ABOUT PAUL
I grew up in the small town of Green Brook in NJ. Wanting to be Gene Simmons (KISS), I started playing guitar at the age of 10 when my parents bought me my first guitar as a Christmas gift. I took to it quickly and practiced hours-on-end. It was common for me to begin practicing in the garage in the morning and not stop until the evening with my mother bringing me meals. I’m grateful to my amazing neighbors who had the patience to listen to my playing all day, I’m sure it may have been annoying at times, especially when I was a beginner.
Lesson #1: I believe opportunities and “luck” come with committing 100% to your vision and mission. I was going to study, practice, seek out mentors, market myself, network, help others, go hungry and live on the streets if that is what it took.
Throughout high school, I continued to practice and, at 16, I was playing in a hard rock cover band with my brother, having to use a fake ID to be able to play in the clubs. Upon graduating high school, I made a career decision that I was going to be a professional musician and was prepared to do whatever work and effort was required to accomplish that goal.
As you’ll read, though my story has a positive ending, I experienced some real low points early in my career... broken promises from con artists who took my hard earned money, living the apparent rock and roll life but being paid only per diem, had my apartment broken into and my guitars and gear stolen, went broke a few times and crashed on my brother’s couch and lived way too long on a diet of only hot dogs and biscuits. Overcoming those challenges took a lot of hard work and perseverance.
HARD WORK, QUALITY REPUTATION AND BEING A GOOD PERSON
Lesson #2: It is extremely difficult to make it on your own. In addition to family, there are good people in this world and the music industry who want to help others and you can learn from. Take them up on their offer, learn from them and pay it forward.
There was no social media, cool video or audio software at that time. I would make 4 track cassettes of my playing and song writing and pass them out. I started to become a bit known locally and continued to grind and get the word out any way I could. I started meeting various people and my network grew. I helped others even when it was me that needed help. I’m a big believer in positive energy. I am so grateful to those people who supported me along the way. I was just a kid with a dream but they saw something in me, knew I was determined and wanted to help.
One such person for me was Jack Secret (aka Tony Geranios), the keyboard tech for Rush. Jack and I wrote and recorded several songs together. Some of which were produced by Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson at Electric Lady Studios, in New York City.
Jack introduced me to the members of Blue Öyster Cult (BOC), who took me out on the road at age 19 as a keyboard/guitar tech.
I was going the blue collar, hard work, unglamorous route to becoming a successful touring musician. I immediately found myself driving a box truck across the desert in CA and through the streets of Europe. 15 hour days of loading and unloading gear, stringing and repairing guitars and keeping rigs up and running.
While in Germany with BOC, I met Bernie Marsden of Whitesnake fame (He wrote many of their hits, including “Here I Go Again”). I stayed at his place and we began to work together, writing and recording in the United Kingdom. Another tremendous learning experience.
Lesson #3: Have an exceptional work ethic, develop a stellar reputation, be a good person.
I was a guitar tech for about 3 years for the likes of Kerry King (Slayer), Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) and Michael Schenker. I’m so glad for these experiences as it tested my commitment, I learned everything about the business from the ground up and I met amazing people from the crews and bands. I also developed a reputation as someone with an exceptional work ethic with impeccable quality and reliability. I was also viewed as someone who was always positive, regardless of the situation - key when you are spending months on the road on a bus with up to 11 others.
FROM BEHIND THE SCENES TO THE STAGE
In 1989, I met Anthrax through Rick Downey and became guitar tech for Dan Spitz. I truly believe that it was my work ethic, both as a tech and a guitar player, and positive attitude that provided me with the opportunity to move from behind the scenes to the stage. That happened in 1995, when I replaced Dan Spitz and toured with Anthrax for the rest of the decade. I performed on two records, Stomp 442 and Volume 8: The Threat Is Real, which I also co-produced and engineered.
In 1999, Sebastian Bach of Skid Row fame asked me to join his band. We did shows together, touring around the world until 2004.
In 1999, I also teamed up with Glenn Hughes. Together, we composed the ballad "Feels Like Home" for Glenn's solo record Building The Machine.
Throughout these times, I also continued to work in the studio as an engineer and producer.
In 2004, I auditioned for the musical We Will Rock You, featuring the music of Queen. I had to audition for Brian May, one of my main influences. I was offered the Guitar 1 position and Dr. May trained me personally. I relocated to Las Vegas to perform my favorite Queen songs for a 16-month show run.
For the last 17 years I have been a member of Meat Loaf's Neverland Express. I am also Meat Loaf’s Musical Director, Record Producer, and most importantly, I am able to call him my friend.
I continue to be a sought after session player, engineer and producer and have also produced a successful touring musical production, BAT: The Music of a Meat Loaf featuring the Neverland Express + American Idol Winner, Caleb Johnson.
If a kid with a dream from a small NJ town can do it, you can, too!
And I want to help you!
Thanks for reading,
Paul
