Sanaz: I have the pleasure of interviewing Rob Carlton today. A solo artist with some great music. When did you start playing guitar Rob?
Hi Sanaz, it's great to be talking to you today. I started playing guitar at the young age of 12 in Long Island, NY. My parents started me on lessons, but I was so enthusiastic about guitar I'd go off on my own and create original music. I used to have a old Red Stella acoustic guitar. It was a piece of crap, but I wish I still had it as a memento. I used to play it til my fingers bled.
Sanaz: Who are your top influences?
My very top influence is Jimi Hendrix. People have compared me to him in reviews and in person after live performances. Other great players who influence me are: Jimmy Page, Randy Rhodes, Peter Frampton, Robin Trower, Eddie Van Halen & Zakk Wylde. At a very young age, I was influenced by the distortion sounds Black Sabbath got in their recordings & as a guitar player that also inspired me.
Sanaz: Tell us about your new album ,SEVEN THUNDERS, and what are the inspirations to this CD?
Seven Thunders will be released end of March 2011. The title song, also called Seven Thunders especially was influenced by some of the sounds and styles of Jimi Hendrix. It is my homage to him. I used a Morley pedal for the wha sounds. I'm also endorsed by Morley Pedal, which is a great pedal. Some of my inspirations for this CD were to try to get some cool sounds like Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson offer and to create some awesome electric and acoustic sounds to enjoy.
Sanaz: Where can people listen to the CD and what should they expect?
The CD will be available on cdbaby, itunes, and sonicbids.com/robcarlton (2 tracks are available to hear right now on sonicbids). People can expect to hear intense instrumental shredding, high energy rock with a couple splashes of acoustic gems to give your ears a little rest.
Sanaz: You are endorsed by GHS Strings, how did you guys meet and how would you describe their relationship with you and people they work with?
Back in the day, I used to do guitar advertising with Conklin Guitars nationwide. I appeared in Guitar World and Circus Magazine. I had a heavy metal band called Empyre, which was getting a lot of attention in New York. I was using GHS Strings already and I contacted them and created a relationship with them while I was playing the clubs with Blue Oyster Cult, Zebra and Cinderella. They were interested in me, and to this day, we continue to have a great relationship and I appear on their website as a full endorsee. Through them, I've met many artists including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robin Trower & B.B. King. By the way, I use the GHS David Gilmour strings. Those strings generate an awesome sound for me.
Sanaz: You are also involved with the "Extreme Tour". Tell us about this tour and what should people expect of it?
The Extreme Tour is an awesome experience for young and old to come see some rockin new bands. They are representing me at the Dove Awards in Nashville. I also hope to be doing a showcase in Nashville in May which will bring us to a deeper level of involvement with the Extreme Tour. I will keep everyone posted on future tour dates via facebook.com/robcarltonfans, Twitter & MySpace.
Sanaz: Have you ever worked with other people and if so, who? And are you open to working with musicians if you guys have the same goals?
Yes, Joe Bouchard, the original bass player of Blue Oyster Cult produced some of my music and I recently played with him again, opening for his band at the Sherman Theater in PA. I've also worked with Ty Tabor of King's X, he's mastered some of my solo guitar work. In more current times, I've been studying under Jimmy Brown, the Senior Editor of Guitar World Magazine. We jam on Saturdays. Some of his influences have come out on the Seven Thunders album.
I am absolutely open to working with musicians who have similar goals, if they are talented and extremely serious about what they do and put their heart into their work.
Sanaz: What should we expect in the near future from you?
April 17th 3:00-3:45pm I will be performing a guitar clinic at the Central Mass Expo Center in Fitchburg MA.
May 22-25 I'll be in Nashville participating in Extreme Tour meetings and showcase.
And I'd like to announce a scoop here:
September 11, I am playing at the Fox Theater in Atlanta. The show will be filmed for syndication on a major cable network. The show is being coordinated by Laser Dog Music and will include a full laser light show. There will be a 5 camera shoot filming the concert for a DVD release.
Sanaz: In a perfect world, what would be your dreams with your music?
My dream is to present my guitar playing to a world wide audience and to tour and release albums on a continuous basis. I want the world to enjoy listening to my music as much as I enjoy creating and playing it for them.
Sanaz: Thank you so much and keep them coming :)
Thank you, Metal Sanaz! It's been awesome!
www.myspace.com/robcarlton
www.myspace.com/rob_1281967
www.sonicbids.com/robcarlton
