Stuart Smith - Return of
the Guitar Hero
The 90’s are over and we are finally in a
new decade and century. The biggest disappointment I had with the music
of the last decade was the lack of guitar hero’s. Nirvana stormed into
the mainstream and everyone seemed to forget that ingredient that gave
rock its balls since the days of Chuck Berry, the lead guitar. The 90’s
will be remembered as the age of the rhythm guitarist. Like many others,
I feel rhythm has it’s place, but damn it, I WANT A GUITAR SOLO!
This months artist of the month has come
onto the scene to be a savior to all who crave music by musicians, who
want their music to have a bit more substance than a few power chords,
and depressing lyrics. In other words a Guitar Hero.
Let me introduce Stuart Smith, a man that
should need no introduction in the near future. Stuart is one of the rare
breed these days, he's had a life long love affair with the guitar and
with every note he plays, he helps us to understand where that affinity
for the six stringed instrument came from. Sit back, grab a beer and forget
that the 90’s ever happened and I will take you on a journey to a land
where the guitar once again reigns supreme, where music is made by musicians,
songs are written with melody in mind not demographics. Welcome to a land
of Heaven and Earth.
Stuart began classical training on guitar
at the age of seven. In three short years his instructor had the perplexing
dilemma of trying to teach guitar to a youngster who had grown to know
more about the instrument than himself. Raised in York, England, Stuart
dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot like his father. That dream was smashed
by color blindness. So at the age of seventeen Stuart decided to follow
his true calling in life, music.
He moved to Harpendon where he formed the
band Sidewinder. It was with this band that Stuart developed his craft,
playing the blues based rock guitar that had inspired him. The guitar styling
of Beck, Page, and
Blackmore were his guide. Sidewinder found
a measure of success before breaking up over musical differences.
Lucky fans got to catch Stuart in his early
days with Sidewinder as they toured Europe opening for bands like Whitesnake,
AC/DC, Motorhead, T. Rex, and Status Quo.
From there, Stuart's career reads like
a who's who of rock. He played with Bruce Dickenson before the screaming
vocalist joined Iron Maiden, as well as having a brief project with Ian
Paice. Rocky Newton, Joe Lynn Turner, Paul Rodgers, Glenn Hughes and Paul
Shortino are just a few of the people Stuart has worked with.
No other relationship, however, would have
as much of an impact on Stuart than his friendship with Legendary guitarist
Ritchie Blackmore. To this day Start still considers Ritchie his best friend.
In the early days of that friendship Ritchie helped Stuart perfect his
playing and even joined him on stage on occasion.
Stuart left England for the U.S. in the
early 80’s hoping to find a more receptive audience for his brand of blues,
rock and classical guitar. He joined up with the ill fated Sweet reunion
for a while. But he longed to play his own music so he formed his own band
called Midnight.
With Midnight, Stuart worked hard at creating
great music, not just showcasing his guitar solos. The band gained a name
for itself on the club circuit of Los Angeles in the late 80’s and early
90’s. Stuart sought out musicians with his same dream. Over it’s life span,
Midnight, featured Kelly Hansen of Hurricane, Rocky Newton of MSG and Joe
Lynn Turner of Rainbow/Deep Purple fame. Stuart was not content to follow
the latest trends. As a result, though critically acclaimed, Midnight never
landed the big record deal. But it did form the nucleus of what would become
the Heaven and Earth band.
In 1996 Stuart teamed up with Keith Emerson
and formed Aliens of Extraordinary Abilities. The name came from the classification
given to Keith and Stuart on their Green Cards, so it stuck. Robbie Wykoff
on vocals, Richie Onori on Bass and Marvin Sperling rounded out the group.
Aliens went on to play a few high profile gigs before Keith left to join
the ELP reunion tour. But the seeds were sown, so we may someday see this
dynamic group work together in the future.
Inspired and invigorated by the Aliens
project Stuart rededicated himself to the Heaven and Earth project. As
fate would have it some executives from Samsung had taken an interest in
Stuart and offered him a deal for a solo album.
