Capricorn Records for their first studio album in years entitled Full Circle in 1994.

Steve Morse Band and Kansas[link]

Morse began putting together the Steve Morse Band, a trio with Jerry Peek (bass) and Doug Morgan (drums). After Morgan left for other commitments, Rod Morgenstein replaced Morgan, and they began recording The Introduction in September. The group toured Germany in early 1984 with Morse conducting clinics, and the group was signed by Elektra Records, who released The Introduction mid-year. A second German tour began in December 1984 and Stand Up was released in 1985. This effort included guest vocalists and guitarists (Eric Johnson, Alex Ligertwood, Peter Frampton, Albert Lee, Van Temple), and violinist Mark O'Connor. He toured with Rush as a main opener on their Power Windows tour.

In 1986, Morse joined the rock group Kansas. While with the band, they released two albums, Power and In the Spirit of Things. While he was with the band, Kansas had its last big hit, "All I Wanted," which reached the Billboard Top 20 and on which Morse received co-writing credit. Morse left the band after touring behind the latter album. He re-joined the band for part of their 1991 tour.

From late 1987 to early 1988, Morse worked as a commercial airline co-pilot.^[3][4]

Deep Purple[link]

In 1994, Morse joined the British hard rock group Deep Purple. Since then, Morse has played on four studio albums Purpendicular, Abandon, Bananas, and Rapture of the Deep, as well as seven of their live albums. With those studio albums, he revitalised the band creatively, and a successful world tour followed.

Living Loud[link]

In addition to playing with Deep Purple, Morse, together with Jimmy Barnes, Bob Daisley, Lee Kerslake and Don Airey, formed Living Loud in 2003. The group released one studio album and a live DVD in 2004/2005. In Spring 2010 it was reported that Steve Morse and Bob Daisley started work on the new studio album which is set for a release in 2011.

Angelfire[link]

Morse began a collaboration with singer, Sarah Spencer, in 2007 entitled Angelfire. The album, of the same name, was released on 10 August 2010 on Radiant Records. The album features Dave Larue and Van Romaine of the Steve Morse Band on bass and drums, respectively. The album has a textural, acoustic sound that differs from Morse's previous work. Angelfire opened for the Steve Morse Band for several shows in California (January) and Florida (March) of 2010.

Influence and technique[link]

Morse is considered one of the hardest working guitarists in the world.^[5] He is widely known for his stylistically diverse compositional skills and guitaristically encyclopedic virtuosic abilities,^[6] and was voted "Best Overall Guitarist" by Guitar Player magazine for five years in a row,^[7] qualifying him for their "Guitar Player Hall of Fame", the only other members being Steve Howe of Yes and Eric Johnson. He is regularly cited by John Petrucci as a major influence. Guitarist Shawn Lane regarded Steve Morse as one of the most talented guitarist of his time.^[8] Morse has proven himself throughout his career as capable of playing highly complex chord structures in classical sequences, as well as being able to play fast, alternate picked arpeggios. He is well known for using harmonics and improvising them in songs during live performances, such as in Deep Purple's "Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming".

Gear & Equipment[link]

Guitars[link]

Throughout the 80s Steve was using a custom "frankentele" guitar, made up of a Tele body with a Strat neck, a Gibson style stop tailpiece ( coming from a twelve string guitar) and 4 pickups in HSSH configuration. Steve was then approached by Music Man Guitars to create a signature model to his specifications; he is now one of the longest endorsees of the company in particular he's been using prototype n°1 of his steve morse signature guitar for more than 20 years (the guitar has been refretted eight times and is still the first original one). He now has two signature models with MusicMan guitars:

• The first one is an exact replica of his n°1 guitar which features a poplar body with maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, 4 pickups (a DiMarzio Steve Morse bridge and neck model Humbuckers, and two DiMarzio single coils, a DP 117 and a custom wound Steve Morse single coil in HSSH configuration) volume and tone controls. The switching is also particular: it features a 3 way selector that changes between the bridge humbucker, the neck humbucker and the first single coil ( aligned with the Bridge Humbucker), a mini switch that adds the bridge pickup to any configuration and a third switch that adds the second, slant single coil to any configuration. This switch also allows for independent single coil selection.
• The second one, the Steve Morse SM Y-2D, is an updated version with quilted maple top same neck & body, 3 pickups ( the slant single coil has been eliminated) and a 5 way super switch.

