Phil Hilborne Interview
Many of you may know Phil Hilborne from his tireless work for Guitarist and Guitar Techniques magazines. Guitar Techniques is the magazine he co-founded and is a currently the consultant editor of. He also still writes their very popular monthly 'I minute Lick' feature too.
If you have been lucky enough to see Phil live you will know he's a phenominal player and a true working /gigging musician who's played with lots of the world top names including Les Paul & mr Vai .
see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Jg2OmJqpU
First - I'll give you the interview he kindly did with us and then a BIO from his website so you can get to know him a little better .
www.philhilborne.com
INTERVIEW
Phil Hilborne – SK Interview – 17th Jan 2011
1. How did you enjoy NAMM 2011, what cool stuff stood out?
a. Gosh! That is actually a tricky question to answer because most of the time I was working and didn't get as much time to look around as I would have liked – plus, the place is huge! However, the amps I was demonstrating - The Hayden High-gain 20 and 40 are really, really good... I have done a lot of R&Dwork recently with the company - helping to test them and 'voice' them properly etc....They got an amazing response from everyone that heard them that's for sure! Other than that, I saw some great new guitars on the PRS stand and also heard on the grapevine about a digital pick-up selector that allows you to have all the possible switching options - if it works that would be amazing as it could potentially make the 3 and 5 way switches we all currently use a thing of the past!
2. You have played a PRS Guitar for as long as I've known you, you must have been offered endorsements a lot?
a. Yes, there has been a few different things crop up but - other than a couple of Fret-Kings that Trevor Wilkinson gave me - that I sometimes use - I am honestly totally happy with PRS - I would ideally like to have a bit of design input with them sometime in the future too - there are quite a few ideas floating around my head!
3. Do you still do gt magazine (the best guitar mag in the world) I did hear the copyright setup had changed, you must have a backlog of stuff you could set up a bluesjamtrack type setup like Jan Cyrka has?
a. I still do my regular ‘One Minute Lick’ feature for GT and I record all of Shaun Baxter’s articles and also do the occasional special feature for them as well.
I was the first ever writer of a regular Rock article in the UK (Playing Rock Guitar, Solo Analysis, Style File, Interviews, A-Z of Great Riffs etc) and to date I have had something or other published in a UK guitar magazine every single month for over 25 years now! – So you are right - I do have a ton of stuff lurking around! - And I would really like to see it being sold/used - however, right now I still very much see myself as a player and things like setting up companies etc would take up too much time. Who knows what will happen in the future though? It is also interesting that you mention Jan Cyrka – he is a very good friend of mine and we have recently worked together writing and recording some Library Music for EMI – he is a great and very knowledgeable musician and engineer!
4. What is the beer like over the States? In fact, where in the touring world have you found the best beer?
a. Interesting question! – In my humble opinion the west coast US do make some truly great Red Wine but the beer isn't as good - some of the best beer I have ever found was in Prague, CZ or Zagreb, Croatia - those eastern European countries know how to make a beer - even if it is more often than not Lager!....
5. I have seen you play live twice and was blown away! You have been doing a bunch of touring and playing in many countries – how’s that all going?
a. Over the past few years I have traveled and played abroad a lot more than in the past - to countries such as Italy, Germany, Malta, Croatia, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, USA and so on – I enjoy it a lot – it presents lot of new challenges. There are great places to play and interesting people to meet and work with everywhere. This year I have already been to the USA for the NAMM show – which I loved and I should be doing work in Italy, Malta, Germany, Croatia and perhaps Australia before the year is over – which of course, is all really nice to look forward too. Some of the work is proper touring – such as the ‘Champions Of Rock’ tours that I do in Scandinavia – or the USA ‘Flashback Tour’ etc. Other aspects of the work are clinics, masterclasses, one-off gigs and product demos - which I do sometimes by myself and sometimes with a band. I have also for many years played at shows/tours with my good friend and Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain – this always happens when Maiden are off the road of course. Last but certainly not least is ‘We Will Rock You’ – Queen’s West End theatre show in London that I have played regularly in as first-call deputy for Laurie Wisefield for about 9 years – that’s coming up to about 1000 shows for me now! I also edit all the guitar music that Queen publish too and do other notation jobs for/with Brain May as and when he or the bands company needs them. So it’s busy!
