Cool story. My dad was a pro who, one day, Charlie Barnett's big band came through Seattle and fired their bass player. He asked around for the best bass player in town, and that was my dad. He went with the big band and the rest is history. Literally. There are books about him and there are still stories around L.A. about him. His name was Red Kelly, quite the funny guy and party humorist. Also, one of the best musicians in Los Angeles. Maynard Ferguson grabbed him for his "Live at Peacock Lane" album when he was not touring. He toured with all of the big bands except for Glenn Miller, who was too white for my dad. He wanted serious jazz musicians to play with, not pop stars. And he had an amazing career, culminating with his own club in WA, with guys like Tony Bennett, John Byner, Med Flory and more sitting in, and a not-too-serious run at Governor as a bar gag that almost won. I even was in on it. At 3 years old! I was part of Stan Kenton's act. Would love to chat sometime. Cheers!
A member of Triumph and Bon Jovi who has recorded on Alice Cooper, Tommy Lee Avril Lavigne, Rob Zombie, Kelly Clarkson, Orianthi, Stewart Copeland, Daughtrey, Chris Cornell his own bands Powder and the Drills, etc Dude is a HALL OF FAMER of Rock and Roll and deserves much respect! He is one of my current favorite guitar players for his playing, his attitude, and for being A cool dude! ROCK ON PHIL!
I too am 57 and went to LA at 29 with my bass. Smoked way too much Mexican tar to do anything. Back in Canada now, don't do drugs anymore and still make a few bucks on the weekends playing my bass. I didn't "make it" but I survived and i'm still havin' a good time.
cool story, Shane ! similar thing here - went to LA from Russia at 29 - the scene made me feel old) didnt make it then, i`m now 50 , but the dream lives on, who knows, miracles happen, i play the guitar better now than i did then haha!
So inspiring Phil! Had to turn 34 to quit my job at a hardware store, like a week ago. I just do acoustic gigs but that's fine for me as long as it's music. I remember my cousin showing me this guy on Fretted Americana soo many years ago. I was immediately like, this guy has so much energy. Wow! No wonder why you made it.
Phil X is who I want to be when I (don't) grow up. I love how down to earth and playful the guy is in spite of his immense skill and experience. A true treasure of a human being. I have seen him at guitar shows and events just totally nerding out over music and guitars like he really was still 18, that passion and childlike wonder is contagious and as if that weren't enough the guy has a huge heart on top of it all. It's very rare to see someone so seemingly unfussed that is actually smart and caring too. Such an inspiring guy and a true music legend, not just rock/metal but music in general. Thanks for making me smile Phil, you are a legend my dude.
Phil, your Fretted Americana episode with the TV Yellow Junior 'Vanhalen Time', convinced me to find a Junior-style guitar and that guitar quickly doubled my playing skills. I clip that video in guitar forums when players are asking about 'what guitar is the most versatile?' You've had an amazing journey and always seem like you are fantastic to work with (often as important as guitar skills).
Dude, you are the fucking real deal. Besides, your personality and humor is so off the cuff and engaging, long vids from you are easy to watch and listen to.