Stuart took the opportunity to ask some
of his friends in the industry to contribute to the album. He didn't need
to ask twice, he lined up an impressive roster for the tracks that would
become the Heaven and Earth album.
Rainbow/Deep Purple vocalist Joe Lynn Turner
lent his legendary pips to the recording. Kelly Hansen applied his patented
vocal stylings as well. In  a
surprising move Stuart asked his brother in law Richie Sambora to sing
on the album as well. (Stuart is married to Heather Locklear’s sister).
Richie loved the idea of singing, he has always been approached to play
guitar on projects of this kind and welcomed the opportunity to do something
different.
Other notable appearances on the album
include Glenn Hughes, Carmine Appice, Pat Regan and Howard Leese.
The culmination of all this talent on one record created a powerful expression
in music. Stuart knew he needed a world class producer for the project
so he drafted Pat Regan to the task. Regan used his legendary skills and
helped create a cohesive exploration into the world of rock, blues, hard
rock and classical music.
Heaven and Earth has taken the underground
AOR scene by storm. Praised by critics and fans alike the European release
of the album has been a big hit, currently in it’s third pressing with
no sign of letting up.
Although a large success in Europe and
Japan, American fans still have to buy the album as an import because the
U.S. record industry is too busy filling the airwaves with trendy acts
like Limp Bizkit and the Backstreet Boys. There is hope that one of them
will see the genius at work here and release the album domestically. Never
the less, Stuart stays committed to his craft. While Heaven and Earth inspires
a new generation to discover the guitar as more that a instrument of power
chords, Stuart is hard at work playing live shows in support of the album
and writing music for the follow up record.
Stuart's story is one that can only happen
in Rock n Roll. There just isn’t enough space in this feature to cover
this mans journey from the classically school trained boy to the exalted
status as one of today’s guitar hero’s. You better believe we have not
heard the last from Stuart. The Journey through Heaven and Earth has just
begun....
The Interview
First off, Happy Holidays and thanks for
taking the time to answer a few questions. Instead of just asking all the
standard interview questions I thought I would also ask some of your fans
what they would like to know. Wendy, who runs the Stuart Smith Mailing
list was big help by asking fans to send me their questions for you.
Stuart Smith:
Thanks (antiGUY), Happy Holidays to you too.
antiGUY: Lets
get started. One of the things that really impressed me with your
album, Heaven and Earth was the production. It appears that the songs
were recorded in such a way that they would translate well into your live
performances. Was there a conscience effort to have a live feel to
the songs?
S.S.
There was and there wasn't. As you know there a lot of different
styles I play and I wanted to incorporate them all on the album.
We didn’t go too crazy with the overdubs as I wanted to be able to recreate
the sound live, but a lot of credit should go to Pat Regan who mixed the
album and helped decide the running order which makes it all flow together.
aG:
I’ve read
in other interviews that you were talking to a few labels here in the states.
Are you any closer to deal? Can we expect a domestic release on a US label
in 2000?
SS:
I hope so. It’s crazy, the album hasn’t had a bad review yet and
it’s gone to the third pressing in Europe but I can’t seem to get a States
based record company to commit to licensing it. They tend to follow
the trends out here and go for the type of band that’s flavor of the month
as opposed to anything they have to put any effort into developing even
though there’s getting to be a market for it again. Still, I live
in hope that we’ll start to see some music with a bit more substance in
2000.
aG: Do you
think you do your best playing in the studio or live in front of an audience?
SS: Definitely
live. Working in the studio is a bit like root canal work to me.
By the time you’ve cut the basic tracks and start overdubs you’ve heard
the same songs about a million times. When I play live, I never consciously
think about what I’m doing so it makes it all the more exciting.
aG: I had
also read that you decided to leave England in the early 80’s because punk
so dominated the scene that musicians who weren’t into that scene didn’t
have a chance. Did you find it ironic to return to England for the God’s
Festival to see that England had come back around and now offers a lot
of support for AOR artist?
SS:
It was a bit ironic. When I left England the Rock scene was dead
so it’s funny to see it happening the there way round now. The trouble
is the record companies and radio stations out here are only really interested
in bands that were big in the 70’s and 80’s so although rock is starting
to get airplay again, it’s still the same old stuff which is a shame as
there’s a lot of bands out there that are making some good music.
