Monte Pittman is a guitarist based in Los Angeles known for playing on the Madonna live tours and teaching people like Guy Ritchie to play the guitar. He has also played guitar for the metal band Prong. He recently released his solo album The Power of Three (read our review here) and Andrew Rawlinson asked him some questions. Please read on!
(((o))): Who were your guitar heroes that inspired you when you were younger?
MP: Ace Frehley, Steve Vai, Jimmy Page, Randy Rhoads, Ottmar Liebert, Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Prong.
(((o))): How did you teach yourself to play guitar?
MP: I did for about a year. I would learn songs measure by measure. Then I got an awesome guitar teacher. That made a drastic difference.
(((o))): Who are your favourite ‘current’ guitar players?
MP: Vogg from Decapitated, Kellindo Parker from Janelle Monet's band, Rob Chapman, Ray LaMontagne.
(((o))): Are you planning to make ‘Monte Pittman’ solo a full time project or as an outlet between other commitments?
MP: Yes I am. I have to take it one day at a time and build it brick by brick. I'll always play guitar for Madonna as long as she keeps having me.
(((o))): According to your bio your third student was film maker Guy Ritchie, how did this come about, have you taught any other ‘famous’ people?
MP: His assistant, Nathan, got my number and let up lessons for "his boss". When I left for the first Madonna tour I did, I had 55 students in circulation. I taught Kathryn Morris who later went on to star in the show "Cold Case". I taught Catherine Keener and Dermot Mulroney. I taught Brad Pitt. Those are a few that immediately come to mind because they were so cool to me. I gave Dido a guitar lesson once. One of the guys who got me to start thinking about teaching in LA was Johnny Rzeznik. He would come into the Guitar Center, where I worked, and asked if we could suggest any teachers for alternate tunings on the guitar. I never taught him anything but we talked about it a few times. That's where I started thinking I could teach in Los Angeles like I did in Texas. It's such a small world. The Goo Goo Dolls were one of the most successful Metal Blade bands.
(((o))): How did you get involved with Prong and do you plan to work with them again?
MP: When I had just moved to Los Angeles, I became friends with Ivan DePrume. He and Tommy Victor had been jamming together. Ivan put me and Tommy together. We immediately started discussing starting Prong up again. I would love to do something again if something is needed. Right now, Tommy has a killer line-up in Prong. Maybe we'll do some writing. Maybe we'll do some shows together. You never know.
(((o))): What bands have influenced you in making your new album The Power of Three?
MP: All the bands I grew up listening too, like Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth, Testament, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Pantera, Prong, Cannibal Corpse, Acid Bath and so on. Also, some old blues like Freddie King or Elmore James. Take that and mix it with Stevie Ray Vaughn and Gary Moore. Take that and add a little Ray LaMontagne and Neil Young.
(((o))): How did you meet Kane Ritchotte (drums) and Max Whipple (bass) and how much involvement do they have in the writing process of the album?
MP: Kane played drums on my last album, Pain, Love, & Destiny. Kane and Max grew up playing together. I had written everything and made a demo of the entire album. I would play them the songs and we would go learn them and work them out. We weren't able to go through all the songs before recording so some of the songs we recorded the first time we played them. We will be writing together in the future. I'm excited to see how it sounds with Kane coming up with a beat and max coming up with a bass line. That will add something different to the mix.
(((o))): The new album was produced by Flemming Rasmussen, how did that come about?
MP: I met Flemming on a day off while in Copenhagen one year. We stayed in contact and said one day we'll have to work on something together. We recorded an acoustic EP in one day while I was there on another day off. From there, we made plans for me to bring the band with me and record my heavy album.
(((o))): You’re given the opportunity to create your own festival. What would be the first five bands on your list?
MP: U2, Madonna, Metallica, AC/DC and Iron Maiden. The next 5 would be Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats, Bruno Mars, Amon Amarth, Ray LaMontagne and Against Me.
(((o))): Are they any places you have yet to play that you really want to?
MP: Africa! I hope I play with someone some time soon who plays in South Africa. Also, Maine. I think that's the only state I've never been to.
(((o))): What are your goals for 2014?
MP: To book as many shows as I can and get this thing out on the road. Spread the word to everyone out there about the new album The Power Of Three.
(((o))): Thanks a lot for answering my questions. Is there anything you would like to add?
MP: We have a video out for 'Before The Mourning Son'. We'll do another video in the near future. Keep checking in at our website and on Twitter and Instagram. You can find our MontePittmanMusic channel on YouTube and there's a Monte Pittman Facebook page. Thanks for the great questions and thanks for the support!