6. Some may not know but you have a really freakin’ good tuition video out, do you have anything else coming up soon or are you involved in magazines or anything else you want o share?
a. I did the video you mention -‘Rock Basics’ a long time ago for Warner, Chappell publishers – I did enjoy it and it got good reviews and seemed to be pretty successful. I have often thought about doing another but I honestly don’t get the time to do it. I will do something again like that in the future though I am sure. I have done a couple of DVD features for GT magazine - like the Hendrix licks and Greatest Riffs – so there could always be some more of that sort of thing happening too I guess.
7. I love Guitar Techniques magazine and some of the stuff you've done with players like Vinnie Moore, Steve Morse and Zakk Wylde just seemed like fun - beers and licks - got a story to tell us?
a. I used to do those features a lot – and I am actually very pleased that they came across in a ‘fun’ way. The idea was always to make whichever player came over as relaxed as possible – they were in my home and my studio after all. There is no great story really other than a bunch of players hanging with each other and talking about what we have in common – the guitar and then playing some music that hopefully gave people something worthwhile they could learn from. We did always have a laugh and of course we did the usual musician things like drink beer and eat curry - usually after we had finished playing though!
8 What’s the worst gig you've ever done - and why?
a. I don’t think there really is a ‘worse’ – you learn from them all. There have been technical things like leads or di boxes or monitoring not working or strings breaking and so on – sometimes in front of thousands of people – that sort of thing is not too nice - but it is totally out of my control and will always happen eventually - so you just have to deal with it and laugh it off. Some of my all-time best musical experiences however, have been at really crappy gigs filled with great people. I honestly do love playing anywhere from a bar to an arena – it’s all just playing to me - and it is there to enjoy and hopefully learn lessons (good or bad) from. I have however, dealt with some very dodgy promoters in my time though – some of those have not been much help – that’s for sure!
9. I would love to know whom you would like to meet if you could back in time and why?
a. It would have to be sometime in the mid-late Baroque period (1600-1750) - to see J.S.Bach and an amazing composer and lute player called S.L.Wiess play together. I would have loved to hear their music performed just as they intended it - that would be a real honor.
10. Do you sport a spiritual belief or are you a hard facts man?
a. Right now, hard facts work very well for me thank you very much! I have seen too many bad things happen to too many good people to have any real opinion on this subject anymore – so I would rather pass on it. I guess we will all probably find the answers out (or not) one day anyway!
11. What would you say is the future for music and guitar as we have seen the digital revolution and VSTamps and the crazy You Tube and Internet phenomenon I wish I could have had more than jumpy VHS videos to learn from?
a. I think we live in interesting times for both music and the guitar – the pace that everything is moving at is staggering! – Generally speaking, I would love to see better places for people to play on a grass roots level and some form of Government support for what is a huge industry and an asset to our country wouldn’t go amiss either. As far as learning guitar goes I still think that developing a good ear and being an attentive and critical listener or viewer are always good fundamental things to strive for. Regarding the digital revolution in music – I think some of that is not as good as what was there before - as anyone who has recently listened to good quality vinyl will doubtless attest too. Luckily for us – the guitar I am pretty sure will remain fundamentally the same for many, many years to come though
12 What stands out most to you as far as new guitarists go? Technique, phrasing – or………?
a. Probably attitude – I always like people who I perceive to be the ‘real deal’ and who to my mind, play guitar and music for all the right reasons. This to me has never had much to do with being fast or flashy it is more a question of just being the best ‘you’ that ‘you’ can be and being comfortable with that fact. Things like technique and phrasing just represent the craft aspect of getting the ‘you’ part across clearly – I hope that makes sense!
