AX FACTS & STATS, Vol. 6: Jennifer Batten Another Exclusive Interview/questionnaire type thingie by Dave Roberts for Extremeguitars.com!

Copyright 2002 Dave Roberts/Extremeguitars.com, All Rights Reserved.

Welcome to "Ax Facts & Stats", Volume 7. This month I am happy to be visited by Jennifer Batten. Jennifer is currently touring with Jeff Beck, as well as working on her third solo CD.
-Dave Roberts

My name is: JENNIFER BATTEN

My current job is: GUITARIST FOR JEFF BECK/SOLO ARTIST.

My hometown is: LOS ANGELES.

My current album or project is: SOLO CD #3.

Former band(s): MICHAEL JACKSON/+ MY SOLO BANDS.

My guitar influences growing up were: BB KING/ DUANE ALLMAN/VAN HALEN.

The guitars I use are: SIGNATURE WASHBURN 100.

The strings and tunings I use are: DEAN MARKLEY BLUE STEEL.

My current rig setup consists of: PEAVEY 5150 HEAD 4/12 CAB WITH GREEN BACKS.

The greatest invention for guitars is: WHAMMY PEDAL.

My normal songwriting process: JAMMING TO DRUM LOOPS.

My Favorite Jennifer Batten solo is: SCOTTSMAN IN THE CARIBBEAN.

My Favorite Jennifer Batten song is: ZULU WEDDING.

My Career highlight is: PLAYING WITH JEFF BECK.

My most embarrassing moment on stage: LET'S NOT DREDGE IT UP.

The one piece of my gear that I cannot live without is: WHAMMY PEDAL.

The first song I mastered on guitar was: "THREE BLIND MICE"

The first song I mastered on guitar was: AN ELECTRIC FROM SEARS.

My first guitar was: AN ELECTRIC FROM SEARS.

The best advice I could give beginning guitarists is: LISTEN TO A VARIETY OF MUSIC.

The CD(s) I'm listening to right now is: AFRO CELT SOUND SYSTEM.

My 3 all-time favorite albums are:
1.JEFF BECK "BLOW BY BLOW
2. "WIRED"
3. WEATHER REPORTS "MR GONE"

I'm a sucker for: DOGS.

If I could meet any ONE person living or dead, he/she would be: JACO PASTORIUS.

My favorite junk food is: REECE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS.

My biggest pet peeve is: BRAIN DEAD DRIVERS.

The word or catch phrase I say way too much is: 'WHATEVER'.

The hardest part of my job is: TRYING TO COVER KEYBOARD SOUNDS AND PARTS.

The first thing I do when I come home from touring is: SLEEP.

I knew I hit the "big time" when: WHEN I RECEIVED A PLANE TICKET TO TOKYO.

My Favorite Website is: HATE TO SURF

The worst job I ever had was: WORKING ON A PRINTING PRESS.

Right after this interview I'm going to: TO WRITE OUT SOME MORE CHARTS FOR REHEARSALS.

I couldn't imagine being on the road without: MY LAP TOP.

If I wasn't doing the musician thing, I could really see myself working as: A FOREST RANGER.

My favorite movie ever: FOREST GUMP.

My mission in life: TO MAKE A LIVING JUST THROUGH RECORDING.

My greatest obsession: GARDENING.

My first band was: A FUSION BAND IN SAN DIEGO.

My next major step is: FINISHING MY 3RD CD.

The greatest contribution guitars have brought into my life is: TO KEEP ME FROM A DAY JOB.

The coolest toy I had growing up was: MONSTER MAGNET.

Check out my Website at: jenniferbatten.com

The one musician I would love to work with that I have not yet had the chance would be: PETER GABRIEL.

If I could have three wishes, they would be:
WORLD PEACE,
REMOVING PAY OFFS IN RADIO PROGRAMMING,
REMOVING PAYOFFS IN THE MEDICAL WORLD.

When it's all said and done, I want the world to remember me for: MY CD'S.

Points of Interest: Jennifer played in Michael Jackson's band touring the world for 1 1/2 years on his first solo tour. In the following years she joined Michael on his "Dangerous Tour" & "HIS tory Tour". Jennifer joined Michael Jackson in Super Bowl 27's half time show playing to what then aired the largest audience in television history. (1 1/2 billion). In '98 Jeff Beck asked Jennifer to join his band where she spent 3 years recording and touring in support of his last 2 CDs.

At one point Batten was part of 6 different bands, playing different genres of music including rock, metal, fusion and funk. She has also authored 2 music books. In between tours Jennifer conducts guitar clinics Jennifer was the first female graduate and the first female instructor at celebrated Los Angeles’ Guitar Institute of Technology. Read more interesting facts about the very talented Jennifer Batten at www.batten.com

Dave: Thank you so much Jennifer for joining extremeguitars "Ax Facts & Stats". You are a great sport and a terrific interview. www.batten.com . Also be sure to check back for the next installment of ExtremeGuitars.com's "AX Facts & Stats" coming soon!

-Dave Roberts

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