Date of Birth 12/08/68
Full Name Johnathan Michael Stafford
Favorite Things
Films Pirates of the Caribbean, The Big Labowski, Saving Private Ryan
Actors/Actresses Johnny Depp, Robin Williams, John Cusack, Tom Hanks, Harrison Ford
Sports Soccer, Basketball, Football
Books Anything by Anne Rice, Suspense and Mysteries
Food Chinese, Mexican
Drinks Home Made Iced Tea, Hot Tea, Coffee, Bottled Water
Dislikes Tardiness! People who don’t return phone calls! People who smoke right after dinner at your table, Rude! People who BLOW THEIR NOSE WHILE YOU ARE TRYING TO EAT!!!
Other hobbies Living on My computer, Watching TV, Mostly Conan O’Brien, PBS, Love them Info shows
EQUIPMENT Shure Beta 58 Microphones, Les Paul Custom Shop 1968 Reissue, ESP & Kramer Guitars, Line 6 Amplification, S.I.T Strings, Takamine and Yamaha Acoustic Guitars and Planet Waves Cables
When did you decide to play in a band? I played air guitar when I was a kid to old KISS records and actually put on little KISS concerts with my friends! I knew when I was 10 I wanted to play music but didn't actually start playing guitar seriously until I was 15.
What music background/Influences do you have? I am mainly self-taught on guitar, but took a few formal lessons. My guitar influences are Ace Frehley, Chris Degarmo, Jake E. Lee, George Lynch, and Vivian Campbell, although there are more! Vocally, I took voice lessons for about a year. I’ve watched and studied many videos. My mother is a singer, which helped. My vocal influences are Geoff Tate, Ray Alder, Don Dokken, and Michael Sweet.
Do you play any other instruments? Little Keyboards, and Bass Guitar
From where do you draw your inspiration? When I write Lyrics, Sad moods inspire me. I can’t write when I am happy! Just knowing that one word or one thing I did on stage touched someone in any way makes me feel like I have accomplished something in my quest to be a musician, songwriter, and performer.
How do you warm-up before a show? Vocal scales and breathing exercise, along with plenty of water!!
What, when and where was the most memorable concert you've ever played? Playing New Years Eve 2003, for Catalytic Productions, WWW.CPONLINE.US, for the city of Baltimore/ There were around 150,000 people in attendane. It was pretty incredible! And there are so many other great shows and cities I can't really choose.
What was the worst concert you've played? Any place where someone would yell out, "Play some Skynyrd Dude!" Not that there is anything wrong with that. (Fellow Musicians you know what I am talking about!!)
What was the first album you bought? Kiss - Destroyer
All-time favorite albums? The Warning, Operation Mindcrime & Promised Land by Queensryche, Seven Dust- Seasons, Kiss Alive Great Live Album, The Cure - Disintegration, Images and words by Dream Theater, Pleasant Shade of Gray, Parallels By Fates Warning, Ultimate sin and Bark at the moon by Ozzy, Under Lock and key and Back for the attack by Dokken, The Stranger and any other Billy Joel album.