Both are available with a stop tail piece or floyd rose bridge.

Steve says that the pickup configurations that he uses the most are, the bridge pickup by itself, the neck pickup by itself, bridge and neck HB together, Bridge and first (aligned) single coil together.

The super 5 way switch on the newest SM Y2D guitar replicates these combinations.

Pickups[link]

Steve has released two signature humbuckers with DiMarzio the DP 205 Bridge model and the DP 200 Neck model. They are evenly balanced to allow playing all over the fretboard, since steve plays high notes on the neck pickup and low ones on the bridge. They are the main pickups into his signature model. Dimarzio also wires a custom wound single coil pickup for Music Man to use into the SM signture model.

Amplification[link]

Steve is an endorser of ENGL amps. He has released a signature model, the ENGL E-656 Steve Morse signature Amplifier. It is a 3 channel amp specially designed by Steve with a custom version of the famous ENGL "midrange matrix".

Live setup[link]

Steve's live equipment includes two ENGL E 656 Signture heads and several Music Man guitars (both models), his #1 still being his favorite. He splits up his signal to 3 different cabinets two wet (with FX) and one dry, he uses three Ernie Ball expression pedals to blend the fx into the mix. He uses a custom skrydstrup switching system to perform all the switching and the blending. His Fx are very simple, consisting only of a Boss OC-3 Octaver and two delays: Electro-Harmonix memory man now replaced with the newest TC Electronic toneprint delay (Steve has created custom presets). He is also using a TC Electronic Polytune guitar tuner.

Discography[link]

with Dixie Dregs[link]

• 1976 The Great Spectacular (formally released in 1997)
• 1977 Free Fall
• 1978 What If
• 1979 Night of the Living Dregs
• 1980 Dregs of the Earth
• 1981 Unsung Heroes
• 1982 Industry Standard
• 1988 Off the Record
• 1989 Divided We Stand
• 1992 Bring 'Em Back Alive
• 1994 Full Circle
• 1997 King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents – The Dregs 1979
• 2000 California Screamin' – Live In California 1999
• 2002 20th Century Masters: The Best Of The Dixie Dregs (compilation)
• 2002 Sects, Dregs & Rock 'n' Roll (compilation)

with Steve Morse Band and solo[link]

• 1984 The Introduction
• 1985 Stand Up
• 1989 High Tension Wires
• 1991 Southern Steel
• 1992 Coast to Coast
• 1995 Structural Damage
• 1996 StressFest
• 2000 Major Impacts
• 2002 Split Decision
• 2004 Major Impacts 2
• 2005 Prime Cuts – From Steve Morse's Magna Carta sessions (compilation)
• 2009 Out Standing in Their Field

with Deep Purple[link]

• 1996 Purpendicular
• 1997 Live at the Olympia '96
• 1998 Abandon
• 1999 Live at the Royal Albert Hall
• 1999 Total Abandon: Live in Australia
• 2001 Live at the Rotterdam Ahoy
• 2001 The Soundboard Series
• 2003 Bananas
• 2005 Rapture of the Deep
• 2006 Live at Montreux 1996
• 2007 They All Came Down to Montreux
• 2011 Live At Montreux 2011

with Kansas[link]

• 1986 Power
• 1988 In the Spirit of Things
• 1998 King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Kansas
• 2004 Sail On: The 30th Anniversary Collection (compilation)
• 2009 There's Know Place Like Home DVD

with Angelfire[link]

