Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Interview with Al Pitrelli

Berlin, Tempodrom, January 25th 2014. Pizza, Jeff Beck and silence. We were aloud to talk to Al Pitrelli and there he is! Camera: Stephan Schmidt. Light and photos: Mark Kant. Interview: Viktor Buettner.

[@ronaldsyme8737]

Al lives in my home town, and just started giving guitar lessons at a local guitar. super humble, and down to earth guy.

[@DanielC__]

Just heard him talk about giving lessons on an interview. How cool is that? He did it more for fun and to help people than money. What an awesome guy.

[@timothyholmes4588]

al did a guitar clinic at my local music store back in like 94 it was amazing. he gave so much information and talked to everyone such a great guy and has been one of my favorite guitarist ever since then.

[@klistarf]

What a great interview. Al is incredibly talented - a phenomenal guitar player! And this interview shows him to be a really nice guy. Not to mention intelligent, and very grounded. I enjoyed this! Thanks for posting... \m/ (:o)

[@williamchiusano3185]

Al was my Guitar Teacher in NYC Long Island .. Al Is a GREAT PERFORMER AND Even More So a Great Soul

[@anthonybumbalo4989]

The same way he feels about Beck's playing was the same way I felt after a lesson with him. After every lesson, I would walk out amazed, mind blown, and discouraged at the same time AND this was before (mid 80's) he "matured" as a musician. I still go back and listen to the stuff he recorded during the lessons and still feel goose bumps. He always said, grab all kinds of music and listen to everything, appreciate everything. To me, he is amongst the greats already. I couldn't be happier for him...

[@ngdguitar5081]

Agreed! I took lessons with Al at Focus II back in the mid 80's for about 4 years - he's a great teacher and a phenomenal player. I still have a bunch of cassettes that he made on the old Fostex 4 track - amazing stuff.

[@mitsko42]

+SkyNett, I was there at Focus II with Al as well. The very first time I heard a TSO track I said to myself, That's got to be Pitrelli. Good for him, Exceptional player, great teacher and all around good guy. I can't count the number of times I've seen TSO now, but never on the WC. Not yet at least.

[@ngdguitar5081]

Mike Mits Cool! Where are you from? I live in Michigan now, but originally from East Meadow - I was down at Focus all the time when I was a kid. : )

[@anthonybumbalo4989]

+Mike Mits Recently had the pleasure of seeing Al play last week in Denver. Sat 11th row center stage. Took a gazillion pics with my phone, lmao. All the times I saw TSO, it was on the east coast. Found it odd that he didn't play the Long Island shows. I remember the first time I heard the xmas Sarajevo.. I too thought... That has to be him... Has to be... My first "real" guitar was a schecter, set up like his black one... First thing he did was take a razor blade to the back of the neck. Damn near Sh*t myself... until he handed it back and the neck felt that much better... Aaahhh, the memories of Focus II and Guitar Center... AND AL. Glad he is doing what he is doing.

[@ngdguitar5081]

+Anthony Bumbalo Ah the black Schecter! Loved that guitar - played it a few times in lessons - that thing had Incredibly low action. Real nice guitar. Al had just come back from Berklee and doing the Michael Bolton tour when I started lessons with him. Learning from him was a fantastic opportunity.

[@Jalice4eva1920]

I just love Al! He's such a wonderful person and musician! If I could be just half as amazing as he is one day, I'll be happy. =)

[@martingimenez339]

I've met Al back in the early 90's in a music convention, along with Rudy Sarzo (another very cool guy) and we've spoke for a while...he was such a kind guy, he gave me a bunch of his picks and was very funny and I remember he played his ass off that day, it was amazing. Watching this brings back that conversation to my mind where we talked music and musicians. His face is a mix between Steven Tyler and Gary Cherone.

[@6672rock]

I loved the 2 Widowmaker albums he recorded with Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider. He laid down some smoking riffs and leads on those albums.

[@PhantomDrums917]

I saw TSO this past Tuesday in Philly after years of being a fan but never being able to have a night off from my gigs to see them. I think I've got new respect for guys like Al who, while being mostly metal, can speak so highly and with great respect for the origins of music stemming from Mozart and Bach and so on. Extremely cool interview!!

[@stephenadamsmusicalinterpr4203]

Al is super intelligent. Jeff Baxter never wanted to play the same solo every night and it drove Michael McDonald nuts.

[@bunkers1231]

A very humbled man .I wish he would've mentioned his accomplished son that I know.

[@bluetickbeagles116]

Incredible interview and fantastically intelligent artist.

[@jeannatheis6793]

Great interview!

[@john-bs8pt]

I wish he was asked about being in megadeth

[@jacobkeppler1984]

Tso great rock band ever to play Christmas rock music Jacob keppler

[@bretzagar2178]

Al knows the way of the ninja.

[@naashimdovi2272]

The only tutorial I want from petrilli is how to play actually dread and the fugitive mind

[@jacobkeppler1984]

Your a great rock legend

[@conservatorcivilus]

Love the sarcasm with a little touch of wit when he answers the last 3 questions - ha!

[@daetol95]

The 2 albums thing is great to hear. I was wondering what they would tour since The Lost Christmas Eve is done.

[@bloksaspew]

I've heard [from an official source] they're going backwards next to "Christmas Attic". It'll be GOOD,it ALWAYS IS !!

[@einaeb5]

AWESOME!

[@johnferrer641]

Knew it would be Pizza. Pizza king East Meadow for lunch great guy your friend John Ferrer

[@Jacques_Merde]

ok, do not laugh... listening to this interview with Al Pitrelli makes me think of an interview done years ago with master bike builder, Indian Larry... Both men seem well-grounded, searching for perfection in each of their crafts... Great Interview!

[@freddymyers9511]

I think it's safe to say he's enjoyed his share of spaghetti.

[@quillishwhammy3686]

As a full-blooded Italian, I find that offensive, sir.

[@awangabrartharee1802]

wow.al pitrelli look old.but still cool

[@armoredmetalhead1257]

Amazing guitarist

[@bloksaspew]

#1(masters degree in stringed instruments)#2John5.

[@andrewgallagher4586]

Never knew there were so many trans people in Siberia

[@BRUTUSbyFORCE]

Who gave a thumbs down to Al?😠

[@JdDiehl]

BRUTUSbyFORCE Guitarists who are jealous

[@ZoranSandorov]

Pacino

[@brutusbyforce4715]

Love TSO and Al. But it was weird how his forehead wrinkles up and stays that way for awhile. Don't know why I focused on that but it looks weird.😯

[@ericamariana4643]

Boa viagem pra ver. O evento é uma das melhores coisas que eu não

[@wiibasslife]

i think its botox

[@bloksaspew]

Alice Cooper stand in ?NO,the greatest guitar player ☆IN THE WORLD !☆

[@ZoranSandorov]

His name ressembles on Al Pacino’s name,isn’t it?!

[@KUDGHAT1]

Al u never needed to speak soo much n u r trained.... u don't need to speak I'll make sure if megadeath found a better solo guitarist than marty and him.... and thatz natural al.... very very very important...!!

[@zzzzzzzz5315]

Al is Genius!(cooper.megadeth.tso) He is on cocaine here?😀