Michael T Ross




1. When did your musically career start and who have been your main influence when it comes to playing the keyboards?

I started around eight years old because my brother Shael took piano lessons, so I wanted to be just like my older brother. He played ELP, Kansas, and Styx, so they were my influences, oh yah, can’t forget Rick Wakeman.


2. When it comes to write lyrics where do you get your inspiration from, are they taken from a personal point of view or is every day life experience?

I was hoping not to get this kind of a question, (not joking) Well, just because I truly am an instrumentalist at heart. I always had the habit of blocking out the vocals and just listening to the riffs. A lot of the lyric stuff is over my head- I wait for the solos. But I tell you, mid-crisis into my career, I learned that in order to really move records, you need vocals. That’s why I do work with great singers too like Johnny Gioeli in Hardline and Terry Ilous from XYZ. I do like Jon Anderson from Yes a lot and Ian Gillan. For example, I love Rush and one of the only Lyrics I remember is “In the highschool Halls, in the shopping malls” if that is even correct.”


3. You are working on putting your debut album, Deep Freeze, what inspired that title and could you tell us a little about who's playing on it and what the songs are about?

I was inspired by that sound that was used on video games, like underwater submarines shooting in the water. I’ve always liked that sound, and then thinking of keyboards floating in ice next to glaciers. I thought it was silly until my buddy designed the cover. Atma Anur will be on drums- he is know for his work with Jason Becker, Tony MacAlcpine, Greg Howe. Famed bassist Rudy Sarzo is slated to cover the bottom end. This is my debut solo record to display my writing abilities and soloing. Even though I have several releases out, it is hard at times, to stick out on these records when you are playing over a mountain of guitar tracks and not getting to write much material. And keyboard solos on records are far and between, although I did get to do a shred solo at the Gods Festival 2002, which made it on the live DVD.


4. When you're not busy with your own career and recording with others, you are also the keyboardist in Hardline. How did you end up in Hardline in the first place and how's the recordings for the new album coming along?

Guitarist Joey Tafolla introduced me to Johnny. When we met, I new Hardline was a group I would love to join. There was no actual keyboards in the group, as Neal Schon played the guitar synth, and Jonathan Cain wrote a song. So I didn’t think Johnny was going to go for it. But to my surprise, he was very receptive towards keys and let me go off. The new Hardline record is almost complete except for the vocals. Johnny is performing at the Bang Your Head Festival in Germany in June, so when he gets back, the vocals will get wrapped up. I performed BYH last year too with Angel in front of 22,000 people. Let me tell you, the Germans really like their rock.


5. On other things you are working on is the new album from legendary Angel, what can we expect from that album and has a release date and label been found for the release of the album?

I recently received four songs from our guitarist Steve Blaze, who is also busy with Near life Experience. He is also in Lillian Axe, which I’m playing keys on the new record. I’m recording keys to the new Angel tunes right now and it sounds like traditional Angel with a twist of Ozzy to it. I’m also working with my partner, guitarist Reza Sanati in Hollywood, on parts, and I’m pitching all my ideas to drummer Barry Brandt to put his final touches on it. Barry also plays guitar and wrote a lot of the original material with Gregg Guffria back in the day. We hope Frontiers Records will pick it up for release this year.


6. You also recently worked with Derek Sherinian on his new album, Mythology, together with people like Steve Stevens, John Sykes, Marco Mendoza and the list goes on. How was it to be working together and being in the same room, with some off the really heavy weights inside the hard rock genre?

I thought at first it would have been intimidating but these guys are down to earth but serious about their work, so I just step aside and observe the magic. Derek has been working with me for several years and has helped me out tremendously. And one of the perks I guess is stuff like watching Zakk play piano and sing songs like Yellow Brick Road for hours. I think his voice sounds just like Ozzy’s at time doesn’t it?


7. What's your personal point of view on todays music industry, the way the major label's are handling their artists/bands and the way it's been round on MTV & the mainstream radios?

It’s all about the greenbacks, benjees, ducklets, scoots, pesos, the all mighty dollar- my friend. It sucks living 5 minutes from Warner Bros. Records, and have to go to Italy to get signed. Rick Springfield even has a new album out. What the FXXX?


8. What almost became the trademark of a lot of the melodic hard rock bands that came out of the 80'ties, were the keyboard and when speaking to people about melodic rock from that time, you always hear the same thing, that the thing that made this genre sound dated were the over use of keyboards, on a personal level I think that if many of these albums didn't had any keyboards on they would have simply been lost in the crowed, how do see that comment from your view as a keyboardist?

Huh?


9. What's the future plans for you right now and do you have any plans on touring with some of the people you've been working with and what about your own stuff?

Hardline will be doing some shows in Europe later this summer to promote the new release. And Angel is always good for some shows every so often. But at this time, we are concentrating on getting these records out. I just can’t wait to get my solo record out and hopefully makes waves with it.


10. Any last words to the people/fans out there here in the?

Thank you for supporting artist like myself and rock keyboardists around the world for giving us the opportunity to survive in this guitar infested industry. Don’t get me wrong, my favorite artists of any instrument is all guitarists, Gary Moore, Yngwie, Al Dimeola, etc., but I just mean that before you couldn’t really name the keyboardists in some of your favorite bands, but it seems these days, we are being pulled from behind the curtain and brought to the forfront more often like in the 70’s. Thank you Jessica and Carsten for having me aboard- you guys rock!!! Please check out my new website at www.michaeltross.com