One word game - just say one word after mine: -
• Strings- Picato
• Gauge-. Varies
• Amp- Valve
• Picks- Dunlop (Jazz 3)
• Pickups- PRS or Seymour Duncan
• Speakers- Celestion
• Strap- Levys or PRS
• Books- Lots
• TV show- Rarely
• Film- Lots
• Government-Necessary Evil
• Taxes- Squandered
• War- Waste
• Terrorists- Innocent Victims
• Beer- Bitter
• Medication- As needed
• Wood- Maple
• Recording- Studio
• Country- All
• Pubs- Local
• Church- No
• Cocaine- Habit or Song
• Voodoo- Chile
• Shredknowledge.com – Great guitar site
Phil Hilborne Jan/2011.
www.philhilborne.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phil Hilborne - Guitar.
Phil is one of the UK’s most well-known and influential guitarists. In a career spanning over 30 years he has played all over the world on literally thousands of gigs and countless sessions and clinics. Highlights include – over 20 years working with Iron Maidens Nicko McBrain, over 8 years of playing regularly in ‘We Will Rock You’ and over 25 years of top-class teaching and writing for Guitar magazines and books. Also, in May 2009 he was one of the last guitarists to ever play live with Les Paul at New York’s famed Iridium club. Recently he has been working as demonstrator, product development specialist and endorse for Hayden amps.
Musical Education:
Classical Guitar - Studied with Prof. W.Grandison
(Trinity College) and Harpsichordist D.Galbraith.
Electric Guitar - Self taught.
Career:
Tours:
(1986-2011) UK, Europe and USA with Phil Hilborne Band and Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden). Steve Smith (1991), Keith Emerson and The Nice (2004) 'We Will Rock You' - Dominion Theatre London - 900 plus shows (2002-2011). We Will Rock You UK Tour dates (2009). Musical Director: National Youth Rock Orchestra (2005 plus). Hannah Jane Fox (2004-5) Flashback MME - Arena Tour - USA (2008) Champions Of Rock - Arena Tours - Sweden (2009 & 2010). Guest Of Les Paul at the Iridium Jazz Club, Times Square, New York (2009).
Many international live demonstrations and clinics for leading music companies; including Gibson, Ampeg, Cornford, Vigier, Paiste, Sonor, Zildjian, PRS, Washburn, Fender, Seymour Duncan, Larrivée, Beyer Dynamic, Kitty Hawk, Crate, Hohner, Ernie Ball, Marshall, Hayden etc.
Producer/Engineer/Sessions:
Numerous sessions for bands, radio and TV.
Producer of over 150 Cd's - 120 for various guitar publications and others for artists such as The Phil Hilborne Band, Martin Taylor, Adrian Legg, Eric Roche, The Hamsters, Woman, Dave Kiliminster etc Plus numerous library albums etc. Sessions have included work with artists such as Paul Gilbert, Narada Michael Walden, Steve Morse, Vinnie Moore, Zakk Wylde, Ty Tabor, Ritchie Kotzen, Frank Gambale, Blaze Bayley, Rodger Daltry, Kerry Ellis. Mazz Murray, Brian May etc. Played/recorded/appeared on BBC, BBC News 24, Channel 4, ITV plus numerous other TV stations abroad.
Music Editor:
Guitarist magazine (1985-1995)
Music/CD Editor:
Guitar Techniques magazine (1994-2003)
Contributing Editor (2003-)
Teaching:
Held numerous guitar clinics in the UK and Europe, including the prestigious Bath International Guitar Festival (1999-2005), Malta (masterclasses) - 2007 & 2009.
Head of guitar at Felsted music school (1993-1999), recent Guitar masterclases include - Zagreb, Croatia (2010) & Spain (2010).
Visiting faculty of - MI London, Guitar Institute Acton, Guitar X and the Brighton Institute of Modern Music.
Privately Phil has taught literally hundreds of guitarists. Ex-pupils have gone on to or have worked in bands such as Bonnie Tyler, Ronnie James Dio, 2 Die 4, Slade,
The Wildhearts, Kevin Dubrow, It Bites, Matchbox, Illegal Eagles, We Will Rock You (London, Zurich, Vienna and Tours), Australian Pink Floyd, The Kooks, Purple Mellon, DC4, Placebo, Texas, The Libertines.
