| Steve Stevens | |
|---|---|
Steve Stevens live with Billy Idol on August 13, 2008 in Winnipeg, Manitoba |
|
| Background information | |
| Born | May 5, 1959 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Hard rock, glam metal, new wave, post-punk, electronica, blues rock, progressive rock, instrumental rock, jazz fusion, tribal house, goa trance, flamenco |
| Occupations | Musician, Songwriter, Producer |
| Instruments | Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Synthesizer |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Associated acts | Billy Idol, Michael Jackson, Bozzio Levin Stevens, Juno Reactor, Vince Neil |
| Website | Official website |
Steve Stevens (born as Steven Schneider on May 5, 1959, in Brooklyn, New York) is an American guitarist and songwriter.
He is best known for playing for other artists (most notably Billy Idol, Michael Jackson, and Vince Neil)[1] and less known for his critically acclaimed solo efforts (Atomic Playboys and Flamenco A Go-Go), collaborations (Bozzio Levin Stevens, a.k.a. Black Light Syndrome), and as an in-demand session guitarist. As a musician, Stevens is widely regarded for his versatility across a number of musical genres and his explosive, dexterous and textural style.
Contents |
In addition to playing guitar for other artists, Steve Stevens is known for being a television personality on the E! show Married to Rock, alongside his wife, Josie Stevens
Steve Stevens was also briefly mentioned on the popular Japanese television show Iron Chef in episode "Sardine Battle" (1998). He was described as a guitarist from Los Angeles by the commentators when they were informed that they had a "special guest" in the audience.
Steve Stevens' song "Power of Suggestion" track #2 on Atomic Playboys, was used for the intro sequence during the rolling of cast and credits of 1994's Ace Ventura Pet Detective.
Steve Stevens is well known for his use of a raygun sound effect in the Billy Idol song "Rebel Yell." This sound effect was created by using a toy raygun held up to the pickups, according to a Guitar World interview. He now uses a toy raygun equipped with a pitch bender and a repeat changer to produce the sound effect.
In the mid '80s Hamer Guitars (then based in Chicago) issued the Steve Stevens model I and model II, shaped similarly to a Gibson Les Paul Jr. Stevens, a Hamer devotee, asked them to build him a SuperStrat-type bolt-on neck guitar. Hamer's loyalty to Stevens meant adding new machinery to their workplace to build a few for him. This actual guitar can be seen in the Michael Jackson video "Dirty Diana." The guitars were built with a Floyd Rose locking tremolo system and slanted pickups (bass side towards the bridge) by Seymour Duncan (bridge JB and a single coil [Neck SD1], 22XJ frets, Alder body, Maple and rosewood fingerboards). Since then, Hamer has continued to offer models with bolt-on necks.
Grover Jackson of Charvel Guitars gave Steve a white Soloist prototype to try out. The guitar consisted of a 22 fret maple fretboard, basswood body, and a humbucker with a single coil. He fell in love with the guitar and continues to use it both in studio and at concerts.
In 1993 he was approached by Washburn to build the Steve Stevens Custom Shop signature models: the SS80, made in the USA in black; the SS100, made in the USA with a Frankenstein graphic that glows in the dark; and the SS40, a lower-grade Korean import in black. That relationship only lasted a few months. After production started, Washburn had many orders to fill, but by October 1993 they stopped production and canceled many orders. The SS80 and SS100 USA models are a rare find today, and many players swear they are two of the best—if not the very best—guitars made in the 1990s. These guitars were handmade at Washburn's Chicago custom shop. You could hear this guitar during the Vince Neil album (Exposed). When Steve was playing on tour with the Vince Neil Band, they were the opening act for Van Halen. Eddie Van Halen gave Steve a pair of his signature Ernie Ball guitars. Steve liked them so much that he played them along with the SS Washburn Signature guitars on the tour.
He has always preferred the Gibson Les Paul and still uses it today. He also plays Suhr guitars. Steve is now using Ernie Ball Axis model guitars and Godin electric acoustic guitars and is also endorsing Bare Knuckle pickups.
Additional interviews
Guitar Lessons
