I love Chris Impellitteri! I have several old copies of "Guitar For The Practicing Musician" with him either featured on the cover or with his song tabs/music in the back pages. The very fact this interview took place at his kitchen table Max, makes this even more badd ass! 🎸❤☺👍
Awesome interview, should be more of them. Its pathetic how underrated Impellitteri is! Chris is a genuine guy and his playing is amazing. Ridiculous, how people claim he's a Yngwie clone when I heard Stand In Line I instantly heard his Brian May and Gary Moore influences. His high pitch bends and vibrato screams Brain May.
He’s got loads of influences and heroes, and they showed him more Yngwie ever could have. Besides, his music style is different from Yngwie’s; Impelliteri’s is bluesier, the harmonies are better and the vocals have a kind of gospel feel to them (especially on the songs on Grin And Bear It). Yngwie’s mostly classical and stuff. But regarding Impelliteri’s fame, I think they’re quite happy where they are at the moment. Wish they were more well known, but it doesn’t really matter; lots of people like their music.
Such a great guy - so humble and real - and as he said, there's a reason the band bears his sur name. His wonderful parents were tragically killed in an incredibly horrible auto accident - may they rest in peace forever. I am from the same area of Connecticut as Chris and I will never forget that... Chris is a great person who is honest, humble real and straight up guy and the music business needs many .more like him. I am proud to be a fan of Chris and I always will be... God bless you my friend...
Chris is one of my all time favorite Guitarists Stand in Line is one of my absolute favorite guitar driven albums i bought the album on cassette just from a interview in a magazine back in the day bought it and from the opening track i was hooked with Chris
Great interview. I watched the whole thing. Chris is a great guy. I met him back in 1989 at my very first NAMM show. Very nice guy and amazing player. It's a shame these interviews don't get more views.
What an awesome interview max. Chris seems like such a fantastic guy. Definitely love these interviews you're doing now. With some great guitarists. Can't wait to see the second and third part.
Great interview with Chris , I have always liked his playing since the first time I had heard his version of " Somewhere Over The Rainbow" I am honored that we are now label mates
Wow! I came to watch this and found Jack Starr. There is a time (a very long time ago) I think I was the only person I knew who owned a few Jack Starr recordings. What a wonderful blast from the past!
Great job Max! Spread the word Chris is an incredible player and Impellitteri is an awesome band. I have all of the Japanese tab books of his albums and they have helped my own playing a great deal. We all seem to love the same great players….Chris, Akira Takasaki, G Moore, M Schenker, Uli, Yngwie, Greg Howe, and my favorite Allan Holdsworth! I missed the boat on Chris until a few years ago and now I’m hooked. Keep ‘em comin Max! Cheers Mike
I had heard of Impellitteri years ago when "Stand in Line" arrived and completely by chance, found the LP in a record shop, out of the way in Huntingdon, UK. Been a fan ever since!
A great insight to one of the greatest that ever was. Art is something you do, even if you would never earn a single cent for it, its something that you have to do, something you have to express, no matter what. That being said, Impellitteri is pure heavy metal art. That is why they are not so famous i guess, although they do deserve it.
Agreed….we are light beings that create art and give it freely to the world…anyone who shits on it, is definitely not of the light…they’re from a dark, dark place…hope this doesn’t sound too new agey or crazy…but, you know what I mean!!!!!
I discovered Impelliteri through MTV of all places! It was back in the late 80's when I heard 'Stand in Line' on some late night show in the wee hours. From there, I sought out and bought the cassete of all things! From that point, it became a soundtrack to our lives for a summer. In Helena,Mt no less! Grant you, My friends and I were already into guitar music but, somehow, it was just more intense. Since then I've fell into other things and life goes on...but, I will revisit very soon.
I still have his original EP on cassette when it came out. Always one of my favorite guitarists of the era. I hope he tours soon, Chicago would love to have him here.
Great interview....yap, yap...yap.... Chris seems to be....yap, yap...yap....yap...yap, yap...a really down to earth nice....yap, yap...guy. Looking forward....yap....yap, yap....to the....yap, yap...next.....yap, yap....interview!
I remember listening to stand in line on walkman back in the day in new York city.When that chunk came in CHUG,CHUG,CHUG,CHUGGA I looked up and seen the wtc building one that I worked in and thought...FUCKING EPIC
I never liked his solo Style and music in his early record and in general, besides with Graham Bonnet, his speed never talked to me (not my coup of tea) , but I have to recognize his commitment to Music and that also his Records specially the newer ones sound so aggressive , intense and Metal (like only very few), plus they are very technical and precise. - respect to him.... plus seems like e real and genuine person.
bad ass guitar players were already badasses in their teens. Learning to play guitar is like learning to speak and we pick up languages quicker when we're young.
awesome interview, can't wait for part2!! id like to hear about the time between Stand In Line and Grin and Bear It and the Pedal to the Metal, I like Curtis Skelton's singing!
Tremendous interview, he does have his feet on the ground and is versatile. With him you can't predict what he's going to do like others I'm not going to mention. The only thing that makes me desperate is the dog barking on the background 😂 . very good video
Impellitteri was advertised very little back in the 80s. I had to order his 4 song ep, gram bonnet sang on it I think?.The song writing was basic from what I remember. Nothing special (I liked riffs still do) but his tone and lead guitar playing was great.
The Black EP was better written than Stand In Line. Grin And Bear It has their best writing on it; “When The Well Runs Dry” and “Ball And Chain” are the best written songs.
