THEODORE KALANTZAKOS

LEAD GUITAR PLAYING AND VIRTOUSITY COMING FROM

ATHENS, GREECE

Interview & Article By Adriana Rubio

Photographs: Courtesy of T.K.G

“I felt a very strong desire to play the guitar. I didn’t sleep that night. I was 14 y/old”.

Theodore Kalantzakos was born in Athens, Greece and is the lead guitarist of T.K.G, a metal-fusion-jazz band with a remarkable presence of very well done progressive-experimental rock. The combination of all this together is what really makes the difference in a music world where creativity is reaching the highest levels.

Guitar virtuoso Theodore Kalantzakos and his TKG band have played in various cities across Greece and were opening acts for well known established musicians and bands such as Vinnie Moore and Aristocrats.

TKG first live gig was in 2007 for a rock fusion festival in Athens. In 2008 they released the first single and video clip “Echoing Chemical Reactions”, and in 2012 they released a full length album titled “Pattern Partner”. In 2013 TKG released two more singles, “No shortcuts (Paving the way Forward)” and “Paralles” featuring the acclaimed female guitarist Irene Ketikidi. 

TKG is continually moving forward into the European music industry mainly focusing in Germany, England and Greece amongst many others.

Theodore is the eldest of two brothers and grew up surrounded by the music his father played for fun in a rock band.

“My father used to play the guitar in a rock band, mostly as a hobby. He never encouraged me to follow his steps or to play the guitar”.

“It all started as a nice story. I felt a very strong desire to play the guitar. I didn’t sleep that night. I was 14 y/old and couldn’t stop thinking and dreaming about it until the early hours of the next morning!”

“I was a self-taught guitarist until the age of 21. I was at the University of Thessaly in Volos, Greece, studying the second year to be an architect when I decided to start taking music lessons”.

“My teacher and mentor was guitar virtuoso Ioannis Anastassakis, and after 5 years I graduated from RGT (London College of Music, University of West London) with the Teachers Diploma, LLCM (TD)”.

Theodore proudly says that after some changes on the band’s lineup, TKG is now a brothers’ trio. He also explains why it has to be this way.

“TKG is a dream that came true with me and my brother Loukas Kalantzakos on drums. Our little brother Nick has recently joined us on synthesizers and FX loops”.

“Nick is 10 years younger than us and grew up being fed by our passion for music so he’s been enough trained to join the band (Laughs!!!)”.  

“Now, seriously, I think it is very difficult for a person to follow someone else dream. It needs dedication, confidence and commitment. This is why for many musicians it’s hard to keep a band or even more difficult to keep a band going all together. Your dream has to be someone else dream too!”

“My relationship with Loukas and Nick is great. Loukas and I have shared the same passion for years and followed the same dream right from the start”.

Theodore openly talks about what music means personally to him in terms of feelings. He also talks about how styles and influences interfere or not the songwriting process.

“There’s a composition in our upcoming release titled “Hot Air Balloon”. There is a part in the lyrics saying “I have a flame in my core”. This is true. I feel as having a flame in my core where music and my guitar playing express what I feel. It feels like a unique and direct language speaking in our hearts”.

“The music I’ve listened to in my free time has changed with time. In recent years for example I used to listen to Byzantine music. I believe that someone’s music tastes definitely influence you. Personally, I do my best to keep away from that, I mean I don’t like to write something rigidly based on a particular style or influence. I prefer to let that influence come out naturally during the songwriting-composing process”.

As previously said, Theodore is an architect and as such makes his music sound even more attractive. His TKG band website provides the visitor with a number of very well done video clips like being deeply interested into the visual arts department.

“I definitely see TKG as an audio visual performing show. We try to add projections in most of our shows, while musically improvising. I believe that our music in wide terms can be described as cinematic art. We plan to meet with directors specialized in video art, short films or movies. We are very open to new collaborations, don’t forget that I’m still an architect and the visual factor is also important to me”! (Laughs!)

Aside from his TKG band, Theodore Kalantzakos has recently been in Germany as RGT meaning “Registry of Guitars Tutors” in collaboration with Robin4Arts, a cultural production company located in Berlin.

“Yes, RGT is a Registry of Guitar Tutors organizing exams around the globe in partnership with London College of Music and is highly qualified by the University of West London.  This is a new project that I’m very excited about. I’m looking forward to give my best”.

“At the same time, TKG new EP is ready and titled “Rise from the Ground”. It will be out in March. TKG new EP counts with 3 new compositions with ambient textures and ethnic/world elements as I made an extended use of fretless guitar in these recordings. Fretless guitar is a great instrument for making world/ethnic music. It tends to become my main instrument”.

“If you listen closely to TKG previous work, you can find references in this regard, the fretless guitar, even in our first recordings. Examples are the extended intro of the “Echoing Chemical Reaction” where I emulated a fretless guitar using a guitar tremolo”. 

Theodore and his TKG band are preparing for some live shows starting on February 8^th in Athens along with two amazing guitarists, Theodore Ziras and Panos Malahias. It is expected that at the end of the show the three guitar masters will share stage to jam together!

“See you all out there guys!”

Theodore Kalantzakos not only is a talented guitarist, visual artist and architect but a kind gentleman who thanks this blog for the interview, readers, friends and fans for their support.

For further info on Theodore, his TKG band, upcoming shows and releases or to purchase their work, please feel free to visit the official website at:

https://tkgofficial.bandcamp.com

"RICHARD THOMAS"

A CHRISTIAN ROCK GUITARIST

An Endorsing Artist of Epiphone/Gibson Guitars

Presenting

“SPIRITUAL WARFARE”

Interview & Article By Adriana Rubio

Photographs: Courtesy of Richard Thomas

“Jesus saved me from the hell I was in and is the reason I'm a dedicated Christian artist”.

Richard Thomas also known as Rikki Lixx, former lead guitarist for “Operator” and “Rev Theory” is going solo in a complete new direction since 2012: Christian Rock!

But before getting into Richard’s new direction, I would like to introduce him to some new audiences out there through readers of this blog from different countries around the globe. Who knows where in the world this charismatic and talented guitarist would be touring next!

To start with I want you to know that Richard Thomas was very open to do the interview and I’m so glad he did. It’s one of the most sincere interviews I had in a long time. I’m so proud of Richard and really love the way he talks about almost everything. He Rocks! Enjoy!

Richard Thomas was born to be a musician. He was in first grade when he started playing the violin as the first instrument he tried.

“I was in first grade so it didn't get too serious. It just introduced me to playing music”.

But around second grade things turned out different for Richard as he fell deeply in love with Guns’N’ Roses, an experience he still keeps so vividly and talks about it so proudly and without stop.

“I'll never forget hearing GNRs ‘Appetite for Destruction’ around 2nd grade. I fell in love with it and Slash's guitar playing. I knew right then that I would do exactly what he was doing when I grew up. I got my first guitar in 3rd grade but didn't really get serious with it until I was 10”.

“I'll never forget practicing the song Sweet Child O’ Mine in the basement for hours and hours and days. The riffs came easy but it was the solo that took forever to learn (laughs!). I basically learned it by ear with a little help from tablature. I pretty much learned everything by ear through improvisation which I got really good at fast. Anyway my band ended up playing it for our 6th grade talent show”.

 

“When I was in elementary school I had a band called Twilight's Misery with my older brother Mike on drums and a couple friends. We almost called it Metallic Rose (laughs!!!). Obviously our favorite bands were Metallica and Guns and Roses. Looking back we were really right on track to being an Avenged Sevenfold with the same style and influences. It is funny because I ended up touring with A7X in Operator and Rev Theory. M Shadows is actually one of my best friends. And for the record I think Avenged Sevenfold is one of the best most talented bands to come out in a very long time”. 

“Twilight's Misery faded because everyone started growing up and had other things pulling them in different directions. I never stopped. I was on a one track mission”.