• 2010 Angelfire

with Living Loud[link]

• 2003 Living Loud (US: 2004)
• 2005 Live In Sydney 2004 (2CD/DVD)

with Flying Colors[link]

• 2012 Flying Colors

Guest appearances with other artists[link]

• 1977 Tropical Nights – Liza Minnelli
• 1978 Kamikazee Christian – Rob Cassells Band
• 1980 Schemer-Dreamer – Steve Walsh
• 1983 The Trio – Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucía
• 1986 Storytime – T Lavitz
• 1987 Stone From Which The Arch Was Made – Mark O'Connor
• 1987 Surveillance – Triumph
• 1988 Southern By The Grace Of God: Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour 1987 – Lynyrd Skynyrd
• 1988 Love Your Man – The Rossington Collins Band
• 1990 Nashville Rendez-Vous – Marcel Dadi
• 1991 Fingers Crossing – Marcel Dadi
• 1992 Country Guitar Flavors – Marcel Dadi
• 1992 Lone Ranger – Jeff Watson
• 1993 Coven, Pitrelli, O'Reilly – CPR
• 1994 Thonk – Michael Manring
• 1995 Carmine Appice's Guitar Zeus
• 2001 Seventh Key – Seventh Key
• 2001 Nylon & Steel – Manuel Barrueco
• 2001 Feeding the Wheel – Jordan Rudess
• 2002 Camino Latino/Latin Journey – Liona Boyd
• 2004 Rhythm of Time – Jordan Rudess
• 2006 Gillan's Inn – Ian Gillan
• 2007 School of the Arts – School of the Arts (featuring T Lavitz) (Morse contributes acoustic guitar work on 2 tracks, "On Fire" and "Portrait")
• 2011 Testimony 2 – Neal Morse
• 2011 Raised in Captivity – John Wetton

Various artist compilations and tributes[link]

• 1978 Hotels, Motels And Road Shows (Various artists compilation)
• 1989 Guitar's Practicing Musicians (Various artists compilation)
• 1991 Guitar's Practicing Musicians Vol. 2 (Various artists compilation)
• 1991 Guitar Speak III (Various artist compilation)
• 1992 Rock Guitar Greats (Various artists compilation)
• 1992 Guitar On The Edge Vol. 2 (Various artist compilation)
• 1995 Tales From Yesterday (Various artists tribute to Yes)
• 1996 Crossfire – A Tribute To Stevie Ray (Various artists tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan)
• 1996 Working Man (Various artists tribute to Rush, Morse plays solos on La Villa Strangiato and Red Barchetta.)
• 1996 The Carols Of Christmas (Various artist compilation)
• 1997 The Carols Of Christmas II (Various artist compilation)
• 1997 Merry Axemas – A Guitar Christmas (Various artist compilation)
• 1997 Jazz Fusion Vol. 2 (Various artist compilation)
• 1998 Guitar Battle (Various artist compilation)
• 1999 Tribute to the Titans (Various artist compilation)
• 1999 Rock Guitarists Forever Best (Various artist compilation)
• 2001 Warmth In The Wilderness – A Tribute To Jason Becker (Various artists tribute to Jason Becker)
• 2002 A Southern Rock Christmas (Various artist compilation)
• 2004 Classical Heartbreakers (Various artist compilation)
• 2005 Future of the Blues Vol. 2 (Various artist compilation)
• 2006 Back Against The Wall (Various artist tribute to Pink Floyd's The Wall)
• 2006 Visions of an Inner Mounting Apocalypse (Various artist tribute to Mahavishnu Orchestra)
• 2006 The Royal Dan: A Tribute (instrumental guitar tribute to jazz rock band Steely Dan, featuring a different lead guitarist on 10 different songs, Morse plays Bodhisattva)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Steve Morse

• Official website (launched January 2009)
• Steve Morse's official MySpace page
• Steve Morse's former official web site (prior to January 2009)
• Deep Purple's official web site
• Angelfire's official web site

