JD *Red
AMG interview
10/18/2007
AMG On your web site www.johnjddeservio.com you have a gallery with a nice picture of your BLS Flag Bass, under the pic you write, “Bryan at Schecter did the BLS flag for me and made it look worn as hell!!! All black hardware looks bad ass!!!” Sounds like you are really proud of this Bass. It has 24 frets and looks amazing, what else makes this bass so bad ass?
JD It cuts through all the distorted guitars nicely.
AMG How do you feel about Schecter Guitar Company?
JD Schecter makes some great shit!! And they’re all good people.
AMG What brand of string do you prefer? What gage etc…
JD GHS Supersteels medium gauge. We’re doing a signature model real soon. Hopefully by the NAMM show in January.
AMG Have you always played with just your fingers of do you ever use a pick?
JD Always fingers. Unless something calls for the pick sound.
AMG Do you own allot of Basses? What kinds?
JD lots!!! Schecters, fenders, Pedulla, Spectors.
AMG How old were you when you started playing the Bass?
JD I was 11 when i got my first bass.
AMG Who are some of your musical influences?
JD Everyone I’ve heard has influenced me. Some are James Jamerson, Jaco Pastorius, Steve Harris, Geezer Butler
AMG Where did you grow up?
JD Cliffwood Beach, NJ
AMGWhat is one of your favorite scales and one of your favorite chord progressions to play?
JD The half whole scale is awesome!! I love playing over minor blues or anything out of the real book.
AMG What’s it like to play bass in BLS?
JD it’s a never ending party!
AMG Are you involved in the song writing process as a band or does Zakk come up with all the music, what is the song writing process like for BLS?
JD Its Zakks baby. I write my own bass lines. Zakk plays riffs on bass with the drummer (Craig) and then we build a tune.
What is your favorite song or songs on the new BLS CD? Why?
JD I like Last Goodbye and Lead Me To Your Door. I’m very proud of these bass lines.
AMG Do you record music by laying down tracks much like a live performance or do you use Pro Tools or something like it to punch in pieces until you have a complete work?
JD We do drums first, then gits, bass and vocals, all separately.
AMG What kind of amp do you use live and what do you use in the studio?
JDLive I’ll be using the new Hartke stuff. On stage it is always the Marshall cabs. But they'll have my Hartke speakers in them. In the studio i use my zoom pedal and other pre amps.
AMG Do you use any effects or processors? What makes and models?
JD Zoom b2u.1 pedal
AMG What is the craziest off stage thing that has happened since you have been in BLS while hanging with the band before or after a gig?
JD Too many to pick one.
AMG Every once in a while on stage a musician feels a certain overwhelming sense of euphoria because the sound is right the band is tight the crowd is right, its politically correct to say this always happens at every show but tell me has there been a special night or two on the road that sticks out in your mind? Where, when and why?
JD So many.
AMG You have known Zakk Wyld for a long time; his voice is dramatically improved over his early P&G days do you ever sing back up vocals in the studio recordings or does Zakk handle all the vocal duties?
JD In the studio its all z but live I sing my ass off!!
AMG As an instructor or music teacher how do you start off a young fresh faced kid on learning to play? Do you start with the basics or do you have your own method, what are your recommendations?
JD Basics all the way. Hand positioning and making the notes sound good, which takes a while!!
AMG What advice would you give to an up coming bass player looking to play in the style of BLS music?
JD Listen to Black Sabbath!
AMG Whose music is in your CD or MP3 player that you are listening to lately?
JD My own stuff. I’m working on my own record. The band is called C.O.P. cycle of pain. It will be on reform records and should be out in January hopefully!!
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