Phil has also taught one guitarist of the year winner, three finalists and one Ernie Ball Jam 2000 winner.
Three ex-pupils currently work as contributors to Guitar Techniques magazine.
If you have been lucky enough to see Phil live you will know he's a phenominal player and a true working /gigging musician who's played with lots of the world top names including Les Paul & mr Vai .
see here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Jg2OmJqpU
First - I'll give you the interview he kindly did with us and then a BIO from his website so you can get to know him a little better .
www.philhilborne.com
INTERVIEW
Phil Hilborne – SK Interview – 17th Jan 2011
1. How did you enjoy NAMM 2011, what cool stuff stood out?
a. Gosh! That is actually a tricky question to answer because most of the time I was working and didn't get as much time to look around as I would have liked – plus, the place is huge! However, the amps I was demonstrating - The Hayden High-gain 20 and 40 are really, really good... I have done a lot of R&Dwork recently with the company - helping to test them and 'voice' them properly etc....They got an amazing response from everyone that heard them that's for sure! Other than that, I saw some great new guitars on the PRS stand and also heard on the grapevine about a digital pick-up selector that allows you to have all the possible switching options - if it works that would be amazing as it could potentially make the 3 and 5 way switches we all currently use a thing of the past!
2. You have played a PRS Guitar for as long as I've known you, you must have been offered endorsements a lot?
a. Yes, there has been a few different things crop up but - other than a couple of Fret-Kings that Trevor Wilkinson gave me - that I sometimes use - I am honestly totally happy with PRS - I would ideally like to have a bit of design input with them sometime in the future too - there are quite a few ideas floating around my head!
3. Do you still do gt magazine (the best guitar mag in the world) I did hear the copyright setup had changed, you must have a backlog of stuff you could set up a bluesjamtrack type setup like Jan Cyrka has?
a. I still do my regular ‘One Minute Lick’ feature for GT and I record all of Shaun Baxter’s articles and also do the occasional special feature for them as well.
I was the first ever writer of a regular Rock article in the UK (Playing Rock Guitar, Solo Analysis, Style File, Interviews, A-Z of Great Riffs etc) and to date I have had something or other published in a UK guitar magazine every single month for over 25 years now! – So you are right - I do have a ton of stuff lurking around! - And I would really like to see it being sold/used - however, right now I still very much see myself as a player and things like setting up companies etc would take up too much time. Who knows what will happen in the future though? It is also interesting that you mention Jan Cyrka – he is a very good friend of mine and we have recently worked together writing and recording some Library Music for EMI – he is a great and very knowledgeable musician and engineer!
4. What is the beer like over the States? In fact, where in the touring world have you found the best beer?
a. Interesting question! – In my humble opinion the west coast US do make some truly great Red Wine but the beer isn't as good - some of the best beer I have ever found was in Prague, CZ or Zagreb, Croatia - those eastern European countries know how to make a beer - even if it is more often than not Lager!....
5. I have seen you play live twice and was blown away! You have been doing a bunch of touring and playing in many countries – how’s that all going?
a. Over the past few years I have traveled and played abroad a lot more than in the past - to countries such as Italy, Germany, Malta, Croatia, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, USA and so on – I enjoy it a lot – it presents lot of new challenges. There are great places to play and interesting people to meet and work with everywhere. This year I have already been to the USA for the NAMM show – which I loved and I should be doing work in Italy, Malta, Germany, Croatia and perhaps Australia before the year is over – which of course, is all really nice to look forward too. Some of the work is proper touring – such as the ‘Champions Of Rock’ tours that I do in Scandinavia – or the USA ‘Flashback Tour’ etc. Other aspects of the work are clinics, masterclasses, one-off gigs and product demos - which I do sometimes by myself and sometimes with a band. I have also for many years played at shows/tours with my good friend and Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain – this always happens when Maiden are off the road of course. Last but certainly not least is ‘We Will Rock You’ – Queen’s West End theatre show in London that I have played regularly in as first-call deputy for Laurie Wisefield for about 9 years – that’s coming up to about 1000 shows for me now! I also edit all the guitar music that Queen publish too and do other notation jobs for/with Brain May as and when he or the bands company needs them. So it’s busy!