John Petrucci
John Petrucci in 2012
Background information
Birth name	John Peter Petrucci
Born	(1967-07-12) July 12, 1967 (age 44) Kings Park, Long Island, New York
Genres	Progressive metal, instrumental rock, progressive rock, jazz fusion
Instruments	Guitar, vocals, bass, drums, programming
Years active	1985–present
Labels	Roadrunner, Sound Mind Music, Magna Carta
Associated acts	Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment, Explorers Club, Eric Johnson, Jon Finn Group, Nightmare Cinema, G3
Website	www.johnpetrucci.com
Notable instruments
Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci Signature Model

John Peter Petrucci (born July 12, 1967) is an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Along with his former bandmate Mike Portnoy, he has produced all Dream Theater albums since their 1999 release, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory. He is also a backing vocalist for Dream Theater. Petrucci was named as the third player on the G3 tour six times, more than any other invited guitarists. In 2009 he was named the No. 2 Best metal guitarist by Joel McIver in his book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists.^[1] He was also named as one of the "Top 10 Greatest Guitar Shredders of All Time" by GuitarOne magazine.^[2]

Biography[link]

John Petrucci was born on July 12, 1967 in Kings Park, New York to an Italian American family. He picked up the guitar at the early age of 8 because his older sister was allowed to go to bed later in order to practice the piano. However he decided to quit the guitar when his attempts to stay up late were unsuccessful. He would later pick up the guitar again at the age of 12 when his childhood friend and future Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore invited John to join his cover band.

John attended Berklee College of Music in Boston with childhood friend John Myung (bass), where they met future bandmate Mike Portnoy (drums). These three in addition to Kevin Moore, formed the band Majesty, which would later become Dream Theater.

While Dream Theater is what Petrucci is most commonly associated with, he is also a part of the project band Liquid Tension Experiment and has appeared as a guest on several records by other artists such as the Age of Impact album by the Explorer's Club.

Petrucci has released a guitar instructional video, "Rock Discipline", which covers warm up exercises, exercises to avoid injury while playing, alternate picking, sweep picking, chords and other techniques for developing one's guitar playing. Petrucci also has a book named "Guitar World presents John Petrucci's Wild Stringdom", which was compiled from columns he wrote for Guitar World magazine, bearing that same title.

In 2001, John Petrucci was invited by Joe Satriani and Steve Vai to tour with them on the popular G3 guitar tour, which exposed him to a massive number of new fans and inspired him to record a solo album. The album, Suspended Animation, was released on March 1, 2005, and was made available for order from his web site. Petrucci also appeared on the 2005 and 2006 G3 tours, and in 2007, went on G3 tour again, this time with Paul Gilbert and Joe Satriani. In a recent video with Larry DiMarzio, Petrucci revealed that he's been working on a follow up to his 2004 album, "Suspended Animation" along with the new Dream Theater album.^[3]

Petrucci also wrote and recorded two instrumental soundtrack songs for a Sega Saturn game titled Digital Pinball: Necronomicon. Each track is roughly two minutes long and they are simply titled "Prologue" and "Epilogue".

According to the spoof rock band, Nightmare Cinema (the Dream Theater members changing instruments playing a gig), he got the "alternate stage name" Johnny James.

Dream Theater bandmate Jordan Rudess revealed in an interview that Petrucci is a practicing Catholic.^[4] He currently lives in St. James, New York with his wife Rena Sands, a guitarist in the all-female heavy metal band Meanstreak, and they have 3 children, Samantha and Reny (who are twins), and Kiara. He is also an avid fan of bodybuilding and dedicates much of his off time to weight training.^[5]

He is a voting member of NARAS.

Musical style[link]

John Petrucci during a concert in 2012.

