John:
Where are you from?
Amy: "Phoenix, Arizona."
John: When did you first become interested in playing guitar?
Amy: "When I was about 16 years old and my friend Fred Robinson really
inspired me! He is a great player."
John: What artist or bands had a major influence on you as a songwriter?
Amy: "I never had any real influence as for writing. I don't always
get much of a chance to listen to the radio and I kind of think this is
good. It keeps up my individuality."
John: How did you first meet Michael Schenker?
Amy: "I met Michael at an Eric Johnson concert. I was playing Eric's
59 Fender and having a good time making up songs and goofing around. The
whole time Michael was standing there, hovering around me, and asking me
questions. I had no idea who he was."
John: Where you aware of him as a guitarist before you met?
Amy: "I knew the name when he told me. I had no idea he was the writer
of some of my favorite songs when I was a kid!"
John: Who is currently in your band?
Amy: "I have Matt Indes, Fred Robinson, Mark Lehman to work with. These
are the guys that are on the album performing as well."
John:
How did your collaboration writing songs with Michael work? Did he bring
the completed songs to you? Or did you write all the lyrics and music together?
Amy: "Michael would come to me with just the acoustic part of the music.
I really did not know what it would sound like when it went electric guitars
and all. I would write all the lyrics for it and main melody to the song.
If Michael had a background vocal to add, many times we used it in conjunction
with my part also that I came up with! Back through the window is a prime
example! This song is a real must hear! Michaels voice is loud and clear
for the back ground vocals. It is an example of two different ideas we both
had, and so we used them both! I loved working and writing with Michael
and we would get a kick out of the project!"
John: Where the songs written before you went into the studio?
Amy: "Oh yes! The songs were written on his little 4 track, and then
in my house I would do the vocal lines and melody. We had a few rehearsals
also before going in the studio."
John: Was the recording of “Under Construction” your first time
in the studio?
Amy: "No, I have a little personal studio here, and I had gone into
the studio for some music I had written before."
John: Did Michael’s experience in the studio benefit the band in any
way?
Amy: "Well it got everyones name out there for one! And then you learn
how to work with a real pro, and how to try to achieve perfection I imagine.
The guys would have to answer this one, for I really do not know how they
see things or how they felt about things.I know they had a good time!"
John:
Michael took you out on tour with him. What was the experience like playing
live with Michael?
Amy: "It was a wonderful experience! It was a lot of very hard work
as well. The band was professional and for once I really felt the confidence
because I knew this band was good and solid! It was such a learning experience
for me to have done the tour with Michael and I had such a good time, that
I even got the smallest little baby spider tattooed on my right ring finger
to mark the event of the Arachnophobia tour! It was my first tattooer! I
also liked going over to Michael when we played our double lead parts together!
I never felt nervous at all. It all felt very comfortable! Michael and I
were the best of friends so it was easy. He was never harsh or critical
with me."
John: Did you perform the Schugar material or perform on MSG songs?
Amy: "I performed both! I did eight songs in total, and two of them
were from our album together."
John: Has it been tough, being a female musician, for you to break down
stereo types of women rockers?
Amy: "Not after people see me play and perform, no. But yes it is a
Very hard crowd to impress with the Schenker fans. Most of them are men
who are serious about wonderful guitar and music. I was really well received
after they saw I could really play! It was 
a
good test for me. But once again, I feel very confident in my abilities,
and I think that comes out in the stage presence, especially after the first
couple of shows under my belt. And I had fun messing with the guys in the
crowed while I was on stage! I loved singing to them individually sometimes!
Kind of "teasing" them in a way! And a couple of times they would
reach in the air wanting a guitar pick from me while I was playing, and
if I did not have a extra one while I was performing, I would toss out bottle
caps from my water!! It would really make them laugh and then they would
greet me at the autograph booth later.. It is not always that tough being
a female musician if you know how to work it right..or the crowd. That is
another reason you may notice, I do not show a lot of skin, which is the
norm for many women in this business. I really want to attract people and
fans from my talent and my personality. Very important for me! I figured
if my makeup looked good and I am in shape, that is enough. I have been
told however, if I start showing more skin or look more sexual, I may gain
more fans and it will be easier to get more recognition in this business..
who knows, maybe people are on to something, huh? However I feel comfortable
with being just me. Now, busting in the door of the music business is very
very difficult indeed, and I think many women get quicker recognition if
they are sexually dressed, for men are visual creatures and most people
running the industry are men! I bet I would get instant notice if I started
my own musical porn site!! (I am kidding, that is not going to happen...?
Huh? did I say that?)"
John: Are currently working with a management company?
