MICHAEL T ROSS (Hardline,Ramos)

Michael T Ross plays the keys for melodic hard rockers Hardline, Ramos (the band featuring Two Fires/Storm guitarist Josh Ramos) and the reformed Angel. Plus Michael has his own solo album coming out. A very busy man indeed...

1. What are you currently up to?

I have recorded I'm co-writing on several albums right now including the new Hardline III. Josh Ramos and I are waiting for singer Johnny Gioeli to return from his Germany tour with Axel Rudi Pell, so we can start writing sessions as a group this time, as Johnny feels this way, we all could collaborate on really cool ideas that way too. I'm also working closely with Angel and just completed a new song called "Even Now." I start rehearsals with Angel within the next few weeks to prepare for a European tour in Holland and performing at the Bang Your Head festival in Germany with Alice Cooper. Further, I'm working one on one with Derek Sherinian (keyboardist for Billy Idol, Yngwie, Kiss, Dream Theater) as my producer for my debut solo keyboard record called "Deep Freeze" being released this year.

2. What has been the highlight(s) and low point(s) of your career to date?

The lowest has been pawning a keyboard to pay my rent a few years ago. The highest has been working with Andy Johns, knowing that he recorded "Stairway to Heaven" and getting to learn some of his tricks of the trade in the studio. And listening to cool Jimmy Page stories.

3. How did you hook-up with Hardline and what direction will the new Hardline album take?

Good friend and who happens to be one of the best guitarists that came out of the Shrapnel era Joey Tafolla, introduced me to Johnny. The new record is still being written mainly by Josh and Johnny, so I'd say the new material is in the vain of Whitesnake, Van Halen, Slaughter, Journey, etc. I'm collaborating on a really cool ballad. Johnny has been going through old Brunette material and may be using some of those tunes because they still rock. It has been of interest in having the new record sound different than the last and definitely more towards Double Eclipse. All in all, I'm sure it will be a straight ahead kick your ass rock album customary to the Hardline tradition.

4. You played the Gods Festival in the UK with Hardline – what was that like? Would you like to play the event again?

I'll tell you, going on at 1am after Jeff Scott Soto and Eric Martin already hit the stage was tough but very exciting. I'm not sure if it is better being the headliner because by the time we got on stage, everyone was all beat up. But looking back on the DVD, you could tell there were true rockers hanging in there to see us and we appreciated that. I would hope Johnny's schedule allows us to tour off the new album and definitely come back to England, as the fans there are great. Promoter Mark Ashton did a great job putting "The Gods" festival together and I would do it again in a heart beat.

5. You are working on a solo album with Derek Sherinian producing. What style of music will be on this album? Any plans to tour on the back of the album's release?

Thanks for asking, as this is my debut solo record and yes Derek is working with me step by step to help make sure this recording is going to really make a lot of waves. The material is instrumental and ranges from styles like Tony MacAlpine, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Rick Wakeman, to a Yanni on crack, along with my own style on top of all that, which is classically rooted. The drums are going to be recorded by drum guru Atma Anur (Journey, Marty Friedman, Ritchie Kotzen) and I approached Rudy Sarzo to play the bass, which he showed a lot of interest. There will be no guitars on this recording, just blistering keyboard solos with crunch. As far as engineering the record, I'm either using Phil Sossaun (Ozzy, Ritchie Kotzen) or Tom Fletcher. Tom mixed records for Scorpions, Yes, Toto, Ynwie's last record, and is now Hilary Duff's chief engineer. Second engineer will be Antonio Ruiz from RIT in Hollywood. Regarding the release, I'm in discussions with Frontiers Records out of Italy in releasing my record and hope we work something out because I really think they are the best label out there and they have supported me tremendously with Hardline and Ramos.

Photograph © 2004 Website

6. If given the chance, who would you like to work with in the future and what made you want to take up playing music?

My favorite artists of all time are no longer alive, otherwise I would of said Phil Lynott and Randy Rhoads. Today, I would really like to work with Joey Tafolla because I really think he is one of the most underrated guitarists. I would love to dook it out with him on a record like he did on his solo record back in the 80's with Paul Gilbert. If I would of had guitar on my solo record, he would be the only one I'd approach. I was so flabbergasted when he hooked me up with Hardline and I finally got to record on a record with him then suddenly due to personal reasons, Joey declined to continue with the band, although he did write some of the cool hooks on Hardline II. I got into music from my older brother who started piano lessons first and I just wanted to do what he was doing. Funny, I ended up the one who continued through with music and become a performer but I do have to say my brother's music magazine in Los Angeles is the largest music publication in Southern California, so I don't feel sorry for him. He comes and sees me play live often and recently watched me perform with Rudy Sarzo at Musician's Institute in Hollywood.

7. Given that you have so many projects and band commitments – how do you decide where your priorities lie?

Who ever leaves the most messages and bangs on my door the most gets me working on that project first. Just joking. What is nice is most projects don't overlap because each group has a dormant time during the year and I just book other projects during that time. It does suck when the tours overlap. That's usually only the problem that comes up. Or when one of the band members in a group (usually the guitarist) gets pissed that you are working on your other band's stuff when he thinks you should be working on his stuff. Speaking of guitarists, I do want to mention GIT instructor Ken Steiger, who I'm also working with. I'm a special guest on his latest release entitled "Defiance" with Virgil Donati (Steve Vai) on drums, Tony Franklin on bass (Whitesnake, Blue Murder) and Derek Sherinian on keys and as producer. I play on the track "Edge of Forever."

8. You are also a member of the reformed Angel. How did that come about and what are the band's plans over the coming year or so?

I went to see Jeff Scott Soto in Hollywood last summer and a friend hooked me up with tour manager Danny Stanton and he hired me without an audition. I had two weeks to learn 16 songs. I didn't learn quite that many in time but I did get most of the material covered. We are all excited about the new Angel record and I've been working closely with drummer Barry Brandt on new material and guitarist Steve Blaze (Lillian Axe) is writing most of the material. Bassist Randy Gregg is also in Thin Lizzy (my favorite band), so I've been really nice to him lately. Frank Dimino lives in Las Vegas and is all fired up about the new record. His voice sounds better than ever.

9. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Listening to Thin Lizzy on my walkman while going on hikes in Hollywood Hills right by Eddie Van Halen's home. Since I started with music studies at age 8, I never really got into anything else except music- it's pathetic but I don't do anything else much other than jamming out or recording. I only go on the hikes to keep my weight down so I don't ever want to look like a big fat pig on my next album cover.

10. Message for your fans...

Be careful what you wish for and just be prepared for it when it does happen because you don't want to get caught with your pants down. I look forward to releasing my debut solo keyboard record this year, which will show my writing capabilities and my keyboard chops because even though I'm on several new releases right now, the keys are not dominant in the tunes and with my record, there is nothing but keys in your face. Lastly, I would like to plug in another Frontiers release Ramos (Josh Ramos' debut solo record) entitled "Living in the Light," which I'm a special guest on the track "Tell Me Why" with a killer keyboard intro and bassist Stu Hamm (Steve Vai, Joe Satriani) plays an awesome harmonic bass like solo over it. The record was produced by Hurricane frontman Kelly Hansen. For more information on all my projects and tour information, please visit my website