Guitar Technique[link]

Petrucci is respected for his variety of guitar styles and skills. One of the most notable of these is his high speed alternate picking which, as he himself claims, requires a "strong sense of synchronization between the two [playing] hands." John is notable for frequent use of the seven-string electric guitar, which he states is used as a "writing tool", taking advantage of the extended range both for heavier riffing (The Mirror) and to play extended range runs as part of a solo (This Dying Soul). Moreover, Petrucci often combines his metal shredding technique with a slower, emotive soloing style. Indeed, he has cited Alex Lifeson Steve Morse Al DiMeola Steve Howe and many more on his Official Website are named as an important influence. Utilising his wide variety of styles and influences.

In addition, Petrucci is the only band member to have contributed lyrics to every album; he's written lyrics for at least three songs for every single album. These include, among others, the fan favorite Metropolis, Pt. 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper, the heartfelt The Spirit Carries On, the politically charged The Great Debate the epic In the Presence of Enemies and Through Her Eyes. Furthermore, Petrucci has used real-life experiences for lyrical inspiration, which includes songs as The Count of Tuscany, A Nightmare to Remember, and Endless Sacrifice.

Singing[link]

Petrucci has been Dream Theater's backing vocalist since the Awake's Tour. His singing is much darker than James Labrie's and is often used in bridges like "Solitary Shell", and in choruses of songs such as "Forsaken" and "In The Name of God". On the EP Wither Petrucci performs lead vocals on an alternative, demo version of the title track. He had previously done his own vocals for "The Spirit Carries On". During live performances before the departure of Mike Portnoy, he only sang small sections of backing vocals or harmonies.

Guitar Rig[link]

Studio albums[link]

Live[link]