6. Some may not know but you have a really freakin’ good tuition video out, do you have anything else coming up soon or are you involved in magazines or anything else you want o share?
a. I did the video you mention -‘Rock Basics’ a long time ago for Warner, Chappell publishers – I did enjoy it and it got good reviews and seemed to be pretty successful. I have often thought about doing another but I honestly don’t get the time to do it. I will do something again like that in the future though I am sure. I have done a couple of DVD features for GT magazine - like the Hendrix licks and Greatest Riffs – so there could always be some more of that sort of thing happening too I guess.
7. I love Guitar Techniques magazine and some of the stuff you've done with players like Vinnie Moore, Steve Morse and Zakk Wylde just seemed like fun - beers and licks - got a story to tell us?
a. I used to do those features a lot – and I am actually very pleased that they came across in a ‘fun’ way. The idea was always to make whichever player came over as relaxed as possible – they were in my home and my studio after all. There is no great story really other than a bunch of players hanging with each other and talking about what we have in common – the guitar and then playing some music that hopefully gave people something worthwhile they could learn from. We did always have a laugh and of course we did the usual musician things like drink beer and eat curry - usually after we had finished playing though!
8 What’s the worst gig you've ever done - and why?
a. I don’t think there really is a ‘worse’ – you learn from them all. There have been technical things like leads or di boxes or monitoring not working or strings breaking and so on – sometimes in front of thousands of people – that sort of thing is not too nice - but it is totally out of my control and will always happen eventually - so you just have to deal with it and laugh it off. Some of my all-time best musical experiences however, have been at really crappy gigs filled with great people. I honestly do love playing anywhere from a bar to an arena – it’s all just playing to me - and it is there to enjoy and hopefully learn lessons (good or bad) from. I have however, dealt with some very dodgy promoters in my time though – some of those have not been much help – that’s for sure!
9. I would love to know whom you would like to meet if you could back in time and why?
a. It would have to be sometime in the mid-late Baroque period (1600-1750) - to see J.S.Bach and an amazing composer and lute player called S.L.Wiess play together. I would have loved to hear their music performed just as they intended it - that would be a real honor.
10. Do you sport a spiritual belief or are you a hard facts man?
a. Right now, hard facts work very well for me thank you very much! I have seen too many bad things happen to too many good people to have any real opinion on this subject anymore – so I would rather pass on it. I guess we will all probably find the answers out (or not) one day anyway!
11. What would you say is the future for music and guitar as we have seen the digital revolution and VSTamps and the crazy You Tube and Internet phenomenon I wish I could have had more than jumpy VHS videos to learn from?
a. I think we live in interesting times for both music and the guitar – the pace that everything is moving at is staggering! – Generally speaking, I would love to see better places for people to play on a grass roots level and some form of Government support for what is a huge industry and an asset to our country wouldn’t go amiss either. As far as learning guitar goes I still think that developing a good ear and being an attentive and critical listener or viewer are always good fundamental things to strive for. Regarding the digital revolution in music – I think some of that is not as good as what was there before - as anyone who has recently listened to good quality vinyl will doubtless attest too. Luckily for us – the guitar I am pretty sure will remain fundamentally the same for many, many years to come though
12 What stands out most to you as far as new guitarists go? Technique, phrasing – or………?
a. Probably attitude – I always like people who I perceive to be the ‘real deal’ and who to my mind, play guitar and music for all the right reasons. This to me has never had much to do with being fast or flashy it is more a question of just being the best ‘you’ that ‘you’ can be and being comfortable with that fact. Things like technique and phrasing just represent the craft aspect of getting the ‘you’ part across clearly – I hope that makes sense!
