Welcome again to Extreme Guitars “Ax Facts & Stats”. This month I am proud to bring to you the very talented, insightful and funny Mr. Paul Crook.
My name is: Paul Crook.
My current job is: finishing the mix on the new M O D record. Scott Metaxas (my partner) and I are producing/ engineering the project.
My hometown is: Green Brook, NJ.
My current album or project is: Playing lead guitar for Sebastian Bach and GOTHAM.
Former band(s): ANTHRAX.
My guitar influences growing up were: Edward Van Halen.
The guitars I use are: BC Rich Mockingbirds.
The strings and tunings I use are: DR Strings; 9-42 I usually tune down a half step.
My current rig setup consists of: A digitech GNX2 through VHT or Crown power amps into 6 Randall RS412W cabinets.
The greatest invention for guitars is: The whammy bar.
My normal songwriting process: I don’t have one. Whenever inspiration hits me I focus and if I’m lucky, I get it done.
My Favorite Paul Crook solo is: The solo to “Random Acts Of Senseless Violence” off of the ANTHRAX, STOMP 442 record
My Favorite Paul Crook song is: “Feels Like Home” off of Glenn Hughes’ “Building The Machine”.
My Career highlight is: Engineering and Co-producing “Volume 8 The Threat Is Real”. It’s a lost ANTHRAX record that was released in 1998.
My most embarrassing moment on stage: Budapest, Hungary. ANTHRAX, 442 tour: I got the sh*ts really bad on stage. So bad that I dropped my guitar in mid song and ran to the toilet. When I got back Scott Ian stopped the show and said over the mic (3000 people in attendance) “Hey Paul, How was your dump?!”
The one piece of my gear that I cannot live without is: My GNX2.
The first song I mastered on guitar was: “Firehouse” by KISS.
My first guitar was: A Les Paul Copy, brand name “Strad O Lin” (I still have it).
The one thing most fans don’t know about me is: I’m a vegetarian.
The best advice I could give beginning guitarists is: Shake all of your notes. VIBRATO! It’s all that matters!
The CD(s) I’m listening to right now is: FOZZY’s new record “Happenstance”. This band is one of the original metal bands. Judas Priest and Iron Maiden stole FOZZY’s whole approach and used it as there blue prints. If my memory serves me correctly Black Sabbath kinda ripped them off as well.
My 3 all-time favorite albums are: 1. Van Halen: “Women And Children First” 2. AC/DC: “Powerage” 3. Slayer: “Reign In Blood”
I’m a sucker for: for a well-done pizza.
If I could meet any ONE person living or dead, he/she would be: Angus Young. I already met Edward Van Halen. He was very nice to me… Thank god…. I would’ve been crushed if he was a d*ck.
My favorite junk food is: Nachos.
My biggest pet peeve is: Keeping my guitars in tune.
The word or catch phrase I say way too much is: ‘Metal’.
The hardest part of my job is: giving my fans the attention they deserve.
The first thing I do when I come home from touring is: give my girl Kristie a hug.
I knew I hit the “big time” when: I haven’t been there (yet). I’m getting close, I think, because someone else (my tech Nator) is setting up my gear for me.
My Favorite Website is: www.worldclassguitars.com
The worst job I ever had was: Selling garden supplies.
Right after this interview I’m going to: meet Nator at Holihan’s in Bridewater, NJ for our Thursday night cocktail.
If I could create the dream band with any musicians dead or alive, I would choose: Edward Van Halen, Rob Halford (vocals), Paul Bostaph (drums), Geezer Butler (bass)
I couldn’t imagine being on the road without: a tour bus. No van please… I beg of you…
My biggest pet peeve is: Keeping my guitars in tune.
If I wasn’t doing the musician thing, I could really see myself working as: Producer/ engineer.
My favorite movie ever: Jaws.
If I could go back and change only one thing in my career, it would be: F*CK THAT!!!!!!!!!!!! Haven’t you seen the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”!?
My mission in life: keep my karma positive.
My Favorite Website is: www.worldclassguitars.com
My greatest obsession: Learning Edward Van Halen solos.
My first band was: TRITON. I was 16 yrs old. We were a metal band out of South Plainfield, NJ. What’s really great is that the house we used to jam at still contains my gear! The drummer for Triton (Gary) bought it off of his parents. We (Gary, Andy, my brother Mark and myself) still jam there! All of my (non-touring) amps, there are a lot of them, are still in the basement.
My next major step is: getting my own band signed to a major label.
The greatest contribution guitars have brought into my life is that it keeps me out of trouble.
The coolest toy I had growing up was: the famous Bat Mobile by Corgi.
Check out my Website at: http://paul-crook.com/
The one musician I would love to work with that I have not yet had the chance would be: Tom Araya.
If I could have three wishes, they would be: I’m not going there… Didn’t you see the movie “Bedazzled” I believe everything I see on the big screen!!! I have this vision of Brendan being this superstar hoop player… “DAMN…. DAMN THE DEVIL TO HELL!!!!”
When it’s all said and done, I want the world to remember me for: Being a good human being.
Points of Interest:
Paul was the lead Guitarist for Anthrax, 1995-2001. Including International tours with: Pantera, Slayer, Sepultura, Megadeth, Motley Crue, Deftones, Life of Agony, Fu Man Chu. Various shows with: Rammstein, Creed, God Smack, Powerman 5000, Brian May (Queen), Joe Satriani, Seven Dust, Monster Magnet, Drain STH, Ace Frehley, Dio, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Twisted Sister, Candle Box, Gravity Kills, Fuel
Lead Guitarist for Sebastian Bach, 1999-present. Paul has performed on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, VH1, MTV, MTV (Europe), Fox Morning Breakfast, Much Music (Canada), Channel Plus (France), and has appeared on a National broadcast Pay-Per-View concert special featuring Motley Crue, Anthrax and Megadeth. Paul has also appeared in international concert webcasts with Anthrax and Sebastian Bach. .
Has appeared on various studio albums including: -Anthrax: “Stomp 442”. -Anthrax: “Volume 8: The Threat is Real”. -ECW (Extreme Wrestling) Soundtrack. – ‘Twisted Forever’, A Twisted Sister tribute. – ‘Thunderbolt’, An AC/DC tribute. -“Ghost Of Mars” sound track as well as the DVD (extra footage).
Composed, performed and worked alongside John Carpenter on the sound score of the major motion picture: “Ghosts Of Mars”.
Composed ‘Feels Like Home’ with Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple) for Glenn’s studio release: ‘Building The Perfect Machine’.
Has worked with Ministry, Blue Oyster Cult, Alex Lifeson (Rush), Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake), Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Anton Fig (David Letterman Band).
Composed and performed on the ‘Wild Cherry’ Pepsi commercial for ‘Tomb Raider’ the motion picture.
EG: Thank you so much Paul for being such a great sport and interview. I’m always thrilled to have great guitarists, especially fellow B.C. Rich slingers such as yourself, join us as we compare notes with other guitarists and fans alike in “Ax Facts & Stats”. I want to invite our visitors to check out Paul’s Website at http://paul-crook.com/. Also be sure to check back for the next installment of Extreme Guitars “AX Facts & Stats” coming soon!