KNAC.COM - Features - Exclusive Interview: GREGG GILL Of LOVE AND WAR

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All's Fair In Love And War: An Exclusive Interview With GREGG GILL Of LOVE AND WAR And Z-LOT-Z

By Larry Petro, News Monkey
Tuesday, February 8, 2022 @ 8:51 AM

"I’ve been friends with most of the guys in LOVE AND WAR for many years and I love the music - the heavy riffs are right up my alley and in my bones!"

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Recently I had the opportunity to interview Guitarist Gregg Gill from the band LOVE AND WAR. Gregg has an interesting story to tell here in regards to him recently joining LOVE AND WAR in that he had previously worked with the band as a Producer in the recording studio on their past recordings. In this exclusive interview with KNAC.COM Gregg also talks about the fact that he had been friends with LOVE AND WAR Lead Guitarist John Adams for a number of years and when LOVE AND WAR was in need of a 2nd guitarist it was Gregg who got the offer to go from being the band's producer to an actual band member. Gregg also discusses how very accepting he feels that the LOVE AND WAR fans have been towards him.

KNAC.COM: Hello and welcome Gregg. I'd like to thanks you for taking time out of your very, busy schedule to speak with KNAC.COM. You are not an original member of LOVE AND WAR so I'd like to ask you how long have you been with the band? Could you share with us the story of how you landed the gig?

GILL: Yes, I’m kind of the new/long-distance guy, but I actually was the engineer/co-producer of Up The Annie in 2008 and Edge of The World in 2020, so that gave me a foot in the door, LOL. But seriously, after we finished the EOTW record, one of my former bands, MIDNIGHT CIRCUS, played a benefit show with LOVE AND WAR. I asked John Adams if he would maybe, possibly, hopefully want a rhythm guitarist for the show. He said YES! It wasn’t long after that show that he asked me to join and I said, “HELL YES!”.

KNAC.COM: How long did it take you to learn how to play the LOVE AND WAR music?

GILL: I worked on the songs for about a month, but since I was extremely familiar with the new songs after spending so much up close and personal time while recording, it didn’t take me too long to get them down.

KNAC.COM: Were you a LOVE AND WAR fan yourself prior to joining the band?

GILL: Absolutely!! I’ve been friends with most of the guys in LOVE AND WAR for many years and I love the music - the heavy riffs are right up my alley and in my bones!

KNAC.COM: What were you doing prior to joining LOVE AND WAR? Were you playing in another band?

GILL: Besides performing in reunion shows with my former band, Z-LOT-Z, I really had taken time off to focus on my family. My last Houston performance was with Z-LOT-Z in 2015 celebrating the 20th anniversary of our 1995 CD release, Tearing at Your Mind. Otherwise, I wasn’t writing or performing original music much at all.

KNAC.COM: How accepting do you feel the fans have been towards you?

GILL: Very accepting, I think! When we opened for NIGHT RANGER in May of 2021, there were a lot of friends there that I hadn’t seen in a long time - who are also fans of LOVE AND WAR. They seemed happy to see me on stage with the guys and loved the dual guitar sound!

KNAC.COM: As far as John Adams, the other guitar player in the band, how would you describe you two as a guitar team?

GILL: Kind of a Glenn (Tipton) and KK (Downing) guitar-duo vibe - at least in my opinion. John is a killer guitarist and writer!

KNAC.COM: What do you feel that you bring to the band?

GILL: We have similar styles. Writing heavy guitar riffs to start and having a recording studio, I hope to bring even more production value to the band!

KNAC.COM: What can fans expect from LOVE AND WAR in the next year ahead?

GILL: To start, we have our first gig of 2022 booked opening for ACE FREHLEY. I’m pretty excited about this. KISS was my first concert in '79. Game changer for me!

KNAC.COM: Who are the guitar players that you admired when you were growing up? Who were the players that influenced you to pick up the guitar?

GILL: Topping my list would have to be Glenn and KK from JUDAS PRIEST, RANDY RHOADS, ACCEPT and KISS who influenced me in a huge way in the beginning.

KNAC.COM: What do you remember most about your first live performance with LOVE AND WAR?

GILL: Honestly, it was the most fun I had on stage in a long time. For me, it felt like we just jived together.

KNAC.COM: What was the very first song you learned to play on the guitar?

GILL: The first riff I learned was “Smoke On The Water", which you could have guessed. The first full song was either "Metal Health" or "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" if I can remember right.

KNAC.COM: How old were you when you first started playing the guitar? Did you take lessons or would you consider yourself to be more of a self-taught player?

GILL: I was 17-ish when I started playing guitar, seriously anyway. I didn’t take lessons which I think took me longer to begin to understand the guitar. It was players like my guitarist from Z-LOT-Z, Eric Halpern that really helped me learn a lot more. Joel Gregoire from the band stride also opened my eyes to a lot of knowledge. I still need way more knowledge though!!

KNAC.COM: Any plans for LOVE AND WAR to go in the studio and record any, new music? If so do you think you'll be allowed to take part in the song writing process?

GILL: John Adams and I have been trading some riffs as of late which I hope some turn into new songs. I’d love to record with those guys!

KNAC.COM: Where can fans find you online?

GILL: Right now on Facebook @ greg.gill.50767 and my studio website www.endeavorav.com. I’m working on an Instagram account, so hopefully soon I’ll be up and running.

KNAC.COM: Are you currently involved with any other bands/projects that you'd like to let your fans know about?

GILL: Yes. Locally where I live, I’ve been playing and recording with THE BEN TURNBOUGH BAND. Killer musicians and some of the best people to hang and play music with.

KNAC.COM: Anything else you'd like to let the fans know about?

GILL: Keep an Eye out for my son, Stone (Endurance). He just turned 16 and is one of the best musician/writers I know. I’m not just being biased. He’s a different style musically than I am but he really is that good. He and his drummer Issah are writing a song for their high school band spring concert at the moment and starting to play shows out on their own. Seriously, how cool is that! Proud dad!

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