One word game - just say one word after mine: -
• Strings- Picato
• Gauge-. Varies
• Amp- Valve
• Picks- Dunlop (Jazz 3)
• Pickups- PRS or Seymour Duncan
• Speakers- Celestion
• Strap- Levys or PRS
• Books- Lots
• TV show- Rarely
• Film- Lots
• Government-Necessary Evil
• Taxes- Squandered
• War- Waste
• Terrorists- Innocent Victims
• Beer- Bitter
• Medication- As needed
• Wood- Maple
• Recording- Studio
• Country- All
• Pubs- Local
• Church- No
• Cocaine- Habit or Song
• Voodoo- Chile
• Shredknowledge.com – Great guitar site
Phil Hilborne Jan/2011.
www.philhilborne.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phil Hilborne - Guitar.
Phil is one of the UK’s most well-known and influential guitarists. In a career spanning over 30 years he has played all over the world on literally thousands of gigs and countless sessions and clinics. Highlights include – over 20 years working with Iron Maidens Nicko McBrain, over 8 years of playing regularly in ‘We Will Rock You’ and over 25 years of top-class teaching and writing for Guitar magazines and books. Also, in May 2009 he was one of the last guitarists to ever play live with Les Paul at New York’s famed Iridium club. Recently he has been working as demonstrator, product development specialist and endorse for Hayden amps.
Musical Education:
Classical Guitar - Studied with Prof. W.Grandison
(Trinity College) and Harpsichordist D.Galbraith.
Electric Guitar - Self taught.
Career:
Tours:
(1986-2011) UK, Europe and USA with Phil Hilborne Band and Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden). Steve Smith (1991), Keith Emerson and The Nice (2004) 'We Will Rock You' - Dominion Theatre London - 900 plus shows (2002-2011). We Will Rock You UK Tour dates (2009). Musical Director: National Youth Rock Orchestra (2005 plus). Hannah Jane Fox (2004-5) Flashback MME - Arena Tour - USA (2008) Champions Of Rock - Arena Tours - Sweden (2009 & 2010). Guest Of Les Paul at the Iridium Jazz Club, Times Square, New York (2009).
Many international live demonstrations and clinics for leading music companies; including Gibson, Ampeg, Cornford, Vigier, Paiste, Sonor, Zildjian, PRS, Washburn, Fender, Seymour Duncan, Larrivée, Beyer Dynamic, Kitty Hawk, Crate, Hohner, Ernie Ball, Marshall, Hayden etc.
Producer/Engineer/Sessions:
Numerous sessions for bands, radio and TV.
Producer of over 150 Cd's - 120 for various guitar publications and others for artists such as The Phil Hilborne Band, Martin Taylor, Adrian Legg, Eric Roche, The Hamsters, Woman, Dave Kiliminster etc Plus numerous library albums etc. Sessions have included work with artists such as Paul Gilbert, Narada Michael Walden, Steve Morse, Vinnie Moore, Zakk Wylde, Ty Tabor, Ritchie Kotzen, Frank Gambale, Blaze Bayley, Rodger Daltry, Kerry Ellis. Mazz Murray, Brian May etc. Played/recorded/appeared on BBC, BBC News 24, Channel 4, ITV plus numerous other TV stations abroad.
Music Editor:
Guitarist magazine (1985-1995)
Music/CD Editor:
Guitar Techniques magazine (1994-2003)
Contributing Editor (2003-)
Teaching:
Held numerous guitar clinics in the UK and Europe, including the prestigious Bath International Guitar Festival (1999-2005), Malta (masterclasses) - 2007 & 2009.
Head of guitar at Felsted music school (1993-1999), recent Guitar masterclases include - Zagreb, Croatia (2010) & Spain (2010).
Visiting faculty of - MI London, Guitar Institute Acton, Guitar X and the Brighton Institute of Modern Music.
Privately Phil has taught literally hundreds of guitarists. Ex-pupils have gone on to or have worked in bands such as Bonnie Tyler, Ronnie James Dio, 2 Die 4, Slade,
The Wildhearts, Kevin Dubrow, It Bites, Matchbox, Illegal Eagles, We Will Rock You (London, Zurich, Vienna and Tours), Australian Pink Floyd, The Kooks, Purple Mellon, DC4, Placebo, Texas, The Libertines.
Phil has also taught one guitarist of the year winner, three finalists and one Ernie Ball Jam 2000 winner.
Three ex-pupils currently work as contributors to Guitar Techniques magazine.