I deeply respect your words, Phil. I'm 22 years old and was fortunate to grow up with FrettedAmericana. That shaped my understanding of guitar as an instrument, and then i would practice many of the licks you'd play. And that expanded my ability and creativity so much. But, i still haven't figured out that star power you got. That's all you man! You're a jet engine bro
Hey Phil, great video with some terrific humour to boot! I became a professional musician at age 43. I'd had day jobs since age 17, and actually didn't even get my first guitar until the year I turned 18. My backward-looking conservative parents did everything in their power to prevent me from ever discovering popular music. My world, as a teenager in the 1960s, centered around my little 9V transistor radio. It kept me sane. But I sure made up for lost time in 1972 when I got my first guitar! Within six months I'd improved so much that I was playing (primitive) lead guitar in some church based bands. I wasn't naturally gifted, but I had an unquenchable desire to succeed at being a top flight guitarist. When I got married in 1979 music had to take a back seat to earning a living and so I worked all the overtime my employers wanted to give me. I played Blues at home to keep my chops up as best I could under the circumstances. So I was driving trucks during the days, and many evenings on time-and-a-half, while doing other things on weekends. I became a Powerlifter, thanks to another lifelong obsession, lifting weights. My training partner got himself a drum kit and when he got good enough to actually play, he and I formed a band. That was 1987, after ten years of not playing in public, apart from winning the talent night at the resort on my honeymoon. I suppose we gigged maybe ten times in a year for a few years until the band folded. I was drafted into the biggest Christian Rock band in our state and went from ten gigs a year to six to eight a month with them. When I got sick of the egos in that band . . the younger the guy, the bigger the ego! . . I contacted my old drummer and we got ourselves an amazing bass player and I was back to gigging maybe once a month again, but loving every minute of it. We used to really pack 'em in at some of our venues too. In 1997 I got made redundant from my truck driving job, I got injured at my next job, and my band folded . . all within one six-week space of time! Everybody who knew me was practically screaming at me to go full-time into music, and after some counselling from my Pastor, I did just that. If that injury hadn't happened I would probably have still driven trucks and maybe gigged a dozen times a year for the rest of my working life. Now, contrary to your experiences, in Australia the "tall poppy syndrome" is probably more prevalent here than in any other country in the world. They love an underdog, but the minute you make something of yourself they hate your guts for breaking through. The number of times I out-shone the main act, only to have them turn on me like I'd set fire to their homes, I couldn't count. Every booking agent turned on me as well, which caused so much stress within my marriage that she kicked me out in 2007. They wanted uniform banality in the industry, which meant they didn't want anyone who stood out from the pack. That way, if an act called in sick they could replace him with someone of the same deplorable ability who in all likelihood played the same songs from the same beginners' song book. But every time they banned me, I kept coming back a bit bigger and a bit better than before. But eventually, after having to look further afield for pubs that would book directly with the acts, after each time they got together and pushed me out, I was touring every weekend, often driving over 500 miles in three days, Friday through Sunday, just going to gigs, all in country pubs. I had to do all my own bookings since 2004, when I came back from having been completely shut down in August of 2003. Session work? Completely out of the question. The music industry in Australia is so tiny compared to America that the few lucky ones who are session players will work 24 hours a day doing it, rather than asking any other guitarists for help in lightening the load a bit. The big fear is that the studios will call their helpers rather than them. Then eventually, with our economy flat-lining thanks to our government's policies, I was down from well over 120 gigs a year, or mainly three gigs a week, to just five or six a month by 2020. Then came the COVID lockdown, which lasted longer for musicians than everyone else, again thanks to government policy. With seven months of inactivity my lower back lost its muscle tone completely. Then when we were able to get back into it again, my back hurt worse and worse after each gig until I had to give it away in January 2021. I still did a few Biker gigs, but then my hands stopped working. Turns out all that bouncing up and down on the seat while driving trucks, then having to do exactly the same bouncing around in the seat of my car on the very bumpy country roads going to my gigs in out of the way places, caused bone spurs to grow on my neck vertebrae which eventually pinched the radial and ulna nerves to my hands, thus preventing me from even playing guitar at all. I'm still a member of a biker band which is getting back together in June to work on songs for the Freedom Concert, a one-day festival to raise money for the Bush Fire Brigade and a couple of country hospitals. I'll only be able to play slide guitar, and that with a thumb pick because I can't hang onto the plectrum any more! I've had a good long run at it, and my career petered out as I reached the retiring age anyway. But I would've loved to still be able to play my collection of guitars and thus enjoy retirement, and of course go out to play once in a while with the guys. Oh well. . . .
Phil is absolutely correct, you have to find a way to stand out. The best way to do this is to find your own voice whether it is your vocals or how you play your instrument. Take guitarist for example. You can identify the greats after hearing just a few notes. Yea its really cool to be able to play like Ed, Jimmy, or Jeff but you have to have your own sound/style. Over the past 30 plus years in the audio production industry I've had the pleasure of working with musicians in every imaginable genre. After a minute or two of listening to a musician even at sound check you can whether a musician has "it" or they don't. Sadly, I didn't have "it" as a musician but was able to find my voice as an engineer.
