GREG C. BROWN (Guitarist – USA) – Interview for KICK ASS FOREVER via Angels PR Worldwide Music Promotion #GregCBrown
Interview conducted and submitted by Marian Nicolaou via  – thank you!

Links for Greg C Brown:
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Bandcamp
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• In your own words, how would you describe Greg C. Brown?

Instrumental metal music. But, as I say that there are so many different types of metal and hard rock. I grew up listening to all the shredders, Yngwie, Vai, Satriani, Van Halen, McAlpine, Cacophony, I’m a huge fan of Jeff Loomis and Nita Strauss. I think that all comes out in my music and I also love the Blues and Jazz and especially classical music. You put that in a bowl and stir it up and that’s Greg C. Brown 

• How did you start the band?

It wasn’t an intentional thing. I turned my attention from metal to classical guitar in the 90s and got into that quite heavily, I still perform originals on classical guitar frequently. 10 years ago I was diagnosed with Stage 3B cancer and did chemo for months. It was a very dark time. Music has always been there for me in time of need but I couldn’t play my classical guitar since the size of the guitar was pushing up against the port on my chest where they put the chemo in. This was not the case with the electric which has a much smaller body. So I dusted off my chops and came up with this accompaniment that I could just play over. It is my song Love off of the GCB album. That song means a lot to me, I just let it all out, everything I was going through. During treatment and recovery I just played and wrote a bunch of songs. It  was great to play in the metal sandbox again. Still going…….

• Who were your musical influences to start with the band?

At the time I was really into Satriani’s album Engines of Creation and his use of synthesizers in a rock context. It just opened up a whole other realm of possibilities. As a solo instrumental artist, there are so many things I want to explore, moods to convey and compositional places to explore. There is no ceiling or boundaries. I’m having a great time doing this and have ideas and sketches for another disc, I just need to wrap up some previous commitments first. 

• What is your aim with Greg C. Brown?

I’m excited about taking these songs to the stage and travel. Get as many people as possible aware of my music. Things have been difficult as we all know over the past couple of years but I hope to have some things lined up by the end of Summer. I have a few projects I’m wrapping up now, first and foremost, my band Age of Fire’s EP Through the Tempest, due out this Spring. I hope to see everyone soon. 

• Your guitar style is very accessible about metal! Is this conscious or unconscious?

I love metal. My biggest influences are metal. Even when I write my more “classical” pieces it comes out. It’s who I am. There is such a freedom for me to write and play metal. The genre has exploded into so many subgenres yet still metal. It is such an elastic genre. You have bands like Megadeth doing Willie Dixon on Peace Sells, I can definitely hear Wes Montgomery in some of Alex Skolnick’s playing which makes sense, he’s a huge jazz head. It keeps the genre vibrant and relevant. As a songwriter there are so many colors on the palette to choose from and it’s still metal \m/

• In your new song “Building 7”, the style is even more unique than before. What do you think about this and your new album that was released in 2021?

During the pandemic I picked up a 7 string and Building 7 is the first tune I wrote on it. It’s totally in your face, shredding, heavy and modern. It is a direction I will explore more in the future as well.  As far as the GCB album, it is a collection of music I wrote going back to the 80s and leading up into today. There is music from my solo albums, including my blues disc and even a couple Age of Fire tunes. Sometimes those lines blur. 

• Are you going to change your musical style on some future release?

I wouldn’t say change just an evolution. I don’t want to say I won’t do this or that. I want to write music that is interesting for me and for people to listen to. Something that people can engage in, transport them somewhere else and drift. 

• Your melodies are also catchy but great! How do you work the composition?

Thank you very much. Melody is so important. It’s that bit that gets stuck in your head after you listen to it and you whistle after the fact. As far as writing goes, there is never a one way that I write something. Inspiration can come from anywhere. It can be a riff, melody, tone, book or musical form I want to dabble in. 

• What about live performances? Do you enjoy being on stage?

Absolutely, that is the pinnacle for a songwriter. Taking it all to the stage and sharing and engaging with people. I love being on stage and hope to see everyone soon playing these tracks. The pandemic has twisted everything around and we are now seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. I have the Age of Fire EP to finish and promote, and hoping to do some shows for that as well and some classical projects I’ve committed to. I’m very fortunate to be so busy.

• Is this hard to keep the band flowing along with your personal life?

Yes (lol). Granted I like to stay busy and I was raised to never really turn down work. I wrote a lot of music during the pandemic and I’m in the process of recording it with some shows here and there but touring/day job can be at odds sometimes for sure. I’m always thinking of music in one way or another, I think that is my personal life. Always something I want to do better, improve on and that inspires me and then off I go. It’s been that way since I was a teen. 

• Have you something else to say to end this interview?

I want to say thank you for interviewing me! It is greatly appreciated. I also want to thank everyone for all the support during this musical journey of mine. Please follow me on social media and subscribe to my YouTube page. There will be some cool things coming up for sure.

• Thank you very much! Congrats for your work!

Thanks again so much!!!!