BIOGRAPHY (by Sandra Mitchell, FFF Music) Rock guitarist Patrick Vega was born in Austria/Europe. Already as a little kid he wanted nothing more than to become a professional rock guitar player. Being amazed by music as diverse as: Prince, Scorpions, Santana, Dire Straits, a Chris Rea Album Cover featuring a beat up red strat on a piano and various Jazz music his older brother listened to (Miles Davis, Brecker Brothers, Chet Baker, etc). Patrick's first record ever owned was 'Blackout' by The Scorpions (a christmas gift from his brother). Finally at the age of 14 (after being "harassed with classical music education") Vega was "allowed" to learn how to play the guitar. His dad bought him the long promised electric guitar as a birthday gift, showed him his first chords and so Patrick started to play like a maniac. Vega took some private lessons, but mostly participated at music seminars and workshops in his native Austria. Where classical instruments (recorder and clarinet) were tossed around the room and Vega NEVER practiced, the guitar immediately was Patrick's most prized posession and instantly became the biggest love of his life. Even during highschool, Vega used to practice up to 8 hours a day and beyond. Patrick discovered players such as Joe Satriani, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen and Frank Gambale who were big influences back then and motivation for unlimited dedication and practice of technique (especially Vega's use of economy picking) and the use of phrasing, melody and effects. Right away the young guitarist wrote original music and self-released a few 3-song demos over the years before getting into the writing and production of full blown albums. His ultimate goal as a young Ninja guitar freak: "Move to LA and play the guitar". Simple enough:) After graduating from school, Patrick was awarded private and public scholarships for advanced music education (due to participations at music workshops, seminars, concerts and festivals). In 2000, Vega enrolled in GIT (Guitar Institute of Technology) in Hollywood, CA. Taking advantage of 24/7 practice and playing possibilities (24hr facility), he practiced and played and learned more than ever. The scholar surroundings of GIT though turned out to be a turn off in a certain way: The "Overanalyzing and name calling everything" attitude didn't quite sit right 100% with Patrick since at the time he really started to get into feel based players like Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Jake E Lee, Slash and Classic Blues guitar players (BB King, Albert King, Robert Johnson), etc. Right after music school, Patrick started doing auditions in the LA area and subsequently performed at major national tours including the Vans Warped Tour (playing alongside The Used, SUM41, AFI, Rancid and Pennywise), recorded at major recording studios such as Henson (former A&M), Elementree/KoRn, Paramount, Matrix studios and gained massive live and studio/recording experience. Press features include major US & EU publications such as Guitar Player Magazine, Guitar9 Records' 'The Undiscovered', All Access Magazine, Mean Street Magazine, etc WHAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW ABOUT ME (by Patrick Vega) Guitar Instrumental Music unfortunately has a pretty "bad" rap and a strange image with some people. Guitar solos have definitely lost a lot of their appeal since the 80's. I actually don't listen to a lot of guitar instrumental music that's out there myself- with a few exceptions: Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, Brett Garsed, some Greg Howe and Yngwie Malmsteen (Yeah Yngwies's quite a shredder BUT he's a true original). There is of course nothing wrong with instrumental music - it's what I do and love - but I find that there are many negative associations with guitar instrumentals per se because the guitar -in many cases is 'limited to technique'. Technique is great & lots of fun too but the guitar (in my opinion) is so much more and is in fact such an -unlimited- instrument. This is why I write (guitar) music the way I do. And then...I'm too mainstream to be instrumental and too instrumental to be mainstream...That's me! :) Out of experience (Live Shows, Clinics, Teaching) though I must say that many guitar players that see me LIVE and actually all people (guys that are NOT instrumental fans) really like what I do as they see that it is indeed very different and original. - To me - a huge compliment. WHY NOT GET A SINGER OR SING? Many people advise me to do that. But you know what? It would completely change what I am doing and I ain't feelin' that, man! My guitar IS my voice. I speak, sing and scream with my guitar. I write the melodies just like I would write them for a vocalist; flow being the most important thing. THE