Popular Post Swedish Posted May 3, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted May 3, 2017 Art Tavana's latest interview with Melissa Reese is up now on LA Weekly! http://www.laweekly.com/music/melissa-reese-is-more-than-guns-n-roses-keyboardist-8177468 Interview posted as a quote: Quote "The guys call me Blue," Melissa Reese says. The blue-haired, classically trained composer is kicking back in holographic sneakers at her home in Larchmont, on break from touring with the guys: Guns N' Roses. Outside of her work with GNR, Reese composes for TV, film and video games at breakneck speed. Her work has appeared on Fox, The CW, E! and Sony PlayStation franchises like Infamous. To keep up with her deadlines, she takes a mini recording studio with her on tour. "When I get offstage, the first thing I do is go back to the hotel and set up my rig." Before a gig, she'll eat a box of See's candy, topped with Diet Coke, which helps her get jacked for a three-hour set. In New Jersey, she puked. "I didn't know what to do! I swallowed it because I didn't want it all over my rig." The crew gave her a blue bucket matching her mane, which has become GNR cosplay. In Mexico, black-market vendors outside shows hawked blue wigs. "Little girls waited in hotel lobbies to tell me that they played piano because of me, which warmed my heart." It's been a year since Reese joined GNR as keyboardist and backup vocalist. She had two weeks to prepare for the reunion tour, spending 15 hours a day in the studio mastering 50 songs, and zoning in on rock's mightiest instrument: "I studied Axl [Rose]'s phrasing like a hawk." She's also the band's "enhancer," using an Akai sampler among other tools to trigger "new-school productions" off Chinese Democracy, or play classic parts, such as the Moog synthesizer on "Paradise City." "I don't want to get in the way of these songs," she says. "On the keys, I add sonic layers to thicken our sound, without sticking out like a sore thumb. Anything from synths [to] organic patches and samples." No matter what she does, she knows she'll be criticized for being the "chick in the band," which is something she's long dealt with in the male-dominated industry of producing. "I'm one of the only women doing what I do, so I use the hate to fuel my composing, or just rip onstage." Reese grew up in Seattle, where by age 3 she could play Bach by ear. She was hired by GNR in March, but waited until the band's third show, on April 9, to inform her parents. "I didn't want to stress them out," she says. As a child, she was discovered by Tom Whitlock, who co-wrote "Take My Breath Away." With his support, she could have been a pop star, but she moved to California and began to study music technology. "I waned to become more independent in the studio," she explains. "I didn't want to be controlled." Once in L.A., Reese connected with drummer Bryan "Brain" Mantia over a shared appreciation of old-school Dr. Dre beats. The two rented a Santa Monica studio together in 2010, and from there they became a digital Wrecking Crew, turning out tracks for a variety of projects. Reese, hopped up on caffeine and candy, would work at a frantic rate. "Brain, who did a lot of the rhythm stuff, would take coffee breaks," she says. "By the time he got back, I had written 15 hooks over finished beats." Their work includes scoring and remixing Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" for the music video version. Reese also wrote the end title theme to the recent Walter Hill film The Assignment, starring Michelle Rodriguez, and is now finishing up work, with Mantia, on Joseph Kahn's new film, Bodied. She's also going back on tour with GNR in May, a gig that has made her a national star. "I had no idea what I was getting myself into," Reese says. "But I'm eternally grateful to Axl and the rest of the band for taking a chance on me." 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post AxlRoseCDII Posted May 3, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted May 3, 2017 Melissa gets too much hate. If you dislike her position that's fair but it's not up to her the band requested a second keyboardist so don't take it out on her. She is very talented and adds to the live environment and quite honestly gets too much damn hate. 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sosso Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 (edited) 41 minutes ago, AxlRoseCDII said: Melissa gets too much hate. If you dislike her position that's fair but it's not up to her the band requested a second keyboardist so don't take it out on her. She is very talented and adds to the live environment and quite honestly gets too much damn hate. I don't think that most fans hate her. But even I am confused about the stuff she adds on the non-CD songs. Edited May 3, 2017 by Sosso 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sosso Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 Just an example You can cleary her Pitmans synthesizers on the 2002 version. But you can't say the same about the 2016 version with Melissa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post EvH Posted May 3, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted May 3, 2017 Then the word "icon" sure has lost lots of its meaning. 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Italian girl Posted May 3, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted May 3, 2017 (edited) rock icon is someone very very different! Edited May 3, 2017 by Italian girl 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fourteenbeers Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 5 minutes ago, Sosso said: I don't think that most fans hate her. But even I am confused about the stuff she adds on the non-CD songs. I have nothing personal against her and hating her would be idiotic. She does have very nice singing voice.. But I don't understand what two keyboards add to a band like Gun's Roses in general? I mean what next, three keyboards? You are not in Dire Straits Axl... