Phil X

Phil X
Phil X in 2013
Background information
Birth name	Philip Xenidis
Also known as	Phil X
Born	(1966-03-10) March 10, 1966 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Rock, hard rock, heavy metal
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Guitar, vocals, bouzouki, mandolin, bass guitar
Associated acts	The Drills, Bon Jovi, Tommy Lee, Powder
Website	Philx.tv

Philip Xenidis, better known as Phil X (born March 10, 1966), is a Canadian musician. He is best known as a session and touring guitarist, and from his YouTube videos demonstrating guitars for music retailer, Fretted Americana.

Career

In 1982 he formed the hard rock/heavy metal band Sidinex (naming it after himself, the moniker being his last name spelled backwards) with singer Todd Farhood, bassist Kevin Gingrinch and drummer Scott Masterson. The band released only one EP in 1985, Forever Young, before changing name to Flip City in 1987 and disbanding soon after.^[1]

An opportunity in Xenidis's career came when he was asked in 1990 to tour with Randy Coven, whom he met through Aldo Nova; in 1991, he toured the US with Aldo Nova.^[2] From 1992 to 1993 he played with Triumph, recording Edge of Excess and touring with them.^[3]

Phil X is a prolific session guitarist, having played on albums by Tommy Lee, Methods of Mayhem, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, Orianthi, Rob Zombie, Chris Daughtry, Alice Cooper, Thousand Foot Krutch and many others. He wrote the song "Tired" and also played guitar on Tommy Lee's Tommyland: The Ride album. He has appeared with Tommy Lee and Bon Jovi on Ellen^[4] and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Phil X was featured in the "making of" video for the movie Josie and the Pussycats. He acted as a music coach and taught the young actresses to appear as if they were actually playing their instruments.^[5]

In 2011 Phil X substituted for Bon Jovi's lead guitarist Richie Sambora, who missed 13 dates after entering rehab,^[6] and filled in for Sambora on the US and Europe leg of the 2013 tour, after Sambora dropped out due to personal reasons. In mid-2013 he filled in for Sambora during a number of dates of the Because We Can tour, including their only Italian date in Milan,^[7] the entire British leg of the tour including the Isle of Wight Festival and Hyde Park BST dates, the South African leg,^[8] and the Australian leg of the tour,^[9]

Equipment

Xenidis has used a vast range of guitars during his session and live work. His most notable guitars are his ESP LTD Viper,^[10] which he refers to as the "sticker guitar". In 2012, Xenidis received a signature guitar from Yamaha,^[11] and has since been playing the Yamaha SG Phil X Model. Phil invented the ‘Flip Stick,’^[12] a specially modified replacement for the usual whammy bar on Floyd-Rose-equipped guitars.

In addition to his guitars, Xenidis has performed and recorded through a vast range of amplifiers. His most notable are his signature Evil Robot range of amplifiers, which were designed to be based on his own Magnatone Tonemaster. He also uses Marshall Amplifiers extensively, as well as custom made amplifiers from Roppoli Amplification^[13] and Kasha Amplification. His demonstrations of rare and vintage guitars have had over 30 million views on the frettedamericana YouTube channel.^[14]

Discography

The following is a list of Phil X's discography, apart from his session work.

With Powder

• Powder (2005)
• Nothing (2008)

With The Drills

• Kick Your Ass in 17 Minutes (2009)
• We Bring the Rock 'n Roll (2011)
• We Play Instruments 'n Shit (2012)

References

External links

• Official Web site of Phil X