Page 25 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine - Issue 100

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Dream It and Do It

ave you ever imagined your reality? Have you lived life focusing on your dreams and doing
Heverything to envisage them happening? There’s a movie called The Secret, which talks of
manifesting your desire and the law of attraction. Meet Ryan Roxie. Some will know Ryan for grac-
ing arena stages with Alice Cooper, or previously being a part of Slash’s Snakepit. He’s also formed
his own musical outfits, such as Dad’s Porno Mag and Roxie 77, although one of his first big breaks
was in the late 80s when, as a member of Electric Angels, he signed to the major label Atlantic
Records. There’s been no stopping Ryan and to this day he continues to live, breathe and dream
rock ‘n’ roll. His new album, ‘Imagine Your Reality’, is proof that when you really dream it and do
believe it, those dreams can, and will, come true.

yan was born an only child in Sacra- You can find out more about The 12 Sys- a self-proclaimed mystic/physicist named
Rmento, California on December 1st, tem For Learning Guitar on Ryan’s website – Vadim Zeland and his books about Reality
1965. Looking back, he begins by telling www.ryanroxie.com. Transurfing... really, really interesting stuff,
Black Velvet, “In some ways, being an only but I don't tell too many people about it be-
child actually helped with imagining my re- ife isn’t always easy for musicians, cause it's something they need to discover
ality as I spent more time than I would have Lthough – and Ryan gives some good on their own. It's a bit esoteric, but it friggin’
with a brother or sister alone in my room, advice for up-and-coming musicians. In works!”
staring at the posters of rock stars on my ‘Look Me In The Eye’ he sings ‘do it for love One of the things he imagined doing was
wall, imagining myself BEING those 'larger and not for glory’. Ryan says, “As a musi- a TEDx talk – which he ended up doing last
then life' characters. Plus I never had to cian, and especially for one that had dedi- year. Ryan explains, “I wanted to do a TEDx
'share' the mirror in my house, so I could cated themselves to making it more then just talk because I have such high respect for the
spend as much time playing air guitar and a hobby, we are always in a financial crisis! people that go on and do them. They have
perfecting my 'posing' craft,” he laughs. Have the 'hamster' mentality, and by that I excelled in whatever it is they do in life, and
He tells us that he wasn’t one of those mean... when you make money, don't blow it want to share that with others. To me, that is
musicians that ‘practiced until their fingers all on new equipment or stupid shit... save it, the ultimate act of giving; sharing your expe-
bled’ sort of players. “I mean, I did the nec- because you'll need it those months when rience so that others can be inspired by it
essary stuff to get my motor skills up to a you are NOT touring or not making money. and make their own lives more fulfilled be-
level where I could play solid - you have to if Also, don't be so 'proud' to not take a paying cause of it.”
you are going to be in this business - but I gig, as long as you actually can 'Look Your- In Ryan’s TEDx talk, he explained that
would also leave time to study music, bands, self in the Eye', and you made money doing you can achieve your goals with ‘practice,
fashion, songs, because being a rock ‘n' what you have practiced and trained to do, persistence and patience’. Black Velvet asks
roller is not just about playing skills... it's the then I see no problem with that. Ask yourself, if he ever got impatient? “I think any driven
entire package. The key for me was to try ‘do I want to be an 'artist' or do I want to be person will get impatient of where they are
and do something each and every day to- a 'professional musician'?’ Sometimes you at any given moment... like a shark in some
wards becoming a full-time rock musician, can be both, but most times you will have to ways, you feel like you always have to be
which I still do today - for instance, this in- do gigs that you're not entirely 100% 'proud' moving. That's why the mantra or 3P's as I
terview - I know there might be some of you you did... but hey, did you get paid? Did you call 'em; 'Practice, Persistence, Patience', is
out there reading this right now that have not take one step closer to your ultimate goal? If a good reminder for me - plus, it's simple to
ever heard of me... well, now you have, and so, then fuck whatever they say.” repeat in your head. I've learned over the
I've taken one step closer to having more past years to 'enjoy the ride' a lot more than
people know about who I am and what I do.” n the subject of imagining your real- I used to, which basically means I'm enjoy-
The first concert Ryan ever attended was Oity, Ryan explains, “Envisioning the ing the 'process' of getting my goals accom-
The Jackson 5 in 1977 in Oakland, California. goal is really important, but putting that 'vi- plished just as much as the end result.”
He says that Michael Jackson was “friggin’ sion' into some sort of 'action' is even MORE
awesome!” Though he thinks there are less important. Great ideas and goals will always n June, Ryan released ‘Imagine Your
kids learning to play guitar now than back in enter your head at some point in life. It's up IReality’, a ten-track album featuring ten
the 70s or 80s. “You have heard that old to you to make them realities, and the key is guitar solos. As a guitarist, he wanted to
song 'Video Killed The Radio Star'? Well, I've visualization and plan of action.” make sure every song had a guitar solo. Al-
changed it to 'Video Games Killed Child- There are a lot of ‘motivational’ and ‘law though Ryan thinks it’s not always neces-
hood!',” he laughs. “But seriously, it's hard of attraction’ type videos on YouTube. Some sary for a great song to have a guitar solo,
to compete with video games when you're a were inspired by the movie and book, The he adds, “I do know a well-played guitar solo
kid. Think about it, you can learn a video Secret. Ryan says, “I was pretty 'early', I can make a really good song, a fucking
game pretty well in a couple of months... gui- guess you could say, to The Secret, so it's GREAT one.”
tar might take a couple of years.... that's why something I've always tried to maintain in my Since Ryan wanted a guitar solo on
me and some colleagues have been working own head - positivity, confidence that it will every song, we ask if it’s hard to come up
so hard in writing a new methodology for work out in the end, and enjoying the with new guitar solos – since there are al-
learning the guitar that takes months, if not process as you are striving to make your ready so many solos on so many songs.
years, off the process. We are calling it 'The dreams come true. One of the most helpful “You just have to remember one thing...
12 System for Learning Guitar' and we plan books that I have come across, that very few don't make your solos sound like scales, and
on releasing it later this year.” people actually know about, is a concept by always try and write a 'story within the song'
RYAN ROXIE