Name? Rob Hayes
Birthday? May, 1976
Bands you are currently in? SHADY DRIVE and Downed Side Up (solo side project)
How did you end up in your current band? I started this project because I wanted to
play Blues & Rock with musicians that truly love and understand the music, that really
enjoy playing live and want to have a good time & positive attitude while doing it.
Other bands you have been in?
Jarvis (90’s cover band),
The Balance Band (mainly a wedding and private party band)
Neccos For Breakfast (all original, modern pop/rock band)
What instruments do you play? Mainly guitar, but I mess around with the harmonica,
the drums and some piano. I played the trumpet in 4th and 5th grade band.
Why did you choose this instrument? Chicks man, it’s all about the chicks…
Talk about your gear, favorite instruments, why you like or use certain things.
I LOVE my Fender Strat!!! American made, maple neck, Sienna Sunburst finish, Texas
Special single coil neck and middle pickups with a Seymour Duncan humbucker on the
bridge.
I also have a black Epiphone Dot semi-hollowbody that I tune to “open G” and play with a
glass slide for that Delta Blues and George Thorogood sound. Sometimes I tune it to
standard tuning to play Chuck Berry and Stray Cats rock-a-billy type stuff too.
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amp – GREAT tone, warm tube sound, small & lightweight for gigs,
but packs an AMAZING amount of “punch” for a 40w amp with (1) 10” speaker.
Gotta’ love the lead channel and foot switch too.
Ibanez TS-9 Overdrive pedal – simple, but sounds AWESOME. I LOVE that raunchy,
slightly overdriven Blues sound, i.e. Stevie Ray / Jimi Hendrix.
I also use a DanElectro PB&J delay pedal, an Ibanez CS-9 chorus, a BOSS MT-3 Metal
Zone pedal (go figure?) and of course my Jim Dunlop Jimi Hendrix issue Wah-Wah pedal.
Other guitars & amps in my arsenal:
Jackson Fusion w/double locking trem (my “shred” guitar)
Takamine Elec/Acoustic
Washburn “Les Paul” knockoff, but with the Gibson Pickups!!!
Marshall 6100LM 30th Anniversary amp with a 1960 4x10 half-stack (for the heavy stuff)
Age you started playing? Messed around when I was younger, but started for real at 14
When was your first gig, and were you paid for it? A friend’s graduation party - No
What is your favorite piece of music to perform and why?
Purple Haze - I love that song and I love Jimi. It’s very unique.
I like the way we play it and it gives me a chance to “go off” in some cool directions. Plus,
everyone seems to like it and it usually gets the most crowd response.
Influences? For musicianship, song playing and writing:
The Beatles by far…They are the GREATEST EVER!!!
And I would also say I actually have a lot of “metal” and “grunge” influences too like,
Metallica, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver
For guitar playing:
Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Billy Gibbons, Eric Clapton, Joe Bonamassa,
George Thorogood, Eric Sardinas, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Gary Hoey
Eric Johnson, Eddie Van Halen
Favorite local artist? Tony Koussa Jr. – Supurb talent with all of the elements of heart,
soul and feeling. His band is fantastic and they are the nicest guys I’ve ever met.
I owe a lot to him for helping me get started on the local Cleveland music scene and for
helping me broaden my musical horizons.
Favorite venue to play? Gotta love BULLFROG’S in North Ridgeville (My hometown)
Good sounding room, nice size stage, easy load in/out, family atmosphere, AWESOME
food, hot bartenders, easy to work with management, friendly, local crowd…
It’s a win-win place all the way around!
Who would you like to perform with? Obviously any of my guitar heroes, live or dead...
But to be honest, I love performing with the guys in my band.
Music or artist you really like to listen to? I never get tired of Metallica.
New artist you admire? Joe Bonamassa - all of the guitar chops, tone and skills, mixed
with all of the soul and superb vocal ability of the founding Blues greats.
What bands today could you see being around in 25 years?
Uh…The Rolling Stones, KISS and Ozzy…those guys will NEVER die! Hahaha
Weird Al Yankovich is TIMELESS!
What were your first three albums ever owned?
Van Halen – 1984
Chicago’s Greatest Hits
Beastie Boys – Licensed to ILL
Five CDs you can’t live without?
Metallica – The Black Album
Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced?
Stevie Ray Vaughan – Couldn’t Stand The Weather
The Blues Brothers – Definitive Collection
Van Halen I
Most embarrassing thing in your CD collection?
Oh jeeze, I DJ on the side, so I would have to say Colour Me Bad or Kenny G
Favorite movies?
All of the Star Wars
All of the Lord of The Rings
T2
Batman Begins
The Count of Monte Cristo
North Shore
Tommy Boy
Favorite television shows?
Every Browns, Indians, Cavs and Buckeyes game
Jeopardy
Sports Center
How I Met Your Mother
Last Comic Standing
Your last meal on earth?
