Interview with Stephen Peary (RATT) Guitarist Erik Ferentinos
By Mick Michaels
Cosmick View: Hello, Erik! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thanks for taking some time out of your day to speak with us. It's greatly appreciated.
Erik Ferentinos: Thank you and hello!!
CV: Besides playing solos in the songs, what do you feel the role of a "lead guitarist," in a Rock, band represents to the audience?
EF: For the audience being a lead guitarist represents that it’s a “main dude” up there who can do it all.CV: What do you feel that role of "lead guitarist" represents to the rest of the band in terms of functionality as a group? Is it a leadership role in your opinion?EF: In the Stephen Pearcy band we currently have two lead guitarists, me and Johnny Monaco. We both play leads and sing back-ups. At this point in the solo band, there isn’t much to lead. We’re playing Stephen’s greatest hits from the RATT era and we just all do our part to make it sound like the old records. Stephen divides the leads up between us and we all have a fairly equal contribution to the live shows. The band usually just tries to work together and make the soundcheck and shows as smooth as possible.
CV: In the world of Rock 'n Roll, legacy artists, like Stephen Pearcy, not only continue to carry the torch from a specific era of music, keeping it alive, but also demonstrate an enduring commitment to never give up. Do you feel such a combination of characteristic traits is lost on the general audience… where for them it's just more about hearing their favorite song than a representation of integrity and perseverance?
EF: Certainly the majority of concerts goers want to mostly hear the hits and that’s what they should get! RATT had an amazing catalog of popular songs that they contributed to the 80’s Heavy Metal scene and Stephen can easily fill his 75-90 minute sets with those. We still put out solo records for fans that want to hear new music from Stephen and we will continue to do that because we enjoy it! Once in a while we sneak a solo song into the set but we’re all ok playing the hits everyone loves from Stephen’s legacy.CV: What does working with a prominent legacy artist mean and/or represent to you as a musician?
EF: I knew back 23 years ago when Stephen asked me to join the band that this was an invitation to play for an 80’s Rock icon and it felt like I had won the lottery! I’ve seen so many new bands come and go over the last 25 years and I’ve somehow continued to play for him and keep doing this for a living!CV: Is genre labeling or classification from the record companies and even the artists themselves really that important to fans in your opinion?
EF: Labeling and classification did seem to damage certain genres of bands during the 90’s, particularly the 80’s hair bands. Times have certainly changed. Young people are discovering the 80’s Rock scene from movies and TV shows. Now they can easily stream the music and old concerts on their phones and computers. They’re seeing how awesome it used to be and how fake a lot of the newer genres are. The kids today want their chance to 80’s rock! Old people don’t care what others think and they love being connected to us through social media and the live shows.CV: Fans are free to genre hop; do you feel artists have the same card blanche?
EF: That can be tricky. I’ve certainly seen rockers successfully go country and vice versa. But anything too drastic can be fatal. No one wants to see James Hetfield or Stephen Pearcy rapping.
CV:
More and more artists from all areas of the entertainment industry are
expressing the darker side of the business. Are these artists just
disgruntled or sour about their own careers, or is there some shred of truth in
what they are saying? What's your perspective?
CV: What's the greatest lesson you learned being in a Rock band, and who did you learn it from?
EF: For me personally it’s been knowing my place and my role in the band. It’s Stephen’s band and it’s our job as his hired musicians to work together and make his shows as great as possible. That can get lost when egos run wild. I’ve learned to just do the best I can for the greater good of the band.CV: What more can fans expect to see coming from you in 2024?
EF: The fans can expect to see me performing “Out of the Cellar” in it’s entirety with Stephen Pearcy and the boys all year. They can expect more of my co-hosting of the Chris Akin Presents podcast on Rumble, YouTube and Wowza TV and lots of guitar and cat videos from the Beach Mansion West!!CV: Thanks again, Erik, for taking the time to share with our readers. We wish you all the best and continued success.
Check out Erik at:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/erikferentinos
The Cosmick View
Where the stars always shine bright
www.thecosmickview.com
www.facebook.com/TheCosmickView
www.thecosmickvoice.com
www.anchor.fm/the-cosmick-voice
Spiritual Counseling and Sessions Available
www.pamelaaloia.com
 |
| The Cosmick Voice Music, Talk & Nothing But Business www.facebook.com/TheCosmickVoice |
Family owned & operated - Made in the USA
www.blackbeltammunition.com
Want to see your logo here? Contact The Cosmick View for details and rates.
Comments
Post a Comment