Consequently, a lot of people out here don’t even know the existence of
the bands like Ten and Bob Catley that were at The Gods festival.
aG: I know
you answered this one before, but for the benefit of people discovering
you for the first time here, how did you manage to get so many legendary
musicians to appear on your album?
SS:
Well, it’s kind of a long story, but basically I know quite a few of the
criminal element in Los Angeles so when it came time to do the album, I
made a list of who I wanted to be on it, then sent some rather large boys
round to inform them. You know it’s amazing, not one of them turned
me down.
No seriously. Most of the people
that lent their talents to making Heaven & Earth I’d worked with in
some capacity before or just knew them as friends and asked them to do
it. Once I had people like Richie Sambora and Joe Lynn Turner committed
it was kind of like a Domino effect, people wanted to be involved.
aG: Are there
any plans to record something with Ritchie Blackmore in the Future?
SS:
I would love to have Ritchie play a track on the next album. I’ll
have to see how his schedule is. That was a bit of a problem on the
last album as a lot of people I wanted to guest on it were on tour at the
time.
aG: What advise
would you give a guitarist just starting out who wants to play guitar driven
rock in an age were Rap Metal bands like Korn and Limp Bizkit Reign Supreme?
SS: I would
advise anyone starting in out in the music field to get proper lessons
for a while before setting out. You've got to learn the rules before
you can break them. In my opinion, these guys you mentioned are not
relying on any real talent so they'll be gone as quick as they came.
There's always
a process of natural selection going on
anyway, the cream always rises to the top. The kids that bought records
by bands like Nirvana etc were inspired to pick up an instrument then started
learning how to play and after a couple of years realized they were as
good as there heroes and started thinking, "Hey, I've been conned, this
is crap." So they started looking at bands from the past and listening
to people that could really play. When bands like Deep
Purple and Led Zeppelin came out in the
early 70's, sure they were raw and loud but they were masters of
their instruments then they were about 17 years old as opposed to being
masters of dressing up in Monkey suits. It's not like these clowns
in Limp Bizkit are going to remembered for any musical contribution in
10 years time. There again I've never been a fan of any band that
relied on image as opposed to talent.
aG:Was their
ever any temptation to sell out? Just to play “what’s hot” today to get
a deal and to “make it”? What made you stick to your guns?
SS:
No, Never. I play music the guitar for the love of it, it never really
mattered, and still doesn’t, to me either I made it or not as long as I
was playing what I loved. That would be the other bit of advise I’d
give anyone starting out. Play what’s in your heart.
aG: I was
most impressed by the fact that with Heaven and Earth the music really
does hit upon several different styles of music. Can we expect you
to further explore different genres of music with the next album?
SS: I expect
so. I was originally Classically trained so I enjoy playing Classical
as well as Rock and Blues so I expect there’ll be a mixture. That’s
my style, not to stay with one style.
aG: When will
you be going on tour and who will be in the band?
SS: The Band
I’ve been out and touring with already includes Kelly Hansen on Vocals,
Richie Onori on Drums, Ray Rodriguez on Keyboards and Bjorn Englen on Bass.
I would like to get out and tour a bit on this album but we may have to
get another album out there first to get the interest up.
aG: Can we
expect to hear any old Sweet or Hurricane songs at the shows? (I’d like
to request Fox on the Run, and Over the Edge”.)
SS: You never
know. For some reason, Kelly’s a bit reticent to do any old Hurricane
material which is a shame as they had a couple of songs I’d enjoy playing
live but maybe I’ll have to beat him around a bit before we go out to make
him see things my way.
aG:Now on
the fan questions. Wendy asks, “When can we expect another great
album from you?”
SS:
Frontiers Records who released my album in Europe want me to get down to
recording another one as soon as the new year begins. Personally,
as I’ve said, I’d like to tour a bit on this one first but I can see their
point. I may need that other album out there to make touring economically
possible but there'll definitely be a new Heaven & Earth album out
in 2000.
aG: Laura
Balducci with Rockinphotos Inc,. had two questions 1)"With
all due respect to Stuart Smith on being a TALENTED MUSICIAN, I see the
90's as totally lacking in leaving a mark in music history...What direction/
style would you like to see music go into for 2000 ???"
