Bill Kelliher - Mastodon (24/03/2015)
Regardless of the fact that the mighty Mastodon have visited our shores countless times with touring festivals and headline support slots over the years, demands from the band's fans for a headline tour were finally answered when the sky cracked, and Soundwave delivered.
Their return to our shores is now imminent, and one half of the bands guitar section, Bill Kelliher, spoke as humble as ever of Mastodon's love for Australian audiences. "Of our list of places to tour, Australia is definitely in the top three, for me I think it's number one," Bill says with enthusiasm in his voice. "We love going over there, it's almost like being at home but on the other side of the world. We feel a sort of kinship with the people, everybody we've ever met over there has been super kind, the fans are great and it's always been such a great place to tour. But we've always done the festivals, and we haven't done a proper headlining tour where we just go over to do our own shows, we've always been over there in support of other people".
The band's respect for the audiences goes far beyond the actual performance itself. Bill has taken it upon himself to give guitar clinics to his fans who have supported his work over the years. The demand for an hour with Bill is high, with extra clinics planned for his Australian fans.
"This is my fourth tour doing it, and in Australia and New Zealand I've got more students than I know what to do with. I can't take them all on, but I'm doing two lessons a day for the Aussies."
Asked whether Bill had encounter any future guitar prodigies during his time on tour, he laughed and hinted that he had, while giving nothing but the highest praise for the students he had taught over the years.
"(The) kids these days are really good, they're unbelievably talented. I was really afraid that some kids would show up who were just shredders" Bill laughs. "They really want to pick my brain about how I perceive my guitar."
"The younger me, when I was a kid, if James Hetfield (from a little band called Metallica) was giving lessons I'm sure my parents would have bought me an hour with that guy, and I would have lost my shit!" Bill says with laughter. "I would have lost my mind! Not to compare me to him, but these kids really look up to guitar players, and I'm flattered that they want to come up to me and shake my hand, and talk to me. I'm beside myself when I meet these kids who want to learn from me. I'm humbled by it."
Bill's practical lessons allow for his students to ask about their favourite songs, as well as learn the theory behind his technique, which som fans may be surprised to learn Bill taught himself.
"It's really relaxed, we just kind of sit back and go over the hour I teach them for. Kids really tend to write to me a day or two later and say "Man, I really wanted to say thank you for helping me think outside the box." I never took any lessons as a guitar player. I learnt everything by ear, so when I teach these kids it's not necessarily theory, it's more like my interpretation of theory that I think sounds cool, the scales that I came up with. I think it's really special, and it goes really well. They're just so excited about it, they're stoked. I am too."
Mastodon tour the East Coast of Australia this weekend.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
FRIDAY 27 MARCH - MELBOURNE, FESTIVAL HALL
Reduced Mode all Ages with 18+ patrons having access to a licensed bar
With special guests TWELVE FOOT NINJA
www.ticketmaster.com.au
SATURDAY 28 MARCH – SYDNEY, BIG TOP LUNA PARK – Licensed All Ages
With special guests BREAKING ORBIT
www.oztix.com.au / www.eventopia.co / www.bigtopsydney.com
SUNDAY 29 MARCH – BRISBANE, EATONS HILL HOTEL – Licensed All Ages
With special guests CALIGULA’S HORSE
www.oztix.com.au / www.eventopia.co
Luke Sutton
Their return to our shores is now imminent, and one half of the bands guitar section, Bill Kelliher, spoke as humble as ever of Mastodon's love for Australian audiences. "Of our list of places to tour, Australia is definitely in the top three, for me I think it's number one," Bill says with enthusiasm in his voice. "We love going over there, it's almost like being at home but on the other side of the world. We feel a sort of kinship with the people, everybody we've ever met over there has been super kind, the fans are great and it's always been such a great place to tour. But we've always done the festivals, and we haven't done a proper headlining tour where we just go over to do our own shows, we've always been over there in support of other people".
The band's respect for the audiences goes far beyond the actual performance itself. Bill has taken it upon himself to give guitar clinics to his fans who have supported his work over the years. The demand for an hour with Bill is high, with extra clinics planned for his Australian fans.
"This is my fourth tour doing it, and in Australia and New Zealand I've got more students than I know what to do with. I can't take them all on, but I'm doing two lessons a day for the Aussies."
Asked whether Bill had encounter any future guitar prodigies during his time on tour, he laughed and hinted that he had, while giving nothing but the highest praise for the students he had taught over the years.
"(The) kids these days are really good, they're unbelievably talented. I was really afraid that some kids would show up who were just shredders" Bill laughs. "They really want to pick my brain about how I perceive my guitar."
"The younger me, when I was a kid, if James Hetfield (from a little band called Metallica) was giving lessons I'm sure my parents would have bought me an hour with that guy, and I would have lost my shit!" Bill says with laughter. "I would have lost my mind! Not to compare me to him, but these kids really look up to guitar players, and I'm flattered that they want to come up to me and shake my hand, and talk to me. I'm beside myself when I meet these kids who want to learn from me. I'm humbled by it."
Bill's practical lessons allow for his students to ask about their favourite songs, as well as learn the theory behind his technique, which som fans may be surprised to learn Bill taught himself.
"It's really relaxed, we just kind of sit back and go over the hour I teach them for. Kids really tend to write to me a day or two later and say "Man, I really wanted to say thank you for helping me think outside the box." I never took any lessons as a guitar player. I learnt everything by ear, so when I teach these kids it's not necessarily theory, it's more like my interpretation of theory that I think sounds cool, the scales that I came up with. I think it's really special, and it goes really well. They're just so excited about it, they're stoked. I am too."
Mastodon tour the East Coast of Australia this weekend.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
FRIDAY 27 MARCH - MELBOURNE, FESTIVAL HALL
Reduced Mode all Ages with 18+ patrons having access to a licensed bar
With special guests TWELVE FOOT NINJA
www.ticketmaster.com.au
SATURDAY 28 MARCH – SYDNEY, BIG TOP LUNA PARK – Licensed All Ages
With special guests BREAKING ORBIT
www.oztix.com.au / www.eventopia.co / www.bigtopsydney.com
SUNDAY 29 MARCH – BRISBANE, EATONS HILL HOTEL – Licensed All Ages
With special guests CALIGULA’S HORSE
www.oztix.com.au / www.eventopia.co
Luke Sutton