(Return of) The Well CXXI: Chris of Arabia - fire 'em in...

[Diego]

Great answers Chris I'll try and diversify a bit...

Regarding life in the Middle East:

What are the things that shocked you the most, as a foreigner, when first visiting? Any things that still surprise you to this day?
I'm talking culture, environment, food, anything really.

Regarding guitars and being a player:
What do you think are the worst trends or "beliefs" that we, guitarists, fall into? If you fell into said belief, how did you come out?

Regarding bands:
Name three bands that should pack things up and call it a day, and explain why.

EDIT: Oh and BTW, happy new year my friend!!

[newking70]

favorite beer? hard cider? favorite fish & chip place?

[Chris of Arabia]

What would you do if I sang out of tune?

In your case, Autotune may not be enough - severed vocal chords would probably do the trick though

[Chris of Arabia]

You have to put together a 5 person supergroup to open for a (yet another) one time Status Quo reunion. Who would you choose and why?

Drums: Neil Peart. I'm not sure I should need to justify his inclusion, but they don't come much better

Bass: Jean Jacques Burnell - every group needs a good bit of low end growl

Keys: Thomas Dolby - for his performance on David Bowie's 'Live Aid' rendition of 'Heroes' alone

Guitar (1): Dave Gilmour - a counterpoint to JJB

Guitar (2): Troy Van Leuwen - mixing it up a bit

Vox & Guitar (3): Dave Grohl - he's in every other group anyway, why not this one

[Chris of Arabia]

Hey Chris, happy New Year to you and yours. We know you have excellent taste and you have some fantastic gear, whats on the radar for 2015?

Believe it or not, I'm not suffering a lot of G.A.S. right now, at least not from a guitar perspective. I could reasonably say that I've got pretty much every base covered in that area, though I do like what I've seen of the Boogie Mark V 25 - the funds are not burning a hole in my pocket though. Other than that, I do keep thinking I'd like to do another Warmoth (my last was actually 'Braveheart' in 2008). As always though, I suffer from choice paralysis when I get on their site.

If I'm looking at anything, it's probably a drum kit, but other than knowing you're supposed to hit them, I'm something of a novice, and I've nowhere to put a set anyway.

What would be your bucket list rig ie 3 guitars, 2 amps and effects?

Guitars: A decent Strat, a PRS McCarty and a PRS Hollowbody

Amps: A 20w Laney Lionheart head + cab, and that Mesa Mark V 25

Effects: I'd just pick up my current board - most everything I'd ever use is on there already

[Chris of Arabia]

Great answers Chris I'll try and diversify a bit...

Regarding life in the Middle East:

What are the things that shocked you the most, as a foreigner, when first visiting? Any things that still surprise you to this day?
I'm talking culture, environment, food, anything really.

Bear in mind that my first visit to the Middle East was in November 1991 (just after Gulf War 1), I may have forgotten more than most will ever have known about the place.

The heat was the first thing that comes to mind, even in November. I'm used to it now, and even summers don't phase me much. Believe it or not, your blood thins out over time to adapt acclimatise. The only other thing that springs to mind really, is that you suddenly become very aware that you are not in a Western society. Before coming here for the first time, I'd only visited places like Iceland, Canada, and Spain, so although the language was different, culturally things weren't too different. Here, it feels as if everything is different; attitudes, cultural norms, food, life style. On the other side of the coin though, you soon learn that many of the concerns we have; family, making a living, being treated fairly, are just the same, it just takes a while to get to know people and find out what makes them tick.

Regarding guitars and being a player:
What do you think are the worst trends or "beliefs" that we, guitarists, fall into? If you fell into said belief, how did you come out?

Dare I say "tonewood"? Perhaps not...

I think perhaps the belief that we have a more important role in a band setting than we do. If we're being honest, the audience listens to (and looks at) the singer, and dances to the drummer/bassist. I'm probably as guilty as are any musician, in that you start listening to individual instruments, and stop listening to the music at times. It's a bad habit, and kind of misses the point rather. If I can, I like to have music wash over and through me, and takes my emotions with it. Something like Rush's "Between the Wheels" would be a good example, especially when you see it done live.

Regarding bands:
Name three bands that should pack things up and call it a day, and explain why.

I actually don't think any musician should call it a day, so long as they still enjoy it. The only argument for going the other way, is if you a) just can't do it any more, or b) they're racking up debts they can never repay.

Sure there are planty of acts that I don't like who I wish had never started (Ocean Colour Scene), but I can always turn the radio or TV off, can't I?

EDIT: Oh and BTW, happy new year my friend!!

And to you too, 2015 has to be better doesn't it?

[Chris of Arabia]

favorite beer?

Guinness

hard cider?

Not really my tipple at all - they all taste the same to me

favorite fish & chip place?

