Coffee With Michael Romeo / Symphony X

[@TheJLPShow]

THE most underrated guitarist and songwriter in metal. A true genius. Humble, grounded and real. 🤘🏻

[@Lord_Raptor]

FACTS!

[@armandblake]

DOUBLE FACTS!

[@raidrocker9048]

TRIPLED.

[@chilepeulla]

He really is a genius composer, an so skilled with the guitar!

[@jordaotoledano122]

He's not underrated as a guitarist,he's a very good guitar player and nobody said the opposite...You wanted to say he's not a worldwide celebrity? Then I agree

[@clarkbalte0329]

OMG! It's Michael Romeo. Didn't see it coming. Thank you OLA!

[@EISENKEILER]

right :)

[@victorsardon64]

Agreed!

[@jeanchristophevalossiere]

@@clarkbalte0329 exzctly the same

[@carloswar6988]

Same here Romeo it's a beast👏

[@TheGuitarWorkout]

Romeo is quite a private person, so it's a real pleasure to watch a 30-minute chat with him, especially when he talks about the roots of the band, which is rarely mentioned. Thanks Ola, and long live Symphony X!

[@derekmcdonald2991]

@@TheGuitarWorkout hearing how he started it was hilarious! "Ya I got a band like that" starts calling people lol

[@zagarothdb8777]

Same thoughts. Really great interview with things I've never heard him discuss. Wtg Ola 👏

[@igorlemes1123]

its crazy right? who knows, next thing we know we might get a pro shot of the band live! a man can dream...

[@Vestu]

Best Romeo interview to date imo

[@MrAnorexemon]

My only problem with this interview is that it wasn’t 5 hours long! Thank you so much, Ola!

[@spitefulwar]

At least 5 extra minutes to "The Odyssey"...

[@clarenceoveur9497]

100% the most underrated underappreciated guitarist of all time by the masses. It's borderline criminal how "niche" Romeo and Symphony X are.

[@FS-rm1yg]

@@clarenceoveur9497 not underrated

[@clarenceoveur9497]

​@@FS-rm1yg yes, he is. Read again, talking about the general guitar public. The fact YOU and our tinny bubble appreciate MR's greatness, doesn't make him less underrated.

[@FS-rm1yg]

@@clarenceoveur9497 I have to agree with you. But I was thinking you were talking about our public rock metal fans.

[@Wodenson5150]

I fiercly agree.

[@realtoken]

@@clarenceoveur9497 absolutely agreed, romeo is INSANELY good in everything. Highly underrated!

[@adamwakeling]

Hearing Symphony X The Odyssey for the first time was a life changing experience for me.

[@BrofUJu]

I was 14, so sick! Saw them play the whole song live in 2007 or something and it was so cool

[@sebR13]

@@BrofUJuyeah I think you’re right. Saw them in Paris at that time I think, opening for Dream Theater for their Chaos in Motion tour, they played the Odyssey that night. It was incredible to witness that live

[@aiturran]

My first album was Twilight in Olympus. And it's still a soft spot for me. "Smoke and what...?"

[@zombiehead9163]

@@adamwakeling same

[@KiCkFLiPKiCkFLiP]

Same

[@LeonTodd]

Mike is a prog metal god. Such an identifiable style and he's been banging out epic work for decades.

[@joetal]

Nobody is hardly ever talking to Michael Romeo! Thanks Ola for hunting him down and interviewing him. The guy is criminally underrated.

[@DaveCortesMusic]

Ola asking for the guitar tone on "Divine Wings of Tragedy" daaaaaaamn.... this interview is straight 10/10, thank you Ola!

[@Metalbass1979]

Wow! I couldn't click this fast enough! Best band in history. I met them in 2002 in Chicago. My brother was supposed to go, but ended up in the hospital. When I stood with Jason and Michael Lepond, I told them how bummed he was. They were like, 'That sucks. Let's call him.' Total class act.

[@Wodenson5150]

That's so fucking cool!

[@LydianSea]

WOW!!!! ROMEO IS SUCH AN AMAZING COMPOSER!! I'm really looking forward to this.

[@thysdreyer6886]

Finally someone worth having on the show , arguably one of the most talented guitarists of all time .

[@kordaxmint533]

Holy sh, I can't believe that! He's my guitar hero, and Symphony X, oh man... This is the best interview ever.

[@mikedawesofficial]

This is a treat. Michael is a hero and Symphony X is one of the first totally mind blowing bands I heard. Saw them live and they were flawless. So so good.

