TUNE-UPS V
O L. 3 7 | N O. 5 | MAY 2016
Avenged Sevenfold Guitarist Synyster Gates’ 2015 Summer Tour Survival Guide— Mayhem Fest
In this new feature from the August 2014 issue of Guitar World, the guitarists of Avenged Sevenfold, Morbid Angel, Trivium and other metal acts tell how they’ ll beat the heat and tame the crowds on the season’ s biggest tours.
Your sweatiest concert ever? Definitely the 2004 Warped Tour when we played in Arizona. I think it got up to 127 degrees, and I remember feeling like I was going to faint. Just god awful. So we drank a bunch of margaritas to keep us extremely sedated.
Considerations when playing an outdoor show versus an indoor show?
Nothing at all. We just go out there and have a lot of fun. I mean, the only time you’ re ever worried about anything is if there are extreme elements, like rain or crazy wind.
Primary gear you’ ll be playing this summer? My gear is pretty easy. I usually play through my Hellwin amp and signature guitar [ Schecter Synyster Custom ]. I’ m not a big effects sort of guy— I like to keep it simple.
One item you will carry with you at all times this summer? A ProTools rig strapped to my back, literally. It keeps me sane, writing a bunch of different stuff like classical stuff or any guitar stuff. I don’ t like being locked in a cage on the creative scale. I need an outlet.
10 GUITAR PLANET | MAY 2016