It was probably my mum who inspired me to pick up the guitar, because growing up she was always strumming around on an acoustic around the house, and i wanted to be able to do that too because i loved listening to music, so playing must be just as awesome.
I started learning how to play towards the tail end of 1996 when i was 9 years old. Initially i started out trying to play songs by ear, some little Metallica riffs here and there, but i wasn't as immersed in the metal as i am now. I used to think it was awesome to sit there playing Nirvana and Marilyn Manson songs on one string. But fuck, i was only 9 so i think that's alright.
I think the guitarist who pushed me to keep playing and to become better was Tony Iommi. When i was around 14-15 i would sit in my room and try my hardest to learn those early Black Sabbath songs. Totally by ear i might add, even though i wasn't that much of a guitarist at the time. That was awesome because it's how i discovered the minor pentatonic scale by accident. I just noticed that in some of the riffs and in alot of the sections of the solos that i was able to play there was this reccurring pattern. Top stuff.
From about that age i pretty much started buying every guitar magazine i could find every month, trying to soak up as much knowledge as possible because i new i actually wanted to be good, but i finally knew HOW to be good.
I didn't really start putting in the 10 + hours a day practice until i was about 18, and it's only now, after recording my playing, that i've seen how far i've come. I know i've still got a long way to go, but who cares... I CAN FUCKING SHRED, SWEEP, TAP, AND RIP THE SHIT OUTTA MY FRETBOARD.
As far as guitarists who have influenced the way i play i can't really say. I mean i have a lot of favourite guitarists and i learn a lot of guest columns in guitar magazines and stuff, but i think it's only in improvisation where you see what your style really is, and if that's the case i'd have to say my lead guitar style is mostly a mashed mix of Yngwie Malmsteen, Chuck Schuldiner, and Dave Mustaine.
