INQUIRER
TORSTEN KINSELLA
THE GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT GUITARIST ON THE TIME HE FORGOT HIS IN-EAR MONITOR SYSTEM, THEN HIS AMP DIED, THEN HIS BACKUP AMP DIED, ETC., ETC.
Q What was your first guitar?
A 1990 Music Man StingRay bass, which I got around age 14. I started out on bass, while my brother Niels was on electric guitar; eventually we ended up switching roles. That StingRay was a beautiful red sunburst with just two EQ bands — bass and treble. When I moved to the guitar, I picked up a Fender Strat with noiseless Lace Sensor pickups.
Torsten Kinsella in action with God Is an Astronaut at Hotel Cecil, Copenhagen, 2023
GONZALES PHOTO / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
Q What was the first song you learned to play on the guitar?
Del Shannon’s “Runaway” and Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.” My dad was the one who taught me. He had this idea that if a music career didn’t take off, at least I’d have a few songs up my sleeve for wedding gigs! We started with these basics, but they were perfect for building my foundation and gave me a good mix of rhythm and melody to work with.