[@DogeDelecto]

OMFG, THANK YOU OLA! To this day, MR is the most humble guitarist i have ever met. 17 year old me met him at a fan greet during Gigantour, Holmdel NJ 2006...Naturally, being a jersey kid, he was "our" guy, y'know? Sayreville was only 20 minutes away, and i had been trying to land lessons with him for years. When i finally met him, my exact words were "DUDE YOU ARE LIKE JASON BECKER AND YNGWIE COMBINED!" He actually blushed a little, just smiled, laughed and said " Man, i am nowhere near as good as those guys." That was such a pivotal learning moment, beyond humbling, exactly what i needed to hear from someone i practically worshipped. I knew i wasn't alone, even my heroes had difficulty accepting their own talents, as i did with mine. More importantly, i learned that people who are the best at their jobs have very little ego and are kind and forgiving towards their "inferiors." I needed that lesson, really bad... Thank you, Mr Romeo. You helped me become a better person with that small moment of humility. I hope to run into you again someday.

[@nathanhogsed7475]

Fucking Legend! Michael is a phenomenal player and underrated in my opinion. Doesn't get the recognition he deserves. Symphony X rule!

[@soilworker2904]

Romeo is the GOAT in my book. His playing is simply astonishing,

[@Steve_plays_guitar]

He’s such a bad ass player, seems like a nice guy too.

[@michael4591]

Michael to me is the nicest guy in metal and the perfect player. I love him!

[@achillesamusic]

I could easily watch Ola praising him for 30mins straight :)

[@progarrett]

Guess we'd all do the same. Guy is a legend

[@kylegrossi8175]

same!!! i always think ass kissing or praising is cringe, but not this time.

[@dggoodlifemedia]

Michael is an incredible talent! In my view, the most underrated guitar player on the planet! One of the best!

[@kamikazekrush3758]

Thank you so much for this interview! Michael Romeo is my all time favorite musician, and just seems like the nicest guy, i remember buying "The Damnation Game" CD from a import CD company out of a magazine, best $45 dollars i ever spent!!!!

[@horrifyinggelatinousblob]

He's so god damn good at playing guitar! Incredible composition and technique truly a generational talent. No flash all substance.

[@nacionmistika2788]

Symphony X is my safe place since the last 15 years or so. Everytime I put ANY of their records in my car, for example, I'm marveled beyond words, no matter how many times I listen to it, and that's not an easy thing to do. Their sound is a bold wall and so concise and full of brutal beauty. Michael Romeo is usually referred to as the guy who writes neoclassical stuff, but I belive that what this guy is giving to MODERN metal is even bigger. His solo stuff... In a time when matal is dying, he keeps evolving and delivering amazing modern sounds that any 'new' riffy metal band out there could not mimc or replicate. Thank you Michael Romeo for changing my life and my perspective for music.

[@BMR86]

I first listened to Symphony X circa 2003/04 while I myself started playing music in a prog rock band. the guitarists in my band were huge fans of SX, but I was already neck deep into DT at that point, so finding out about SX was such a refreshing experience, it was also metal, also proggy, but that element of neo classical touch to it made my mind go crazy! I've been a fan ever since! Anyway 2007 rolls around and they finally toured Mexico, I was so freaking stoked, they were so obscure in my eyes that I thought, no way they would ever step foot and play shows in my country, but then it happened and they played at the Cafe Iguana in Monterrey and I HAD to be there! As you can probably guess the show was amazing, and I was right, there was a lot of people that attended the show but it wasn't a sold out show, but I was so happy I finally saw them live, never thought it would happen! the show ends, and I was still so pumped and I remembered a friend of mine that used to work as a receptionist in a hotel downtown Monterrey, which was a several blocks from where Cafe Iguana is, told me earlier that day "hey I think Symphony X is staying at the hotel across the street from where I work! you should come check!", so I thought to hell with it let's go! I walked all the way to the hotel like a 15 min walk to get there and I enter the lobby and saw it was a bit dark but I asked for them if maybe someboy in the lobby knew or had seen them.... then as the receptionists were talking to me, from afar I hear someone yell "HEY !! OVER HERE!!" so I walk over to where I heard that and it was none other than RUSSELL ALLEN who had uttered those words, I WAS BEYOND STOKED, and sitting across from him was MICHAEL ROMEO ha! they were just chilling there just chatting but they were SUPER welcoming, I remember RUSSELL saying "come on man! sit have a beer with us!!" and I actually sat down with them and one handed a beer to me (funny to point out the dang beer was warm as hell lol!) but I still popped it open and took a few sips so I tell them my story about how I started listening to their music and that I was in a band inspiried by them and so on and they were all open ears and said "well we're glad you enjoyed the show man!" another funny bit that happened is that I had bought a Symphony X shirt but it wasn't from their official merch, you know how it is in Mexico, the hustle people do outside of concerts, there were a TON of bootleg merch with the band logos and such, so I had bought one of those, instead of the official merch. Then MICHAEL goes "lol! what is that you're wearing!!" and I innocently said "oh! I bought it just outside the venue!!" and they burst laughing lol! then I proceeded to ask for a photo and an autograph, said thank you and left! I was soo damn happy that night! me writing all of this to point out that both MICHAEL and RUSSELL were such a down to earth and real humble people and I will never forget that interaction! bonus: I HAD NO IDEA how the band actually started! what a cool chat Ola thank you for this !

