Well, as promised I have my very first interview! With Justin Emord, that hot guitarist from LA. That should be his tag line or something. It probably will be eventually. Pardon the Motley Crue reference, but he really does have the looks that kill.
I’d kill to get a look… Don’t tell him I said that…
Shit, he can read it… Oh well, lol.
Well, I seriously fail at coming up with questions. I had a few and lost them, thought of a few but not enough… So these questions went on over the space of like, two or three days.
Alright, when did you first seriously get into music?
“Well I started playing piano in fourth grade so about 11 years ago I started. Three years ago is when I actually started taking it very seriously and getting involved in the industry.”
We already knew he had to be good with his hands to play guitar… But piano too? Nice. ;D
Would that be when you realized you wanted to be a serious musician?
“Yeah I’d say so. I’d say four or five years ago it was in the back of my head that it was something I wanted to do but it was three years ago when I started writing music and recording it, that it didn’t seem as much of a far fetched dream and more of a hard earned reality to work towards.”
What album had the most profound effect on you?
“Well I’d say the Ozzy Tribute Album that came out after the passing of Randy Rhoads. I was amazed by the way Randy played guitar. The one song that really got me on the track I’m on now would be Nothin’ But a Good Time from Poison. I saw that video on VH1 Classic four years ago and at the time I hadn’t really seen hair metal bands. I was a kid of the 90s so rock music for me was Smash Mouth and Sugar Ray. Pretty average looking guys playing pretty average music. And then I saw that video from Poison and just sat in front of the TV looking at it just thinking to myself, “what is this and why have I not seen this before?” From the moment I saw the “waiter” in the video kick the door open and I saw Bret and CC until the very end with the confetti falling on the stage it was very overwhelming for a kid in 9th grade to see for the first time. All the big hair and makeup, flamboyant guitars in both the shape and color, and mostly the energy they gave off in the video. I was quite taken aback.”
And you loved it?
“My mouth dropped and I knew from that moment there was no turning back to the top 40 radio. From that moment on it was all classic rock and this new music I found called “glam rock”.”
Who would you consider your idol?
“I would say after going through and listening to so many glam bands, as cliché as it will sound, I would have to go with Eddie Van Halen.”
Why is that?
“I just really respect a musician that does not compromise anything. I mean the guy couldn’t find what he wanted in a store bought guitar so he ended up making his own guitars to get everything right. That is until Kramer nabbed him and started making the guitars for him. A lot of people when they think about Eddie they think about his finger tapping technique or striped guitars, but there is so much more to him than that. He knew what he wanted in his gear and he did it himself. He modified his amps, built his guitars from spare parts, and with what few effects he used he modified the circuitry to them too. You don’t see that nowadays. Now musicians will mostly just use whatever they get from Guitar Center and make it work for them, but Eddie refused to compromise ‘cause he couldn’t buy something the way he wanted it to be. So I would definitely say Eddie or Randy Rhoads would be my hero.”
Why did you want to learn guitar?
“I thought it was a really neat instrument and it seemed natural to go from piano to guitar.”
How did you learn to play?
“I took lessons from my middle school music teacher for a few weeks before this kid Ben, who was the school’s really talented guitar player, took me under his wing and taught me.”
Now, Justin’s logo is a star and the number 16. See?
What is the significance of the star and the number 16?
“My First girlfriend, Kim, back in 2003 was killed by a drunk driver a week before I turned 16. Also, she got me into wearing stars and nautical stars as a fashion statement. She is why the focus of my logo is the star. Second, my father passed away 6 months later on April 16, 2004 when I was 16. On a lighter note, Minarik Guitars was my first sponsor and I received the Inferno Mirrorball from them and it was Serial number 16. A few months later, I purchased a Lotus from them. My eye was on 2 but they had sold it before I could get it so the next lowest one they were able to get me was again, lucky number 16. All these events in my past have formed me into who I am. That is why it is my logo and also why I have it tattooed on my arm.”
My birthday is on the 16th of May… Think that might raise my chances with him? 
What’s your favorite band?
“Probably Motley Crue. They have great stage presence and musical ability. Not to mention they put on one hell of a show.”
Motley Crue is my all-time favorite band… I wonder if he’ll agree to marry me?
Here’s another cliche question… Favorite song?
“Oh wow I’m not sure I can pick one.”
Alright, let’s narrow it down. How about favorite song by the Crue?
“Motley Crue it would have to be Live Wire or On With the Show.”
Two good picks… I think I’m in love…
Alright, who would you say is the most influential person in your life?
“I’d say musically it would have to be the Trans Siberian Orchestra. I saw them at Madison Square Garden and it inspired me immensely. They are all class act musicians.”
Where do you see yourself in five years?
“Five years, I will have graduated college and hopefully be touring the nation or the world with a band.”
Do you ever have any doubts about making it big?
“Nah. When it comes to dreams you gotta have the highest hopes with the most reasonable expectations. That is the perfect dream right there.”
There ya have it, the wonderfully talented Justin Emord. 
So, if you have any questions you’d like to ask him either leave it in a comment and I’ll pass it along, or hit him up on myspace!
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