Page 22 - ISSUE 14

PAGE 22 ROCKNATION ISSUE 14
Michael Wilton

of Queensryche this has semi-exploded!

Tom: You have a new studio
CD coming out in 2010 titled
Wratchet Head can we get
some details in advance about
Interview by work for a pale ale. I emailed the brew it?
master but I never heard back from him Michael: It is a project of mine
Tom Mathers so I thought that it was a disaster and that I wrote on the road with
that it was over with. Towards the end Queensryche in 2009. It is an
Tom (Rocknation): Hi Michael welcome of the tour I got an email that had a PDF energetic double bass pro-
to Rocknation. You have a beer called attached with a beer label that my PR gressive endeavor. I am doing
“Whip Ale” that will be distributed dude did. So I called the brew master this with all local musicians
nationally in 2010, can you tell us about and asked what was up? He said “I am so when I am off the road with
it? drinking your beer right now, it tastes Queensryche I can have some with Ozzy. Our singer, Geoff Tate, sang
Michael: Basically I was approached to amazing” So I was totally surprised and fun and play locally. Who knows what the part. I got to jam the double solo ev-
do a promotion with this brewery in the then I found out that his distributors will happen. All as I can say is that it is ery night right next to Lita with her body
Seattle area. I had one quick meeting were blown away and they said that they fun to play with some fresh blood and rocking next to mine and her blonde
with the brew master and I was back want to start selling it and saturate the mix things up and expand my horizons hair whipping my face while I was think-
out on the road with Queensryche. Seattle beer market immediately. So I with different creative situations. ing to myself “Wow, I just did a double
The brew master told me to develop had to have the brew master make 1,000 Tom: Michael I’m sure you get many solo with Lita Ford.”
my own recipe for a pale ale or an IPA. gallons of my beer so I can have dozens guitar companies offering to give as Tom: Queensryche has many large fes-
Having basically no experience in beer of kegs ready for beer drinking enjoy- many free guitars as you want just to tival dates booked overseas in 2010, any
ingredients I went on line and found 5 ment and deployment. So in a nutshell have your name endorsing them. Tell us advance updates you can talk about,
star beer recipes and took notes. So why you play ESP? and who you will be performing with?
in between shows and long bus rides Michael: I have played ESP guitars for Michael: When Queensryche is booked
I came up with what I thought would 20 years and they have been a loyal to do over seas festivals they are very
artist friendly guitar company for 35.
The strat style I play has been road diverse in that you never really know
worthy all over the world and under who is all playing. It may be a three day
harsh conditions for many world tours. festival not knowing who played the first
In fact I still have my early guitars that two days. Sometimes you are the only
I used when Queensryche toured with US band or sometimes you are playing
the Metallica “And Justice For All” tour. with Jeff Beck or Slayer. All in all it will
Now I am excited that I have my own art- be an adventure that always turns out to
ists signature guitars that be fun.
are my specifications that
I play live.
Tom: What is the name
of the equipment you use
to get the Queensryche
sound in the studio and in
live shows?
Michael: A lot of my
sound comes from my
ESP guitars. I use an
alder body with a curly
hard rock maple neck and
Seymour Duncan passive
pick-ups. I use Floyd Rose
tremolo systems that I
have upgraded with titani-
um parts. As for the gear I
have always used Marshall
amps or amps that sound
like a Marshall. My pre
amps are a JMP-1, Bogner
Fish, Egnater and Digitech
1101. My effects are a TC
electronics G-major, Digi-
tech effects, MXR, Full-
tone, and Voodoo. I use an
Akai WMS4000 for my on
stage wireless system.
Tom: You just finished
a successful tour with
Lita Ford; performing her
songs with your band. Can
you tell us some highlights from that? Tom: Rocknation has featured your
“Whipwear” clothing line. Please tell us
Michael Wilton’s Michael: Performing with Lita Ford as about the clothing line?
her musical band was a bit of a chal-
solo CD lenge at first. When I first heard of this Michael: Whipwear is another side
project of mine that was to be just a
Soulblender is I thought we would be playing her old fun promo one-time thing that semi
hits but we had to learn a couple of
now available at all tunes from her new CD. We performed exploded and that is still running and
is expanding. Fortunately I have some
fine music stores and at these two tunes with her and her hus- close business friends that take care
band. Than the third song “Close Your
www.perrisrecords.com Eyes Forever” that was her hit she did of things that I know basically nothing
about. You can check it all out at www.
whipnation.net
Tom: What is on Queensryche’s plate
for 2010?
Michael: Hopefully a new CD and more
touring besides the Euro festivals. All
the best to you all!