JIMI BELL – THE LORD OF SHRED
Recognized world-wide as a master technician, Hartford, Connecticut based southpaw shredder Jimi Bell first received widespread notoriety in the 1986 Michael J. Fox film “Light of Day.” Jimi’s lightening fast picking got him an invitation to audition for Ozzy Osbourne, where he was edged out at the last minute by Zakk Wylde. Although Wylde scored the gig, Bell swung to another branch of the Black Sabbath family tree, joining bassist Geezer Butler’s solo band. It was for this project that he wrote the track ‘Master of Insanity’, which was subsequently used on BLACK SABBATH’s 1992 ‘Dehumanizer’ album. Jimi is also the inventor of Shredneck, a warmup tool for guitarists on the go.
After several national and European tours, Jimi joined the melodic hard rock band “House of Lords” in 2005, a band originally put together by Gene Simmons, and subsequently has recorded six albums to date with them. The band is currently writing and recording their seventh album tentatively titled “Saint of the Lost Souls.”
Tom Guerra: Going back to the beginning, what drew you to music initially, and how old were you when you started playing guitar?
JB: After trying several different instruments, I became a drummer from age 10-13 and won a scholarship from that Hartford Conservatory. While in Junior High, I jammed with some high school friends. The guitar player left his Guild Starfire, Heathkit amp and his Big Muff at my house. I decided to try his guitar though the Big Muff fuzz. At that moment, I instantly fell in love with the guitar.
TG: Who were your big influences back then?
JB: Definitely the “Johnny Winter Live And” album with Rick Derringer… it just blew my mind. I kept playing the song “It’s My Own Fault” over and over again. Johnny had so much fire and speed, I thought that to be a good guitar player; you had to be a fast guitar player. Of course, that changed later on for me. I also dug the Grand Funk live album. I then discovered Deep Purple and became a huge Ritchie Blackmore fan. After that, I started listening to a lot of guitar players. In the end, my guitar style was derived from Johnny Winter, Ritchie Blackmore, and Al DiMeola, who I discovered later on.
TG: Do you remember your first good electric guitar and amp setup?
JB: I went to see Chuck Berry at the Bushnell Auditorium, and when I got home, my Dad had bought me a semi-hollow Ovation Eclipse, and an Ovation “Dude” amplifiers, where my uncle worked. Being a Blackmore fan, I then decided that I needed to get a Strat, so on my first trip to 48th Street I bought my first Strat, a lefty ‘70’s sunburst model. It was wired as a righty, so the pots worked opposite of how they should have. I got so used to this; I ended up reversing the wires on other lefty instruments I ultimately got. At this time I also ended up getting a 50 watt MKII Marshall half stack which I’d overdrive with a Hawk booster. Shortly after, I got my first Gibson SG which ended up being my main instrument for the next 10 years.
TG: What are some of your favorite guitars in your arsenal?
JB: In the 80’s, I had a full Kramer endorsement, also, Flying V’s, Explorers, Gibson SGs and Les Pauls. Lately I have been using custom built guitars by Dale Roberts of Jacksonville. I also own three beautiful great Gretsch guitars.
TG: What is your one “go to” guitar / amp rig these days for live work?
JB: When I’m on tour, I use the Dale Roberts guitars exclusively. Amp wise, in request a Marshall DSL100 or TSL100. I have three stomp boxes on the floor, never rack gear.
TG: Tell us about the band and the new album… How did you go about putting the guitar parts together?
JB: In 2005, after years of inactivity for the band, House of Lords singer James Christian approached me about putting the band back together and writing melodic rock music. Of course I said yes, even though I never had done so before. For every album, I first present 15-20 song ideas to the drummer (B.J. Zampa, and he helps with the arrangements. Then, the songs get sent to James where he decides which ones are best for the band. James then develops the melody lines and lyrics, and depending on the song, I might add finishing touches.
TG: Where can folks see House of Lords live?
JB: While we do have plans to do more shows in the U.S., the band tours Europe all the time, and has also done Loud Park, the biggest festival in Japan.
PHOTO CREDIT: Gail Corrow
-Tom Guerra