Bowie guitarist Earl Slick: An exclusive interview</B>

If you're a David Bowie fan and you like classic Bowie cuts such as those from the Young Americans album, then chances are you've heard Earl Slick and his trademark riffs and licks whether you know it or not. We recently had a chance to sit down with Earl for a brief Q & A at Sear Sound Studios in the heart of midtown Manhattan, NY. Earl is currently involved in the latest incarnation of the Bowie band recording project. Fresh off a Bowie UK Festival and TV promo tour, Earl was eager to update us on this project, where he's been, and slickmusic.com.

"It's really a cool guitar that plays phenomenal."

Q.Where've you been?
A. In 1994 I took a brief hiatus from the business. But now I'm back and working after my 3-year layoff in the High Sierra's.

Q. What are you playing these days?
A. I just got a really nice Gibson Firebird -- brand new -- stock -- straight off the shelf.

Q. You seem excited about the guitar.
A. I am -- it's really a cool guitar that plays phenomenal; has a neck that just feels great -- a neck that allows me easy access to the upper frets. It's a really playable guitar that looks cooler than s--t. And you gotta love the tone, pickups that scream and have virtually no squeal--even at high gain levels. I'm using this piece all over the new Bowie project.

Q. Sounds like a killer guitar, with the classic Gibson tone.
A. Exactly!

"Something like this has to fall on your head."

Q. What other Gibsons do you own and use?
A. I've just used another 2000 guitar -- a brand new SG '61 Reissue with humbucker's--at our UK shows that we've just completed. But I really love my '65 SG Jr. with P-90's in the Heritage Cherry finish -- what a guitar! I also had a beautiful three-pickup Black Beauty [Les Paul] that looked killer onstage.

Q. Any acoustics?
A. Yeah, I love my '69 J-45. The older that guitar gets -- the better it plays and sounds.

Q. Obviously the Bowie work is high profile for you--what else has been happening in your world?
A. Well I've got a great internet based company called www.slickmusic.com It's really a fan based venture. What we've been doing is releasing hard to find, obscure tracks from a variety of sideman and "band" members.

Q. Such as?
A. Kasim Sultan of Utopia & Meatloaf's band for one. Eric Schenkman from the Spin Doctors as well. And of course my solo work such as "In Your Face". One release titled "Lost & Found" has a very Diamond Dogs era Bowie band roster on it. A lot of people will dig that if they missed it the first time out.

"If you have 'something' to fall back on, you'll never give 100%."

Q. Speaking of Bowie, how did the two of you hook up?
A. Years ago [producer, composer] Michael Kaman was producing some tracks of mine and we were in the same band together. After Mick Ronson left the band, David was looking for a new guitarist. And I tell you -- if you were looking for this type of gig -- you'd never find it. Something like this has to fall on your head. But one day Michael comes to me and says, "You'll never guess who's interested in your playing?"

Q. And the rest is history as they say? Any words of advice for up and coming guitarists?
A. Get rid of your day job. Seriously -- you've 'gotta have the balls to go out and do it. If you have 'something' to fall back on, you'll never give 100%.

Q. I know you're busy Earl so one last question--favorite Bowie work?
A. Station To Station

Great choice, our personal favorite as well.