• "Images & Words Tour" - Mesa Boogie Triaxis Preamp (x2), Mesa Boogie Stereo Simul-Class 2:Ninety Power Amp (x2), Lexicon PCM70 (x1), Samson Wireless Unit (x1), TC Electronic 2290 (x1), TC Electronic 1140 HS Parametric EQ/Preamplifier (x1), Mesa Boogie Matrix Midi Switching (x1), Mesa Boogie Abacus (x1).
• "Waking Up The World Tour" - Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (x1), Mesa Boogie Triaxis (x2), Mesa Boogie Stereo Simul-Class 2:Ninety Power Amp (x2), TC Electronic 2290 (x1), Lexicon PCM70 (x1), Dunlop Rack Wah (x1), Custom Mark Snyder Rack Interface (x1), Alesis Data Dump (x1), Mesa Boogie Matrix Midi Switching (x1), Mesa Boogie Abacus (x1), Furman Power Conditioner (x2). Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 4x12 Cabinets With Vintage 30 Speakers (x4). Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller, Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x2).
• "Touring Into Infinity" - Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (x1), Mesa Boogie Mark IV (x1), Mesa Boogie Rackmount Dual Rectifier (x2), Mesa Boogie Triaxis (x1), Mesa Boogie Stereo Simul-Class 2:Ninety Power Amp (x2), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Mesa Boogie Matrix Midi Switching (x1), Furman Power Conditioner (x4), Custom Rack Interface (x3), TC Electronic 2290 (x1), Lexicon PCM80 (x2), Dunlop Rack Wah (x1), DBX 166A Compressor/Noise Gate (x1).
• "Scenes From NY" - Mesa Boogie Triaxis (x1), Mesa Boogie Formula Preamp (x1), Mesa Boogie Mark IV (x1), Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (x1), Mesa Boogie Rackmount Dual Rectifier (x1), Mesa Boogie Stereo Simul-Class 2:Ninety Power Amp (x2), Dunlop Rack Wah (x1), Voodoo Lab GCX Audio Switcher (x3), Digital Music Corp Stereo Line Mixer (x2), TC Electronic 2290 (x1), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x2), Custom Rack Interface (x3), Furman Power Conditioner (x4), Lexicon PCM70 (x1), Lexicon PCM80 (x1). Custom Audio Electronics RS-10 Midi Foot Controller (x1) with Custom Audio Electronics RS-10 Expander Module (x2), Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x1), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x3). Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 4x12 Cabinets (x6).
• "World Tourbulence" - Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ (x3), Mesa Boogie Nunya Preamp Custom Made for John (x1), Dunlop DCR-1SR Rack Wah (x1), Eventide DSP7000 (x1), DBX 166A Compressor/Limiter (x1), TC Electronic M2000 (x1), TC Electronic M3000 (x1), TC Electronic 2290 (x2), Digital Music Corp Dual Stereo Line Mixer (x1), Digital Music Corp GCX Audio Switcher (x1), Korg DTR-1 Digital Tuner (x1), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Furman PL-Pro Power Conditioner (x1), Furman AR-Pro AC Line Regulator (x1), Custom Rack Interface by Mark Snyder, Ernie Ball Volume Pedals (x3), Fulltone Fulldrive 2 Overdrive (x1), Custom Audio Electronics RS-10 Midi Foot Controller with Expansions, MXR Phase 90 (x1), Axess Electronics CFX4 Control Function Switchers (x2), Framptone Talk Box through a Mesa Boogie Nomad, Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 4x12 Cabinets With Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers (x2).
• "Train of Thought Tour" - Mesa Boogie Road King (x3), Mesa Boogie Lonestar (x2), Digital Music Corp Stereo Line Mixer (x1), TC Electronic 2290 (x2), TC Electronic M3000 (x2), TC Electronic G-Force (x1), Eventide DSP7000 (x1), DBX 266XL Compressor/Noise Gate (x1), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Dunlop CryBaby Custom Shop Rack Wah (x1), Custom Mark Snyder Interface (x1), Furman AR-Pro AC Line Regulator (x1). Mesa Boogie 2x12 Cabinets (x2), Mesa Boogie 4x12 Cabinets (x2). Skrydstrup SC-1 with XT Extension Module (x1), Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x1), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x1), Boss TU-2 Tuner (x1), Boss Digital Delay Pedal (x1). Custom Steel Diamond Plate Foot Rests (x2).
• "Octavarium Tour" - Mesa Boogie Road King (x3), Mesa Boogie Lonestar (x2), Digital Music Corp Stereo Line Mixer (x2), TC Electronic 2290 (x2), TC Electronic M3000 (x2), TC Electronic G-Force (x1), Eventide DSP7000 (x1), DBX 266XL Compressor/Noise Gate (x1), Boss DS-1 Distortion Pedal (x1), Boss PH-3 Phaser Pedal (x1), Boss TR-2 Tremolo Pedal (x1), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Dunlop CryBaby Custom Shop Rack Wah (x1), Custom Mark Snyder Interface (x1), Furman AR-Pro AC Line Regulator (x1). Mesa Boogie 2x12 Cabinets (x2), Mesa Boogie 4x12 Cabinets (x2). Skrydstrup SC-1 with XT Extension Module (x1), Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x1), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x1), Boss TU-2 Tuner (x1). Custom Steel Diamond Plate Foot Rests (x2).
