Nick Sterling interview on Modern Guitars Magazine
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January 6, 2006
Nick Sterling Interview
by Rick Landers
Ready or not, a new generation of young rockers is scorching through classic
rock, grabbing inspiration from a full spectrum of music that includes the
blues, classical, and the finely crafted tunes of the singer-songwriters of
the '60s and '70s.
One at the head of the pack is fifteen-year-old Nick Sterling who made his
first CD at the age of ten, appropriatey called Ten, that's just been
re-released.
His newest CD, Life Goes On, frantically rocks with a series of cuts that
are all written and sung by young Sterling. Nick's a bit of a prodigy it
seems and the liner notes mention that, along with being the CD's producer
and engineer, he also laid down all the instrument tracks.
Hailing from sun baked Mesa, Arizona, Sterling helps kick up the dust at
local venues, framed on stage by the Nick Sterling Band's bass player Bill
Hensen and percussionist Eric Borgiono. He's opened for such greats as
Aerosmith, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Jackal, Joe Satriani and Cheap Trick.
Steamrolling along like a veteran, Nick's now working on an autobiographical
video documentary called, Nick Sterling: Catch Me If You Can.
Last year, Sterling was honored at the Young Artist Awards show in Southern
California withy a Special Achievement Award for Young Rock Musicians.
At an age when most guitarists are flailing away at three chord garage band
progressions, Sterling is rockin' alongside roadhouse warriors with thirty
or forty years of rock stardom behind them.
Modern Guitars thought it best to catch up with Nick before he grabbed the
reins of yet another big project.
Your music tends to target hard rock with '70s style riffs. Did you reach
back to some older rock heroes to build your own style?
Nick Sterling: Well, most of my favorite bands are classic rock groups from
the '70s, such as Boston, Queen, Rush, Yes, and Journey, so I suppose I have
learned a lot about songwriting from listening to those groups. I think the
classic rock groups had a lot of talent.
How about a list of your favorite rock guitarists?
NS: I hate to sound like every other musician out there, but some of my
favorite guitarists are Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Randy Rhoads, and
Eddie Van Halen.
I have great respect for Jimi, not only for what he did with the guitar, but
his unbelievable ability to write so many smash hits in such a short amount
of time. Stevie for his conviction, Randy for his melodically structured
solos, and Eddie who undoubtedly changed the face of rock guitar forever.
They are all truly guitar heroes. I also really like Uli Jon Roth and
Guthrie Govan. They both have awesome tone and are great players.
You got your first guitar when you were 7-years-old. Tell us about that and
what motivated you to keep grabbing it and learning to play.
NS: There was always music in the house growing up because my dad plays
guitar. Not as much as he used to, but he's the one who taught me my first
chords and how to play twelve barre blues.
Once he showed me the pentatonic blues scale that was it. I started moving
it all over the fingerboard. I was lucky enough to progress very quickly.
Some of the first rock tunes I remember learning were off of Diary of a
Madman and the first Van Halen album.
On your new CD, "Life Goes On," you seem to be a "one man band," playing all
the instruments. How did you gather up all those other skills along the way?
NS: I started playing drums about four years ago for fun and I have been
singing since I was 10. The bass came pretty easily for me and I've been
playing piano and other keyboards for about three years now.
Once I had ten songs I wanted to record for this album I decided it would be
better if I had the flexibility of playing all the instruments myself. That
way I could make adjustments to the structure of the songs and try whatever
I wanted as far as different music ideas and arrangements go.
What was it like to make your own CD and who helped guide you in the
production and engineering of it?
NS: I recorded and engineered the new CD "Life Goes On" over the course of
about 10 months in my home studio, "The Penguin Factory".
As far as engineering goes, I've done a lot of recording and learned a lot
about different techniques, mic placement, and mic types and other things.
It's all by trial and error. I just keep doing it until I get what I want.
I believe there are somewhere around 300 audio tracks on the album, but I
probably canned around 150. For me, the toughest part of recording each song
was conquering the drums. Once I had them down to my liking, the rest of the
tracks came much easier.
I would usually track the bass next and then guitars and when I got to the
vocals I would always get carried away because I love vocal harmonies along
the lines of Queen, Boston, and similar groups.
The album was mixed by Ryan Greene at Crush Recording in Scottsdale,
Arizona. It was mastered in California at Red Mastering by Brad Vance.
What gear are you using?
NS: As of right now my live rig consists of two Wizard Modern Classic Heads
with my '68 Marshall Basketweave cab and my 1971 Marshall Checkerboard cab
for my dry tone.
I'm also using a Diamond Memory Lane analog delay to run my wet delay signal
though two Genzbenz G-flex 2x12s. I use quite a few different guitars but my
favorite is my Tom Anderson Drop Top.
