Kyle: When did you first pick up a guitar?
John: I started playing Guitar when I was seven. But I started bugging my parents to buy me one when I was six. It took me a year of pestering them before they gave in.

Kyle: What type of guitar was it?
John: My first Guitar was a Kay Acoustic. My first Electric Guitar was a Silvertone with an Amp built right in the case…really cool, wish I still had it.

Kyle: Who teached you how to play?
John: I had numerous teachers through the years. I think the one I had the longest was Joe Tineri.

Kyle: How often did you practice everyday?
John: When I first started out I practiced for about a half an hour a day, everyday. After a few years I was like an addict. I would practice every minute I could. Sometimes up to six hours a day.

Kyle: When did you become a guitar teacher?
John: I started teaching in my early teens…I think it might have been thirteen. By the time I was sixteen I had a full time teaching business; which really pissed my teachers in high school off, because I was making more money than they were.

Kyle: Why do you teach?
John: Teaching is something I love to do since way back then. It’s very gratifying to be able to help people create musically.

Kyle: Who was your biggest influence?
John: I have had different influences at different stages of my career; but, I’ll name a few of them. Believe it or not, when I was five Keith Partridge from the "Partridge Family" was the one who made me want to play. Then, artists such as Robin Thrower, Jeff Beck, Jim Hendrix, Eddie Van Helen, Randy Rhoads, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Via and Joe Satriani. I guess I find something interesting in most guitar players.

Kyle: When did you have the idea for the "Rock House Method / DVD instructional programs?
John: In my late teens when running my own full-time music school, I started to think that I wish there was a way for me to teach thousands, or hundreds of thousands, at a time instead of the fifty or sixty I was teaching each week.

Kyle: What's a typical day like for you, when you're not recording or playing guitar?
John: Wild and crazy from the time I wake up until the time I go to sleep. I usually try to cram forty-eight hours of activity into a twenty-four hour day. But I always make sure to get in regular practice, creative writing and spend time with my family.

Kyle: Has your taste in music changed over the years?
John: It really hasn’t. I’ve always like a variety of styles of music throughout my career.

Kyle: What's your impression of some of the guitars that have come out in the last few years, like the Paul Reed Smith, Parker Fly, etc?
John: I think they’re awesome. Paul Reed Smith is a great instrument. Parker Fly has such new technology I’m actually looking into buying one.

Kyle: What are you’re top three favorite bands?
John: That’s a real tough question, but, I’ll try to name three. Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Aerosmith, Ozzy Osborne, Cream, Guns and Roses, Stone Temple Pilots, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest..oops! You said three? Couldn’t resist.

Kyle: Right off hand, what three CD’s do you have in your Stereo right now?
John: The final mix of my CD (I just got them the other day) and two home-made CD’s that include all of my favorite songs (I know that doesn’t give you a lot of information…sorry, I told you I like variety).

Kyle: If you could relive the life of a famous rock star, who would it be and why?
John: I would have to say Eric Clapton, not because he’s my favorite guitarist but he’s had such a long career and been able to play what he’s wanted throughout time and has always been highly respected as a guitarist and songwriter. And, he’s alive…I don’t have to think about being dead yet.

Kyle: What setup do you use when jamming out?
John: Lately I’ve been using two Peavey JSX stacks run with a stereo chorus, super overdrive and a crybaby wha.

Kyle: Do you have your own recording studio, and how much time do you spend writing and recording?
John: I have a home recording studio running Pro Tools. I do all my preproduction here. I do the drum, bass, guitar and singing on all my preproduction recordings. Time spent writing and recording always varies. I try to focus on these as much as possible.
Kyle: Do you have CDs in your personal collection that we might be surprised that you listen to?
John: Believe it or not I have a CD box set called Time Capsule containing music from the ‘50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Here’s a bit of advice for all you songwriters out there: It’s important to listen to different types and genres of music that you wouldn’t normally listen to. It’s a great way to get inspired for songwriting ideas.

I also have Sly and the Family Stone, Elton John, Bo Bice, Elvis Presley and the Sex Pistols.

Kyle: Are there any new artists on the guitar scene that you're listening to?
John: There are none that I have heard but people have said that Bucket Head is supposed to be pretty good.

kyle: Is there one particular artist, living or dead, that you would like to perform, record or write with?
John: I would have loved to record with Jimi Hendrix. Living, Paul McCartney. I think me and Paul could put out a killer instrumental CD. Anybody out there know how to contact him…please let me know.

Kyle: You just came out with a new album, what’s your thoughts and feeling on that?
John I really feel that my CD is unique. It’s and instrumental CD that contains as much, or more, melody content as any vocal driven CD. I think this CD will be as appealing to people across the globe. Everyone from someone’s Mom from Wisconsin to a total guitar-head from LA.

Kyle: How would you define your playing style? And maybe group it with a couple similar musicians that play like you, if any to compare to. And also, how can someone tell when they have developed a style of their own?
John: I would say my playing style is Jeff Beck meets Joe Satriani meets The Beatle meets Stevie Jay Vaughn.

When someone can listen to your music and know it’s you immediately. It’s not easy to do this it takes years of developing you’re own signature riffs and signature sound that make you unique…your own unique sound.

Kyle: Being a Musician, do you find playing guitar to be tiresome and "not enjoyable" at times since you kind of have to keep playing and come up with new sounds? Making your hobby/passion your job?
John: Absolutely Not. I love playing guitar and get pissed off when I don’t have enough time to play guitar. I’m a guitar-aholic.

Kyle: Can you talk a little bit about how Rock House Method sets itself apart from the competition and how you have created such a cool place for musicians to hang out and learn from each other? 40,000 members strong and growing!
John: By being able to combine a video medium with a website that is a wealth of knowledge we were able to create the ultimate learning environment. By putting all the knowledge one would need to play in a short amount of time on the DVD and being able to offer all the theory and text on our website combined with tools to make learning easy and enjoyable we have created the ultimate learning machine. It’s over 42,000 people now and on target to be over 100,000 by years end. We also love to get our hands dirty. Everyone involved with the Rock House family participates with the website and connects directly with the musicians. By having students from over 100 countries participating on the website we have the most diverse group of musicians ever joined together.

Kyle: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
John: Madison Square Garden, if not sooner. Still writing, teaching and integral part of the Rock House community.

Kyle: Any last words you would like to say to the people reading this?
John: First, thanks for all the support. Our community is only as strong as each individual in it. Keep practicing. Have a vision. Listen to ALL styles of music. I hope to see you at one of my shows and I hope you see me at one of YOUR shows…you guys rock!