Kevin Delaney
www.kevindelaneymusic.com

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This feature is quite interesting. Kevin Delaney comes from Long Island, NY where guitar legends such as Steve Vai, John Petrucci and Joe Satriani came from. It was Randy Rhoads that gave him his definition of biggest influence. It served him well. Heck, when he was 12 years old he formed his first band called Hit-N-Run. At age 16 he started production on his first professional recording. The guy got to work with producers Mike Ricciardella (Alice Cooper, Aviator) and Saul Zonanna (Ace Frehley, Crash Test Dummies). The first album released on Rising Star Records. How foreshadowing was that?

Kevin is also responsible for Manic Records. He was a DIY artist and still kind of is. He is a jack of all trades with his music performing, writing and producing. This guy has so much awesome stuff that I'm just going to post this piece found easily on his website:

"Though Kevin’s prowess as both a guitarist and writer did not go unnoticed in Los Angeles – he soon found work with Chromazone, which was co produced by Critter (Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Guns N Roses), celebrity actress/vocalist Persia White (From TV series Girlfriends and Breaker High fame) as well as Grayson Manor (two of Kevin’s songs are on the Grayson Manor release Back On The Rock) it wasn’t long before he was back in DIY-mode, writing, producing and playing guitar on Kreep’s debut Spooky Chick, as well as their follow-up, Carpetride. Kevin issued both releases on Manic Records and joined the band on guitar for an extensive US tour with Skid Row. Following this nationwide trek, Kevin played guitar on Grayson Manor’s Children of the Manor, which was produced by Grammy award winner Robert Carranza (Beck, Jack Johnson, Luscious Jackson) and released on Bad Reputation (UK) and Cassette Recordings LLC (US) and was followed by another multi-city US tour.​

"In 2006 Kevin created what would become the world-renowned Heavy Metal Guitar workshop series “Shred Like A Metal God” in Los Angeles, CA. In 2007 Kevin brought the “Shred Like A Metal God” workshop on tour to 55 US Cities and started production on a DVD series for “Shred Like A Metal God” Guitar Instruction. Kevin also contributed to the Manic Noize, Manic Beatz and Manic Muzic compilations for TV, Film, Video Gaming and Advertising as a songwriter, producer and mastering engineer."

See? Impressive. He is currently pushing a new project, Sugar Love Honey, which released their self titled debut earlier this year and also still promotes another great album worth mentioning called, "The Awakening" (his debut instrumental album which has been out a couple years). Both releases are available on Manic Records and can be purchased via Itunes, Amazon, etc. We'll have reviews on both of these releases in the coming issues. He also has another instrumental album in the works as well, since January he has been in his Manhattan studio in New York City putting the final touches on his sophmore instrumental album which will serve as the followup to “The Awakening” and is planning for a release later this year on Manic Records.

So let's get inside the mind of Kevin Delaney and talk about his awesome ride over the last couple decades in the music industry!

 

 

THE INTERVIEW

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Daniel/HRM: You have so many things going on. First, tell me a bit about your legendary guitar workshop series, "Shred Like A Metal God".
 

Kevin Delaney: “Shred Like A Metal God” is the name of a teaching method I created a few years back and taught as a workshop series in Los Angeles and various cities around the US from 2006-2007. I have been teaching professionally since I was sixteen and the method is my approach to a Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Style of guitar playing. Currently, I teach privately in New York City (www.ShredLikeAMetalGod.com).
 

Daniel/HRM: Which band do you think would have the most trouble shredding out of the following: Nickelback, Goo Goo Dolls, Happy Tree Friends
 

Kevin Delaney: I’m only familiar with 2 out of 3 of those names, but from a teacher’s perspective, I’m willing to bet any of them could shred if they really wanted to…they obviously had enough determination to get where they’re at now!
 

Daniel/HRM: This, "Awakening" album has the grind I like. Even Sugar Love Honey but most deliciously, the instrumental album. Talk a bit about each of these.
 

