The eighties was a great time for guitarists. It was considered shred heaven, and axe slingers everywhere squared off across the world to see who could outplay each other. The playing field was littered with Eddie Van Halen clones, but there were few guitarists taking the six string to a completely new level. One who did break new ground was Michael Angelo, who happened to be in the Louisville area giving a guitar clinic on election day.

“Hopefully, you started your day by voting, and now we’re going to end it with a little bit of metal!” Angelo said as he strapped on his guitar and began his clinic. The guitar virtuoso shared playing tips, answered questions, and performed a select number of his songs, including “The Finish Line” and “No Boundaries,” both of which left the audiences completely awestruck.

“I’ve purchased and seen a few of his instructional videos,” clinic attendee Johnathan Epstein said. “But to see him actually pull it off right before my eyes was just incredible. I’ll never forget this.”

Angelo started playing guitar at age five, and since then has played more than 1,200 shows in 35 different countries. Back in 2003 he was voted the number one shredder of all time by Guitar One magazine, and he plans on releasing a new album in April.

“The new album is almost done, and it’s pretty wicked,” said Angelo. “I recently got to jam with guitarist Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge) during one of their shows and it was such a great experience. Mark is a wonderful person along with being an excellent player. He’s contributing a few solos to my upcoming album as well.”

JC: It says on your website’s bio that you started playing jazz when you were younger, but you are typically known for being a big metal person. How did this come about?

MA: I had a job at Toys R Us when I was younger, and boy did I not like it! The only thing I got out of it was being exposed to jazz music. You know the quiet music they always have playing in stores? Well, I started noticing it one day, and I began training my ear to recognize certain pitches. I didn’t have a teacher so I taught myself everything!

JC: Who do you listen to for inspiration?

MA: I’ve studied a lot of guitarists over the years, and when I say studied I mean breaking down their playing styles and really analyzing what they do. Randy Rhoads, Gary Moore, Yngwie Malmsteen, all of those guys are really huge for me.

JC: You are known for your mind-boggling speed. I don’t know of anyone else who can touch you. What advice would you give guitarists who want to achieve speed?

MA : I get asked this a lot, and there really is no secret. There aren’t any shortcuts, you just have to practice. I take guitar playing very seriously, but at the same time I have fun with it because I get to share it with millions of people! Just practice man, that’s all I can say.