Ax Facts and Stats with Bryan Bassett from Foghat

This interview was conducted by Dave Roberts of ExtremeGuitars.com. We have published some of his Ax Facts & Stats interviews before and seeingas how they are so popular we hope to bring your more.

My name is: Bryan Bassett.

My current job is: Lead and Slide Guitarist for Foghat.

My hometown: Born in Pittsburgh PA currently living in New Smyrna FL.

My current album or project is: Last Train Home.

Former bands: Wild Cherry, Molly Hatchet.

My guitar influences growing up were: The British Invasion blues guitarist Beck, Clapton, Peter Green, and Jimmy Page.

The guitars I use are: Gibson '61 SG reissue, Gibson Les Paul, '96 Schecter California Custom PT.

The strings and tunings I use are: D’Addario 9.5 set and .10 set ....Standard and open E tunings.

My current rig setup consists of: Stereo Marshall 900s. G Major effects rack unit, Boss Compressor and tuner, Vox WAWA, Sana Amp MIDI MOUSE.

The greatest invention for guitars is: Humbucker PUs

My normal songwriting process consists of: Working with another talented musician/writer.

My favorite guitar solo from our band: “So Many Roads so Many Trains.”

My favorite all-time guitar solo (from another guitarist): “Comfortably Numb” - Pink Floyd.

Favorite all-time song (any artist) is: “Cant Find My Way Home” - Blind Faith.

Favorite song by our band: “Slow Ride.”

Favorite song to perform in front of a live audience: “Stone Blue.”

My Career highlight thus far is: Playing Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena with my parents in attendance.

My most embarrassing moment on stage: Tripping and falling on stage. Not bad though, most thought it was on purpose.

Other than my guitar and amps, the one piece of my gear that I cannot live without is: iPhone :)

The first song I ever mastered on guitar: “Last Time” - Rolling Stones.

My first guitar was: Harmony Rocket I.

The first time I ever heard our band on the radio was: “Play That Funky Music”. After practice in Weirton WV

If I am only sure of one thing in life, it’s: I'm going to play until I drop.

The one ritual I always perform prior to going on stage is: Playing Bejeweled on my iPhone.

The exact moment I knew I would pursue a career in music was: When we started drawing big crowds in the local bars.

The one thing most fans don't know about me is: I'm a computer geek.

The best advice I could give beginning guitarists: Learn your craft and value the importance of being a good rhythm guitarist.

CD(s) I'm listening to right now: Modest Mouse, Peter Gabriel.

My 3 all-time favorite albums: Beck-Ola, Allman Bros Live at the Fillmore, Led Zeppelin 1.

Best gig: all of them!!

Favorite junk food: Twizzlers.

My biggest pet peeve: Out of tune instruments.

The word or catch phrase I say too much is: "Well, you know...”

The hardest part of my job: Early morning flights.

What I like to do in my "off" time: Play with my 3 children.

The first thing I do when I come home from touring is: Flop in my easy chair and whine about traveling for a bit.

Previous or first day job: Door to door magazine sales.

Right after this interview I'm going to: Go to sound check.

I couldn't imagine being on the road without: Headphones.

If I wasn't doing the musician thing, I could really see myself working as: Teacher, Which I just started doing at a college.

Favorite movie: Lord of the Rings.

My mission in life: Be happy and be a good husband and dad.

My guilty pleasure band or artist: Jeff Beck.

My next goal is: Lunch.

The greatest contribution guitars/music have brought into my life is: A lifelong passion.

Check out our Website at: www.foghat.net

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

If I could have three wishes, they would be: good health, good friends, and happy children.

When it's all said and done, I want the world to remember me for: Being a good guy and a pretty good musician.

Copyright 2010 Dave B. Roberts & www.extremeguitars.com & www.AxFactsandStats.com; the web home of Ax Facts & Stats interviews written by Dave Roberts. All materials are Copyright 1999-2010 Dave Roberts and Extremeguitars.com; All Rights Reserved. Used by GuitarSite.com with permission.