I’ve always been a fan of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the amazing musical project that combines rock, classical, and holiday music into a spectacular show. I was thrilled when I got the chance to interview Al Pitrelli, the lead guitarist and musical director of TSO, ahead of their concert at the AT&T Center on December 9th.

We talked about his career and how he got involved with TSO. He told me that he had been playing guitar since he was a kid, he had attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston. He played with many famous artists, such as Michael Bolton, Alice Cooper, Asia, Megadeth but he learned so much as Alice Cooper’s guitarist and musical director from 1989 until 1991. He said that Alice Cooper taught him how to put on a show that entertained and engaged the audience. He said that Alice Cooper was one of his influences for TSO, along with classical composers like Beethoven and Mozart.

Al joined TSO in 1995, when Paul O’Neill, the producer and composer of Savatage, asked him if he wanted to be part of his side project. Now he continues Paul’s legacy with other talented musicians in TSO which has grown from a small studio project to a huge phenomenon over the years, and that he was proud of their success.

We talked about the younger audience coming to the TSO shows, and how he felt about them. He said that he was happy to see young people appreciate their music, and that he hoped to inspire them to pursue their own dreams. He said that TSO was not only about music, but also about stories and messages. I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did talking with Al Pitrelli!

Listen to the full interview here!

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Trans-Siberian Orchestra 2011 (Johnnie Walker)