This place - http://www.keswick.org/what-to-do/fo...ld-keswickian/ - that means two things, 1) I'm eating good food, and 2) I'm in the place in the world I'd probably most want to live out my remaining years

[Chris of Arabia]

Who decides when this ends by the way?

[VanDerchuck]

Who decides when this ends by the way?

I don't know man. I'm kind of enjoying coming up with questions. But, you could just stop answering them from this point and I don't think it would offend anyone.

Good answers. It was fun. Good luck in the new year

[DarkMatter]

Have you ever completed a Rubix cube?

[Chris of Arabia]

Have you ever completed a Rubix cube?

Sadly, that's not one I can claim any success at. I don't think I ever got past completing one layer, but trying to get any further eluded me.

[newking70]

Who decides when this ends by the way?

it never ends, you'll be doing it for eternity.

[Chris of Arabia]

Anyone want a nomination then?

[stevie_bees]

Chris, each Well normally lasts about a week. If the questions are still free-flowing then it can be extended a little. If you're done and happy with it, I can close the thread as soon as you've nominated another forum member.
If nobody volunteers, then pm someone you'd like to see in the Well and ask them.

[Johtosotku]

Who are your favourite football players of all time?

How did you get used to driving on the right side of the road when you went to S-A?

[crusty philtrum]

Have you ever been to Australia ? Do you think you ever will ?

Have you ever met any SDUGF members in real life ?

Have you ever played guitar (or any instrument) in public ? In what form ? (i.e. jam night, band gig, solo, duo, informal session at a party or something similar ?)

If so, what did you most and least enjoy about the experience(s) ?

Most of your guitars have been seen on the forum, and are notable for many reasons (lovely instruments, great settings and excellent pic quality). What amps do you own, and which ones do you really dig ?

If you could have a playing style that was very similar to someone famous from any era, living or not, who would it be ?

[Chris of Arabia]

Who are your favourite football players of all time?

i'll give you two that I have seen in action in front of me, only a matter of a few yards distant. The first is Gordon Banks, a sublime keeper. The second was Mark Stein, a fantastic striker who scored some of the neatest goals I've ever seen in person.

How did you get used to driving on the right side of the road when you went to S-A?

It wasn't easy at first; take Hiace out of compound, turn left, drive several hundred yards before realising that military HUMVEE is heading straight at you, can't cross central reservation, panic, pull off into dirt, reorient Hiace in the correct direction, try again...

These days it makes absolutely no difference to me which side the wheel's on. I get in and drive. It usually takes me a couple of days to realise I've even swapped sides. But then I've been doing it now for over 23 years.

[Chris of Arabia]

Have you ever been to Australia ? Do you think you ever will ?

I've not, though Mrs of Arabia has - the closest I've got was Bali. As to whether I will, I still think it's possible, but with no sort of timeline in mind.

Have you ever met any SDUGF members in real life ?

I've met TexasGuitarSlinger (Sid) and Everdrone in Austin - I'll definitely see Sid this March again.

Have you ever played guitar (or any instrument) in public ? In what form ? (i.e. jam night, band gig, solo, duo, informal session at a party or something similar ?)

I did take part in the putative stages of putting a band together a few years back, but it fell apart before we performed anywhere. If I'm honest, I didn't enjoy the experience much, as all other members had several years experience behind them and many bands. I'd not known there was a new language to learn that applies only to performing with others. Half the time I'd no clue what they were talking about and was hopelessly lost. It didn't help that they wanted to play a number of songs I had no interest in learning, and it showed.

If so, what did you most and least enjoy about the experience(s) ?

See above

Most of your guitars have been seen on the forum, and are notable for many reasons (lovely instruments, great settings and excellent pic quality). What amps do you own, and which ones do you really dig ?

I have a few. In light of the above, you'd not be too far off the mark to wonder why. With that then...

Marshall Valvestate 8080
Fender Super Sonic 22
Trace-Elliot Speed Twin 50
Vox Lil' Night Train
Zvex Nano Head
Victory V30 'Countess'
Ampmakers SE5a

Of those, the one I really like is the Victory, I can't imagine anyone being unhappy with it unless they only ever play pristine clean at exceptional volume. The one I'm most proud of though, is the SE5a, as that was a home build. Technically, it wasn't difficult at all, given how long I worked on aircraft avionics, but it worked at first time of asking, and it's a great little low output amp.

If you could have a playing style that was very similar to someone famous from any era, living or not, who would it be ?

I'd probably go for someone like John McGeogh, ex of Siouxsie and the Banshees, and more especially Magazine. Sadly he's no longer with us. If not him, then Alex Lifeson.

[Funkfingers]

severed vocal chords would probably do the trick

Don't make me come back and answer this!

[newking70]

Anyone want a nomination then?

i nominate kramersteen. here, here.