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sosso Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 (edited) 4 minutes ago, Fourteenbeers said: I have nothing personal against her and hating her would be idiotic. She does have very nice singing voice.. But I don't understand what two keyboards add to a band like Gun's Roses in general? I mean what next, three keyboards? You are not in Dire Straits Axl... I don't mind two keyboarders. They added a lot during the 2001/2002 tour and I liked that stuff. But that's the point. I can only hear Melissa's backing vocals during most of the songs. That's like a waste of talent for me. Edited May 3, 2017 by Sosso Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Fourteenbeers Posted May 3, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted May 3, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, Sosso said: I don't mind two keyboarders. They added a lot during the 2001/2002 tour and I liked that stuff. But that's the point. I can only hear Melissa's backing vocals during most of the songs. That's like a waste of talent for me. I guess it's a matter of opinion... personally for me, the only music icon who plays keyboard is this: She also liked blue... just like Melissa R.I.P Fatso There'a also new keyboard cat... but I don't like the new one. When this one goes on tour.. I won't be spending a dime on that cash grab. Jesus Christ.. I'm posting cat videos on GNR forum... Edited May 3, 2017 by Fourteenbeers mental breakdown 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucketfoot Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 Melissa is cool, I like her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Padme Posted May 3, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted May 3, 2017 GN'R and L.A. Weekly just sink all time low. Melissa rock icon? She is in a rock band but she is playing keyboards on songs she didn't write. Outside GN'R forums nobody knows nor cares about who she is. She has recorded zero rock albums on her own. In what way she is a rock icon? 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucketfoot Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 2 minutes ago, Padme said: GN'R and L.A. Weekly just sink all time low. Melissa rock icon? She is in a rock band but she is playing keyboards on songs she didn't write. Outside GN'R forums nobody knows nor cares about who she is. She has recorded zero rock albums on her own. In what way she is a rock icon? Well, yeah, rock icon is obviously complete and utter nonsense. I don't have a problem with her being in the band, though and can't see why anyone would? Don't understand the hate she gets at all. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZoSoRose Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 Headline made me lul 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darkenchantress Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 Rock icon, yeah, right... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucketfoot Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 Just now, ZoSoRose said: Headline made me lul It did to be fair. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Jay Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 She was hired in March, two weeks before April 1st. So Pitman was fired a few days after he apologized. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fourteenbeers Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 9 minutes ago, Darkenchantress said: Rock icon, yeah, right... Yep, a Rock Icon... you know... like these fellows here 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom-Ass Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 I don't hate her per say.. I do hate the fact that she is in the band.. I think her position in the band is f'n useless. It is awkward when the cameras focus on her.. She would fit in better the Spice Girls or a circus side show.. I wish she would go away.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnumpi Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 Completely absurd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walapino Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 I think she synchs de videos aswell! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warrocks Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 Rock icon, .. That writer ..?, Fred Durst's twice a rock icon then. ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucketfoot Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 19 minutes ago, warrocks said: Fred Durst's twice a rock icon then. ... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DexAxl Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 (edited) 3 hours ago, Fourteenbeers said: I guess it's a matter of opinion... personally for me, the only music icon who plays keyboard is this: I guess Richard Wright isn't rock icon? ---------- It's sad how the term rock icon is thrown around like it's nothing Jimi Hendrix, Elvis and John Lennon are spinning in their graves, when we beceme so desperate that this "thing" is called rock icon. Edited May 3, 2017 by DexAxl 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucketfoot Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 (edited) 15 minutes ago, DexAxl said: I guess Richard Wright isn't rock icon? Jon Lord, Ray Manzarek, Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman etc. Many a rock icon on the old keyboard. Edited May 3, 2017 by bucketfoot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fourteenbeers Posted May 3, 2017 Share Posted May 3, 2017 (edited) 20 hours ago, DexAxl said: I guess Richard Wright isn't rock icon? It's sad how the term rock icon is thrown around like it's nothing Jimi Hendrix, Elvis and John Lennon are spinning in their graves, when we beceme so desperate that this "thing" is called rock icon. Richard Wright IS a rock icon. I find it little baffling that you took my post seriously. Edited May 4, 2017 by Fourteenbeers typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts