ROCKET Interviews Guitarist Bill Lonero

ROCKET: Where were you born and raised?

LONERO: I was born and raised in San Jose, California. Lived other places but San Jose is where I keep gravitating towards. Not sure why considering there isn’t much of a music scene here. That could change considering there are a lot of great musicians here but of course people go out to live shows less and less and just hide behind their computers now. I don’t get it really. Everyone loves music but somehow they’ve become content to experience it sitting at a desk and watching it on a computer screen. Nothing replaces seeing a live show, feeling the music in your body, the energy from the band that’s transferred to the fans and back to the band. It’s a perpetual motion of energy and that will never be replaced by a computer. People wonder why concert tickets are getting so expensive? It’s because less and less people are going out to live shows. Less audience means less money to cover costs of shows. So they increase ticket prices to cover expenses. Don’t want your favorite bands to disappear? Support them. It costs money to record, tour etc. Playing music is no different from any other job. Resources are needed and those resources costs money. Plain and simple. So yeah to answer your question I was born and raised in San Jose. lol

ROCKET: Do you have any brothers or sisters?

LONERO: Yes, three brothers and one sister. It was my sister that got me into AC/DC which started me on my path to playing guitar.

ROCKET: Do you recall your first rock concert?

LONERO: Definitely. My first concert was Ted Nugent at the local fairgrounds. My first real big concert though was AC/DC at the Oakland Coliseum. That was an amazing show. To see Angus live for the first time was like a religious experience for me. I’ve seen them 17 times now and not once have I been disappointed. Can’t say that for many bands.

ROCKET: Obviously fans know Randy Rhoads inspired you in a big way. Who else would you say are your biggest guitar playing influences?




LONERO: Well definitely Angus Young. He was and still is my biggest influence on guitar. Randy inspired me to play different styles. On my first CD “Slather” I put a Latin song, classical song, blues and of course rock songs. Those were all directly influenced by Randy and not being held to one style of music. But Angus is my ultimate guitar influence. Everything from his playing to his attitude has inspired me. He plays what he wants and makes no excuses and no apologies. People always get on AC/DC and say “oh every song sounds the same”. Really? That’s why “Back in Black” has sold almost 60 millions copies. How many albums have they sold? Most artists will never reach 60 million in sales for their entire career. AC/DC did it with one CD! Now add in all the other albums. Yeah they may all have similar sounds but that’s their style. The same people that are bashing them are the same ones that hum “Back in Black” or “Highway to Hell” or the many other incredible songs they have. AC/DC is a perfect example of simple is better. You can complicate a song all you want but as Brian Johnson said “At the end of the day people just want to go home, put up their feet and get laid”. Joe Satriani is obviously an influence. I think any instrumental guitar player from the last 25 years has been influenced by him. When he came out with “Surfing with the Alien” it changed everything, finally an instrumental guitarist that had melody and wasn’t all about shredding (which is what the whole Shrapnel records thing was all about). He’s a very lyrical player and that’s something a lot of guitarists lack. Joe nails it.

ROCKET: When exactly did you first start playing the guitar?

LONERO: Technically seven years old but I don’t think I really got into proper playing until I was ten. I heard “Highway to Hell” and that opening riff hooked me. It was pure power and I was sold! Once I saw the cover and Angus with his snarl and devil horns I thought “Now THIS is rock and roll”. I used to stand in front of the mirror and try to copy his snarl when I was a kid. For the record though I have never played air guitar. Just wanted to get that out in the open. lol

ROCKET: Did you ever take any formal guitar lessons?

LONERO: I tried to take one formal lesson when I was fifteen but it was a disaster. The teacher did more harm than good. He really wasn’t interested in teaching me what I wanted to learn. He wanted me to learn HIS style which I wasn’t interested in. I’m on the fence with lessons. On one hand I think they are good for the student if they are done in a way that will lead the student to discover their own path. However if the teacher just treats the student like someone he can mold to his liking than the student usually won’t discover their own style, and in doing so the student will usually either get smart and find another teacher or become disinterested in the guitar all together. I’m also a proponent of self-learning. Yeah sometimes it may take a little longer to pick up things but along the way you will discover things that you never even imagined and you will find your own style.



ROCKET: LoNero, the band released the full-length instrumental album entitled “J.F.L.” in 2011. How has the response been on that?

LONERO: The response has been fantastic! The fans have really seemed to grab onto it. It’s a full on frontal assault with no apologies and no excuses. Most instrumental albums are focused on the solos and lead guitar player. We’re not about that. For us it’s about the band and it’s about the music. And if that means the guitar solo is only 8 measure than so be it. Rhythms are very important in LoNero. They are 100% of the song. You have to have good rhythms. In our songs if you take out the melodies there are still rhythms there that can hold their own. That’s the way it should be. I’m not interested in hearing someone wank over a 5 minute chord vamp. Boring! My friend and rock photographer Neil Zlozower summed up our music the best. He said “Unlike most instrumental guitar players out there who’s music is soft, LoNero’s music is mean, intense, nasty, urgent, aggressive and angry! I’m definitely a fan!!!!!”  He’s seen and shot just about everyone since 1967. So coming from him that is a HUGE compliment!