I was the SXSW stage manager at Headhunters in Austin Texas in 2013? 2014? Its a bit blurry! Kenny Aronoff was sitting in with you and the Drills and he rented my drumset. In the craziness of SXSW yall left without paying me. When I emailed you I never expected a response but to my surprise you wrote back telling me you were getting on jet to go play with Bon Jovi and said you would be in Austin for a Bon Jovi show in a week or so. We met up, you paid me and we spent that money drinking on 6th street where you sat in with a local band and played an old Joe Walsh song. You are a true pro and a man of your word and I tell this story every time your name comes up! Thanks for the great memory!
This is required watching for anyone wanting to 'make it' in any industry. Phil X is the genuine article and is dialed in. So fun to discover him and know has no pretense. Met him at NAMM and he was so cool! Love him and all he does for communities and his fans! The Drills rule and he brings effort and energy to everything he touches! God bless you Phil!
Awesome Story!! I remember going to a Bar in Woodbridge Ontario on a Sunday called Main Street Station?? Shit, I can’t remember, You had the wammy bar that stuck straight out. Long Time Ago!!
I love hearing you talk! Always makes me smile and laugh to hear you spew! More long videos please, lol! Btw, who played instead of you the night you didn’t make it on stage in Calgary? Was it prerecorded or someone else? Keep it up! Don’t ever stop rocking out and being you! You’re an amazing example of adversity and doing things your own way. The labels missed out by not signing you at 31, but you connected with fans in your own way and made a career and name for yourself - and that’s before the height of social media, mind you. 🤘🏻🎸
Dude, I'm 57 too! Rock n Roll!! Hahahaha!!! '66 was a bitchen year. Star Trek and Batman debuted. Several Gemini missions and the Surveyor 1 moon probe happened. Houston Astrodome was built. MINISKIRTS! And much, much more.
Phil is such a great talent one of the greatest guitar players ever… I-had the pleasure of meeting him early with my Friend Rob and his uncle Pat. His jam sessions at his dads was insane.. got to see some of the greatest players ever. Phil was always the most humble person ever, super kind… 2 mins in his presence you could appreciate the love I have for Phil. ORLANDO
Bless you man... You're 57 and keep going...a beast...You give me strength...i love gigging playing the guitar and singing but i have a morning job to get by...36 years old and ill keep doing it till i can't.
Powder f'ing rocked. Also, an inspiring response. People often think successful musicians appear out of thin air. Rarely do they hear the years involved getting there.
Dude, your FA videos made me excited about music, particularly guitar again. Was laid up for a bit and discovered FA and it got me through, got me playing again starting a whole new chapter. You’re as real the deal a rockstar can be and your story is fantastic! You’re the flame keeper of all that rocks! Any success has been well earned and deserved! Bravo
We need more of this. You are so hyper, I love it. That first Aldo Nova album is a top album for me. I didn't know you played with him (I assume on tour only). Greetings from New Brunswick Canada.
Rock on Phil !!!!! You are amazing human been and definitely one. Of the best guitar players on earth !!!! Much respect. !!! Always a pleasure to heard you. !!!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Talent, hard work, never giving up, putting yourself out there, doing lots of networking, being willing to work odd jobs to "pay the bills", knowing how to put on a good show, and putting fans first. All important tips!
Phil X is fabulous. His comments about musicians thinking you have something everyone wants is delusional is spot on. Cool story about Phil X, I once asked him to play guitar on a song I had written, which I thought was a good song, but we both agreed that the guitars needed work. Phil said, but what about the lyrics man, they need some work! I replied that I thought they were quite real. Phil said, look man, I'm not going to sugar coat it, they could be a lot better. He was of course right and as he says, it's a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll. Thanks Phil, I still like that song BTW and you were right about the lyrics. Happy days!😅
Bro you dated my mother Kelly O when you lived in Kitchener, lmfao. She told me about you years ago. I'm so impressed to see the things you've achieved. As a guitar player myself, you give me a lot of inspiration brother. I wish you continued success.
Hey buddy! You've come a long way from that gig at The Gasworks where you hung from a pipe and pulled the ceiling down! Sigh, the good old days. Great to see your success in full bloom! Congrats from your old pal - Pootza!
Phil. My 30 years and your 30 years look totally different. I just watched your interview session with Neiman. Your discussion on confidence totally inspired me. When I first played in front of people, I was drunk. I was drunk every time I played a show. When I say show, I mean like, 5 bands for $5 with a tiny crowd of players and girlfriends. Because I was drunk, I went from, "I'm not fit to be in this room" to "these motherfuckers aren't fit to be in this room with me!". It was drunken confidence. AND I sucked bad. You could smell my shit from Fresno. But people came up to me and told me that I had something, or tell me a few things to do that would make me kill it. Now, 10+ years clean, I can't play in front of my mom and brother without misfretting every 3rd note and forgetting 3/4 of what I know. Until I watched that video, I didn't realize I could manifest the same attitude sober. Never occurred to me. Thanks man!!!
Hey Phil, you're just right: talent, hard work aren't just enough if you don't stand out. Which you did, plus a lot of stamina, self confidence and not taking yourself too seriously that lead you, with a bit of luck, to Bon Jovi and there you go ! Nice career you made, and still long way to go. Wish you health, luck, success and happy life with your nice family.
Thank you Fretted Americana and John Shanks for giving us Phil X, eternally. Those Fretted A videos were the best thing ever. 'On Fire' with the Epi Riviera still does it for me, every time. 🤩
Phil, you’re an INSANE MAN! I love it! I just came back to guitar after 38 years - I could never reach your skill level (“the law is a jealous mistress”), but man are you fun and inspiring to watch! Much love, brother.
I was in L.A recently....as for a scene...it's all gone now unfortunately....the clubs are going on nostalgia. You're a talented guy Phil. I remember seeing your cover band in Ottawa Canada. You paid your dues in an awful business and did well... good on ya Phil 👏 👌
I’ve been a Bon Jovi fan since the mid 80’s , from Slippery on really. New Jersey is one of my most favourite albums of all time. And not alone is Richie one of my most favourite guitarists but probably the guy most influential in getting me to pick up the six string and learn it in the first place (88/89). I’ve not become the World Wide Rock Star every musician dreams of when they start off but I am a full time music paying my bills through music and playing cover shows in bars etc weekly. I even wrote my own original stuff. Hopefully I can continue to do so, beats the regular 9-5 👍 I first discovered You through fretted Americana while watching RU-vid on my laptop (no iPad for me back then) in Ireland 🇮🇪 not long after you had started doing videos on the channel I think. There was only about a dozen videos or so I think, so about 2010/11 perhaps? I was still trying to figure out what this whole RU-vid thing was about tbh (it didn’t have a fraction of the content and variety it does today) I fell in love with your energy, passion, enthusiasm for the music (and life it seemed) humour and of course your chops dude 🤘. When Richie left Jovi I was heart broken. Felt like the end of an era tbh. My most favourite childhood guitarist and band were no more. It really sucked. But when you were announced as his replacement it really softened the blow tbh. Most people (online and in real life) didn’t seem to know who you were (I think you were mostly just a name in The Guitarist World up until then) and I could tell them it was a great move. That this new guy was gonna be awesome and a real addition to the band. And there’s a reason why you’re still there today, You were literally the only guy in the world you could have done that job the way you have done it 👏👏👏. Now you are known the world over through Jovi, it’s awesome. The Jovi fans are some of the most loyal in the world. I’ve camped out with them overnight on a couple of occasions in Dublin on the Tour to get front row (in front of Richie) so you are in good hands 👍 There’s rumours of Richie coming back to do a reunion etc, we’ll see. But I do know this, if it happens I want you there too Phil X. It was great to see Jon doing it for the RNRHOF and I think it could be done for a Tour too. Who knows. But that’s for being awesome and for being you. I gotta go now and get ready for a gig myself. Peace out brother and Keep On Rockin 🤘
I saw Powder at the Key Club, around '07, or '08 I think. Amazing show. Brought my band mates to see you at another gig. And I heard about you from a pal/musician. Those were great times. Congrats on getting the Bon Jovi gig...
