WHO IS STEVE TURNER?

I am a 35 year old singer and guitarist living in Melbourne, Australia.

I completed a five song CD EP in 2008 entitled NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE. It is a mix of guitar rock, metal and some progressive madness.

I am currently working on the follow up full length album for 2009. It will feature Evan Harris on Bass (Taramis, Black Majesty, Endel Rivers) and Zoltan Csorsz on drums (Flower Kings, Hellborg Trio, Space Oddysey). The full CD will be 9 songs of original material in various styles including progressive rock, fusion and metal.

I played in a metal band named Archeus through the early to mid 90s. We played technical metal which I guess would have been termed progressive metal by some people. Our best material, however, was never ecorded and after a few hard years of trying to get the music out there the band dissolved.

Later, I went to La Trobe University to study composition and music theory. It was a great experience but rock and metal still made my heart pump faster so I simply applied what I learned to the styles I had alwasy loved.

INFLUENCES

My influences these days are extremely varied and not in any way limited to guitarists or guitar music. Sometimes I might hear something in the way a singer reaches for a note, or harmonizes a chorus and think of ways to apply that on guitar.

At the moment I am really enjoying listening to Steve Morse’s SMB material (High Tension Wires, Southern Steel), Allan Holdsworth (Heavy Machinery, Metal Fatigue), Brett Garsed (Big Sky), Ron Jarzombek (Solitarily Speaking of Theoretical Confinement and Blotted Science) as well as progressive bands like The Flower Kings and Ayreon.

LIVE SOUND

Live I use a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier through a Soldano 4x12 cabinet. I love the sound of vintage 30 speakers and the Dual Rectifier is a far more versatile amp than many have realized. I play a Soundworks Custom guitar which I designed and had built for me in about August 2000. It is mahogany with a maple top and has a very rich tone.

I also play a Steinberger red sunburst which I believe is one of the finest production guitars ever built. Recently I have picked up a US Fender Stratocaster and modded it pretty severely but still kept the traditional Fender look. It is a wonderful instrument. I also use a Trainwreck clone through an Achillies 2x12 cabinet for smaller venues and different sounds.