Musicians I met at NAMM! -Vol.1-

I went to the world's largest music product trade show, the NAMM Show, which is held annually in January in Anaheim, California! I've always been lucky enough to run into many musical heroes of mine. I'm going to share my encounters at NAMM as a music fan, and introduce them!

■ Skid Row

I ran into vocalist ZP Theart and bassist Rachel Bolan at the Orange Amps booth, and talked to them. Six months earlier, I had met them (though I didn’t talk to them at the time) when they opened for Bon Jovi in Vienna and I went to backstage.
I asked where the other guys were, and they told me all of them are coming for a signing event later. When they say "see you there", who’s going to say no? At the event, to my surprise, guitarist Scotti Hill pointed at me in the line and remembered me! I asked, "Remember me!?" and he said yes! (I might have expected him to say, "I Remember You" from their hit song title.)
Sebastian Bach is too iconic as the ex-vocalist for the band and no one can totally be like him, but I personally think the current vocalist, the former DragonForce frontman who grew up as a Skid Row fan, ZP Theart’s powerful voice matches their songs.

Skid Row Opens for Bon Jovi in Austria, July 2019

With Skid Row

Skid Row at a Signing Event

■ Nita Strauss

My #1 female guitarist. She's a touring guitarist with Alice Cooper, and the first female Ibanez endorser. You might notice by her name, as the classic composer, Johann Strauss, is said to be her ancestor. She made a short appearance in "Hired Gun," a documentary film about session and touring musicians. Her performances, especially the ones at sports events, are just "so cool!"

Nita Strauss Performs on Stage at the Marshall Amps Booth

With Nita Strauss

■ Glen Sobel

He’s another member of Alice Cooper’s band. A drummer who has filled in for Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe, and is a current member of Hollywood Vampires. He also appeared in the film "Hired Gun". When I met him, we talked about the song “Rock‘n’Roll You All Night Long” by my favorite band, Phil X & the Drills, for which he also played drums. He said the song was “fun to play!” Please check out the video, it’s fun to listen to it as well!!

To be continued to Vol.2…