Here is a video by Purest of Pain from Netherlands. Merel Bechtold is the lead guitar player and she has some serious stage presence. Totally can move the crowd! \m/
The founder, vocalist and rhythm guitar player of the Polish metal band Crystal Viper, Marta Gabriel has been announced as a guest player for the legendary U.S. Power Metal act Jack Starr’s Burning Starr. We found this a good excuse to have a chat with her and learn more about her and her band, which has been around since 2003 and released 4 full length albums as well as a few singles and played a lot of festivals around Europe.
QueensOfMetal.com You are founder of the band Crystal Viper. Could you also tell us more about your band? Marta Gabriel: Crystal Viper started when I decided to make my biggest dream coming true – to create a real, heavy metal band, with dedicated musicians, and kickin’ ass music! To define my band in a few words: Crystal Viper is a powerful female fronted heavy metal bomb, inspired by bands such as Mercyful Fate, Candlemass, King Diamond, Nifelheim, Judas Priest and the whole NWOBHM… Come and see us live – and you’ll never forget it. There is more! Please click here…
We had the chance to have a chat with Stephanie Pickard. Being a guitar player, playing in a band, and teaching guitar as a profession, we think she would be a prefect candidate for our very first interview!
QueensOfMetal.com: You are a Musician’s Institute graduate. What was your major? Was it genre specific? Stephanie Pickard: Yes, I went to MI and majored in guitar. The way they separate the programs there isn’t by genre, it’s by instrument so you do actually end up playing and learning a lot of different styles and techniques. The way that they gear it more towards your personal interests is with your private lesson instructor and you do also get to choose which live playing workshops you decide to participate in, which are anything from reggae to metal.
QoM.com How did you decide to study music? Stephanie Honestly, there was nothing else I wanted to do. I was actually having a hard time towards the end of high school because I just wanted to start my life and focus on music. I was a hard worker but not one of those kids that school just came easy to and I was ready to focus on my passion. And I just couldn’t see myself doing anything else besides playing guitar. That being said though, just because you are passionate about it and you know what you want to do, it’s still not an easy path by any means.
You might have heard Nita Strauss from Iron Maidens. She also has an original band Consume The Fire. Here is a link to a video she created for an intro solo. She is a shredder!
