Guitarist Steve Bello Unleashes New Instrumental Album

Guitar virtuoso Steve Bello has just released his superb new album, “Marblehead.” On the disc, Bello and his backing musicians pull off the impressive feat of showing that you can play heavy, melodic all-instrumental music that can appeal to mainstream audiences as well as guitar aficionados.

Bello’s seven-string guitar mastery has not gone unnoticed in the guitar world. His exceptional abilities and flare have led to endorsements by Ibanez guitars and GHS strings.

Last summer Bello’s signature model guitar effects pedal, Nuclear Paradise, and guitar cable, the Bello Flex, hit the market. They were built and sponsored by Checkered Pedals and Spectraflex, respectively.

“Marblehead,” the follow-up to the also excellent “Layers of Time,” is available as a digital download through Bello’s website, www.stevebellorocks.com, Amazon.com, iTunes and spotify. Physical copies (all signed by Bellow) are available only through his website.

Catch Bello performing this summer on Saturday, July 21 at Roxy and Duke’s Roadhouse in Dunellen, NJ; and on Sunday, Aug. 19 opening for Fishbone at The Chance in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. For more info go to www.stevebellorocks.com

We recently spoke with Steve Bello.

Tell us about the writing process for “Marblehead”

I really just write what I feel; just playing what comes out of my head and into my hands. I also had a change of lineup for this album and the two guys who played on the album, Chris Davison (bass) and Ronnie Mormino (drums) really made a difference. I gave them the demos, they went to town with them, made the songs better and pushed my playing too.

How do you come up with song ideas?

I’m a couch jammer. I’ll be sitting on the couch noodling aimlessly and something will hit me and I’ll say, ‘I’ve got to remember that.’ I’m always writing. I began writing “Marblehead” after recording the last note of “Layers of Time.” I’m always experimenting and throwing things out there and seeing what works. If something really grabs me and won’t let me go I use it. The big challenge is editing myself. I’ll play something and think, ‘man this is really cool.’ Then I think, ‘Oh God what was I thinking,’ and discard it. Then six months later I’m saying, ‘man, I should’ve used that.’

Let’s talk about some of the songs on the album. What inspired the title, “Marblehead”?

I had a temp job in 2015 and my job was to sort out calendars for Christmas. Of all the cities I was sending to I kept seeing Marblehead, Massachusetts. I thought, ‘that's a song title.’ I had no music for it. I put together the main groove and the melody and putt a riff over it and everything fell into place. It has a Led Zeppelin/Aerosmith kind of vibe.

How about “Turn To Rust”? I would say that’s the highlight of the album with the twists and turns between the mellow and heavy parts.

I love Stevie Ray Vaughan and I hear the song “Lenny” for the first time in years and that inspired the intro. I admit I nicked it a bit but I didn’t rip it off. But I didn’t want the whole song to sound like that. I wanted to break it up.

The song “Stay Outside The Lines” seems to sum up your philosophy and playing style, to not be afraid to try different things.

When I was younger I always liked the obscure songs by popular bands, the songs that were different from the rest. And whether it's Prince or Slayer, if it grabs me it grabs me. Music shouldn't have to have boundaries.

It must be a challenge trying to appeal to people who don’t usually listen to instrumental rock music.

I think the challenge is people opening their minds to new music. What I'm noticing more than ever is everybody is stuck in their past. I reminisce too but I want to talk about now. It’s like the new Judas Priest is a killer record but the radio only plays their old stuff. It’s the same with the new Living Colour. It’s an amazing album but you’ll never hear it on the radio. You’ll only hear “Cult of Personality.” I’m also very open to trying anything. When I opened for Lita Ford they told me they wanted all female-fronted bands, that I’d be a fish out of water. I said, ‘let me be that fish.’ I just want people to hear the music.

Have you ever considered recruiting a singer for your band?

I’m very soured by singers. In my head I have the ideal vocalist and I've never come across that. You want somebody as your equal vocally and that’s not going to happen with me.

What are you most memorable gigs?

Hands down playing in Germany with T.M. Stevens (bass, Steve Vai, James Brown, Billy Joel) and TC Tolliver (drums, Plasmatics, Bernie Worrell, Joe Lynn Turner). I accomplished two dreams at once: playing in Europe and playing with those guys.

Also opening for King’s X at the Stone Pony. They are one of my favorite bands and it was just an unbelievable experience to know that I was playing on the same stage they would be playing on. It was over before I knew it. Like, ‘wait, I just played a gig with King’s X!’

When did you start playing?

I picked up the guitar at age 9 but really got serious when I was 12 when I started tuning in to Hendrix and Blackmore and watching them break their strats. I didn’t want to break guitars though, I just wanted to play them. I was in my first band at 15. The minute I stepped on stage I thought, ‘I like this, I think I can do this.’

What advice would you give to aspiring guitarists?

I would say go back to who you listen to and then listen to who influenced them and then who those people listened to. Get the history of music and a deeper appreciation for music.

What are your goals for the future?

I would like to tour and get out there for real, tour up and down the East Coast and beyond. I know this is really good music and I want people to hear it.