When Richard was around 15 / 16 years old, he started going to music camps and special guitar training camps travelling to different cities all over the country. Thomas won a scholarship to the Berkeley Guitar Sessions in Boston with a blues improvisation demo he made.

“Things like that kept spirits up along with the undying support from my family. I moved around to different high schools because none seemed to have enough music for me. Eventually through audition only I got into The Creative And Performing Arts High School Of Philadelphia (CAPA)”.

“I passed the audition by playing a classical piece on the guitar and shredding through some scales on the piano. While at CAPA I also played the upright bass in the orchestra. I continued going to camps over the summers like Governor's School, a classical guitar camp in Miami, studying jazz etc”. 

“I finally ended up dropping out of CAPA a week into senior year. I realized through all my experiences that getting out there and getting into the mix was the only way to make it in the music industry”. 

As you can see things were not easy for Richard to get out there like a rock star by miracle. It was all about being focused, hard work, and auditioning, studying, learning and non-stop practice. Richard was serious also about learning to engineer and produce and he slowly built his own recording studio.

Richard Thomas was in many projects and bands like “Jealous Type” in Philadelphia, another one called “Automatic Black” on Arista replacing Stevie D. He was continually learning and gaining experience here and there until he finally got the call from Hollywood to audition for Johnny Strong’s band “Operator”, a signed act of Atlantic Records.

“I was about 23 years old at the time. I replaced DJ Ashba who is now in Guns and Roses and Sixx AM. Operator is Johnny Strong's solo project and always has been. He writes and records everything. By the way, I'd just like to add that I've worked with many, many artists and Johnny Strong is by far the most talented artist I've ever worked with”.

For those who don’t know… Johnny Strong is a multifaceted artist, musician, songwriter-composer and gifted singer, he plays all the instruments. Aside from his musical projects, Strong is a respected Actor, Martial Artist, a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Knives maker. For more info on Johnny Strong you can find an interview with him and some other relevant articles I wrote about his movies, music and more by searching on this blog. You’ll get Richard Thomas words genuinely right about Johnny.

“Soulcrusher was already done by the time I joined the band. They auditioned a million guys and Strong thought I was the best fit. And of course I nailed his guitar solos note for note so he brought me on board. I did record guitar solos on Operator's cover of 'It's So Easy' by GNR because I was in the band at that point”. 

I know Richard truly enjoyed working with Johnny Strong so I couldn’t resist asking about the tours and… what about ‘A possible reunion…?’

“Touring with the guys in Operator...Johnny Strong, Paul Phillips, Wade (The Spade) Carpenter, and Dorman Pantfoeder (we called him DP) was the best time in music in my life so far (as far as touring goes). I absolutely loved every second of it and I miss it but I don't see a reunion in the future. I'm very busy with my solo career and Johnny Strong is as well. I talked to Strong recently. He has another movie coming out this year and he is almost done another Operator record”. 

Richard moved out from Operator to join Rev Theory after Atlantic Records dropped Operator off. It was time for Richard to look for new pastures.

“The way I got in Rev Theory is that they saw me performing with Operator and set their sights on getting me in their band. Of course I had no intention of leaving Operator but when Atlantic dropped us I was contacted by the singer of Rev and management. They asked me to come for a jam with them so I did. On the other hand Operator was Johnny's project. He did everything. And as a song writing artist myself I knew I had to move on”.

Richard Thomas joined Rev Theory, a signed act of Interscope Records when ‘Light it Up’ was already recorded, but he nailed the solos and no one knew the difference. Richard toured with Lynyrd Skynyrd amongst others, and released a couple of more records while on Rev Theory. But there was a special sentiment about Operator plus a serious drug problem that needed assistance.

“Touring with Skynyrd was amazing! All of the tours were great but I have to say the two best tours I ever did were the Avenged Sevenfold & Operator tour and the Avenged Sevenfold & Rev Theory tour years later. I love those guys. Great band, one of the best bands”. 