[@damjankalauz5788]

Iconoclast what a work...thanks Michael

[@greekfreak1980]

I love the fact that he keeps his live rig so relatively simple. The Quad Cortex with his ENGL profiled, a chorus, a delay, an overdrive & I think he also uses a wah and that's pretty much it. ''I'm fine.." I've actually seen SX live a couple of times over the years and his live tone was always amazing. ...and then you have people online, spending more time obsessing about pedals, amps, pre-amps, pickups and what not, instead of actually playing.

[@antothbs2865]

Thank you very much Ola for this coffee!! Symphony X made me the musician I am today. And Michael clearly belongs in my pantheon of guitarists.

[@josedaliortega1975]

Man, I'm 11 again!!!!! Thanks, Ola! That Inferno (Unleash the Fire) first riff changed my life and the way I see guitar. The Odyssey was their first album I listened to. Then I spent the rest of my teenage years with Symphony X on loop.

[@harpsdesire4200]

Same, blasted that album all throughout high school

[@bellend69]

Absolute LEGEND !! !! !! My favourite guitarist of all time and down right nice guy !! !! !!

[@jalalfaruque9527]

Thanks a million Ola for bringing the legendary Romeo 🎸❤️🎸🎸

[@LexxiGore]

Killer shredder guitarist, Killer Songwriter, Composer .. and his band complete package..🤘🤘🤘

[@FilipFichoBoshevski]

Just the best guy ever, i love Michael Romeo. My spirit animal :)

[@GuitarSoloReactions]

Love Symphony X and Michael's playing.

[@delvk]

One of the greatest composers of our time and extraordinary guitar player. Big fan! Thanks!

[@darenwalker2517]

Michael Romeo is the man. Super under the rader for how good he is.

[@arvind-h1c]

Never saw this coming!!! Michael Romeo, one of the best guitar players❤

[@HighlandViking]

The most underrated metal guitar player ever! Romeo is absolutely amazing 🤘

[@9am53]

He needs way more attention, what a great platform to get him some love

[@shen1658]

My favorit guitarist and band since 1997, a legend. Can't wait the next album.

[@luisleon7089]

Michael Romeo, Old school guy !!! No bull#$$% Best Guitarist Ever !

[@kylegrossi8175]

So glad that Ola got him on. Mike is a huge influence on me. That era from 94 - 2002 is some of my fav music ever written & performed. I wish this interview was 2 hours and Ola got to geek out and ask Mike all kinds of questions.

[@Maxim_BornDivided]

Such a nice down to earth guy that every musician relates to. A LEGEND ! 🤘

[@thenoodleking]

Such a down to earth guy. Had the opportunity to sit down with the whole band back stage at a show in Quebec City. Took a bunch of time before the show started to talk to my friend and I and even let us try his guitar.

[@MauricioDelgado0722]

What a privilege to have been able to attend a couple of SX concerts in Costa Rica. Probably the best concert experience was enjoying The Odyssey song live and meet the guys. MR is such a nice and humble guy.

[@scottyknows]

Hearing The Odyssey back when I was in high school, with a couple guitar years under my belt, changed my life.

[@vegangreen1269]

Miss him! A true master of his craft!

[@chadsux]

WOW!!! Michael Romeo!!! That's like finding a unicorn in the wild!!!! Thank you so much for this interview with him. It's incredibly rare for him to give interviews like this.

[@LorcanWard]

I’ve been looking forward to this for so long! I watched those Guitar Chapter videos so much back in the day and Symphony X was always on repeat, his solo albums War of the Worlds showed he still has it🤘🏻this interview has answered so many questions I’ve had since first hearing his playing. Thanks for organising it Ola 🍻

[@SkylineBilip]

Michael absolute TOP G. Fckin love this guy, he saved my LIFE! 💕💕💕💕

[@Killerklownsfromouterspace]

Met Romeo on The Odyssey tour and he was one of the most humble genuine guitarist ever. Talked for 30 mins or so about influences, bands, touring etc. Such a cool dude.