• "Score" - Mesa Boogie Custom Built for John "Nunya" Preamp (x1), Mesa Boogie Formula Preamp (x1), Mesa Boogie Rectifier Stereo 2:One Hundred Power Amp (x1), Dunlop Rack Wah (x1), TC Electronic 2290 (x1), TC Electronic M3000 (x2), Eventide DSP7000 (x1), MXR EVH Phaser (x1), MXR Wylde Overdrive (x1), DBX 266XL Compressor/Noise Gate (x1), DOD SR830QX Dual 15 Band Graphic EQ (x1). Skrydstrup Power Conditioner (x2), Skrydstrup Preamp Switcher (x1), Skrydstrup Effects Switcher (x1), Skrydstrup Custom Rack Interface (x2). Custom Steel Diamond Plate Foot Rests (x2).
• "2005 G3 Tokyo" - Dual Rectifier (x2) Road King (x2)
• "2007 G3 tour" - Mesa Boogie Mark IV (x2), Mesa Boogie Formula Preamp (x1), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Digital Music Corp Stereo Line Mixer (x1), Dunlop Rack Wah (x1), DBX 166A Compressor/Noise Gate (x1), Boss DS-1 (x1), MXR Stereo Chorus Pedal (x1), MXR EVH Flanger (x1), MXR EVH Phaser (x1), TC Electronic 2290 (x1), TC Electronic M3000 (x1), Eventide DSP7000 (x1), Axess Electronics Switchers. Axess Electronics FX-1 Midi Foot Controller w/Extension Module (x1), Boss TU-2 Tuner (x1), Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x1), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x1).
• "Chaos In Motion" - Mesa Boogie Mark IV (x2), Mesa Boogie Lonestar (x1), Korg DTR-1 Rack Tuner (x1), Dunlop DCR-2SR Rack Wah (x1), DBX 266XL Compressor/Noise Gate (x1), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Keeley Modded Boss TR-2 Tremolo Pedal (x1), MXR EVH Flanger (x1), Keeley Modded Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer (x1), MXR EVH Phaser (x1), Hermida Tech Zendrive (x1), MXR Wylde Overdrive (x1), MXR Stereo Chorus (x1), Boss DS-1 (x1), Eventide Timefactor Delay Pedal (x1), TC Electronic 2290 (x1), TC Electronic M3000 (x1), Eventide DSP7000 (x1), Digital Music Corp Stereo Line Mixer (x1), Mesa Boogie Rectifier Power Amp (x1), Furman AR-Pro AC Line Regulator (x1), Axess Electronics CFX-4 (x3), Axess Electronics GRX-4 (x2), Voodoo Lab Pedal Power (x2), Framptone A/B Box (x1), Radial JD-1 Passive DI Box (x1). Axess Electronics FX-1 Midi Foot Controller w/Expander (x1), Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x1), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x1), Boss TU-2 Tuner (x1), Easy Button (x1). Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 4x12 Cabinets with Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers (x6). Custom Steel Diamond Plate Foot Rests (x2).
• "Liquid Tension Experiment 10th Anniversay Reunion Tour" - Mesa Boogie Mark IV (x2), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Dunlop DCR-2SR Rack Wah (x1), MXR EVH Flanger (x1), MXR EVH Phaser (x1), TC Electronic 2290 (x1), Digital Music Corp Stereo Line Mixer (x1), DBX 266XL Compressor/Noise Gate (x1), Keeley Modded TS-9DX (x1), TC Electronic M3000 (x1), Eventide DSP7000 (x1). Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 4x12 Cabinets (x2). Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x1), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x1). Axess Electronics FX-1 Midi Foot Controller w/Expander (x1), Boss TU-2 Tuner (x1).
• 2010 Iron Maiden Supporting Tour: Mark V (x3), Dunlop Rack Wah, Fractal Audio Axe-Fx Ultra
• "Black Clouds and Silver Linings Tour" - Mesa Boogie Mark V (x3), Voodoo Lab GCX Switcher (x1), Korg DTR-2000 Rack Tuner (x1), Dunlop DSR-2SR Rack Wah System (x1), TC Electronic C400XL Compressor/Gate (x1), Keeley Modded Tube Screamer (x1), MXR EVH Flanger (x1), MXR EVH Phaser (x1), TC Electronic 1210 Spatial Expander/Stereo Chorus/Flanger (x1), TC Electronic M3000 Reverb/Delay (x3), Eventide H7600 Harmonizer (x1), Custom Patch Bay for Pedalboard Connections (x1), Furman AR Pro Power Conditioner (x1), Mesa Boogie High Gain Amp Switcher (x1), Axess Electronics GRX4 Audio Switcher for Pedal and Effects Switching (x3), Axess Electronics CRX4 Control Function Switcher (x1), Furman Aura Pedal (x1), Radial DI Box (x1). Axess Electronics FX-1 Midi Foot Controller w/Expander (x1), Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x1), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x1), Boss TU-2 Tuner (x1). Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 4x12 Cabinets with Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers and Custom Grills (x8). Custom Steel Diamond Plate Foot Rests (x2).
• "A Dramatic Tour of Events" - Mesa Boogie Mark V (x2), Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II (x1), Dunlop DCR-2SR Rack Wah, Mark Snyder Custom Rack Interface (x1), Axess Electronics Switchers, Framptone A/B Box (x1), Keeley Modded TS-9DX (x1), Analog Man King of Tone (x1), Analog Man TS808 Mod (x1), Boss PH-3 Phaser (x1), MXR EVH Flanger (x1), Carl Martin Compressor (x1), Furman AR-Pro Power Conditioner. Axess Electronics FX-1 Midi Foot Controller (x1), Dunlop DCR-IFC Wah Controller (x2), Ernie Ball 25k Stereo Volume Pedal (x1), Boss TU-3 Tuner (x1), Custom Steel Diamond Plate Foot Rests with Buttkicker Drivers (x2). Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 4x12 Cabinets with Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers (x3), Mesa Boogie Traditional Rectifier 2x12 Cabinets with Buttkicker Drivers (x3).

Since the Train of Thought World Tour, John has used two footrests made by Patrick Slaats (who also designs Jordan Rudess's keyboard stands), such that they are book-ends for his pedalboard. These are utilised whenever Petrucci plays difficult-to-play passages within his songs, as he practices using proper classical guitar techniques - meaning that he rests his guitar on his left thigh when sequences get difficult. Before this, he used regular stage monitors to do this. He stated in the Live at Budokan DVD that he also has a "spit shield" around his cabinets, in order to avoid getting them defaced by Mike Portnoy's "gobs of goobers". He stopped using the spit shield on the A Dramatic Turn of Events tour due to Portnoy's departure.

Discography[link]

Solo Albums[link]

• Suspended Animation (2005)

With Dream Theater[link]

Studio Albums

• When Dream and Day Unite (1989)
• Images and Words (1992)
• Awake (1994)
• A Change of Seasons (EP) (1995)
• Falling into Infinity (1997)
• Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory (1999)
• Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (2002)
• Train of Thought (2003)
• Octavarium (2005)
• Systematic Chaos (2007)
• Black Clouds & Silver Linings (2009)
• A Dramatic Turn of Events (2011)

Live Albums

• Live at The Marquee (1993)
• Once in a LIVEtime (1998)
• Live Scenes From New York (2001)
• Live at Budokan (2004)
• Score (2006)
• Chaos in Motion 2007–2008 (2008)

With Liquid Tension Experiment[link]

• Liquid Tension Experiment (1998)
• Liquid Tension Experiment 2 (1999)

With G3[link]

• G3: Live in Tokyo (With guitarists Steve Vai and Joe Satriani) (2005)

With Jordan Rudess[link]

• An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess (2000)

As a Guest[link]

• Explorers Club - Age of Impact (1998)
• Jon Finn Group - Wicked (1998)
• Jordan Rudess - Feeding the Wheel (2001)
• Derek Sherinian - Blood of the Snake (Played on track "Czar Of Steel") (2006)
• Marty Friedman - Loudspeaker (Special guest guitarist on "Black Orchid") (2006)
• Periphery - TBA (Guests playing a solo) (2012)^[6]

Others[link]

• Working Man - Various Artists (A tribute to Rush) (1996)
• Dragon Attack - Various Artists (A tribute to Queen) (1997)
• Guitar Battle - Various Artists (1998)

Videography[link]

See also[link]

• Dream Theater
• Liquid Tension Experiment
• G3 (tour)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: John Petrucci

• John Petrucci official web site