ROCKET: Who produced it and where was it recorded?



LONERO: It was produced by me and Grammy winner Michael Rosen. He’s worked with Metallica, Joe Satriani, Testament, Tesla, etc., amazing engineer and producer. Really a great guy. We recorded all the tracks at our rehearsal/recording studio and he mixed it at his studio. We used to actually rehearse upstairs at a machine shop (how metal is that?). There was a 6,000 square foot loft that they weren’t using. However they sold the business so we needed to find a new spot. So when I came back from NAMM I was looking around and found a warehouse with a loft and two offices. We turned the back office into a control room, the front office into a lounge and the loft into our hang out area. The main floor has 26’ tall ceilings and the room sounds fantastic. We’ve been there two years now and it’s worked perfectly. It’s definitely afforded us more freedom to create without having to worry about noise constraints or other bands etc.

ROCKET: Where is the best place for fans to buy it?

LONERO: FROM US at www.LoNero.net. All CD’s ordered from us are signed with free shipping worldwide. However if they want to get it somewhere else all the usual online places as well brick and mortar stores should have it.

ROCKET: What kind of guitars do you currently play live and in the studio?

LONERO: I’ve been playing and endorsing the Peavey Wolfgang for about 8 years. Absolutely LOVE it! However they no longer make the Wolfgang. Which really sucks because I’d love to get some new ones but they are hard to find. I haven’t tried the new EVH Wolfgang yet but from what I’ve been told it’s great. Would love to land an endorsement with them one day.

ROCKET: Killer. What kind of amps?

LONERO: I was using the Peavey XXX but I got a Diezel Hagan and it is incredible! 4 channel monster! I’ve been using that through an open back Dr. Z 4 x10. Played it through many 4×12’s but it didn’t quite have the punch I was looking for. The 4×10 delivers it perfectly!

ROCKET: Do you play with any effects live or in the studio?

LONERO: On my pedal board I have a prototype Dunlop 535 wah (the chrome one), a Digitech Whammy II, a EVH flanger and a BMF Great Wide Open distortion pedal that I use as more of a boost. Rack gear wise I just have a TC Electronics for some delay and a little reverb. All of that goes through a ISP Decimator ProRack G Noise Reduction unit. That thing is a life saver. There’s also a Furman power conditioner in there.


(Bill Lonero at Randy Rhoads’ 30th Memoral in 2012)


ROCKET: How many hours do you practice on the guitar daily?

LONERO: Not enough. lol I always hear of players that practice 15 hours a day but I just don’t have time for that. Between doing all the band business, running the website, social networking sites, graphics etc and all the other things I do there is no way I can practice that much. But I do always have a guitar around me and I’m always playing it when I’m home or at the studio. I’m always trying to write new riffs. I never listen to other guitar players anymore though. In fact the only music I’ve been listening to the last month has been Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Listening to non-guitar music really helps me come up with melodies and not feel like I’m ripping off some other guitar player.

ROCKET: Do you have a warm up that you do before you play a gig?

LONERO: I never play right before a show. Usually I’m tending to band business or out in front talking to people. I like to just jump onstage and start the show. Just give me a stage and a guitar and I’m happy.

ROCKET: I like to have fun with this next one. What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you while performing live on stage?

LONERO: I would have to say playing at the House of Blues with Cliff Williams from AC/DC. That was a dream come true. A few days before the show we were rehearsing at S.I.R. in Hollywood and jamming through some SRV, Hendrix and Jeff Beck. Everything was great. The night of the show we got onstage to play AC/DC’s “T.N.T.” and Cliff nudged me to sing back up. Now I know this song inside and out. I’ve been listening to it since I was a kid. However when I got to the mic I forgot the words I was supposed to sing which was “Oi, Oi”. That’s it. That’s all I had to say. But I was standing there playing and thinking to myself “Holy Shit! I’m onstage with Cliff Williams from AC/DC!!” and I totally forgot the words. I recovered fast though.

ROCKET: Are you writing any new material?

LONERO: Always. We have basic tracks done for about 12 songs for the next album. This CD will probably have 12-14 tracks. So we’re almost at the point where we can start demoing the songs and take the next step to get the new album finished.

ROCKET: What are some of the upcoming shows for LoNero we need to watch out for?

LONERO: Well on April 19th we will be heading into the studios of BAMM TV to do some live performance videos. In August we will be heading out with Pat Travers again. In between that we are hoping to get out and play as many shows as we can. We’re all about playing live. To us that’s what it’s all about.

ROCKET: Where do you see yourself in ten years?

LONERO: Same place I see us in one year; touring and releasing more music and making Guitarcore an official genre. We really want to get over to Europe. European fans really, really love their music! AND they are loyal to the bands they like. Plus they are crazy when they go to concerts!

ROCKET: Thanks very much for rocking this out with me. Best of luck with your music! Go ahead and give a shout-out to your biggest supporters.

LONERO: Thank you for giving me the opportunity, Rocket. I really appreciate it! And of course a HUGE THANK YOU to all of our fans everywhere! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it always, our fans kick ass! They appreciate musicianship and good music. They don’t buy into all the formulaic music out there that’s shoved down everyone’s throat.

http://lonero.net/