Heaps of devotion and hard working allowed us to reach Steve Fister, successful guitarist of the active music scene in L.A. He's gonna end up his American tour and he's ready to come over our Continent to spread his soul, his tunes, his passion to us so that we will live again the emotions that only the pure essence of rock'n'roll can give!

Hey Steve, can you shortly introduce yourself and tell us something about your career?
I'm just a musician who happens to play guitar. I've been a "sideman" for other artists, but in the last 7 years or so I started to "do my own thing!"

Is this the first time for you to tour in Europe? How do you feel about it?
I've been over many times with other acts. Lita Ford, Robin Beck, and Steppenwolf. But this is my first time over playing my music! I can't wait to get there!

How important is music in your life? Which are the priorities in your life as an artist and in your life as a man?
Well, I must say music is the most important thing in my life. These days with the new CD coming out, the tour, the sessions, the shows in Southern California, I don't have a lot of free time!! Wow I need a vacation!

Were you born like a blues man or like a rocker? Which of the two aspects do you prefer?
To me I love the intense feeling I get from both of them! I try to put the intense blues feeling into my rock music. The blues had a baby and they named the baby rock and roll.

You have been around playing with Steve Vai, Satriani, Steve Morse and many others. What is your relation with these artists off stage? Are you in a competitive environment or in a friendlier one?
Generally the more "famous" the musicians, the nicer they are! Those guys are really fun to play with and hang around.

What about your projects with Carmine Appice?
As I mentioned I played on a King Kobra CD with Kelly Keeling and also with Tony Franklin, we work together quite a bit. So it is a small world! You never know with Carmine, maybe I'm on Guitar Zeus and I don't know it!

Carmine also played drums for you on your two latest CDs isn't it? Why did you choose him and do you like most about him?
Carmine is a friend and a drum hero, I'm happy to work with him any time I can.

Here are some guest on your latest work: Gregg Bissonette (Carlos Santana, Ray Charles), Tony Franklin (The Firm), Stu Hamm (Joe Satriani), Tommy Aldridge (Ozzy Osbourne), Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets). Eddie Tuduri (Dwight Yoakam, Marianne Faithfull), and Carmine Appice (Jeff Beck, Cactus). How did you find them?
Greg Bissonette is an old friend, he played on my "Shadow King" CD a few years ago. I played with Stu Hamm on his US tours, and he returned the favour by playing on some of my records. I met Tommy Aldridge through Eddie Tuduri. You know drummers tend to hang out together. Eddie called me one day and said, "Hey Fister, I've been hangin out with this kid Tommy Aldridge, you should get together and play with him". So I did!! I played in a fusion band with Jimmy Haslip, a great guy.

The most significant collaborations and why...
I'm lucky to work with a lot of very talented people. To me it's all-good!

Will you bring some of them with you in your next tour?
The line-up for the tour is Tal Bergman on drums, and Tom Witt on bass. Tal has played with Billy Idol, Rod Stewart, Chaka Kahn, and a ton more. Tom is a Berklee guy who has played for Missing Persons and a bunch more. Great players.

What is your opinion about Mp3 and download in Internet? Pro or against?
I think it's good to check out new artists. I think it is bad to steal an artist's work. It's very hard to make a living as a musician, but if people expect the music to be free, it will stop the musicians from creating. The art form will die. I'm not speaking of a fat rich rock star, but people who just want to create and entertain! After all we have to eat! It's like if you asked me for a CD. I'd give you one. But if you just took it with out asking me. That's wrong!!

Will you perform your explosive version of 'Come Together' also in this show? Why did you take the choice to do this cover song? It's not really your style…
Cause I have an arrangement that kicks ass… plus I love it when the people sing with me, "one thing I can tell you is you got to be free!"

Ok Steve, time for funnier questions…your fav porn star & your fav drink!
I have to go with Jenna Jameson, can go wrong with her… Drinks? I pretty much stick with beer and wine, Italian of course!

Top 5 albums of ever?
Anything by the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Albert King, ZZ Top, Jeff Beck! (Plus a hundred more)

Ok unfortunately our interview is almost over, so do you want to say something to your Italian fans and to our readers?
Just that I can't wait to play in Italy and meet everybody. I haven't been there since I played with Lita Ford, and want to come back and play my music for everyone! Thanks very much for the interview and be sure to visit www.stevefister.com. Ciao.

Intervista realizzata da Laura Delnevo
Supervisione di Margherita Realmonte