Interview with Chris Impellitteri: April 22, 2002

Interviewer: Eldo Chay

I recently got in touch with Chris and barraged him with questions about the new CD and a bunch of other stuff. It's been a while since the fan club has interviewed him and it was great to catch up on all that has been going on in and out of the studio.......

E.D.C.: It's been 2 years since Crunch was released and Rob was out of the band. Was was the process of Getting Graham back like?

CI: Graham and I had spoken previously and kept in contact. We became excited at the prospect of working together again when we realized a lot of fans wanted this reunion to happen.

E.D.C.: What was it like being in the studio w/ Graham again? Lots of differences from making that album for Relativity?
CI: Graham was very eager to kick ass on this record. It made the recording process a lot of fun.

E.D.C.: Why don't you use those monster high-speed repeating ascending riffs that were the trademark of your sound during the 80's? I mean, your fans were weaned on them like calves to their mother's teet.

CI: Of course I still play very fast, but the way I play now is more disciplined. I actually find it more difficult to play a lot of notes without repetition. Of course I still very much enjoy and use my crazier ascending technique when it is called for.

E.D.C.: If someone wanted to re-create your guitar sound from the Stand in Line tour. Which equipment, pedals, settings would they use??

CI: Fender Stratocaster mid 70''s and old Mashall 100watt amps. a lot of the sound was in the mix. There was a lot of reverb used by the mix engineer. I actually like my sound much dryer and in your face. Like the IMPELLITTERI EP. that screems. even though it is a cheap sounding record I think the solos still sound great.

E.D.C: Will you ever release an all-instrumental album?

CI: Yes at some point I will do an instrumental record. But IMPELLITTERI fans like our music with vocals and Shredding guitar. I think that is part of our magic. the voice and guitar can complement each other if the songs are written well!!!!

E.D.C.: What's your take on file sharing programs like Napster and Morpheus? Do you think they hurt artists or actually spread the music to fans who otherwise wouldn't hear it, and actually help sales?

CI: good and Bad-----I like the fact that a band like IMPELLITTERI can be spread to all who want to rock with us. The major labels know we are a threat to them if we spread to much of our disease. The internet has allowed all types of music to be heard without the Major labels interfearing.  The bad is that artists dont get paid as much for the work. But I think well all dowell on tour!!!!

E.D.C: If you had a chance to record an all instrumental acoustic album with either Travis Meeks(Days of the New) or Al Dimeola. Which would you choose and what do you think it would sound like?

CI: Al  --- why? Because of the influence on me. I would hope this record would be as aggressive as hell.

E.D.C: On System X, the song "Slow Kill" seems to be describing a very horrific child crime. Was this something Graham or you saw in the news?

CI: Graham had read a story in the newspaper that was very disturbing. He actually found a way to put it in to the Slow Kill song. Listen carefully to the lyric and you will know the story he had read.

E.D.C.:Everyone was affected by 9-11, and you wrote a song about it for System X, which by the way rocks. Where were you that day when you heard about it? What was going through your mind that day?

CI:. I was actually in bed. My wife woke me up and turned on the tv in our bedroom. I actually did not know what to think. I actually still dont. But IMPELLITTERI did open the new SYSTEM X record with a very focused song on the actuall events, and how we as Americans should express our selves to the enemy.

E.D.C: Will you be shooting any videos for System X?
CI: We hope we can shoot video footage for the new disc and live footage. We need the permission from our label.

E.D.C.: Whats the touring situation like? When will you be in Japan? Are you going to hit Europe or Central America? Brazil?
CI: We will tour. It will be big. We are very excited to do this tour. We are negotiating which places we will tour for SYSTEM X.

E.D.C.: Any U.S. Dates or plans?

CI: As you know IMPELLITTERI hopes to tour the US soon.

E.D.C.: Do you have plans for another Instructional Video? Warner-Chappell says that your REH video from 1989 still sells really well, what do you think about that?

CI: I would like to do a new instructional video that actually shows how I really play.
My old video was to show you could be technical and yet be very reckless. The idea was to show recklessness can create an original identity. Of course I play with a lot more discipline than in the video previously shot.

E.D.C.: Whats your opinion on the state of heavy technical music like yours? Is it still viable in today's music scene?

CI:  I really like playing guitar . I will keep playing my shred style solos and IMPELLITTERI style of metal , whether the current music scene love us or hate us. I think we will always be viable to the loyal metal fans.

E.D.C.: If you were offered the spot of guitarist for any of the following three bands, which one would you take and why? Let's assume you HAD to pick one.

1. Stone Temple Pilots
2. Staind
3. Korn

CI: . STP   why?  I THINK THEY HAVE GREAT MELODY BUT YET ARE VERY DARK.
THEY JUST NEED SOME IMPELLITTERI SOLOS!!!!!