ROCKET Interviews HURTLOCKER’s Tim Moe

Chicago’s HURTLOCKER released their debut LP “Fear In A Handful of Dust” in 2005 on Napalm Records, offering up an all-out sonic assault of ones senses, clearly showing everyone around the true metal community that they’re a name to reckon with for the future of metal as it moves forward out of the emo-fied, pop sweetened crap heap of bands that are merely using the great genre’s name to try and pawn itself off as the real deal. They have enjoyed some strong radio play off Chicago’s largest rock station, 94.7 The Zone, being put in rotation among the elite names of heavy music such as Lamb Of God and Anthrax and are now in preparation to record the next album, in hopes of finally pushing themselves to the top of the game and onto world tours where they rightfully belong. I am pleased to present the following Q&A with their guitarist, Tim Moe

Rocket: Are you originally from Chicago, Illinois?

Tim: Most of the band is from the Chicago area and suburbs. Grant was originally from Texas and moved to Chicago about ten years ago. We have been based out of Chicago for the last 9 years of the band but we have definitely thought about relocating. Chicago has never been really good to us, though we have plenty of fans here. But we have been through a few member changes and finding musicians in Chicago hasn’t been easy for us.

Rocket: So when did you first start playing the electric guitar? And did you take any lessons or are you pretty much all self-taught?

Tim: I started playing right around the time I was 18 and getting out of high school. I began taking lessons at a local music shop and I am glad that I did. I took lessons for two years then went on my own way. It is a good way to get playing, some people can just pick up stuff and play instruments but I definitely needed some help from the start.

Rocket: Who are some of your biggest playing influences? Past or present.

Tim: As far as bands go I am a huge old school metal head. I listen to Demolition hammer, Slayer, Testament and stuff like that. I have always been a big fan of Alex Skolnicks playing even when he started playing in his jazz band that dude just shreds. I like Marty Friedmans playing style.

Rocket: What kind of guitars are you playing live and in the studio?

Tim: I have two guitars that I use the hell out of. I have a Jackson Randy Rhodes with Emg pickups and an ESP custom with Emg pickups. I use the Jackson primarily but the ESP gets plenty of time in the studio.

Rocket: What kind of amp rig?

Tim: I have a rack system that I have built over the years. My sound starts with a Digitech 2101 processor , with a Rocktron Pro Q enhancement system running through a BBE sonic maximizer and an Alesis M-EQ 230 with a ADA power amp for the volume. I run this rig through 2 Randall 4×12 cabinets with the jaguar speakers.

Purchase the album @ Tower.com:

http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=3343896

Here’s the link to the entire interview:

http://www.metalunderground.com/interviews/details.cfm?newsid=23965