DARK. VIRTUOSITY. INTEGRITY.

1. Within the metal genre, Fender strats are NOT normally the weapon of choice with Jackson, Ibanez & ESP tending to be preferred for certain playability factors. Outside of Blackmore, Malmsteen, Joe Stump and a few others who play them primarily, what made you stay with Strats over the years? Have you owned and played other guitars like mentioned? 

 

TK: I started with Harmony and Cort Les Paul copies because Jimmy Page was my first guitar hero. My first really good guitar was an Ibanez Shark Fin V styled guitar. I also had a Squier Bullet which looked like a small Stratocaster. I've also had Arbor and Epiphone Explorers. I currently have a great Tokai Explorer. If I wasn't playing Stratocasters I'd be playing Explorers. 

The guitarist in my dad's band had Strats and I'd always watch them rehearse when I was a little kid. I love how they looked and sounded. Finally, Blackmore and Malmsteen inspired me to save money and buy a proper Stratocaster. A Japanese Lake Placid Blue Stratocaster. I still have it and have played the hell out of it for over 3 decades. It has never needed maintenance, it remains in perfect condition. That's why I like them; the durability and the single coil sound. I did have to equip a few of them with Humbuckers or really hot single coils because of the music I play, the rhythms need more chunk. 

 

 

 

2. Marshall seem to be your main amps you use. Do you prefer Tube or Solid State or do you like both for various reasons?

 

TK: Most of my Marshalls are solid state. I got tired of frying tubes and all the maintenance required for tube amps. There are no amp or guitar doctors near me and I know nothing about fixing things, so I keep it simple. Solid State Marshalls and cheap Stratocasters last forever. 

 

 

 

3. What kind of pedals do you like and use (Over Drive, Tube Screamer, Distortion, etc)?

 

TK: Nothing except an Ibanez Tube Screamer pedal directly into the Marshall. Some of the Marshalls have delay effects built in and I'll use those. 

 

 

 

 

4. Pick preferences, thickness/size?

 

TK: The heavy purple Dunlop Picks, full sized. 

 

5. What is your preferred tuning?

 

TK: Always standard traditional tuning. I can't play tuned down, it feels weird. I can't play 7 string guitars either. It's just not necessary for my music. I'm very old school. 

 

 

 

 

6. What are your favorite scales to use?

 

TK: I look at the guitar neck and see only one huge scale, major or minor depending on the chord progression I'm playing over. The modes, pentatonic, chromatic, harmonic minor and diminished. I like pentatonic scales and arpeggios the best. 

 

 

 

 

7. What are your top 5 shrapnel releases?

 

TK: Oh man that's hard because I love them all, even into the 2000's with guys like Jackie Vincent. The 90's wave was great too with Darren Housholder, George Bellas, Borislav Mitic, Tony Fredianelli, Scott Stine, etc. 

1. Steeler (Yngwie Malmsteen/Ron Keel)

2. Cacophony- Speed Metal Symphony 

3. Racer X- Street Lethal 

4. Joey Tafolla- Out of the Sun 

5. Marty Friedman- Dragon's Kiss

 

 

 

 

8. Who are 5 guitarists in Metal you think are very underrated? 

 

TK: I don't think Sean Baker is underrated, because everyone aware of him knows that he's awesome, but I think he deserves a lot more press and visibility. Shredguy Records do a good job promoting him but that guy needs to be on the cover of Guitar World. I also love Pat Ranieri of Hellwitch, the ultimate riff master. Gelal Necrosodomy of Grand Belial's Key and Arghoslent is a genius although I've spoke with him and he said he doesn't consider himself a musician! Robert Vigna of Immolation is really unique and inspiring. I think Tony Fredianelli and the Apocrypha catalog should be more acknowledged. If "The Forgotten Scroll" or "Eyes of Time" were current albums on Century Media or something- that's who everyone would be

into.

 

Knapp and Tony Fredianelli 

 

 

 

9. What more can you tell me about the Kilpatrick/Knapp release, there doesn’t seem to be much I can find about it on the internet.

 

TK: Kenny is a lifelong friend and we've worked together on and off since 1986! That project was done completely for fun and our own entertainment. He brought his analog 8 track recorder to my house in 1996 and we drank a lot and listened to Keel, Dokken and Loudness and just had a great time. 1000 cd's were pressed and distributed by Sinbad productions and are long gone. Kenny also sang the tune "Dance Your Life Away" for a UFO/Michael Schenker tribute album we were on.

 

 

 

 

 

10. Could we see another collaboration type release like Knapp/Johansson with Markus Johansson, or maybe with another guitarist?

 

TK: Yes, absolutely! That was fun and Markus did such a good job putting everything together! I hope to do more of that kind of thing in the future. 

 

 

 

 

11. Any thoughts on releasing the Evil Incarnate stuff or any of the early demos that may not have been released as part of the Archives of Magick releases?

 

 

TK: I want to release the Evil Incarnate stuff, maybe a compilation of the best tunes. That's a big problem though because that's music I made as a rotten 16 year old and the lyrics are rancid. I sent some samples to Moribund Records but they couldn't take the vocals. It's like the Mentors on steroids. 

 

 

 

 

12. Will there be any new Affliliktor stuff in the future?

 

TK: I don't think so. That was a magical little project and I was full of piss and vinegar and just 100% Thrash/Death Metal mind frame. I had to do it to see if I could still do it! Plus I was angry as fuck. I'm 51 years old and just want to become the best guitarist I can be while I still can. I've come full circle. 

 

 

Thanks Josh!  TK