Amy: "Help!!! I am working on FINDING a management company! If any
one out there has any ideas, please let me know! It is very important. I
have been invited to play in Japan as well, but with out the proper promotions
and money and budget to work with, I am not sure how this will happen right
away. I also am working on another album, but there you go.. Anyone interested
in helping with this can e mail me at http://Amyschugar.com but mind you,
it has to be someone with experience and background. I get a lot of fan
mail, and there are some guys out there that want to HELP ME OUT IN A BIG
way, and although I appreciate their INTEREST in me, I am not interested
in doing the "nasty hug" if they are all about that.. but thank
you very much anyway for the nice thoughts! ..I need a good company or person
to work with. It is hard for me to practice and write . I am constantly
having to take care of the business part of it..whew!"
John: Are you are currently shopping “Under Construction” to
labels? Have you had any positive responses?
Amy: "No, I enjoy selling over the web! I signed Michael and myself
to my own record label- ASR - it stands for..can you guess??? Amy Schugar
Records!"
John: Who is handling your website?
Amy: "Me.. I am self managing and all. I do have a Friend that comes
by and helps with some of the technical aspect of the computer part. And
there was a man that helped design the site named Michael Eggleston. He
did real well. Any one interested can email me and I can get his info for
you!"
John: Let’s talk about your guitar related gear. What brand of guitars
are you currently using?
Amy: "I looooooveeee my 69 Fender Mustang! That baby has been with
me since the 1985, I think.. I cut it down and made it a interesting shape
and painted eyes all over it, and really devalued it in a collectors way
of thinking, but not to me! I personalized that guitar and the neck and
everything is perfect for me. I also really love my 61 Gibson Melody Maker.
I brought it on the road, and darn it, I was so upset I could not get it
to stay in tune for a second!!! So I never played it! Damn!! It is completely
all original and I guess in order to make it functional, I will have to
redo many parts and pieces and add stuff to it. I did not want to mess with
this guitar at all, so now what? Any one out there have ANY ideas, please
e mail me with your thoughts! It is a single cut away, with sunburst finish
and dual pickups with a serial # of 748!! Cross over between the Les Paul
Jr I am told. I also have a 67 Vox Amp, that I blew the speakers out of-
and they are the blue back speakers, originally from London.. Really nice.
I may put celestions classic eighties speakers in there. This tour with
Michael, I borrowed an amp from a friend of mine named Shane. I had some
trouble getting the right sound, once it was on stage and every night it
seemed to change! I am in desperate need to get the right sound coming out
when I play live. For recording I loved the line 6 pod!! But then when I
play out, I could not run that box direct like I like in my studio, so I
used the pedal, and THEN HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT!! This is what you get
when you have to go it alone and wing things and don't have a tech. I think
a good management company may also have some good music guys and gear people
to set me up with next time I play out. My friend Bill Webb is great, but
he lives in Texas. Next time with advance notice if possible, I may try
to get him to help.. I really had a lot of sound problems on this tour.
Michael always sounded WONDERFUL!"
John: What types of amps and effects are you using? Are you picky about
your pickups or do prefer stock pickups?
Amy: "See, I wanted to keep the Melody Maker original, but the pickups
are noisy. In my Mustang I put Seymor Duncan pickups! As said earlier, my
amp situation and set up needs help. I borrowed a Crate Amp for the road
this time with Michael."
John: Do you have a certain sound that you try to get out of your equipment?
Amy: "Yes, but I could not achieve it this time around, so I made do
With what I had..."
John: After meeting Michael and recording the demo, how has your life changed?
Amy: "It gave me the break I needed musically. It made me busier. I
got to meet many many outstanding people. But it also created a lot of unwanted
drama in my life as well..and I need more hours in the day to make calls
and to do interviews and return e mail. I am not complaining, but this is
how some things have changed. And I have more "friends" now! mmm..
go figure..this kind of thing goes with the territory, so I am cautious
with who I get involved with. I even had a e mail the other day, saying
that they (a group of guys) wanted to buy my CD from me personally, here
in Phoenix, but wanted to get it right away from me in person! The e mail
said they did not want to wait 2 days for shipping! I thought it was strange
and told them I would cut them a price break for sure, but they would have
to order or send money to my PO box, that I did not have the time in the
next day or two to meet, which I did not, and I was real nice, but they
vanished.. who knows what that was about, but I am not about to go meet
people I do not know, especially by myself. So I have to be much more careful
now..I have had trouble in the past with being followed, and even now sometimes
a car will pull up to the house and just sit there..very strange stuff..."
John: Do you know what the future holds for you? Any upcoming projects or
tour plans in 2004?
Amy: "My band and I are working on a couple of shows here around town.
And like I said earlier, we got invited to play Japan also! I can not really
say what the future holds for me..I just keep going and going.. I have started
working on a album with Rev Jones also. He is amazing player and writes
music very well. He is also a very special person, whom I am so glad to
have gotten to know."
John: Thanks for taking the time to talk with me. Please keep us updated
on you progress in landing a recording contract. We would love to hear more
from you in the future . . .
Amy: "Thank you, it was my pleasure."
