ACCOMPLICE
1. WHO ARE THE ACCOMPLICE ( STORY , MEMBERS , ETC. ) ?
My name is Sean Clegg, I do Guitars / Vocals for ACCOMPLICE and I’m a founding member of the band. the other ACCOMPLICE are as follows : Stephen Green – Lead vocals , Richard Arbuckle – Percussion , Scott Snyder – Bass / Vocals , Michael T. Ross – Keyboards . Stephen and I formed the band in 1986 with some other local musicians and played for a few years building a pretty good name for ACCOMPLICE opening for groups like Armored Saint, TNT, and Savatage. It wasn’t long before we attracted some more talented players. First we got Scotty, then Matthew and Rich to join from 1992 -1994. Matthew and I went to college together for many years and that’s where we actually met and first played together doing our classical studies. In 1999 however we were forced to replace Matt due to differences in musical direction. I’m very happy with our new keyboardist Michael T. Ross who has been with the band almost a year now. He’s working out great! For the first time in the bands history I think all of us are moving in the same direction musically.
2. HOW DID YOU SIGN AT ADRENALINE RECORDS ?
After releasing the album independently in the states we were looking for a licensing deal over seas. We also liked the idea of a smaller up and coming label willing to put more energy into us. As well as give us a better deal in general.
3. ACCOMPLICE RELEASES THE SELF TITLED ALBUM , WHAT’S THE STORY ?
We thought that the word accomplice was interesting enough to generate some imagery. There has always been a bit of the ‘Partner in Crime’ theme running throughout the ACCOMPLICE concept. We like the idea of being partners at something. the European cover depicts a character who may be the accomplice, or perhaps we are the accomplices. You decide.
4. I FOUND OUT INFLUENCES FROM STYX AND RUSH , WHAT OTHER MUSIC INFLUENCES HAVE YOU GOT ?
An interesting thing about the band is that we all come from pretty different musical backgrounds. I grew up on classic and progressive rock, Beatles, Zep, Floyd, Rush,Yes, Purple. I cut my teeth on their music. Then it was Van Halen, Malmsteen and Vai. Recently I’ve been getting into Al Di Meola again, and Pat Metheny allot. I just completed my Master of Music degree in classical guitar performance, so my tastes vary quite a bit, Bach to Rock. Rich comes from more of a jazz background. He cut his teeth on rock, but studied jazz and classical in college playing with big bands, dixieland, country bands etc.. He studied with jazz greats Alan Carter and Peter Erskine, and I know he likes Steve Smith and Mike Portnoy allot too. Green grew up on Motown and the funk of the seventies, but discovered rock as a young man working in a great rock stadium, The Forum in L.A.. The experience of seeing groups like Styx and Triumph from backstage changed his life. Bruce Dickenson, Geoff Tate, Steve Perry and Dio are some of his biggest influences. Scott grew up in Chicago which is a great blues and jazz city, also a great rock city so he got it all there. If anybody was ever born a bass player, it was Scott. He’s a connoisseur of 70’s and 80’s fusion like UK, Brecker Bros., Jean Luc Ponty . Michael started playing piano at age eight, but grew up on ELP, Yes. Purple etc. Funny, but he really loves guitar shredders and has the best collection of guitar hero CD’s I’ve ever seen! Lately he’s been getting into Jens Johansen and studying with ex-Dream Theater keyboardist Derrick Sherinian who lives in L.A.. He still studies with T. Lavitz as well. I will also say for the record that we are all huge Dream Theater, and Queensryche fans.
5. HAVE YOU ARRANGED ANY TOUR YET ?
Adrenaline has plans for us to tour Europe next summer.
6. HOW ARE GOING THE SALES OF THE CD ?
Pretty good so far. The more the word gets out about ACCOMPLICE the more sales are generated. We are hoping for more radio airplay which would also help. We sell allot at our live shows as well.
7. THE PRODUCTION OF YOUR CD SOUNDS POWERFUL , WHO IS THE PRODUCER ?
The album is self produced. All members had input, and of course our engineer Chis Curtis at Pacific Coast Recording helped.
8. WHICH IS YOUR BEST AND WORST EXPERIENCE FROM THE > MUSIC INDUSTRY ?
Best- How well I was treated by the folks at Adrenaline records when I flew to Milan last summer. Worst-trying to survive in the aftermath of what was once a truly great American music scene.
9. WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS ?
We are currently recording our second release, ‘Fait Acomlpli’ …it’s going to kick ass with more chops and more balls and chunk! It should be released over there early next year.
