“WHEN I FIRST heard SLASH’s Beautiful Dangerous with Fergie, Iknew what path I wanted to take my career down. My new album wouldn’t exist if I’d never heard this song. Slash made me realise it was possible to be an established guitarist without having to be a vocalist. And it really inspired me how Slash tailored his playing to each person featured. For Fergie, the guitar feels sexy - it has this feminine, powerful edge to it. Similarly, IRON MAIDEN’s Fear Of The Dark - specifically the Rock in Rio live version - really inspired my playing. It was the first Maiden song I ever heard, and I remember thinking, ‘I’ll be the best guitarist in the world if I can ever play this song.’ It taught me about being soulful with your playing, how to really speak through your instrument.
“There’s also a lot of DISTURBED in my rhythm playing. Their time signatures can be so intricate. Stricken is one of my favourite riffs of all time - it’s so powerful. MÖTLEY CRÜE’s Kickstart My Heart was one of the first songs I learned to play. Not that I played it that well I was 14, I was trying! I’d ask people to come up to my room and listen to me play it on my shitty little Line 6 Spider amp. I used to go on rock bandcamp for weeks away, and we once played this song in front of all the parents. I actually met Mötley Crüe and watched them side of stage this year, which was a very full-circle moment.