TESTAMENT Guitarist Says He Is Amazed By Hostility Of BLABBERMOUTH.NET Detractors

Jeff Spevak of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle recently conducted an interview with TESTAMENT/ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO guitarist Alex Skolnick. A few excerpts follow:

On TESTAMENT's early days:

"The first year that TESTAMENT toured, in the late '80s, we were mistaken as a religious band. We were booked at a state fair in Hays, Kansas, that was sponsored by some church. And most of the staff and fairgoers were born-again, religious folks that had no idea what they were in for once TESTAMENT started playing."

On the ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO's new album, "Last Day in Paradise", which isn't simply a change in direction — it's hard rock interpreted in a jazz way. Or perhaps jazz in a rock way:

"I'm trying to bring all of the worlds together. I love how [legendary producer Rick Rubin] can go from JOHNNY CASH to RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS to TOM PETTY to SLAYER.

"Most people I know have a diverse record collection. Maybe not as diverse as mine. ..."

On the most-surprising record in his collection:

After a moment, Skolnick suggests James Taylor's greatest hits. No, wait. ... "That record has some great musicians on it," he says, issuing a retraction. "I have some hip-hop albums that might surprise you. I know some jazz musicians who like hip-hop. Miles Davis was a big hip-hop fan.

"RUN-DMC when I was in high school. Yeah, I still like that. When they got together with AEROSMITH, I wasn't surprised at all."

On discovering the jazz in the early '90s:

"The '90s, I was in jazz exile. For 10 years, that's almost all I did. But having done that for a good number of years put me in the place I am now, able to play with a speed-metal band or modern-dance company or Broadway show or a rock opera or a jazz band."

On labels:

"Miles Davis constantly said he wasn't a jazz musician; he was a musician. He hated that. Any time you put your music out there, whether in a store or an Internet site, there is a questionnaire you have to fill out that asks for the category of music.

"Now I'm a controversial figure; it's so funny.

"Who is more metal? I'm not going to get into a contest over if I'm more metal than someone else. Same thing with jazz. I'm not going to pretend I'm this authentic jazz person that's more authentic than anyone else. Do I appreciate genuine jazz music? Absolutely. Sometimes I think I'm playing it more because I'm a fan."

On fan forums on metal web sites such as BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"Some metal fans are very hostile. They live to express their opinions. I have a lot of support from that site, but sometimes I'm amazed at the venom."