Ex-DIO Guitarist TRACY G - "Angry Machines Was .......

Ex-DIO Guitarist TRACY G - "Angry Machines Was Forced, Too Much Thinking"

Ex-DIO guitarist Tracy G is featured in a new fan Q&A on the official Dio message board. An excerpt appears below.

Q: While you were working with Ronnie James Dio, how much input did you actually have as far as to the direction of the songs?

Tracy G: "I wrote all of the guutar parts. Maybe I would start a riff and the rest of the guys would join in. Or Jeff (Pilson)would start with a bass line, or Vinny (Appice) would play a beat. We would just jam until Ronnie liked what he heard. Then he would guide it where he wanted it."

Q: And while doing the concerts, how much freedom did you have to add your own touch to the songs?

Tracy G: "Ronnie never told me what to play or how to play the old songs. He let me do what I do, and on the songs I helped write I also played what I wanted."

Q: Compare your feeling on Strange Highways, which most Dio fans loved, to Angry Machines, which had a much cooler reception. And do you think it could have been done better?

Tracy G: "Strange Highways had a flow to it, more feel and soul. Angry Machines was more forced, too much thinking. For me if you think too much when you write or play music, you fuck it up, but it was not my call. Remember it is Ronnie's band and he has the last word."

Go to this location for the complete interview.