[@EmilianoFranquetGuitar]

Yes! Michael Romeo 😃🙌🏻 Thanks for this, Ola!

[@johnramsey2480]

Damnit Man.....that interview was SOO WELL WORTH THE WAIT!!! Michael is just as Humble a Man, Musician and Gear Genius as there ever was in Our Guitar World!!! THANK YOU OLA FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN SIR!! 🤘🤘🤘

[@ToxicxEternity]

absolute legend

[@GuiAnarc]

Oh my god !! The master Michael Romeo 💛💛

[@carlasker9285]

The greatest of all the great metal guitarists. The one who can do everything; composition, concept, classical, progressive, metal, riff, rhythm, acoustic, solos... A shy, humble person with overwhelming kindness towards others. He knows his greatness but never brags neither in words nor music. As a band and as individual musicians, Symphony X can't be topped (Miller was superior to LePond, but anyway...) and their repertoire and streak of albums is unparalleled. Not a bad song. Been a fan for over 20 years. The show in Stockholm that took place about two hours after this interview was one of their best I've seen. Russell sings better now than in 1995. I have a masters and teachers degree in vocal pedagogy, but I still can't fathom how he keeps improving. One of the most important bands in my life and to me, the greatest metal band of all time. Divine Wings of Tragedy will never be topped. Tack Ola, för din fina intervju! And thanks to MJR, for such a great show.

[@felipeulloa8563]

Michael Romeo is one of my main influences. He is out of this world. Personally, I would have asked him more about cinematic writing music. But it's a really good interview. Thanks you Ola

[@chilepeulla]

You’re absolutely right, his cinematics writing is quite an unexplored part of him, and he is so good at it!

[@Tom-er4fr]

The best guitarist/composer combo of this century. Mozart of our generation.

[@marcelo.bassalo]

Saw Symphony X in Brazil. They are awesome live :)

[@corysanders8618]

I've met Michael Romeo a couple of times at meet n greets. Ola's asking the same kind of questions, the compliments, the gear, and the nervousness....he's one of us, a fan, and I appreciate him for this.

[@caladan_brewed]

I've been a huge Symphony X fan since the late 2000's when I found a copy of Paradise Lost through the public library. Great interview!

[@Insekkton]

Thank you SO MUCH for this interview. I really like this man, as a guitarist, composer and persona.

[@bodenbring]

These Coffees with Ola have attracted huge rock stars for a while now, and rightly so: you keep getting better at interviewing them, you give them lots of room to express themselves without rushing them; your deep understanding of rock and metal composing enables you to ask intelligent and at times very detailed questions about the creative process, and you blend this with more general questions regarding their lives as musicians and/or just as fellow people, and your own personal opinions where it makes sense. They're a joy to watch Ola!

[@raymanthewolf]

I fucking love Michael’s legato, melodic playing!!! He’s a BEAST!!!!

[@BearReportsss]

Really looking forward to the next half hour here. This guy is soooo good and never seems to be adequately appreciated

[@bruth6138]

Awesome. Michael is in my top 5! What a dude. While his soloing is so good, he writes some super delicious riffs.

[@jamesmandarino6641]

Yes my favorite guitarist ever Romeo is absolutely incredible so cool seeing this thanks Ola for getting him on.

[@rogermcp]

Too short! Please schedule a part 2 sometime soon. Thank you for having him on. He is the most underrated guitarist ever. Symphony X’s music is so addictive. Sorry to hear about all the struggles they endured, but I’m thrilled to hear they’ll be working on a new album soon. It’s been a really long time. Every album is a classic! I love the different motifs Romeo adds to his solos and the arrangement. I think Russell is the best rock singer out there for the last decade! Anyway, thanks again bro to both of you!

[@ChrisHariis]

Great interview, really and truly informative. This guy is something else and so down to earth. Thank you Ola!

[@smiljanicn]

Like all maestros, so humble and nice person.

[@migueldonneys]

Thanks for bring a true guitar hero! Every time Romeo speaks, he teaches you something. The key word for me in this interview was “concept”, a lot of guitarists play very good but no body tells a story like he does! Thanks romeo! I saw them live a couple of months ago and after all this years they still leave you with a big smile after a great show.

[@templaren89]

Freakin' love Romeo, the ultimate metal prog guitarist. Great interview Ola!

