QUESTION: You have been Doro’s guitarist
since the 1993 "Angels Never Die" tour. How did you first get the job?
JOE: Dave (Snake) Sabo from Skid Row called me about the audition. Out of 40 to
50 guitar players she somehow picked me(What the hell was she thinkin?)
QUESTION: Were you familiar with her
music when you joined?
JOE: I knew who she was from the All We Are video.
QUESTION: What had you done prior to
joining Doro?
JOE: A lot of drinkin and smokin!
QUESTION: How did the recent tour with DIO
& YNGWIE go?
JOE: Every show was either sold out or close to capacity. We were well
received.
QUESTION: How did it feel to finally play
the States with Doro, after all these years?
JOE: I couldn’t believe it took so long. Felt strange actually understanding
what everyone was saying. I was mainly happy for the fans.
QUESTION: What are some of your favorite
songs to play live?
JOE: All We Are, Do You Like It, Ceremony, Hell Raiser, Machine To Machine,
Fortune Teller, Fall For Me Again, Love Me In Black, Constant Danger
QUESTION: Who are some of your biggest
influences?
JOE: Ace Frehley, Jimmy Page, Jimmy Hendrix, David Gilmour, Sid Barrett, Tony
Iommi, Carlos Santana, Peter Frampton, PeteTownshend, Frank Marino, Duane Allman,
Dickie Betts, Michael Hedges, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads I
can go on and on………………….
QUESTION: Who are some current guitar
players that you admire?
JOE: Zakk Wilde, John Frusciante, Tom Morello
QUESTION: What bands are you currently
listening to?
JOE: Massive Attack, God Smack, Deftones, Skunk Anansie.
QUESTION:Besides Doro, what are some of
your other musical projects?
JOE: I play in a band called
Ball in L.A. I also
spend a lot of time in between bands writing my own music.
QUESTION: In your other band BALL, why do
you play bass instead of guitar?
JOE: The whole thing started with a bunch of buds jammin in a shed up in the
Hollywood Hills. Brian the Guitar player wanted to learn how to sing and play
at the same time. No one else could play the bass so I would. It started
sounding really good so I told Brian to book a gig. A year and a half later we
had a record deal……….
QUESTION: Has BALL recorded anything yet?
JOE: Yea, we have a Disc due out sometime in April (no confirmed date as of
yet).
QUESTION: What has been your fondest
memory of playing in Doro, so far?
JOE: There’s been so many but the one that stands out the most is my very first
gig. We played in a 17th Centry castle some where in Germany.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I’d see a castle let alone play in
one.
QUESTION: When did you start playing
guitar and why did you choose the guitar?
JOE: I was around 12 years old. Outside my apartment complex that I grew up in
There was a party that my parents went to. A guy by the name of John wipped out
this acoustic guitar. As he started strumming chords It just blew my mind how
this piece of wood could sound so amazing. I was hooked ever since.
QUESTION: What are some of the differences
between playing in Europe and the States?
JOE: The main difference is that the real art of Heavy Metal started in
Europe. There’s a dedicated fan base here but in Europe it’s much bigger. We
just played Wacken and there was 40 thousand people there young and old. In a
way it seems what’s in is in and what’s out is really OUT in the states were as
Europe stays true to it’s original sounds as well as creating new ones.
QUESTION: Outside of music, what are some
of your hobbies and other interests?
JOE: Deep Thinking. Trying to figure out why my reality IS my reality! Riding
my bike helps a bit to……..
QUESTION: Thanks for taking the time to
answer these questions. Is there anything you would like to add to this
Interview?
JOE: Thanks for the support. Looking forward to seeing everyone on tour. Until
then, Keep bangin…………………………………………………….