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Action Shots
Nothing beats playing live on a Jackson Randy Rhoads flying V guitar. The veins in my cranium are feeling the passion too!
Playing live with RPM. Guitar is "Bomber", a custom Gavsguitargarage Stratocaster with custom scratchplate.
Professional photo session by Elaine Armstrong and Jim McFarlane. Guitar is custom Fender 'Devocaster' with disappearing pyramid inlays.
RPM band shot, straight after coming off stage somewhere in Glasgow. It was minus 8 and everyone had the cold. We still rocked.
Professional photo session by Elaine Armstrong and Jim McFarlane. Guitar is ultra-rare Jackson Roswell Rhoads model with modified DiMarzio Evolution humbucker pickup.
A Friday night RPM show at the Vortex, Cumbernauld. Guitar is Jackson Randy Rhoads JS model with Floyd Rose tremolo.
Performing for our friends The Celtic Dragons at their first birthday party, Maryhill 2018.
Guitar solos can always be improved with a little showmanship : )
New College Lanarkshire student band 'Molly Rocks' performing at Ivory Blacks, December 2017. One of my favourite gigs of all time.
A recent family photo. My collection has increased since this photo was taken.
Riffing on the Jackson 8-string with The Belial Project, 2016. I'm using the incredible Line 6 POD Pro HD rackmount unit in this pic. Outstanding piece of kit.
Riffing on the Jackson 8-string with The Belial Project, 2016. I'm using the incredible Line 6 POD Pro HD rackmount unit in this pic. Outstanding piece of kit.
A little patience and a whole lot of double-sided tape will turn any Drab Cab into a Fab Cab in no time! This is a really eye-catching modification. Marshall Amps for the win!
A healthy, balanced diet is vital if you want to thrive in the music industry. Guitar strings are free-range, organic and full of nutrients. Dental discretion advised.
Live with RPM at the Vortex, Cumbernauld. #Tapping
Live with RPM at the Vortex, Cumbernauld. Guitar players often neglect the sonic possibilities offered by their instruments. I don't.
Live with RPM at the Vortex, Cumbernauld. The thrill of applause is the best motivation to play with passion and fire!
This was the third time I'd met my hero Steve Vai. He is about as wise and knowledgeable about navigating a career in the music business as anyone would ever need to be. A true mentor.
Steve Vai checking out my stretched earlobes. I had a Passion & Warfare plug made specially (it was the 25th anniversary of the Passion & Warfare album) and it made an impression.
Meeting Angel Vivaldi on his first UK tour. I took guitar lessons from him via Skype and we became friends. He is a new paradigm of guitar hero and a true talent on the instrument.
RPM live setup at the Scotia Bar, Glasgow. A great gig we play regularly. Always guaranteed a rocking crowd!
But does it really get any better than a 100w Marshall valve amp and a Fender Stratocaster?!
Two of my amps:
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Marshall JCM900 100W valve head
Crate Blue Voodoo 120W valve head
Marshall 1960B cabinet
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(there's a cool Fender combo to the right too)
My RPM live rig:
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Marshall JCM900 half-stack
Jackson RR 3
Jackson RR JS
Fender Stratocaster
Live with RPM, Killin (Perthshire) October 2017
Custom 'Devocaster' guitar by Gav Swadel (gavsguitargarage)
Halloween 2017 with RPM, live at The Scotia Bar, Glasgow.
Close-up shot of the Devocaster. I designed this guitar based on the Ibanez Jem 777 LNG models of the mid-80's. It's been played and signed by Steve Vai (who wanted to keep it!)
Live rig, RPM, Killin, October 2017. Pedalboard is a Korg Pitchblack, Dunlop Crybaby Wah, Vox Satchurator, Digitech Whammy Mk. 2.
Live rig, RPM, The Scotia Bar, November 2017.
Professional photo session by Elaine Armstrong and Jim McFarlane. The Devocaster can't be burned by Earthly fires.
Kairos by Gorman Band. I played guitar on this record and gigged up and down the country with Gorman. Recorded at Tornface Studios, Dalmarnock, Glasgow.
Kairos CD inlay photos. These were taken in a condemned toilet in Dalmarnock. Didn't think rock n' roll could be so glamorous? Think again.
Kairos inlay and disc. Apologies to Iain Pollock (drums) who is cruelly and unintentionally omitted in this pic.
RPM live and in full flow at The Vortex, Cumbernauld.
An action shot. You can tell I was really playing fast here!
Life is too short to be boring. One guy dropped his pint in shock when I did this. Result!
Hitting it pentatonic-style. You're not meant to just play music; you're supposed to live it and FEEL it!
"The guitar is itself an orchestra!"
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- Ludwig Van Beethoven.
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