Dude i missed this live but I gotta say that man, your one of my biggest modern influences. I'm 49 and still rocking my ass off on guitar in a power trio. Your playing inspires me to learn everyday. I now have a Yoda figurine in my neck pickup! Thanks for being awesome! Rawking J
at least you weren't touring with Lighthouse.... Nice to hear you speak as a regular person, seem like a regular normal guy with little to no ego. Nice. Love your music and talent. I appreciate your time invested. Thank you. SteveInVancouver
I saw you at the patchogue theater and I gotta say man, your a one of the best sideman in the business. Pro sound..meaning you played for the song. Your voice was so dam good. We have a music store across the street. So 20 guitar players went with. Every single one said that guys a pro. Then the swede came on and we all thought we were gonna lose our hearing
Cheers and great day to you Phil! I trust your world is splendid! Thank you for touching on the importance of including the emotional well being of the fans and how important that is to generating an empowering community. Great to visit pages and see how you are incorporating this message. SOUL. important! Blessings
For me that wasn't a long video. I could have listened to that much longer. In my 65 years long life I always followed my passion and I never regret that, even in very challenging moments. We are all dead already - just breathing for a few more moments - therefore we all have no time to waste to make our life counting according to what our true self really wants.
Thank you for sharing your story. We are the same age, but I don't follow very much entertainment news, so most of what you say it was news to me. Please don't take it the wrong way, I just work and play my same old riffs. What blew me away is when you explained how just by adjusting the volume of your guitar you can make a guitar fit in most situations. That is the ultimate guitar lesson. You are legit. Best wishes.
The only thing that keeps my humble channel going are the amazing messages I get from people. It makes me feel that I left a small mark in this short life. Thanks for sharing man your thoughts. Keep up the good work and hope to see you in South America sometime! 🤘
Great comments by mr. Phil!! Especially for the young girls, boys and X’s (🤟). I’m an older dude (51), but have been playing bass in bands and on recordings for more than 30 years. It made me very happy, and it still does. But mr. Phil is right: it starts with the dream. Big dreams are mostly just as fun when they get a little smaller during times: imagine yourself with one of your bands playing a four hour gig in a small club or pub for people you know and both new people too! There’s only a few feet between you and them... Watch their faces, feel the energy, enjoy!! that’s the greatest thing!! 🖖
So glad you are what you are. But whatever you would've become you still would be yourself Phil X. And in the end that's what makes this world a little better.. You.
Great video Phil. I'm a few years younger than you, but I saw frozen ghost in Barrie when I was a kid. Good times. I also remember thinking you were going to be the guy who saved Triumph. Congrats on a great career, and more to come!👍🇨🇦
Well Phil, thanks for sharing that amazing story. What does a working musician like you do for healthcare, any benefits?. I’m a musician, started playing keyboards when I was four, Got in a band when I was 16, taught myself how to play guitar so I didn’t have to walk off stage when we did guitar tunes when I was 19. got married when I was 19 and started a family. Wanted to be a full-time musician, but had to do the day gig to get the benefits for the family. I’m 62 now still playing part time, and don’t regret anything. Would be great meeting you sometime, take care and rock on.
Many of you are probably like me, you love music, but never thought you could take the risk of having a career in music. I chose to keep focusing on a more secure career, Something I was good at, that inspired me, and benefited others, but Music has always been my hobby and my “second passion”, besides my career in education. So I’ve recorded some educational music that has been successful, I had an original band. BC (before children) and we took it as far as we could while not quitting our day jobs, I wrote original music, played bar gigs, and at this point, I’m just working on having a band that can maybe play out once a month for fun. So, watching people like Phil X, Rick Beato, Rhett Shull , Jens Larsen, Tomo, and many others, keeps me engaged and connected. I’m so grateful for Phil and those like him take the risk and inspire us all.
