Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Location: email
Interview date: 08.02.2015
Many still consider Chris Impellitteri perhaps even the fastest guitarist in classic heavy metal. Chris first really made a name for himself after forming the band Impellitteri with singer Rob Rock in 1987, and they put out their self-titled EP that same year. It was followed by a covers album called »Stand in Line«, since before getting the band off the ground Impellitteri had spent years playing clubs and bars in various cover bands. Even before Impellitteri he’d played with Rob Rock in one of them. It was called Vice. On »Stand in Line«, Graham Bonnet joined Impellitteri on vocals, a seasoned singer who once fronted Rainbow. Impellitteri later released eight more studio albums, the last of them, »Wicked Maiden«, in 2009.. Rob Rock was back behind the mic on that one.
Can you tell us how Impellitteri came about, and where and when you met Rob Rock, who did the vocals on the »Impellitteri« EP?
Chris: I first met Rob Rock when we were playing clubs and bars in New England. I felt his vocals would go really well with my guitar style, and with the way I approach writing music too. I asked him if he’d be up for putting a band together with me. He said yes. At first we were called Vice. We spent the first few years playing covers, and then split up over artistic differences. I moved to California myself. By coincidence Rob Rock moved to California too, and he was working with bassist Rudy Sarzo at the time. Rudy and I are playing together right now in the Animatal USA project as well. When Sarzo broke up his band back then, I invited Rob once more to join my new band Impellitteri. The rest is history.
One of your shows, announced for South Korea, had to be cancelled at the last minute recently. What about Europe? Are you planning to play on the old continent too?
Chris: Yes, we had to cancel all the shows announced for Korea because of bad weather. I’d like to make it up to our Korean fans as soon as possible, so we’ll book a new one there ASAP. Impellitteri are currently in talks with a few European labels that could help us promote the band, release our music and, of course, help us organize shows in Europe.
The album »Wicked Maiden« was a nice success for Impellitteri. You put a lot of work into it and it sounds great. I’m also curious which musical direction its successor will take?
Chris: I know you put a lot of work into making it this good, but I’m curious which musical direction its successor will take?
The musical direction on the new album will be fast, heavy, melodic, super energetic and inspired! Personally, I think the new album will deliver the best music we in Impellitteri have ever recorded to this day.
How do you write music? Do you work as a team or individually? Your new album is probably coming together at full speed?
Chris: We actually started writing the music for the new album together, at Mates studio in Los Angeles (California), where we also used the space for rehearsing and getting tight as a band. Getting tight really helped us, since it strengthened the bonds in the band. It was a lot of fun….
Chris, many consider you the fastest and one of the best shredders in the world, with lots of melody and outstanding guitar phrases in your songs. Can you tell us how you developed your recognizable guitar style? What comes first when you write music, a guitar phrase or a particular melody?
Chris: Thanks a lot for the compliment. I love playing guitar. An energetic vibration from higher spheres flows through me and gets channeled in me, and that’s how the guitar phrases and solos come to life. I play guitar nonstop. I set myself the challenge of combining the principles of exceptional accuracy and insanely fast playing. Both in one. I’m constantly writing across different segments of the scales, and I keep changing the way I hit the strings. Recently I developed a new picking style that’s extremely fast, and the picking comes across as really aggressive. At the same time, I always focus hard on creating effective solos and rhythmically placed notes.
Are you planning to release a live CD or DVD with Impellitteri in the future?
Chris: I really like the live bootleg we put out. It’s a truly live product. There’s no studio overdubbing after the fact on it, no polishing, no fixes. We might record our upcoming live shows too and then decide whether to go for a new live CD or DVD.
You also play in the super band Animetal USA, which has released two albums. Are you planning another one?
Chris: With Animetal USA we’re planning to record a new studio album and do a new tour. I’m still waiting for confirmation of that plan and a clear timeline for when I start work.
How would you describe the current music scene? Are there any guitarists in the new generation you’d especially single out?
Chris: I like a lot of new bands. A band I’m really into right now is Avenged Sevenfold.. They remind me of Impellitteri, actually.
translated and edited by: Aleš Podbrežnik
questions: Jani Mihevc Cah