Steak & Mashed Potatoes
Do you collect anything?
Stuffed Bears and T-shirts
Book that everyone should read?
The Bible
Who are your heroes?
Right Now… LEBRON JAMES!!!
…and My Mom & Dad of course
What song would you play for someone who needed some “soul healing” music?
Life By The Drop – Stevie Ray Vaughan
What’s in your CD player right now?
The Baddest of George Thorogood – Greatest Hits
It’s 1969, you’re 18 years old, and you have the opportunity to go to
Woodstock. Would you go? No, I’d be PLAYING there!!!
First cut on your dream mix CD? Rusty Cage – Soundgarden
What do you do in your day job? Project Manager for a Remodeling Company
What do you like to do in your spare time? Spare Time??? WHAT’S THAT???
Relate a funny or outrageous story from a gig.
Besides drunk people always stumbling and falling into my stuff???
Some Russian guy kept giving us $20 each time to play “Back in the U.S.S.R.” and
“Sweet Home Alabama” like 3-4 times in a row.
Favorite website? www.MusiciansFriend.com
Most unusual request while playing out? Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Favorite beverage at a gig? Red Bull and Vodka or LaBatt Blue
Name two songs you’d love to see on your “To Learn” list:
Riders On The Storm – The Doors
I Don’t Live Today – Jimi Hendrix (I really like Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s version)
Most tiresome request while playing out? Free Bird and Mustang Sally
If you went to hell, what song would be played over and over? I've narrowed it
down to three and I can't decide from there:
"Mmmmmm Bop" - Hansen (ten seconds is enough to to make you want to commit
suicide)
"When a Man Loves a Woman" - Michael Bolton (Percy Sledge should slap him...HARD)
Anything by Linkin Park (because they all have the same formula, the same hook, the
same sound,
the same stupid lyrics, the same sampling, the same beat, the same rapping, the same
production,
the same whining, the same screaming, over, and over, and over, and over, and over...
AND IT DRIVES ME INSANE!!!
What is your advice to up-and-coming musicians?
(1) Learn and appreciate where the music came from.
(2) Learn to play well with other people
(3) Play for the love and enjoyment of the music and performing – NOT THE $$$.
Describe yourself in three words: Passionate, Straight-Forward, Intelligent
Email address: shadyhayes007@oh.rr.com
Birthday? May, 1976
Bands you are currently in? SHADY DRIVE and Downed Side Up (solo side project)
How did you end up in your current band? I started this project because I wanted to
play Blues & Rock with musicians that truly love and understand the music, that really
enjoy playing live and want to have a good time & positive attitude while doing it.
Other bands you have been in?
Jarvis (90’s cover band),
The Balance Band (mainly a wedding and private party band)
Neccos For Breakfast (all original, modern pop/rock band)
What instruments do you play? Mainly guitar, but I mess around with the harmonica,
the drums and some piano. I played the trumpet in 4th and 5th grade band.
Why did you choose this instrument? Chicks man, it’s all about the chicks…
Talk about your gear, favorite instruments, why you like or use certain things.
I LOVE my Fender Strat!!! American made, maple neck, Sienna Sunburst finish, Texas
Special single coil neck and middle pickups with a Seymour Duncan humbucker on the
bridge.
I also have a black Epiphone Dot semi-hollowbody that I tune to “open G” and play with a
glass slide for that Delta Blues and George Thorogood sound. Sometimes I tune it to
standard tuning to play Chuck Berry and Stray Cats rock-a-billy type stuff too.
Fender Hot Rod Deluxe amp – GREAT tone, warm tube sound, small & lightweight for gigs,
but packs an AMAZING amount of “punch” for a 40w amp with (1) 10” speaker.
Gotta’ love the lead channel and foot switch too.
Ibanez TS-9 Overdrive pedal – simple, but sounds AWESOME. I LOVE that raunchy,
slightly overdriven Blues sound, i.e. Stevie Ray / Jimi Hendrix.
I also use a DanElectro PB&J delay pedal, an Ibanez CS-9 chorus, a BOSS MT-3 Metal
Zone pedal (go figure?) and of course my Jim Dunlop Jimi Hendrix issue Wah-Wah pedal.
Other guitars & amps in my arsenal:
Jackson Fusion w/double locking trem (my “shred” guitar)
Takamine Elec/Acoustic
Washburn “Les Paul” knockoff, but with the Gibson Pickups!!!
Marshall 6100LM 30th Anniversary amp with a 1960 4x10 half-stack (for the heavy stuff)
Age you started playing? Messed around when I was younger, but started for real at 14
When was your first gig, and were you paid for it? A friend’s graduation party - No
What is your favorite piece of music to perform and why?
Purple Haze - I love that song and I love Jimi. It’s very unique.
