Paul Gilbert American guitarist, known for his work with the bands Racer X, Mr. Big and his latest instrumental albums Date of Birth: 06.11.1966 Country: USA

1. Biography of Paul Gilbert
2. Upcoming Solo Concert in Moscow
3. Popularity and Musical Preferences
4. Yellow Matter Custard: A Tribute to The Beatles
5. The Art of Guitar Playing
6. A Career in Music

Biography of Paul Gilbert

Paul Gilbert is an American guitarist known for his work with the bands Racer X, Mr. Big, as well as his own fresh instrumental albums. He is a virtuoso guitarist and is part of the Joe Satriani project G3, making him one of the world's top guitar virtuosos.

Upcoming Solo Concert in Moscow

Former member of Racer X and Mr. Big, guitarist Paul Gilbert will be performing a solo concert at Moscow Hall. Prior to the concert, Paul Gilbert met with a correspondent from "Izvestiya" to discuss his show. He mentioned that the audience can expect to hear a variety of music, including songs from his latest album "Vibrato," some songs from the heavy metal band Racer X, Mr. Big, a bit of blues, jazz, and plenty of energy. He expressed his pride in his band members, particularly drummer Thomas Lang, who has played with artists ranging from Tina Turner to Robert Fripp.

Popularity and Musical Preferences

Paul Gilbert was asked about his projects in Russia and the popularity of Mr. Big. He stated that he enjoys many types of music, including pop, hard rock, blues, jazz, and even classical music. He acknowledged the popularity of Mr. Big but mentioned that he neither feels ashamed nor proud of it. He also recalled the popularity of their rendition of Cat Stevens' "Wild World" twenty years ago, stating that they all loved the song and enjoyed performing it.

Yellow Matter Custard: A Tribute to The Beatles

Paul Gilbert participated in the project Yellow Matter Custard, which involved performing songs by The Beatles. He explained that the idea originated from Mike Portnoy, the drummer of Dream Theater, who reached out to him and Neil Morse. Gilbert expressed his love for The Beatles' music and how it influenced his musical upbringing. He initially thought it would be a one-time fun experience, but seven years later, he couldn't turn down Portnoy's invitation again. For Gilbert, The Beatles will always hold a special place in his heart.

The Art of Guitar Playing

In regards to being considered a guitar virtuoso, Gilbert acknowledged that sometimes it can feel like a sports competition, where guitarists are seen as athletes showcasing their skills. However, he emphasized his love for music and mentioned that while he believes training is essential, tricks for the sake of tricks can be boring. He shared that he is currently in a "blues" period and has always loved blues music. He finds the genre to be full of elegance and limitless freedom, incorporating blues elements into other genres. Gilbert mentioned his blues idols, including B.B. King, Earl Hooker, Magic Sam, Gary Moore, Robin Trower, and Pat Travers, who combined blues with hard rock.

A Career in Music

Looking back, Gilbert was asked if he ever thought he should have pursued something else. He humorously mentioned that his doubts were more related to hairstyles than music. When his first album with Racer X was released in 1986, the band members all had long hair, which caused a lot of hassle. However, since he started wearing a short hairstyle, all doubts and regrets disappeared.