SCREAMING SYMPHONY INTERVIEW

Interviewer: Brian Labrecque

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW CD.

CI: The title of our new CD is SCREAMING SYMPHONY and I feel judging by the response we have gotten, it is going to be one of our crowning musical achievments. The music is very intense. The vocals are lyrically exciting and the performance is powerful. The soloing is very complex using an assortment of techniques. This music has made us very proud to put our name on it.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOUR STYLE OF PLAYING AND SOLOING HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

CI: Yes, I continually practice and discipline myself to achieve excellence, and continued practice allows my playing to explore and conquer new boundries all the time!

WHO ARE YOUR INFLUENCES?

CI: Bach, Mozart, all the way to Al Dimeola, Randy Rhoads, early Edward Van Halen, Ritchie Blackmore, Steve Morse, Eric Johnson, and many others that you may have already guessed.

HOW DID YOU MEET ROB ROCK?

CI: I met Rob at a club when he was the opening act for Greg Allman. We talked about our musical ambitions and then started playing music together and found that there was a good chemistry.

WHAT OR WHO INSPIRES YOU WHEN YOU COMPOSE MUSIC?

CI: It really depends on my mood. I practice every day, and usually as I am playing, I will find something I like the sound of and develop it.

YOU MUST FEEL BLESSED TO STILL BE ACTIVE WHEN MOST METAL ACTS HAVE DISBANDED?

CI: Yes, I thank my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for giving me the success I have. I don't take my career for granted, I work very hard at being a musician.

WHAT'S YOUR OPINION OF OTHER CHRISTIAN HARD ROCK/METAL BANDS?

CI: I like the fact that the Christian rock bands give positive messages in their music in a time when there is so much darkness.

WHAT'S THE MUSIC SCENE LIKE IN JAPAN?

CI: It's very diverse. We have very loyal fans in Japan for which I am grateful.

IF YOU HAD A CHANCE TO RECORD AN ALBUM WITH ANY ONE IN THE WORLD, WHO WOULD IT BE?

CI: I would like to record and perform with someone like Itzak Pearlman and Pavarotti. It would be terrifying violin, guitar, and operatic vocals. Actually that is very much how SCREAMING SYMPHONY sounds.

DO YOU FEEL THAT YOUR FAITH IN THE LORD HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE A GUIDING LIGHT AND YOURS AND ROB'S CAREER?

CI: Yes. Everything I have, family, talent, success, are all gifts from the Lord. Also, the strength to rock on!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THOSE GUITARISTS WHO SAY YOU PLAY TOO FAST?

CI: Many times I have been guilty of playing too fast, but for the sake of recklessness that creates tension in energetic music. I have now harnessed my speed, which allows me to play extremely fast but also add a variety of melodious phrasing with careful orchestration.

WHAT HAPPENED TO ROB ROCK AFTER THE 1987 EP?

After the 1987 EP, Rob Rock left to work on a project in Germany, so I just continued since it was my band.

IT SEEMED TO MANY FANS THAT YOU DISAPPEARED OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH BETWEEN 1989-1992. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER "STAND IN LINE"?

CI: After STAND IN LINE, I went back to intense practise and recreated my guitar style from the first IMPELLITTERI EP. Soon after, I signed a recording contract with J.V.C. Victor.

WHAT DO YOU USE FOR EQUIPMENT?

CI: Fender 1970 Stratocaster with a rosewood fingerboard, stock single-coil pickups and a vintage tremelo.

Fender Stratocaster with a set neck, ebony fingerboard, 1959 Humbucking Pickup in the bridge and single-coil pickups in the middle and neck position and a Floyd Rose tremelo system.

My amplification - Marshall (1973) 100 watt amplifier modified by Bob Bradshaw.
Soldano SLO 100
Peavy 5150

My speaker Cabinets-
Marshall JCM straight cabinet loaded with 25 watt celestion speakers.
Marshall (1973) straight cabinet loaded with 25 watt celestion speakers.
Marshall (1969) angle cabinet loaded with 25 watt celestion speakers.

WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, IS YOUR CROWNING MUSICAL ACHIEVMENT THUSFAR?

CI: To date I would say I am very proud of the performance on SCREAMING SYMPHONY as a whole body of work. It has intense composition, shredding guitar solos that are very complex, and a great production.