My Inspirations


Tommy Shaw (Styx, Damn Yankees)
Tommy is the one responsible for my interest in music.  When I was about one or two years old, I used to watch the Styx "Caught in the Act" video all the time and mimic everything he did and pretend that I was a rocker.


James Hetfield (Metallca)
This is the man responsible for making me take up guitar and growing my hair out (WAY before "Load", trust me).  Many thanks to him!!!


Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
I was so amazed when I heard "Eruption", and that made me try to be the best there is!!!


Ted Nugent (Ted Nugent, Damn Yankees)
He showed me that I can be wild with the guitar, and that you don't need drugs to be one of the greats.  My attitude towards life kind of reflects off of him.


Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
Cool riffs, great songs, brilliant axework, nice guy...  What else can I say???


Marty Friedman (Megadeth)
Same as Dave.


Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
Umm....wait a minute..What the hell is Kurt dong here???  He was a dumbass!!!


Dimebag Darrel (Pantera)
It's okay to screw up the tuning on your guitar to make badass songs.  And his use of his harmonic squeals is just excellent.  And he's from Texas too!!!!  Yeah!!!


Randy Rhoads (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne)
Probably my biggest inspirition of all.  I've always liked the axework that he does.  Blending classical music with metal is just the most brilliant idea I have ever heard!!!  And because of him, I am now interested in blending classical music with metal.  Thanks a lot dude, you're the best!!!


Jake E. Lee (Ozzy Osbourne, Badlands)
He, like Randy, James, Zakk, and Dimebag, have taught me to play it fast and sweet!!!!


Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Pride and Glory, Black Label Society)
DAMN he's good!!!!!


Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
The master of all heaviness.  The man responsible for my little-no mids-attitude sound today.  Thanks dude!!


Ozzy Osbourne (Take a wild guess!!!!)
He didn't really inspire me for guitar, but for music itself.  He taught me that you should always do your best, no matter what happens to you.  And be as different as you can, it's better that way!!!!  Thank you so much!!!!


Yngwie Malmsteen
Ok dude, could you play that again, only this time play it a LOT slower than what you did before???

Al Pitrelli
Hearing him play on any cd is amazing, but seeing him on stage is a whole new world!!! He shouldn't have been cut back on volume on the Megadeth's "Rude Awakening".



Jerry Thompson
My guitar teacher.  He has taught me so many things, I can't thank him enough for everything that he has done for me.

Joel Gregoire

A guitar teacher I had while at the National Guitar Workshop down in Austin, Texas in 2000.  A brilliant musician.  He can do it all!!  He taught me to keep a good attitude in my music, no matter what happens.  Check out his site!!  http://www.joelgregoire.com/

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