2020.07.10 - Gretsch Guitars on Instagram - Q&A with Richard

Thanks to @Shackler!



https://www.instagram.com/tv/CCemB_8lkdy/

Transcript of relevant parts:

Richard: Okay, I'm not gonna talk about any album questions or anything, but, because I don't wanna ruin any surprises.

The secret to being in a band like GN'R for so long:

Richard: Don't piss people off. [laughs] I guess, I don't know.

Richard: Who influenced me? You know, everybody's influenced me. So I listen to a lot of stuff. And I mean, I'm just obsessed with music, so everything influences me.

How long did it take you to learn the GN'R songs?

Richard: Not long.

What is it like playing with Slash and Duff?

Richard: Kidding me? It's hard to beat that. They're also two of my favorite people.

Will you and Slash do a new instrumental solo on the next GN'R tour?

Richard: That's a good question. You know how that started, the whole Wish You Were Here thing? When we started the tour, our singer was in a wheelchair. He was sitting in a throne. And so we needed time to get the piano out for November Rain and then to wheel his ass out to sit at the piano so that we could do November Rain. And so we were in production rehearsal. We actually were doing sound check for the first show. And Axl was like, "You guys gotta cover me, we need something." So Slash goes, "What do you wanna do?" I said, "Man, I don't know." He goes, "What about Wish You Were Here?" and I said, "Okay." And he started playing it and we're standing in soundcheck and I started playing, I just started playing the melody and then everybody came in and it was like this magical moment, it was really cool and our crew even applauded at the end of it and that never happens because they are jaded as anybody I know. Anyways, so I don't know if we're gonna do something now that our singer's walking.

How important female rock and roll artists are?

Richard: I think they're just as important as male rock artists. Music is music, right?

Fifteen year old guitar player, what is your advice to me?

Richard: Have you ever thought about becoming a lawyer? No, I'm just kidding. You know what? It's a tough time to be a musician, that's for sure. I'm very fortunate. But you know what? If you're meant to be a musician, you don't really have a choice in the matter. So all you can do is play with as many people as you possibly can and get yourself out there and make music non-stop.

Richard: "Production I've been working on since quarantine?" Hmm, perhaps... I'm working every day. I do, I've been really fortunate. Unlike a lot of my friends during COVID. They've not had any work because they're touring musicians or they're studio musicians that don't have a studio at home. I'm actually sitting in my studio, which is in my house. And so I'm able to do sessions for different people. And I've been really fortunate that I've had a ton of work and I'm busy every day doing sessions, which is awesome, because I love doing that. I love playing on other people's stuff. I love writing with different people. My buddy John Konrabi is coming up from Nashville in a few days and we're gonna work on some stuff together, so yeah.

Any favorite guitar player?

Richard: Um... Slash doesn't suck.

How many hours do you play in a day?

Richard: That depends on how much I'm working. It also depends on, it also depends, if I'm on the road, I play all the time because all I do is run and work out and then sit in my room and play guitar or, you know, unless it's a city I haven't been to and then I go out and see stuff. But I spent a lot of time alone in my hotel room playing guitar and then backstage I spent a lot of time sitting around playing guitar.

Solo album?

Richard: Did we talk about that? Have I ever thought about doing a solo? No. I appreciate the interest and I don't know that many people would be interested, but yeah, no, I haven't really, I don't know what I would do. I mean, it just seems pretty pretentious for me to think that I could do a solo album.

How and when did Axl tell you about getting reunited with Slash and Duff?

Richard: I don't think Axl was the one that told me about it.

Talking about playing Beautiful by Christina Aguilera:

Richard: That was fun. I thought it was so ironic the whole us doing a Christina Aguilera song. Pretty funny. But it's such a beautiful song.

Favorite band?

Richard: Sorry, I can't answer that. It's because I don't think I have one.

New GNR album doesn't exist?

Richard: Okay. "You're too hard school, man."

Do I give online guitar lessons?

Richard: No, I don't. I would. I still take lessons.