On my pedalboard I'm using an old Mutron Octave Divider, a Teese Picture
Wah, a Lovepedal BBB, a Lovepedal Eternity, a Hermida Zen Drive, a Pink
Purple Fuzz, an old Phase 90, and an Analogman Bi-Chorus. When I'm recording
guitars I use a lot of different equipment such as my 1970 Marshall
Superlead, my Soldano SLO, my Diezel Herbert, and my 1969 Park 75.
We understand you're endorsing GHS strings.
NS: I use GHS Boomers [11-50]. GHS is a very supportive company.
I also work with Soldano, Bogner, Mojave, Diezel, THD and Wizard
amplifications. Some of the guitar companies I work with include Tom
Anderson, Vigier, First Act, Floyd Rose, Emerald, and Gibson.
Any endorsements I have are non-contractual. I just think it's better for me
to have the freedom to be able to use what ever I want.
Besides rock, what other styles of music are you listening to in order to
gather up a range of influences?
NS: I listen to a lot of different types of music, everything from Jazz to
Rock to Classical to Blues. Pretty much anything that I like has influenced
me a lot.
Tell us about your first band and how things have changed since then.
NS: When I first started out I was sitting in with local bands just playing
anywhere I could. Eventually I started taking lessons at a local music store
where I met Jack Wolf, my guitar teacher. Jack was in a local band called
Attitude Cat, so I ended up playing primarily with them from the time I was
8 until I was 11.
Everyone in that band was really great to work with. How many other 40 year
old professional musicians would let an 8 year old kid play with them on a
regular basis?
Eventually through friends and music acquaintances I met Billy Henson, my
bass player and Eric Bongiorno, my drummer. They have both been excellent to
work with and are really nice guys.
You've played with some heavy hitters in the music arena -- tell us about
some of your favorite experiences.
NS: Two of my favorite experiences on stage are probably getting the
opportunity to open for G3 and getting the chance to play with Kid Rock
opening for Aerosmith, once in Boston and once in Phoenix. I've gotten to do
a lot of really cool things with my music, but these are a couple of the
highlights.
How are you balancing your music career and all the other responsibilities
and things you like to do?
NS: I take my music very seriously, but I think that family and school are
also very important.
I am doing my schooling in a normal high school, so it gets really hectic
trying to balance everything with my music. I just try to structure my time
to be able to get everything done and still be a kid.
Your parents must be very supportive. How have they influenced you
musically, professionally, and personally?
NS: My parents are extremely supportive. They have really done a lot to help
my musical career. Everyone in my family supports what I do. Even my
Grandpa, who is 76, makes it to a lot of my shows.
My Dad is the head roadie. He does everything from setting up and tuning the
guitars to loading in equipment at the shows and everything in between. My
Mom spends a lot of time updating my website, doing e-mails, and lots of
other networking. My entire family is very supportive of my music.
What types of challenges, if any, do you face being a young rock guitarist?
NS: Sometimes it's just difficult to have enough time for music, school, and
free time. I find that my days are very full and I don't have much down
time. When I do, I try to make the most of it by hanging out with friends,
riding my bike, skateboarding, playing basketball and stuff like that.
On the music side, sometimes it's hard to get respect because of my age, but
I don't normally have too much trouble with it.
Would you mind telling us of any interesting or humorous things that you've
encountered with fans along the way?
NS: Most consist of parents and their children. I do have a lot of adults at
my shows because they really like some of the classic rock covers I do,
along with my originals.
Their kids also seem to really enjoy the live show. There have also been a
lot of really funny fans out in the crowd.
Probably my favorite time was when I was about 8 years old. We would play at
this funky biker bar called Jake's 'O' Mine and there would be this crazy
biker grandma out on the dance floor dancing with her motorized wheelchair.
She was really into it!
Who are you listening to now and is anyone just knocking you out with their
sound?
NS: Lately I have been really into The Mars Volta and Muse. I think they
both have really creative recording techniques that I like a lot and they
definitely consist of some really talented musicians.
Is rock 'n roll going to be a career?
NS: I hope to be doing music all of my life whether it be as a session
musician, songwriter, recording engineer, producer, or a live performer. I
have worked more than half my life at music, so I don't plan to turn back
now. It's just really what I want to do.
Each stage of guitar playing seems to end up with a plateau and then there's
a next new level to reach. What are you trying to do better on guitar or to
learn now?
NS: Right now I am trying to improve my rhythm playing. I think anyone can
learn how to play leads but to play rhythm well takes a lot of musical
maturity.
What acoustic players or singer-songwriters get your interest and why?
NS: I really like Simon and Garfunkel.
Do you practice guitar every day?
NS: I really don't spend that much time practicing guitar. When I'm getting
ready for a show I go over all of my songs I'm going to play to be sure I'm
prepared, but I don't practice on a regular basis. I spend a lot more of my
time writing, recording or playing other instruments.
Being a "rock star" at such a young age must boost the old ego, how do you
keep that in check?
NS: I just try to keep my music separate from my personal life and I want to
be treated the same as everyone else. When people do ask me about my music I
try to not be egotistical at all. That really isn't my personality anyway.
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