Rebel Rouser Profile:
Bill Lonero
Don’t Call Him A Shredder!
By Diane Gershuny

Bill Lonero picked up the guitar as a youngster and with Angus Young and AC/DC as his guiding light, he’s been playing ever since. In those years, he’s shared the stage and/or studio with the likes of Stu Hamm (Joe Satriani), Gigi Gonaway, Mike Mangini (Extreme and Steve Vai) and Polo Jones (Zucchero and Whitney Houston). His band LoNero—featuring Mike McKaigg on bass, rhythm guitarist William Baglivio and Steve Spicer on drums—is poised to release a new CD, Relentless, on March 6th with the help ofApple® Computers/Quicktime. 

For tour dates and to sample some LoNero tuneage, log on to:
www.myspace.com/LoNero
www.thenewalbum.com/

• How would you describe LoNero stylistically?
Well, we’re instrumental but not your typical shred instrumental where there is no song and it’s all about the lead guitarist. I have no interest in that kind of guitar playing. If it doesn’t have a song, it’s nothing but auditory masturbation. So we’ve actually come up with our own genre—we call it “Guitarcore”. Basically what that means is the songs are instrumental and the guitar is at the core of what we do, but it’s heavier than 99% of the instrumental rock out there. Everyone in LoNero gets a chance to shine. There is no one person in this band that is above anyone else. I’m so sick of all these “shredders” that spend all their time in their bedroom posing for the camera showing how far they can stretch their fingers, and when it comes time to seeing them live they suck. Most of them can’t even play with a band because they have no experience. Or, if they do have a band they are boring to watch.

• As a player, what do you bring to the table? What’s your guitar philosophy? In the pocket? Melodic? Shredder?
I’m definitely a “in the pocket-melodic” player. I hate the term shredder. I also don’t like the term fusion or progressive. Too many musicians have given those terms a bad name over the years. What I bring to the table is honesty. What you hear is what you get. There is no Pro Tools magic in our songs. Every song on the new CD was recorded as you hear it. Nothing was “fixed in the mix” or cut and pasted together.

• Who are your influences?
Angus Young above all else. Young was and still is my ultimate guitar idol. His tone, attitude and style are to me the ultimate Guitar God. Although I sound nothing like him what I do take from him is attitude and honesty. I will take 1 Angus over 10,000 “shredders” any day of the week. Angus has style, taste and control. He doesn’t need anything but an SG and an amp.

• Gear philosophy? Guitars of choice/amps of choice?
Keep it simple. I don’t need racks of effects and the latest and greatest gadget. All I need is my Peavey Wolfgang, Peavey Triple XXX, my Dunlop 535 and a whammy pedal.

• How are you digging Rebel straps? Which ones are you using and why?
Rebel Straps kick ass! They have the same philosophy as me. Somebody who refuses to conform to the codes of the rest of society. Everyone walks around like robots and are to afraid to chase their dreams. Screw that! I wasn’t put here to be like everyone else.
I’m using the Skull Disaster straps and the Metal Skull Pick Box strap. I love them!!!!

• Currently spinning?
Right now on my iPod I have been listening to a lot of Elvis Presley, Barry Manilow, H.I.M. and Social Distortion. Of course, AC/DC is always in there, so that’s a given. Also Waylon Jennings, too. Talk about someone that was a rebel. That guy started ‘outlaw country’ and all of these so called “outlaw country stars” currently out there should be shot!