Richard: The interesting thing about that is that when Slash came back in, when Slash and Duff came back into the band, and we were rehearsing, I really was trying to find the right guitar to work well with Slash's tone. And he's got a very singy, throaty guitar tone. He has a very distinct sound. So I really wanted to complement what he was doing and that's where the Filtertron's really shined. Trying out all different guitars, that's what really worked the best and it's been great. And then we've just worked and worked to refine it.

Any chance to play as guest for P. Furs next year?

Richard: Man, I hope so. That would be great. I just produced the new album and I love...  [...] So I produced the new album, wrote a few songs on it, played on it, and it comes out the end of this month. So hopefully I will be able to sit in with them. That would be great. I always... they're like family to me.

What is it like to be the not famous guitar guy in Guns N' Roses?

Richard: It's better than not being any guy in Guns N' Roses.

Richard: Oh, Tommy's done a solo album and I've played on his solo albums. Dizzy's done one too and I've played on his. Yeah, but those guys sing way better than I do. Man, Dizzy's got a great voice.

We'd love to see the tabs of your Nighttrain solo.

Richard: Yeah, I don't really tab anything out.

Richard: Do I have better live chemistry with Ashburn or Slash? That's an interesting one. I have never felt the same type of chemistry with anyone that I do with Slash. I think we come from very similar backgrounds.

Richard: Studio recording of Black Hole Sun? No.

Richard: Slash's tone sucks? That's not nice. And no, it doesn't. Slash's tone is fucking kick-ass. It's huge.

Richard: What other instruments do I enjoy playing? I play cello and violin, mandolin, banjo.

Richard: Would you say the time of rock bands like GN'R doing a lot of drugs is over? Yeah. Because you know why? We're old. And old and drugs don't work.

Richard: Did you have any involvement with the new Psychedelic Furs album? Yeah, I produced the whole thing. And I wrote a couple of songs and played on it. Along with my buddy Rich Good.

Richard: Favorite song off Chinese Democracy? Probably the song Chinese Democracy.

Any studio recordings of Black Hole Sun and Wichita?

Richard: No.

Would you like to do another residency with GN'R in Vegas?

Richard: Me personally, no. That's a difficult gig.

Did Izzy Stradlin get in contact with you to say how he likes your work with GN'R?

Richard: You know, Izzy's always been great with me. He's just, he's a great dude and I really like him a lot.

Richard: Do I know before I hit the stage that it will be a three hour show? No, nobody knows. That's a feel thing. That depends on how the audience is and how we're doing when we're out there.

Any interesting Buckethead stories?

Richard: Oh god, I have a ton of interesting Buckethead stories. And for the record, that guy is just an amazing musician. He's such a great player.

Excerpts from Blabbermouth:
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This past Friday (July 10), Guns N' Roses guitarist Richard Fortus took part in a question-and-answer session with fans on the official Instagram of Gretsch guitars. You can now check it out below.

Asked what advice he would give to a 15-year-old guitar player, Fortus said: "Have you ever thought about becoming a lawyer? I'm just kidding. Man, it's a tough time to be a musician, that's for sure. I'm very fortunate. But you know what? If you're meant to be a musician, you don't really have a choice in the matter. So all you can do is play with as many people as you possibly can and get yourself out there and make music non-stop."

Richard also talked about some of the projects he has been working on while in quarantine. He said: "I'm working every day. I've been really fortunate. Unlike a lot of my friends during Covid, they've not had any work, because they're touring musicians or they're studio musicians that don't have a studio at home. I'm actually sitting in my studio, which is in my house, and so I'm able to do sessions for different people. And I've been really fortunate that I've had a ton of work, and I'm busy every day doing sessions, which is awesome, 'cause I love doing that. I love playing on other people's stuff; I love writing with different people. My buddy John Corabi is coming up from Nashville in a few days, and we're gonna work on some stuff together."

https://blabbermouth.net/news/guns-n-roses-richard-fortus-has-been-doing-a-lot-of-session-work-while-in-quarantine

Transcribed the relevant parts. It was a bit challenging since the questions weren't always apparent. Interesting tidbit, he might have namedropped Perhaps and Hard Skool in his answers. Could not hear him also mention Absurd and the General. So maybe nothing.