I like the way we play it and it gives me a chance to “go off” in some cool directions. Plus,
everyone seems to like it and it usually gets the most crowd response.
Influences? For musicianship, song playing and writing:
The Beatles by far…They are the GREATEST EVER!!!
And I would also say I actually have a lot of “metal” and “grunge” influences too like,
Metallica, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver
For guitar playing:
Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Billy Gibbons, Eric Clapton, Joe Bonamassa,
George Thorogood, Eric Sardinas, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Gary Hoey
Eric Johnson, Eddie Van Halen
Favorite local artist? Tony Koussa Jr. – Supurb talent with all of the elements of heart,
soul and feeling. His band is fantastic and they are the nicest guys I’ve ever met.
I owe a lot to him for helping me get started on the local Cleveland music scene and for
helping me broaden my musical horizons.
Favorite venue to play? Gotta love BULLFROG’S in North Ridgeville (My hometown)
Good sounding room, nice size stage, easy load in/out, family atmosphere, AWESOME
food, hot bartenders, easy to work with management, friendly, local crowd…
It’s a win-win place all the way around!
Who would you like to perform with? Obviously any of my guitar heroes, live or dead...
But to be honest, I love performing with the guys in my band.
Music or artist you really like to listen to? I never get tired of Metallica.
New artist you admire? Joe Bonamassa - all of the guitar chops, tone and skills, mixed
with all of the soul and superb vocal ability of the founding Blues greats.
What bands today could you see being around in 25 years?
Uh…The Rolling Stones, KISS and Ozzy…those guys will NEVER die! Hahaha
Weird Al Yankovich is TIMELESS!
What were your first three albums ever owned?
Van Halen – 1984
Chicago’s Greatest Hits
Beastie Boys – Licensed to ILL
Five CDs you can’t live without?
Metallica – The Black Album
Jimi Hendrix – Are You Experienced?
Stevie Ray Vaughan – Couldn’t Stand The Weather
The Blues Brothers – Definitive Collection
Van Halen I
Most embarrassing thing in your CD collection?
Oh jeeze, I DJ on the side, so I would have to say Colour Me Bad or Kenny G
Favorite movies?
All of the Star Wars
All of the Lord of The Rings
T2
Batman Begins
The Count of Monte Cristo
North Shore
Tommy Boy
Favorite television shows?
Every Browns, Indians, Cavs and Buckeyes game
Jeopardy
Sports Center
How I Met Your Mother
Last Comic Standing
Your last meal on earth?
Steak & Mashed Potatoes
Do you collect anything?
Stuffed Bears and T-shirts
Book that everyone should read?
The Bible
Who are your heroes?
Right Now… LEBRON JAMES!!!
…and My Mom & Dad of course
What song would you play for someone who needed some “soul healing” music?
Life By The Drop – Stevie Ray Vaughan
What’s in your CD player right now?
The Baddest of George Thorogood – Greatest Hits
It’s 1969, you’re 18 years old, and you have the opportunity to go to
Woodstock. Would you go? No, I’d be PLAYING there!!!
First cut on your dream mix CD? Rusty Cage – Soundgarden
What do you do in your day job? Project Manager for a Remodeling Company
What do you like to do in your spare time? Spare Time??? WHAT’S THAT???
Relate a funny or outrageous story from a gig.
Besides drunk people always stumbling and falling into my stuff???
Some Russian guy kept giving us $20 each time to play “Back in the U.S.S.R.” and
“Sweet Home Alabama” like 3-4 times in a row.
Favorite website? www.MusiciansFriend.com
Most unusual request while playing out? Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Favorite beverage at a gig? Red Bull and Vodka or LaBatt Blue
Name two songs you’d love to see on your “To Learn” list:
Riders On The Storm – The Doors
I Don’t Live Today – Jimi Hendrix (I really like Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s version)
Most tiresome request while playing out? Free Bird and Mustang Sally
If you went to hell, what song would be played over and over? I've narrowed it
down to three and I can't decide from there:
"Mmmmmm Bop" - Hansen (ten seconds is enough to to make you want to commit
suicide)
"When a Man Loves a Woman" - Michael Bolton (Percy Sledge should slap him...HARD)
Anything by Linkin Park (because they all have the same formula, the same hook, the
same sound,
the same stupid lyrics, the same sampling, the same beat, the same rapping, the same
production,
the same whining, the same screaming, over, and over, and over, and over, and over...
AND IT DRIVES ME INSANE!!!
What is your advice to up-and-coming musicians?
(1) Learn and appreciate where the music came from.
(2) Learn to play well with other people
(3) Play for the love and enjoyment of the music and performing – NOT THE $$$.
Describe yourself in three words: Passionate, Straight-Forward, Intelligent
Email address: shadyhayes007@oh.rr.com
| Welcome to Spotlight! ....the opportunity for local musicians to be placed front and center. Enjoy the show! 7/28/07 Vol. XIII |
