Interview w/Josh Parrish of Peel
written by: Jacob Robison
It took a while but I finally got someone from the band Peel (at least that’s their name at press time) to do an interview with me by email. Josh Parrish, the twenty-three year old guitarist for the four-man band out of Nashville, recently took the time out to answer a few questions that I had for him. What follows is the interview in its’ entirety.
How long have you been playing guitar, and what got you started?
JP: Since I was ten. So that would be almost 14 years. Who originally
inspired me to play guitar was my father. He only played a little but I
found it appealing. I've really been trying to figure out the guitar since I
was three or four, I just don't like to admit it. I didn't get serious until way
later when I started hanging with other people that played. They were a huge
inspiration and it was quite a bit easier to learn at that age. Also,
players like Satriani, Stevie Ray, Jeff Beck, Santana, and anybody that
played black or death metal (that sort of fills the spectrum) were my
earliest influences. I could name a thousand but Satch is God, Vai is Zeus,
and Jon Petrucci once said to me " Josh, I am your father." So there you go
boys and girls.
It seems like more and more bands are turning to the two-guitarist
format. Any chance of Peel doing the same?
JP: Absolutely. Not! I think Digg and I are gonna work out some parts where
he can help me fill the space, he's originally a guitar player anyway. I'm
really too selfish and starved for attention to have another guitar present.
I'm sure the rest of the band feels the same way about their own spot.
What are some of the benefits of having only the one guitar in the
band?
JP: Improvisation live is easier w/out somebody else standing there
scratching their head. And once again, even if the rest of the band were
super studs, I'd still be the only guitar player to focus on.
Why are you considering changing the name of the band?
JP: At this point it is not just a consideration, it is a must. (for several
Reasons, including a "signed" Peel in Cali.)
Are there any plans to go back into the studio for another CD?
JP: We are going back a.s.a.p., we are trying to get our funds and ideas
together to make it an EP worth having.
Do you guys have a website, or are there any plans for one in the
future?
JP: Our friend, Jan Thomas @ The Web Castle is designing our site as we
speak. We have to decide on a name before we can launch it.
If you could choose three bands (either local or major label) to tour
with, who would you pick and why?
JP: As for local, we would definitely tour w/ Shun. Their music is very
complimentary to ours, and vice versa. As for national, I would love to get
a spot on Ozzfest, or maybe with the band's band, Tool.
What five words would you use to describe Peel's music?
JP: Eclectic would be one. We only let the very best of our ideas comprise a
song. Second, Powerful. Even though we are not the heaviest band around, we
still have a powerful presence. Third, supercallafragilisticexpialidocious
(I won a spelling bee one time in the fourth grade). Fourth, Epic. I guess that
kinda goes along with powerful but in our case we're really both. Fifth, Positively Grey.
Our music can be dark and sort of satirical, but it has a life of it's own that we perceive
to be relatively positive in a realistic sort of way.
Is there anything that you would like to say to the people reading
this interview?
JP: Please support local music in a big way 'cause no band can do this shit
without much love from fans (that would be you) and much love for ourselves (the
musicians).
