Paul Gilbert Interview 2005

1.Did you grow up in a musical family?
A: Not really.
2.Have you ever received any formal guitar lessons?
A: Ha, I went to GIT when I was 16.
3.Do you think formal lessons are necessary? What can you learn from them?
A: Of course, it is necessary to receive the formal lesson, but the most important things is keep on practicing.
4.Speaking of learning by ears, do you have any suggestions for beginners? How to get started?
A: Play more and listen more.
5.I heard that you have some problem with your ears, what happened?
A: It is a family illness, it inherit from my father.  
6.I’ve seen your instructional video, do you have any new instructional release?
A: The new one is on Young Guitar April 2005 issue
7.Do you think your style has changed through all these years? It’s more new school punk.
A: Actually it is true rock music mix some of the modern pop music.
8.Are you hughly influenced by blues?
A: Absolutely, ’60 and ‘70’s blues..
9.Who is your most admired guitar player?
A: Jimi Hendrix.
10.Your speed is very impressive; do you think it’s the most important weapon of your playing?
A: It’s just one of my weapon, I have a lot of “Technical difficulties”.
11.Now, people are arguing about the relationship between playing fast and being musical, what do you common on this?
A: Combine the melodic with speed and emotion, then you can be a real virtuoso.
12.Is singing while playing hard? What is the hardest song you do singing while playing?
A: It ain’t hard, I can do it easily while I am playing and singing.
13.How’s the new record? What style is it?
A: Basic rock and pop. 
14.Did you write it by yourself? Or jam with the band?
A: I wrote everything.
15.Any live track in it?
A: No, all tracks are studio work.
16.For other track, do you play to a metronome? Is it hard?
A: some tracks but not all.
17.How about your gears? What did you use for the new record?
A: Still Ibanez guitar, Laney amps and cabinets
18.You don’t use too many stomp boxes, do you? Why is that?
A: Not often but sometime on stage.
19.Is there any new Ibanez PGM series coming out?
A: Soon, probably this autumn.
20.Do you play standard tuning?
A: Yes, but some track I’ll low down the strings.
21.There’s a rumor that the reason that Mr.Big disbanded is that the band mates didn’t want to do shows. They did a 2 months tour then took break for the rest of the year. Is it true? Is that why you left?
A: So you know it is a rumor and that’s it.
22.What do you listening to recently?
A: Everything.
23.How do you feel about the new generation of bands?
A: It becomes the generation of nu-metal, but I think old school will be back soon.