Interview with Brian Forsythe from Rhino Bucket
May 14th, 2006

1. Can you give me a small overview of your life as a guitarist?
from the beginning to this moment. Including influences, teachers, etc...

This is not going to be a short answer… I decided I wanted to play guitar at age 6 when I first saw the Beatles. About a year later my father
bought a cheap acoustic guitar and started to learn some chords but my older brother soon took it over and ended up learning to play Bob Dylan songs.
At this point I was still just goofing around on it playing one string things like “Wipe Out”. Also at this point I was still playing it upside down, left handed.
I eventually convinced my parents into getting me my own guitar so on my 8th birthday they bought me a cheap Kay acoustic. I eventually turned the
thing over and learned to play it right handed only because when my brother would show me things, I would first imitate it right handed then flip it
over and translate it. I also knew an older left handed guitar player who told me I’d be better off playing right handed because he had always had
problems finding good left handed guitars to play. This left handed guy, his nickname was “Hotdog”, took me under his wing and let me hang out
with him at his band rehearsals. I soon purchased my first electric guitar but was having trouble comprehending the whole soloing thing so I took
lessons from a guy named Steve Hissey who was in the area’s top rock/ top 40 band. Steve still teaches in Frederick, MD at the same place Ronnie Younkins
teaches. After about 3 months he let me go, saying I’d learned everything I needed and it was now up to me to take it from there. After that I continued
to put various bands together through out high school and jamming at every opportunity with as many different people as I could. At about age 16, one day
I was jamming with some friends on some southern rock when I had this sort of spiritual awakening. It was like being hit by a bolt of lightning and at that
moment it all made sense, I suddenly got it! All those years of playing and practicing finally paid off. If I had to pick the most memorable moment in my life,
that would be it! I began playing in 1966 so I have many years of influences. Some of those would include: Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, early Steve Miller,
Eric Clapton, Dicky Betts, Duane Allman, Billy Gibbons, Allen Collins, Albert King, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Steve Cropper, Mick Taylor, Keith Richards
and Jimi Hendrix. Later on I got into Angus Young, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Freddie King and more recently Jimmy Vaughan, Hollywood Fats, Kid Ramos,
James Burton and some other country guys but I can’t think of their names. There are probably a lot I’m forgetting but you get the idea.

2. 3 favourite albums of all time? (at least one)

Allman Brothers – Eat A Peach
Hollywood Fats Band – Rock This House
AC/DC – Let There Be Rock

3. What was your first guitar... still have it?

That cheap Kay acoustic… no, I no longer have that.

4. What are three songs of other artists that you wish you had written?

“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” – George Harrison
“Back In Black” – AC/DC
“Honky Tonk Women” – The Rolling Stones

5. Do you have a favourite song on the upcoming album, the one you're the most proud of?

I like them all but if I had to pick just one it would be “Welcome To hell”.

6. Which band(s) would you like to open up for?

AC/DC

7. Who is Brian Forsythe?

Me! I’m a guy who loves playing music. I get in my own way a lot of the time but I’m working on that. I’m very passive aggressive
(which I’m also working on). I guess you could say I’m a work in progress.

8. Craziest situation on/off stage?

Back in 1981 Kix opened for Triumph in Seattle and got booed off the stage. We actually had to leave the stage because we felt our lives were in danger.
For some reason the audience was allowed to bring bottles in to the concert and they proceeded to throw them at us. When we were exiting the stage
we noticed the monitor guy lying on his back unconscious bleeding from the head.

9. Favourite bands you've toured with?

The Supersuckers! Actually most of the bands that I’ve toured with were cool. There were only 2 that we had a problem with, Triumph and The Tubes.

10. How often and for how long do you practice?

When I was first starting out I used to practice a minimum of about 4 hours a day. Now I only practice when I have to.
If it weren’t for the fact that I’m in 5 bands I’d be lucky to pick up my guitar once a week and then it would only be for 10 minutes.

11. What do you practice "exercises, new tunes, hard tunes, etc...?"

It’s usually to brush up on songs for an upcoming rehearsal. If I’m warming up for a gig I’ll run through some scales mainly
to align my pick with my left hand. The best thing that’s happened for my guitar playing besides this Rhino Bucket tour
is my Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band. Learning those songs note for note is the best practice I could ask for.

12. What is special these days in your life?

My sobriety, my Girlfriend Janiss, my dog Sushi, my Telecaster, my Bassman and the opportunity to continue to play music.

13. Most embarrasing moment of your career?

Getting lost in mid-solo in front of a huge crowd at Irvine Meadows Amphitheater opening for Tesla/ Great White.

14. Highlight of your career on/off stage?

Going to Japan for the first time back if 1989.

15. Do you enjoy playing live?

That’s what I live for.

16. Could you tell us something about your side projects?

The Purple Gang – Chicago style blues. Guitar, Bass, keyboards, drums and harmonica. We play mostly blues covers. It’s my fun band.
Reeve plays bass. The Snakehandlers – rompin’ stompin’ guitar blazing country. It’s a cross between Hank Williams and Motorhead.
Reeve also plays bass in this band. This band has a lot of potential but lacks motivation. Southland – My Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band.
Another fun band. We haven’t played out live yet. We’re still putting it together and building a set list. Kix – These reunion shows
are a way to have fun and make some extra money. There are no plans to record anything new since Donnie’s not involved.
The fans seem to enjoy it so we’ll continue to do this as long as physically possible.

17. Favourite Rhino Bucket song to play live?

Hammer & Nail.

18. Best live show you've seen / would like to see?

Kid Ramos at Cozy’s, a blues bar in Sherman Oaks. He totally blew me away! He’s one of those
guys who is totally spontaneous but not one note is wasted or out of place.

19. What would be your job if not musician?

I have a job at a veterinary clinic as an assistant but I would never give up playing music for that job.
There’s nothing in this world as fulfilling as music for me.

20. Thanks for the interview, have some advices for young guitarists?

If you have a true passion for it, don’t ever give up. No matter what other people say don’t let them discourage you. It took me a while
to get it and there were times when I doubted myself as a musician but I just kept pushing forward until I had that breakthrough.
Everything is possible, nothing is impossible. The only thing that ever stood in my way was myself.

Interview by Chazz