[@bouyabouya]

Omg !!!! A proper good interview of the master ❤thank you very much

[@NeroTheIncredible]

Love Michael Romeo . First Time I heard Sea of Lies it was just "Yngwie on steroids with killer speedy riffs" but its a lot more than that ! LOVE SYMPHONY X ! 🤘🤘🤘

[@ericwright3646]

You're completely right! Michael is a HUUUGE influence on us all! Really awesome to see this here. Good stuff!

[@Lieutenant_Dude]

This is huge for me. I learned about Michael in 2006 when I turned 17. A guy in the early college summer school I was staying at showed me Divine Wings of Tragedy and Odyssey in his dorm. I had only been playing guitar for a year and a half, and it blew my fucking mind. From that day forth, the possibilities on guitar were never ending for me. And yet, Michael is still in the top 5 of greatest masters of this instrument for me.

[@panospeeay5466]

Few players in metal have Michael's approach to melody and aggression, so glad to see him here!

[@antoniusmetal]

Man! I haven't played Symphony X for a while, I decided to listen to Damnation game, and this pops up as I'm listening!! Awesome that Ola got him of the show.

[@mladenbradac3832]

Greatest guitarist, and modern age composer in my book !!!

[@fireinthepentagram]

I wanna hug this man I am so thankful for what he is and his influence. Long live MJR!

[@AmeenKOM]

One of my iconic guitar influences during my high school years. I'm 38 yo old now. John Petrucci, michael Romeo and an underrated french guitarist named Patrick Rondat were my guitar heros and made me pract8ce guitar for 6 to 8 hours a day. I did good back then and enjoyed playing in underground bands although in my country which I love dearly it's pretty hard to make a career off of playing prog metal and whatnot...Thank you Ola for this amazing chat coffee time with this very talented, humble down to earth musician, composer and guitarist. Much LOVE from the Kingdom Of Morocco 🇲🇦♥️!!!

[@youviral328]

Elegy

[@gizmomogwai1041]

Patrick Rondat is the G. O. A. T! Amazing guitar player and a really humble dude. He did play with the Dutch band Elegy for few years.

[@felipousismix]

It's clear that Ola had a good time with Michael, this was a very friendly interview and all was flowing nicely. Michael's playing is just flawless and melodic without becoming boring, and Symphony X is just one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Thanks Ola for doing this!

[@encompassthyeclipse7278]

This guy is my guitar hero. Dime died years ago and left me without a living idol and the torch was passed to Romeo, I have them both immortalized in ink on my back. Phenomenal and creative players.

[@EJ_Celis]

The last time I saw him talk was like the first youtube years in his instructional video. This is gold!

[@metusaalemi]

Shit yeah!!! What an interview!!! Heartfelt thank you's once again Ola for a dream come true video!!! For me as well DT and SymX were two of my biggest influences back in early 00's and this channel is just a gift that keeps on giving!

[@endryus75]

Mike is my hero !! I've met him last month again, real cool dude. I love everything he plays, what a genius !! Thanks for this interview, Ola !!!

[@Caioalecrim84]

I am very happy they are working on a record. I love these guys. As a singer and a guitar player, Romeo and Allen are the guys I look up to…

[@jaycastrosound2234]

I was waiting for this kind of interview ever since I was in High School in 2006! Thanks Ola and of course Mr. Romeo!

[@tvchannelnewz]

I haven't seen a second yet, but I already know this is gonna be my favorite Coffee With Ola!

[@AttilaHun-p9e]

Every guitar player has changed but M.ROMEO never gets old?? He looks awesome! SUCH A TALENTED LEGEND ❤

[@LucasBarnery]

Thank you so much Ola. Romeo it's my biggest inspiration at the guitar. Amazing content. Thank you so much

[@emo1551]

Great interview! MJR is THE man! Saw them two times in the Netherlands last month: jaw dropping! Huge influence on my playing, especially the songwriting. Keep up the good work Ola!

[@The_Majestic-p6f]

One of the most underrated guitarists in the genre

[@anthonykrauser544]

Michael Romeo is guitar God his Incredible composition and techniqu is so Epic

[@jorgeserafini2994]

I didn’t see it coming!!!!!! Michael Romeo Rules!!! Thanks for this interview!!!! 🙏🙏🙏💯💯💯💯💯

[@aboomer420]

This guy is the reason I play guitar to this day. Wicked!

[@Delarammirnaghibi]

Thank you for this interview Ola! Really enjoyed it! He is such an icon 🤘🏽🤘🏽❤

[@Aresmusic.official]

My goodness! The Maestro himself ❤

[@andonivillarreal9877]

What a legend, thanks Ola

[@cortarelva]

Spent the whole week listening to Symphony X and look who it is to close the week on a golden note! This was great.