SS:
I agree with Laura on the 90's music. I would like to see more emphasis
put on the musicianship as opposed to image.
2) "What style of music will he (you) be
writing/playing with his(your) band in 2000?"
SS:
Same as usual I expect. There may be some surprises in there
but I'm basically a Rock Blues guitarist so that's what I'll be doing.
I wouldn't mind one day recording a Classical album with an
orchestra or string quartet or maybe doing an all Blues album but for now
I guess it'll be a mixture of everything.
aG:Carol
really loves the Heaven And Earth album and wants to know when can
we expect more and will the same people be involved?
SS:
Thanks Carol. Well, as I said, there'll definitely be a new
album sometime in 2000 but at the moment I'm not sure who'll
be on it. It may be just a band thing or with a few special
guest that happen to be in town when we're recording
it. That of course depends on or not my contacts can track
them down.
aG:John is
dying to find out if you will ever have a concert with the full line-up
from the album together on one stage?
SS:
It would be fun to do but a logistical nightmare to arrange as it
would be virtually impossible to get everyone in one town at
the same time. We sort of came close at The Dean Markley show*
at the Key Club in 98 when we had Joe Lynn Turner, Glenn Hughes and Paul
Shortino there. (Dean Markley is Stuart's String
Company)
aG: Last fan
question, a little background first. editor here at antiMUSIC, Keavin Wiggins,
had the pleasure of working on the road crew for Stuart's former band Midnight
back in 1991. I had no idea about this when I picked Stuart for Artist
of the Month, but it goes show what a small world we do live in. Keavin
wants to know if you ever plan to release any more of the old Midnight
songs under Heaven and Earth? He is particularly interested
in Mandy, I Can't face Another Night, and Prisoner?
SS: Funny
you should mention that Keavin. Frontiers Records have insisted
that we add "Prisoner" to the next album. I think "Mandy"
was a great song that was deeply personal to me and I'd love to do
it, but the lyrics are probably a bit trite for today's market but never
know. It's probably one of those songs that will sit around for years
then I'll need extra track and throw it on and it'll end up being a massive
hit. "I Can't face Another Night" has already been done by Joe on
his last album.
aG: He also
said that you used to pay him in Beer. You have any job openings?
SS:
There certainly is but we pay in cash these days. I'm still trying
pay off his bar tab from 1991 but if this next album goes Platinum
I may be able to get it cleared up.
aG:
On
a final note, I've heard people compare you to some of the greatest guitarist
of all time - Beck, Blackmore and Page. Do you find it difficult
to live up to that reputation? Or do you even consider it
when writing or playing?
SS:It's a
hell of a compliment but it gives you an awful to live up to. At the moment,
I'm handling a lot of my own affairs so I don't get to spend anywhere
near enough time with the instrument as I should do, but that will change
when we get down to touring and recording. I don't really think about
it when I'm playing but it's always in the back of my mind that whatever
I do in the future has got to be better than what I've done before.
aG:
Thanks
again. Congrats on a great album and I look forward to seeing you on your
first solo Stadium tour.
SS:
Thank you very much. I look forward to it too.
Get more Stuart Smith
Visit
the Artist Showcase for Stuart.
Purchase
Heaven and Earth online at Amazon.com
Listen
to songs and watch a video from Heaven and Earth
Learn
more about Stuart with a detailed bio from his home page.
Join
the Stuart Smith Mailing list moderated by Wendy Porter - Get the latest
info on Stuart and Heaven and Earth directly in your email box.
Visit
StuartSmith.com for the latest and greatest from this Guitar Hero.
Credits: A Big thanks to Stuart for granting
the interview, and to Kevin Phillips for all his help in making this special
happen.
Thanks to Wendy Porter for rounding up
some fan questions for the interview.
Photo's: Photo
1 by Jim Amentler
Photo 2 by Lisa Billings
Picture 3 by Carol Emsell - taken Live
at The Gods Festival in England
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