G'day Mr. X from a fair-dinkum guitarcheologist since 1979. I started playing on a Maton CW80/12 String Dreadnaught @10yrs old in '79. Nowadays, I am a completely mentally-guitarded freak & curmudgeonly guitarcheopteryx. I know my Rheinharts' from my Kravitzs', my Fripps' from my Segovias';.. and I especially loved your dead-set off-tap wicked to the max Cover of 'Highway Star', like wat-the-actual-f*ck??? Just you, Phil, with your SG melting-faces off as you are singing power vocals over the bass & drum lines (you even play the keyboard solo - freakin' off-tap bra, awesome). You make that guitar f-ing talk ! You, Phil, & your band The Drills are inspirational in every way ! Power Trio Off-F*ckin'-Tap!!! Phil X & The Drills are always f*ckin' 'Right On The Money'! Far too much Phil X & the Drills is grossly insufficient, woefully inadequate & nowhere near enough - keep up the great rock & roll guys - yr 3pce is f*$kin' ATOMIC! P.S. I've started to play & sing songs myself inspired & encouraged by you Phil.. I'm doing lead vocal & guitar covers of the B52's 'Private Idaho' & 'Rock Lobster'; Rage Against The Machine's 'Killing In The Name'; Neil Young's 'Alabama'; as well as Oztralia's own rock animals extraordinaire AC/DC hits such as 'For Those About To Rock' / 'Hells Bells' / 'Let There Be Rock' & 'Back In Black' - to name a few. My friends, my girlfriend & my many marvellous muso mates have all mentioned when I get cracking I have a voice that'd blow Barnesy off the Stage (tho I've got some nuclear-powered lungs - I seriously doubt I'd blow Barnesy down, but all the same they back me support me & encourage me no end, so I give it everything I've got these days playing the guitar track & along with singing lead vocals). After dragging my jaw off the floor the time when I saw your fair-dinkum insane version of 'Highway Star' I thought that is what I WANT TO DO - crush guitars & sing like a monster - just like you Phil X ?.. 🎸 I know I can play guitar & know I can sing, been destroying guitars since '79 & will NOT WASTE THESE HARD EARNED TALENTS - for that'd be a criminal negligence according to muso mates? U need to believe in yourself & it helps LOTS if others believe in u2? P.P.S. What is it with Canada - you sure punch above your weight musically; wow ! My best mate / friend is from Nova Scotia @Canada & a gr8 bloke; just like u too, Phil. Love your work Phil - You're the bees knees', lizards gizzards' & the ducks nuts', all-day ! I tell everyone within earshot 'I'm hear to tell ya, and you're here to be f*#$in' told, scrape the sh*t from your ears & hear the news guys & gals : " Phil X & The Drills ARE THE BOMB ARE 100% AWESOME & ARE THE BEST 3-PC ON EARTH BY A COUNTRY-MILE ! " ...y'know it makes sense ?. 🎼Peace, respect & be nice to ya missus, savvy ? !.🤘 🦘Didyabringyabongalong Station, Central Queensland, Australia🪃
Love the comment about when you realized you no longer had a day-job. Turning pro just snuk up on you. I knew a pro musician in Toronto that once told me, while moving office furniture with me, that he was forty-five and this was his first day job.
Phil... Hey !!! It's been awhile. Great to see that you're still hanging in there. Please keep uploading. Inpossibley few, Great players out there, Who actually kill it & drill it... LIVE !! Yes, I'm a Player first. & Damm, what a ride ! ( Same Age ) But a Fan also. So, Please keep posting, especially if you have some live jams to show. Thank you !
Phil x earned every single thi g he has obtained!! He was already a star. Used to play his parents restaurant in Mississauga Ont. And everyone who heard him knew he was gonna go big. Just a matter of time
This was definitely a very condensed version as he worked on a bunch of artists albums before Bon Jovi. I think Phil is too humble to think people would want to hear about all that. I could listen to him go on for weeks talking about, probably anything because of his very likable personality. BTW, I think that's an important element too, personality. No I don't mean being exciting and entertaining all the time but rather being genuinely nice and humble, as well as having a strong work ethic with a sense of humor. Most of these successful session guys have that in common. People want to work with people they actually like working with, go figure.
