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Right ! So , that ’ s like going back to a team of one when it comes to stuff like that you know . So , I try to keep up with it as much as I can and what I try to do is I try to only get on that stuff when I ’ m doing something productive . I try not to get on there to surf around just to see what everybody ’ s saying and just waste time because my time is very limited . So , when I do get on , it ’ s work and I get sidetracked . You must maintain as I said , living on the music train is like a freight train you either get on or get out-of-the-way . And if you ’ re not continually you know making some sort of updates or keeping the fans aware of what you ’ re doing you don ’ t stay current . Social media is a great advantage that ’ s the way you stay in tune with the world , not unless you ’ re out on a world tour . If you are on a world tour you ’ re only on one part of the world at the time
There you go ! So , the only way to stay global is the world-wide web .
Gotcha ! What can we expect from you in 2017 ? You can expect Day of Reckoning – Into The Fire Part II with our new drummer . Jarred redid all the drum sets on part II , that ’ s going to be awesome . And because we did the drum tracks we ’ re retracking all the guitars and probably the solo ’ s and stuff like that as well also that ’ s going to be a fresh release . Hopefully , we ’ re going to be out touring . There are talks for us doing some touring with Tremonti and his band . There are talks of us touring with Nile and some other things . That ’ s the goal to get out there and get on the road and really bring the music to the people . I mean I haven ’ t been able to do it in the past but it ’ s doable now so that ’ s the big thing to just get out and play . So , put out some new records . I ’ m doing something brand new it ’ s the John Petrucci Guitar Universe next August . I ’ m going to be one of the teachers at that so it ’ s a four-day event . Yes , it ’ s a four-day event and it ’ s up in New York . John Petrucci Guitar Universe four-day and four-night Summer Shred Festival in Glen Cove Mansion in Glen Cove , New York . It ’ s me Andy James , Tony Mac Alpine , Andy McKee , Mike Mangini and of course John Petrucci . I and John have been friends for a long time and he was one of the first guys that I think he requested me to teach out there with him so it ’ s awesome Andy James , Tony Mac Alpine , Mike Mangini wow !
Yes , dude ! Me too I ’ m so excited , Tony Mac Alpine is one of my original guitar hero ’ s you know after Yngwie . Tony set the whole world on fire really in that era and that style of guitar playing so it ’ s going to be cool man . I had the pleasure of meeting Tony it was right before he got sick or before he made any kind of announcement that he was sick and had to go into the hospital and all that stuff . He played in Houston and I got to meet him and have him sign my Edge of Insanity cd and sorry not my cd my Edge of Insanity vinyl record . I ’ ve got that on vinyl that and Maximum Security as well as all the early Shrapnel stuff I ’ ve got it all on vinyl you know Steeler , Vicious Rumors with Vinnie , which Vinnie signed the Vicious Rumors album back right before Time Odyssey was released . He did a clinic in Houston back then and I met him back then , had him sign the Vicious Rumors vinyl and Mind ’ s Eye so it looks better !
You know Outworld was a challenge . I think in the end before Outworld broke up the only people from Houston were me and Bobby everybody else , Matt was from Washington state , Shawn was from Georgia , Carlos was from Brazil . Bobby and I were the only two Houston natives really left the band and we had to go all the way to India for our Day of Reckoning . Wow ! So , that ’ s crazy you know ? That ’ s the beauty of the internet you know we saw Facebook posts and since it ’ s since those video demo ’ s you can see those online . I was just playing with it , it ’ s impeccable . I mean I this goes to show you how good the guy was . Whenever we would bring in drummers to audition on Day of Reckoning we had an additional test besides being able to play the songs because anybody with any technical ability can copy someone ’ s song you know what I mean . The true test for me in joining the band is how well they can write on the spot . So , after we get done auditioning all the songs , I ’ ll just throw some new riffs at him for song ideas and nobody that we brought in could ever get anything that I was trying to show them on this new stuff no matter how well they covered the old drummer ’ s parts . Me and the old drummer had great chemistry . I could no matter what I threw at him he would just start riffing off it and that ’ s what I need . I need somebody that can write on the fly that ’ s what most kids and upcoming musicians are missing there . They use Pro tools and copy and pasting ideas back and forth via the internet and online and e-mail . That ’ s not how you write as far as I ’ m concerned you write in a room with a few guys and a band on the fly . You ’ ve got to be able to play in real-
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