amy

talks with

AMY SCHUGAR

Michael Schenker has played with top notch musicians in his time with MSG
since UFO such as Paul Raymond, Cozy Powell, Chris Glenn, Graham Bonnet to
the newer generation like Barry Sparks, Shane Gallas,Kelly Keeling and
Chris Logan. The latest talent to grace the great one in the past year is
a singer, songwriter, and guitar player named Amy Schugar from Phoenix,
Arizona. Now being a Schenker die hard since the 70's with UFO and all
the projects he has had in the past, I have never seen a female playing
next to him on guitar let a lone getting Michael to sing back up vocals
for crying out loud on her Schugar/ Schenker debut " Under Construction
Cd". When I first saw her walk on stage that night in Concord for MSG's
ARACNOPHOBIAC TOUR 2003 she was Electric! I was trying to keep up with
her as her and Reverend Jones were having the times of their lives
bouncing around the stage! I couldn't stop taking photo's with the stage
presence and poses she was giving the audience. Her riffs were definitely
shredding and showed us why Michael continues to find new talented
performers. I have kept in touch with Amy through email and check her
site amyschugar.com from time to time. I had a chance to interview her to
see what's she up to and how the new album is starting to be heard more
through MSG fans, Guitar magazines, the internet and getting airplay at
some radio stations.

AXE: Hello Amy!! And thank you for a wonderful show at Concord and
Sacramento last November do you remember me blinding you with my flash?

AMY: Uh, Yea..thank you?

AXE: Thanks for spending time after the Sacramento show with me and my
drunk group. Ha ha! You were sweet as your last name and took time with us
to laugh and hang out with by the bus after the show. Do you need a body
guard? I'm available!!

                                         AXE: No Joke!! Before you know it you will be running around like the Beatles if you don't get me now! (My god she's taking me too serious))

               AXE: You have a knack for getting in some good photo's
http://axeslinger.com/amyconcord.htm I would have got more but my battery
went dead. Do you like being photographed while on stage?

              AMY: No, not really, but if people are going to take photos,
I might as well make funny faces at them..

AXE: I found myself going back to you for more shots cuz Mikey's base ball
cap was bugging me after a while. Your much easier on the eyes as well!
Ever modeled or been prom queen?

AMY: I am sure this is not a real question.. I was front page cover model
for the Midget Tossing Review Tribune..

AMY: I started playing Guitar when the doodle sac went out
of fashion.... no , really, I started playing in Hi School- and
the singing thing is more of a recent secret of mine that I
started letting out of the closet- I did not do a tremendous
amount of singing until recently-

AXE. How are you doing personally and what are you up to as far as writing
new material and your band I told you about ASG?? errrrr.... Amy Schugar
Group??

AMY: Personally I am so busy now a days, that I am unsure sometimes as to
how I am doing!! I am ok- I am working on some material "unplugged"
stuff for a TV show that is conducting an interview with me in July- I
am in Metal Maidens Magazine Issue #36 this month, and have received
recently an endorsement by Daisy Rock Guitars- I am enjoying their guitar
very much by the way! Still in the works with Rev Jones I believe, but
things have been a little hectic, and it is a little on the back burner
for the minute-

AXE: Do you plan to tour anytime soon?

AMY: I can not answer at this time-

AXE: I have had a listen to "Under Construction" at least 40 times
or so and that album continues to grow on me. You do have a bit of Grace
Slick in your voice. But better I think and with your own style. Was she
an influence of yours and if not who did you like when you where growing
up and made you know this is what you wanted to be?

AMY: I had not an influence that I am aware of-Perhaps Gene Simmons of
kiss or Paul Stanley! My style is really something that just comes from
inside of me.. I do not listen much to the radio or watch much TV-

AXE: I would agree with KISS. The pretty much were my first influence with KISS ALIVE!

What inspired the lyrics you wrote for "Under Construction"?

AMY: My growing up and the way I grew up mostly- and a situation at the
moment I had going on at the moment.. on the song "I Need This Feeling"

AXE: How is it to be the only person to have Michael Schenker sing back up on an
album for the first time ?

AMY: Well, special, I suppose. Michael is such a unique singer , I have
no idea why he has not wanted to sing on a album before now..

AXE: Did you coach him at all in the studio on his vocals?

AMY: Yes.. I said: "Wonderful Michael! Yes, just like that! You are doing
a great job!"

AXE: How about him showing you stuff on the guitar?

AMY: Yes, I showed him some stuff on the guitar- and he also! I never
really tried to learn much from him, I LOVED watching him play, but
never bugged him much for Guitar lessons!

AXE: Do you keep contact with the other members of the Aracnophbiac tour
since your departure like Rev or Chris Logan?

AXE: How many emails have you received since the tour ended of new fans
wanting you back on the stage? What is the response of the very male
audience out there besides your pretty face?

AMY: I have received hundreds of fans wanting me back- The response has
been overwhelming and I am very appreciative of all of the fans!!

AXE: I know I want you back on stage!! The web is a great place for
musicians like yourself to sell your albums and hear what people are
saying about the album as well. Guest books are cool too for the fans to
leave you a message. Do you design or operate your site yourself?

AMY: I have a friend that comes in and helps me with the web site-

AXE: OK .....now I need to know what you use to make all the riffs and
leads blaze out of my stereo starting with the Axe's you play down to the
amp.
AMY: I only played leads on "Surrender" and "All I Got" - thank you for
the nice compliment- the engineer John Grey at The Saltmine knew that-
He ran guitar thru a overdriven Mesa Boogie I believe..

AXE: Ever think to do an acoustic gig with just you and the mic?

AMY: The TV show taping is going to be just that-

AXE: How about an unplugged album with your band?

AXE: Now that you are certain for stardom, tell me some famous people you
have met and who did you really go nuts over when you met them?

AMY: I went nuts over no one- Ozzy , Scorps, Billy Sheehan, Peter Knorn,
etc.. I think they went nuts over me?

AXE: I love the picture's Libby took of you on your site, some day I hope
to grace the net with great musicians like yourself and can quit my day
job and take pictures of you.. Interested? Haha!!!!

AMY: What kind of pictures are you talking about that would allow you to
quit your day job? You may be better off making Calendars of Lizards and
Geckos... will I get a cut of these pictures you sell of the the stars?
Or at least of me?

AXE: The ones I post on my site is for anyone to look at and save to their computer. I think the artist should receive money if the person taking them are benefiting financially. I do this for nothing and just the pure enjoyment of photography and going to shows. If I do get money with the pictures I have taken I'll sure let you know! I would love to take photo's and support myself. Wouldn't you? But geckos are kind of cool?

AXE: Thank you Amy and when ever I hear the Def Leppard song "Pour some
Schugar on me" I'll think of you !!...OK?

AMY:Huh? That doesn't sound good.. Are we talking Golden Showers??

AXE: Golden showers? What's that? Sounds like a punk band I saw in S.F. haha ..........

AXE: Thanks again! Stay in touch.
Peace and good luck..... Let the world be aware of your artistic qualities Amy, and hope to blind you with my flash very soon!!

AMY: Yes, thank you to all my fans, and to you Mr. Axeslinger for a
"interesting" interview with some silly questions!!