Kevin Delaney: Thanks! The “Awakening” was my debut instrumental album. It has a raw classic hard rock/heavy metal feel, melodies done by guitars instead of vocals and was a good representation of where I was at the time. I’ve never been a big fan of instrumental guitar albums, so I wanted to do something a little bit more then just have one long guitar solo throughout. “Sugar Love Honey” was another fun album to make, I’m happy with the results. The basic tracks were all recorded a few years back and then I remixed and redid most of the guitar solos last year.
 

Daniel/HRM: Are you a performer on the bands albums and part of the tour or just a behind the scenes guy right now?
 

Kevin Delaney: Both of these albums were my creative projects, so I performed on the albums as well as produced and also performed live.
 

Daniel/HRM: What is going on next now that the albums are done and out?
 

Kevin Delaney: Well, as far as “The Awakening” that was released quite a few years ago and has pretty much run its course, I’m finishing up the followup to that one right now as we speak and hope to have it released later this year. SLH doesn’t have any plans of touring or doing any live shows at this time as everyone lives on different coasts.
 

Daniel/HRM: You've been in the industry a while. How are things still the same and how have they changed?
 

Kevin Delaney: Obviously the industry has changed tremendously over the years with affordable home recording and the internet leveling the playing field in terms of getting exposure, etc. When I was a kid putting my first band together we had producers working with us on our development for many years before we even recorded anything, we literally had Tommy Motolla (the president of Sony Records) sitting in on our rehearsels offering advice. Back then, the goal was always to “get a record deal” and let the label work their magic and hopefully we’ll “make it”.  Nowadays, there are hardly any labels left and development deals are basically non existant. The burden has shifted to the artist to develop themselves, which can be both a blessing and a curse depending on the situation. What remains the same, in my opinion, you still have to have great songs, a great product, a killer live show and an incredibly strong work ethic.
 

Daniel/HRM: What should artists do nowadays that will work? A lot of old ways are long gone now.
 

Kevin Delaney: There really is no guaranteed formula to follow, other then try your best to write great songs and perform them live with a great band, it all starts and ends there in my opinion. From there you have to be incredibly proactive and willing to work your ass off for very little returns in the formative years. but if you’re out there making things happen on a grassroots level, other influential people in the industry will hopefully take notice and may offer to work with you and help you take your vision to an even bigger level. I’m seeing quite a few bands here in NYC these days taking matters into their own hands and making great things happen for themselves, which is great to see and inspiring to say the least. Its not easy, its a lot of hard work. But at the end of the day you also have to define what success means to you before you can go about achieving it.
 

Daniel/HRM: Where can people go for more of your stuff?
 

Kevin Delaney:  MY official websites are: www.KevinDelaneyMusic.com and www.Manic-Records.com
 

Daniel/HRM: Is there anything else you would like to add?
 

Kevin Delaney: I have a new instrumental album that currently working on and I’m hoping to have released by the end of the year, please visit my website  www.KevinDelaneyMusic.com  for updates as I will be posting up some music samples in the coming months. In the meantime, you can listen to and purchase my debut album “The Awakening” as well as the self titled Sugar Love Honey record on itunes, amazon, etc by visiting www.Manic-Records.com and www.SugarLoveHoney.com

Daniel/HRM: Here comes that signature Last Question. Let's say that you were shredding on a long road. You didn't care where it led because as you played your favorite piece it put you in line with your most cherished accomplishment. What piece were you playing (yours or another artist's), what was the cherished accomplishment and which song of yours best represents this situation?
 

Kevin Delaney: I have no idea what song would represent my greatest accomplishment, but there is a song on my instrumental album “The Awakening” that I hold near and dear to my heart and that’s a song called “The Gates”. It’s a piece I wrote/recorded while trying to come to terms with my fathers failing health a few years back and dedicated to him right before he passed away, the raw emotions really came through in my playing.
 

Daniel/HRM: What did you think of the interview?
 

Kevin Delaney: Very cool and a lot fun, I really appreciate the oppurtunity to talk about the different projects I’m involved in.
 

Daniel/HRM: Thank you very much for your time. You are damn good my friend! I look forward to more interaction with you!
 

Kevin Delaney: Thank you so much for your support man and kind words, best of luck to you as well!

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Story and interview by

Daniel C. Morrison - Hip Rock Magazine