Matt Pearce - Voodoo Six

Photo courtesy of Wendy Pritchard @ Photography Rocks

I’ve known Matt now for years. He has always stood out to me as one of the best guitarists currently playing on the London / Camden rock scene. We met while he was playing with Metalwork’s many moons ago. He has, over the years started projects such as Rockworks. A sensational covers band that never failed to deliver a brilliant gig and went from strength to strength rapidly. He is also of course lead guitarist in Voodoo Six

I have always believed in Voodoo six since the first time I saw them. Why wouldn’t I?
Back in the day Henry Rundell was on vocals I remember being pretty impressed and thought that they were, even then, a force to be reckoned with. Who would have known what was in store for them. Henry departed the band and I just hoped that they would find a singer worthy of the music.

Then they found Luke Purdie.  If you are already familiar with V6 and have heard their latest album Fluke?, you will know what I mean when I say hallelujah!!!! Not only do V6 write good, strong head banging’, hip shakin’ tunes but now they have the man with the voice to compliment the music! Finally!

Matt, Tony, Grav, Luke and Chris have toured with Extreme, Michael Monroe, Cinderella and UFO!!  Fluke? Is definitely a must have album for the collection. Produced and engineered by bassist Tony Newton.  Fluke? definitely showcases the amazing talent of these guys as a collective!! So hold on to your hats folks because V6 are coming for you! Quite frankly I cannot wait! There are big things destined for these boys and my god don’t they deserve it.

So now Matt Pearce is in the rock blog seat, here’s what he said. 

        1)      When did you first know you wanted to be a musician? How old were you? 

Well I got my first guitar when I was 13; I’d been exposed to my big brother’s record collection since I was a kid, and loved them. Van Halen, AC/DC, Rush etc.  When I got the guitar and pretty quickly realised I could get on ok with it, I think that was the start of thinking seriously about it…

        2)      Who are your major influences? Is there any one unusual that people that listen to your music wouldn't expect? 

There are the obvious influences as a guitarist, the old school players, Jimmy Page, Angus Young, Michael Schenker, Mick Taylor etc. An unusual one? Possibly Prince. He is a total musical genius but also one of the best guitarists I’ve ever seen. I like people who make it look effortless.

        3)      What are the biggest personal struggles you have encountered as an artist? How did you overcome them?

Ha, finding a good singer that’s not a dick..! We’re really lucky to have found Luke for Voodoo Six. The way the music business has changed recently, it’s got harder to make money from releasing music. The positive side is it’s much more about live performance which we love doing.

        4)      When you write a song is there a particular process you follow or is it different every time? 

With V6 the process tends to be contributing ideas to songs that Tony’s working on, so sometimes he’ll email over ideas and I’ll see what I can add to it, or we’ll get in his studio and see what happens. With past bands I’ve worked best writing with a singer, rather than coming up with the complete song, which is a harder process.

        5)      What is your top 5 bands that you would love to tour with & why? 

I’d love to tour with AC/DC, Aerosmith or The Black Crowes just because I’d love to watch them every night, but to get our music to big crowds that would like what we’re doing, Iron Maiden, Sound garden, Alice in Chains, the list goes on…

Touring with UFO was a lot of fun because I’ve loved their music forever and they were nice guys, so a great experience.

Photo courtesy of George Chin

So as Matt and the guy’s take time to do their thing. We are left waiting. However not for long as the boys are playing Hard Rock Hell in December and currently getting ready to rock your asses off!!! In the meantime you can go their website http://www.voodoosix.com/main.html for all things voodoo. So until then turn up your headphones and listen to the glory that is Voodoo Six!!

Next time Drew Davies from The Mercy House!!! Oh hell yes! \m/

Also make sure that you go onto Chelle's Rock Blog facebook page and like http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Chelles-Rock-Blog/144676218949668 for regular updates!! :-)

Keep on Rockin’

Chelle Xxx\m/xxX

© 2011 by Michelle Nevill