“After touring 'Light It Up' for a long time we released the 'Live At The Gibson Showroom' which of course I was a part of. The final record I wrote and recorded with Rev was 'Justice.' After a couple years of touring that record Interscope had to drop us because kids were stealing our music instead of buying it. I was also not really happy playing in Rev Theory. I mean don't get me wrong we had some good times and of course I love touring and performing. I guess it was a combination of a lot of things as to why I parted ways with Rev Theory. I don't think I ever really got over leaving Operator. Ha it’s kinda like a marriage splitting up”. (Laughs!)

“Interscope loved us and pushed us really, really hard for 5 years or so. Millions and millions went into promotion. The only reason Operator and Rev Theory weren't both massive simply comes down to money and the fact that people stole our music. Sure some people bought records but it wasn't enough to recoup the millions and millions spend on each project. That's why bands get dropped, even popular ones with tons of fans worldwide”.

“Also I had a massive drug problem that needed to be dealt with. Luckily Musicares took care of me and sent me to rehab. A big thank you to Musicares!!!

Richard went to rehab, got clean and started a complete new life musically and personally. He found himself for the first time accepting Jesus in his heart and is happily working as an independent artist.

“I'm very happy as an independent solo artist. I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart and got saved. Now all I do is make music glorifying the one true King, Jesus Christ. Life is good”. 

“Jesus saved me from the hell I was in and is the reason I'm a dedicated Christian artist, follower of Christ and whatever that entails. The Good Lord has me writing and recording music for Him non-stop. I released 3 records in 2014. Wrote and recorded them alone in less than 10 months”.

“I write, record, engineer, produce, mix and master all my music by myself in my recording studio, just me and The Holy Spirit. I haven't put together a band yet. No plans to tour as of now. The future looks very big and bright though”. 

“There are a few collaborators besides The Holy Spirit. My uncle Joe has been helping me and mentoring me in Jesus and everything that entails for years. So my first solo record, 'Truth' my uncle Joe co-wrote the lyrics on the whole record”. 

“Then on my second solo record, 'King Of Kings' I did everything except for a few songs. A family friend and also a man of God, Jim Redmile, co-wrote 2 songs on the record. 'The Messiah' and 'Lord Of Lords.' I also collaborated on the song called 'Power Of Christ' with my very good friend and man of God Anthony Grieve”.

“And finally we come to my new and third record, ‘Spiritual Warfare'. I'm most proud of this new one. It's the heaviest of my three solo records by far". 

"With Spiritual Warfare it was just me and The Holy Spirit. I did everything. All I do now is follow God's Will for me through The Holy Spirit and I've never been more happy in my entire life. So I give all glory to God in Jesus Name everyday and into eternity”. 

Guitarist Richard Thomas is an endorsing artist of Epiphone/Gibson Guitars.

“I've always played Gibson custom Les Paul's and Gibson acoustics since I was a kid. I got an Epiphone/Gibson endorsement years back. So thanks to Jim Rosenberg president of Epiphone I have an arsenal of bad ass guitars. Epiphone did a ton of full page ads with me way back. They used me to promote The Prophecy Les Paul Custom in all the major guitar magazines”.

“I mainly use the Prophecy Les Paul Custom and Masterbilt acoustics these days. Epiphone recently sent me their G-1275 which is a double neck Gibson SG style Epiphone guitar. I used it on tracks 3, 7, 10, and 11 on Spiritual Warfare. It's a great guitar!!!”

TO PURCHASE RICHARD THOMAS CDs:

CD BABY:

http://www.cdbaby.com/m/artist/RichardThomas

ITUNES:

-Spiritual Warfare

 itun.es/us/Dqk74

-Truth

 https://itun.es/us/o_w1Y 

-King of Kings      

https://itun.es/us/m1r61

-Sinners Prayer (feat. Tyler Thomas) 

 https://itun.es/us/OsKu3

THANK YOU SO MUCH RICHARD!

YOU ROCK!