1- The amazing Joe Stump!!, Hello and thanks for this interview!

Hello Jorge, here's the answers to the questions for Guitar Lords, thanks

2- I guess you dont need any introductions at the Guitar Scene, but please, tell us about your personal history and background for the fans at Mexico.

2.- Well I've been releasing guitar driven metal records and playing live shows to support them since 1993. Since then I've released 6 instrumental albums and 4 with my band Reign of Terror. I've toured in the states, Europe, Mexico, Japan and Asia.

3- What motivated you to want to learn to play the guitar?

3.- Seeing video fooatge of Hendrix playing when I was younger as well as listening to his records. At 13-14 I was hooked and have been since.

4- What are your main influences and your way of write music?

4.-Many things, from my favorite players and heroes like Ritchie Blackmore, Yngwie Malmsteen, Jimi Hendrix, Gary Moore, Michael Schenker, Uli-Jon Roth. And classical composers like Bach, Vivaldi, Paganini, Mozart, Mendelson and Beethoven. As well as many different schools of metal, from Neo-classical speed metal, European power metal, old school hard rock and thrash metal.

5- Who is your favorite guitar player?

5.- My two favorites and main influences are Ritchie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen.

6- All of the music within your repertoire showcases your depth as a musician and your strong technique as a gifted guitar player. Tell us about your technique and how you developed it?

6.-Intense and countless hours of practice and dedication to my craft. Learning and playing classical violin pieces, lifting solos from all my heroes, constanting working with the metronome on picking, classical sequences and all types of arpeggio play. Improvising all the time, many many things.

7- What projects are you currently working on?

7.-I'm currently recording my next instrumental album , after that I'm doing an advanced neo-classical instructional dvd. Then a bunch of touring.

8- When you were a kid, did you ever think that you would someday be considered one of the "Fastest Shredders of All Time" ?

8.-It was very cool to be mentiones alongside of so many great and respected players. All those guys on the list are pretty bad ass so I'm flattered to be in such good company. Anytime you make an all time list in anything you gotta be doing something right.

9- Do you love doing live performances?

9.-Yes I love to play live , shows, guitar clinics, everything. I can't get enough of it, nothing like it when you're on and having a great show. I'm very consistent live so I really enjoy it.

10- Where is the line between performer and musician for you?

10.-Well 2 of my main performing influences are Hendrix and Blackmore . So most of my cool ass live tricks and moves I've swiped from those two guys. You can't get much cooler than them. I can get a bit reckless when playing live but I still manage to make all the playing clean and articulate.

11- Have you ever done a song or album that you wish you could go back in time and un-do? If so, which one, and why?

11. -With every record there are always aspects of it that you think you can improve on as time passes by . Because over time you develope as a composer and guitarist. But no particular one track comes to mind.

12- Is there a band where you would like to play? Or have you got a list of players with you would like to collaborate in the next years?

12.-I'd love to play guitar with Ronnie James Dio. I'd fit great in his band, like a nuclear version of Blackmore. That'd be great or Deep Purple for that matter.

13- What are your thoughts on the state of instrumental guitar these days?

13.-I couldn't say I really don't listen to too much of that stuff. Most of the time if I'm going to listen to guitar it's to one of the previously mentioned players.(Blackmore, Malmsteen, Gary Moore, Uli Roth , Hendrix or Michael Schenker) I do love Alex Masi's classical records. that Bach one was brilliant. It showed tremendous dedication and disipline. Really nicely done.

14- What do you think about the new crop of talented Guitar player's that are currently out there making music?

14.-As I said I'm an old school guy . So while I'm sure there's some killing guys out there. I haven't really listened to anyone I'd consider brand new.

15- Which is in your opinion the best way for an undiscovered artist to be less unknown with his music? Can you give some advice to the guitarists that want to release a cd, Where they can start?

15.-It's certainly far different than when I started releasing records over a decade ago, much tougher now for a new artist. I guess a good start would be having your own product to be released. And start to put it out to various guitar-based webzines and fanzines, maybe find a label to distribute it. Playing live and having a working band is important as well. It's been my personal experience that there's no substitute fo hard work and dedication. If you dedicate yourself to something 100 percent for long enough something good is bound to happen.

16- O.K. Time for the heady question that I've been wanting to ask. You are easily one of the most influential guitar player on the scene today for kids that are coming up. How does that make you feel?

16.-Flattered and honored of course. It's nice to be considered influential to younger players. If listening to my stuff and seeing me play live motivates somebody to play and practice then that's great.

17- When all is said and done, years from now, how would you want people to remember Joe Stump?

17.-In a review of one of my previous recordings someone refered to me as everyone's favorite underground speed-metal guitar hero. I thought that was cool. Regardless of the level of recognition or success, I guess I just like to be remembered as one of the top players in my genre of metal and hard rock.

18- What will be next for Joe Stump?

18.-Finishing a new solo album now, my seventh instrumental disc overall. After that I'm recording a new instructional dvd it's gonna be an advanced neo-classical one. After that a bunch of touring.

19- And can we expect to see you again in Mexico any time soon?

19.-I sure hope so I've been there twice now . Most recently last March and I can't wait to go back. The people are wonderfully nice and love good metal guitar as well.

20- Is there anything else you would like to share with us that I have not asked?

20.-Just a sincere thanks to all the fans that have supported my past efforts. And to keep an eye out for my next record it's gonna be a monster of a guitar album.

"Armed and Ready" CD $9.99. US orders only.

Joe Stump's The Reign of Terror