VVFF Interview - Phil Kenzie - Producer of Euphoria EP
Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 3:54 pm
I got in touch with Phil and asked some questions about his time with Vinnie. Here are his replies:
1. Was the Guitarmagddon album finished and do you know the tracklisting? Did the recording include elements from the Los Angeles recordings?
I don't know if it was ever finished as Vinnie did not stay in touch after we worked together. The tracks we did contained elements from L.A. so if they are on Guitarmageddon then yes!
2. Were the songs “Ride The Serpent”, “Cockteaser” and “Brainsaw” on Guitarmageddon?
Sorry I don't know
3. Were any other musicians brought in. Was Robert Fleishman brought in and were all the drums on a drum machine?
On the tracks we did there was only myself and Vinnie present. The drums could have been drum machine but I don't think so.
4. If a drum machine was used, why were the real drums replaced with a machine?
On that I can't comment
5. How did you meet Vinnie?
He was living in Nashville and someone recommended my studio to him so he called me and came over.
6. When was the last time you spoke to Vinnie, are you still in contact?
Vinnie was always a little bit paranoid about letting anyone get too friendly or close to him, he didn't even want me to know where he lived. As it happened I found out but he would never confirm it and I didn't push the point as I figured he had his reasons.
7. What other things have you worked on?
Too many to list here, I'm a sax player and the only one to have worked with The Beatles and The Eagles Go to http://www.allmusic.com and put the name Phil Kenzie in then hit the credits tab and it will list a good deal of my work
8. Do you have any interesting stories from your time with Vinnie?
Not especially although we did work late at night and at extreme volume. Luckily I have below ground basement where we put the speakers
9. How did Vinnie approach getting his sound down and nailing down a take? Is he spontaneous or a perfectionist?
As I said we put the speakers in two 8x12 stacks in the basement in two separate rooms and mic'ed them for stereo and had his two 200 watt heads in the control room on 11.. It sounded like there was a monster downstairs roaring and shaking the floor.
10. Do you know what equipment/guitars/amps Vinnie was using?
Vinnie was using his signature Jackson V guitar and two 200 watt heads, I think they were Laney heads with four 4x12 cabs in two stacks mic'ed stereo. Vinnie is always spontaneous!
11. Did you get paid for your time with Vinnie?
Of course ???
12. Does Vinnie do any Ghost Session work in Nashville?
Not that I'm aware of but then I haven't spoken with him since we finished working together. I don't know if he remained living here.
13. So you didn't see Robert Fleishman at all? Were his vocals already complete when you worked with Vinnie?
No I didn't see Robert at all, his vocals were already on the tracks
14. Were the four songs on the E.P. the only ones you worked on with Vinnie? Any idea why they were chosen?
As I recall they were the only ones we finished to Vinnie's satisfaction although he had others, I just didn't make a note of any titles he didn't want to use, so I can't tell you what they were.
I think he chose the titles he was satisfied with, although Vinnie is a very private person. He doesn't feel the need to always explain his actions. He just spontaneously and deliberately makes his own decisions and is prepared to stand by them. He doesn't seem to need outside approval. Which is all to his credit both as a player and a human being.
1. Was the Guitarmagddon album finished and do you know the tracklisting? Did the recording include elements from the Los Angeles recordings?
I don't know if it was ever finished as Vinnie did not stay in touch after we worked together. The tracks we did contained elements from L.A. so if they are on Guitarmageddon then yes!
2. Were the songs “Ride The Serpent”, “Cockteaser” and “Brainsaw” on Guitarmageddon?
Sorry I don't know
3. Were any other musicians brought in. Was Robert Fleishman brought in and were all the drums on a drum machine?
On the tracks we did there was only myself and Vinnie present. The drums could have been drum machine but I don't think so.
4. If a drum machine was used, why were the real drums replaced with a machine?
On that I can't comment
5. How did you meet Vinnie?
He was living in Nashville and someone recommended my studio to him so he called me and came over.
6. When was the last time you spoke to Vinnie, are you still in contact?
Vinnie was always a little bit paranoid about letting anyone get too friendly or close to him, he didn't even want me to know where he lived. As it happened I found out but he would never confirm it and I didn't push the point as I figured he had his reasons.
7. What other things have you worked on?
Too many to list here, I'm a sax player and the only one to have worked with The Beatles and The Eagles Go to http://www.allmusic.com and put the name Phil Kenzie in then hit the credits tab and it will list a good deal of my work
8. Do you have any interesting stories from your time with Vinnie?
Not especially although we did work late at night and at extreme volume. Luckily I have below ground basement where we put the speakers
9. How did Vinnie approach getting his sound down and nailing down a take? Is he spontaneous or a perfectionist?
As I said we put the speakers in two 8x12 stacks in the basement in two separate rooms and mic'ed them for stereo and had his two 200 watt heads in the control room on 11.. It sounded like there was a monster downstairs roaring and shaking the floor.
10. Do you know what equipment/guitars/amps Vinnie was using?
Vinnie was using his signature Jackson V guitar and two 200 watt heads, I think they were Laney heads with four 4x12 cabs in two stacks mic'ed stereo. Vinnie is always spontaneous!
11. Did you get paid for your time with Vinnie?
Of course ???
12. Does Vinnie do any Ghost Session work in Nashville?
Not that I'm aware of but then I haven't spoken with him since we finished working together. I don't know if he remained living here.
13. So you didn't see Robert Fleishman at all? Were his vocals already complete when you worked with Vinnie?
No I didn't see Robert at all, his vocals were already on the tracks
14. Were the four songs on the E.P. the only ones you worked on with Vinnie? Any idea why they were chosen?
As I recall they were the only ones we finished to Vinnie's satisfaction although he had others, I just didn't make a note of any titles he didn't want to use, so I can't tell you what they were.
I think he chose the titles he was satisfied with, although Vinnie is a very private person. He doesn't feel the need to always explain his actions. He just spontaneously and deliberately makes his own decisions and is prepared to stand by them. He doesn't seem to need outside approval. Which is all to his credit both as a player and a human being.