UNIQUE FACTOR- ROCK GUITAR INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC WITHOUT THE SEIZURES I think that my take on instrumental music is just really showing all the influences I absorbed while working with so many bands supporting a lead singer and working with many producers and listen to what they had to say I guess. Yes you will hear some fast parts in my songs but again, I exercise technical restraint a lot. Why? In order to let the music breathe and the song come through. So I am not a shredder...Shredding is great if that's what you're into (believe me I've done it and love doin' it when jamming by myself; just like..haha nevermind ;-), but it definitely ain't my M.O. on the records I put out. First of all I try and write good songs. Pieces of music, with structure, parts and dynamics. I try to compose very melodic and accessible lines and my music can get real heavy (but not in a cookie monster kind of way) and I don't shred over beats disguised as "songs" on records. Which, again is cool if that's what you like. Hey, "good music" is just a matter of taste and personal preference, right! However, my personal understanding of a 'good song' does not involve having 67 different parts and my intention is not to stick to you how insanely fast or "dominant" I am and I really do not intend to confuse you as a listener. I use technique as a spice, not a main ingredient. Furthermore I strongly believe in originality and therefore don't steal people's licks or try to be someone else. I really hope that's coming across:) Not because I wanna be different just to be different or to purposely alienate myself from all the guitarists and guitar lovers out there, it's just who _________ I _________ am.		STYLE Patrick Vega - Instrumental Modern Rock songs with vintage & modern rock and metal influences. "Where the guitars are the vocals." Patrick is a player capable of great technique as heard in more technique-oriented tracks such as 'Camael', 'My Demons', 'The Big Lion' and in outbursts/solos in songs like 'Words of Power' or 'Alice's Nitemare'. In general though, Vega follows the unexpected, adventurous route rather than the (expected) technical/theory route. Alternate tunings, tasty leads and heavy but ambitious rhythm guitar parts that are accessible yet eclectic. Vega's music is also influenced by bands such as Nine Inch Nails, Alice In Chains, The Cure, Rage Against The Machine, KoRn, Puddle Of Mudd, Seether, Tool, Classic Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, PJ Harvey, Tricky, Ozzy Osbourne, Vega's former guitar teacher Brett Garsed and various movie soundtracks. MOST NOTEABLE FEATURES GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE ("Downright Squirrelly", 2005 & and "The Big Eight", 2009) THE DIY (SOLO) ARTIST'S WAY IN THE DIGITAL 2000's Patrick released his first solo album "Freefall Faith Firestorm" on his US label FFF Music in 2007. On the debut album Vega played all the instruments and - out of necessity programmed the midi drums. The album was professionally mixed and mastered and is now availabe worldwide through FFF Music (see ONLINE MUSIC STORE). The follow up album "8 Bullets" (2009, FFF Music) features Live Drums (a considerable step up from the programmed drums on FFF). 8 Bullets was mixed by Dave Dominguez (Papa Roach, Adema), mastered by John Cuniberti (Joe Satriani) and features drummer Glen Sobel (Sixx AM, Alice Cooper, Jennifer Batten). For the next album, as Vega envisions, he will be "finally dragging all the gear into a "real" studio and "be using all them tube amps and pedals!" ("Freefall Faith Firestorm" & "8 Bullets" both feature Guitar Amp Simulation products). Patrick is consistently working on music and eager to improve and learn anything one must know being a successful independent (instrumental) artist in this new millennium. Vega is DIY (Do It Yourself) all over. Like so many others, the artist is his own label and distributor, designs his album, promo and website artwork and manages the release and promotion of his music on FFF Music. Vega lives in Southern California (CD recordings, Touring, Live Shows, etc) and Austria (Recordings, Live Shows, Teaching electric guitar). AWARDS Award Credits include 'The Northern Californian Songcontest' 2000 (Finalist/Honorable Mention in the Instrumental Category with the song "For The Art & Somebody Else"). "Freefall Faith Firestorm" was voted "One of the Best Albums of 2008" by Radio Host Don Campau. SHOWS & CLINICS Vega now has a US and a EU Live band ready to go and is so able to perform LIVE on both continents. Patrick also recently premiered his "Where The Guitars Are The Vocals" Guitar Masterclasses in Europe. REPRESENTATION & BOOKING FFF Music: www.fffmusicintl.com INFO: info (at) fffmusicintl.com _____________________________