Πρόσφατα είχα τη τιμή να πάρω μια συνέντευξη από τον τεξανό κιθαρίστα Lance Lopez.

Ο Lopez είναι για όσους δεν τον ξέρουν είναι ένας καταπληκτικός μουσικός και βιρτουόζος κιθαρίστας της blues-rock. Ο "άνθρωπος ορχήστρα". Στον τελευταίο του δίσκο higher ground παίζει όλα τα όργανα μόνος του και επίσης έχει κάνει και την παραγωγή.

Απολαύστε τον.

[Bill Marcos] Hi Lance welcome to our company.

[Lance Lopez] Hello and thank you for having me

[ΒΜ] You are a producer-singer - guitar player - drummer - bass player and much more. What do you prefer to be from all these?

[LL] Well Im a guitar player first. I play every other instrument because I feel it is very important in the writing process to be able to compose for every instrument especially being a band leader. When I teach the bass player or the drummer a particular part I know what I'm talkin about...

[ΒΜ] How would you call the style of music you play? I think it is a funky Texas blues-rock or not?

[LL] Oh yeah it's Blues/Rock but I try to keep it classic and modern all at the same time mixing everything together. Sometimes a little heavy sometimes a little funky
whatever has the most soul and depth

[ΒΜ] How many years do you play music?

[LL] I've been playing since I was 8 years old and I began playing live when I was 13 or 14

[ΒΜ] What gear do you use?

[LL] My live rig right now consist of a 1970 Marshall Super Bass 100 head on top of a 1986 20th Anniversary Marshall 4x12 B Cabinet. The second amp I have onstage is a '65 Twin Reverb re-issue I like to blend it for clarity and reverb. I usually drive the front end of my amps with a
Boss BD-2 Blues Driver modded by Robert Keeley in Edmond, Oklahoma.

I also use Browntone Electronics made by Tim Brown in Lincolnton, North Carolina. He makes two very special drive units I use one is a Hoochie Mama which is basically a high powered boost like a 808 Tubescreamer, but way more powerful and more mids. The other pedal is a Macho Man which is a real heavy duty high gain driver I use to sweeten solos or really heavy riffs with. I also switch back and forth between a Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face and a
Big Muff, I like the Russian Muffs a little better they seem more smooth.

My main guitars right now are my 1965 inca silver Fender Stratocaster, My 60's Aztec Gold Stratocaster built by Texas Guitar Workshop in Richardson, Texas,and a Korina Flying V copy. My sound is pretty classic Fender or Gibson Guitars and Marshall and Fender amps...

Dimebag Darrell used to tell me that using a Les Paul and a Marshall was cheating because you didn't have to work at it... you knew it would sound good!

[ΒΜ] Tell me about your friend Wes Jeans .I can see that you have a good cooperation with him. Also he plays two songs in your Higher Ground album.

[LL] Wes is the little brother I never had. We are from the same woods, he's from Marshall, Texas and I'm from Shreveport, Louisiana they are 35 miles apart from each other in the East Texas region called the Piney Woods which spills over into western Louisiana. Thats how we came up with the title of the CD I produced for Wes "Forest of the Pine" it is where we were born. We have been so close over the years not only as Guitarist but as friends and brothers. My kids call him Uncle Wes. We had a great time writing for "Forest of the Pine" we spent several months together on the road writing that CD we spent a majority of the time writing on Panorama Mountain in Kodak, Tennessee near Gatlinburg in the middle of the winter. There was so much snow on the grund we kept the beer in the snow in the front yard...hahaha. The rest of the record was written on the road and at his home in Marshall. We had a blast making that record, I'm still very impressed by Forest because when we made it not only did we both have the Flu we were hung over almost everyday...hahahaha..at least I know I was...hahaha.

So as soon as we finished Forest, I starting recording Higher Ground and asked Wes to play a coupla solos on there and they came great...Wes is my little brother and always will be...

[ΒΜ] Do you think that Texas blues scene changed from the years of the great SRV?

[LL] Oh yeah He inspired us all, and shortly after his death we had the Arc Angels which inspired another generation of us. He had such an impact on guitarist everywhere not just Texas..Just like Hendrix did. I miss Stevie. He was so powerful to watch play live and I was fortunate to see him when he was clean and sober so he was operating at full capacity, I cant put into words what it was like for me to watch SRV live, and especially jamming with BB King..pure Heaven. Here in Texas we take guitar playing very seriously. We have had a few leaders as far as Billy Gibbons and Johnny Winter. SRV continued carrying the tradition as being a leader. It is privledge and responsiblity for us Texas Guitarist to carry on that tradition.

[ΒΜ] Is there any concert in your plans to Greece?

[LL] I don't know yet but I would to come and play there soon

[ΒΜ] What do you want to say to the new blues bands?

[LL] You have to pay some dues and live thru some things to play the blues that's no secret just be careful in doing so

[ΒΜ] How many members are in your band?

[LL] Its a power trio right now maybe one day I will expand the band with Keys and horns

[ΒΜ] Do you think that this kind of music is popular in other countries?

[LL] I hope so...hahaha I always have enjoyed playing overseas because I think the appreciation for art and music is just so intense and it really inspires me whenever Im overseas

[ΒΜ] What do you want to say to your Greek fans?

[LL] I cant wait to see you all and thank you for your support and keep Southern Rock and Blues Rock alive

[ΒΜ] Lance do you think that Internet can help music?

[LL] Yes I do. I believe we will see in 20 or 30 years that the music industry will rely solely on the internet

[ΒΜ] We would like to thank you very much for that conversation. Keep going like that and we want you to be sure that we are with you.

[LL] Well thanks so much for your support and we look forward to seeing you...remember... First things first build a Wall of Soul to Simplify Your Vision so you can reach a higher ground...

Περισσότερες πληροφορίες μπορείτε να βρείτε στη σελίδα του www.myspace.com/lancelopez

Βασίλης Μάρκος.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzWOspuQzgc