#1:What projects are you currently working on?

Purple is on the road right now, so in a few weeks I'll finish my solo album with Van Romaine on drums and Dave LaRue on bass. The album is called Split Decision since part is somewhat mellow and part is more typical of the Steve Morse Band live sound. Also, Purple has about half the material ready for our new album which we will start during this year.

#2:What musician/artist deserves a smack in the face? and why?

Anybody that forgets that the audience is paying the bills. I hate to see performers say something like "It's just some Podunkt town, so I don't have to try my best"...or something on that order. Every person that buys a ticket is a walking miracle, given all the much easier entertainment choices available on cable, sat t.v., and internet.

#3:Rate the following guitarists on a scale from 1-10

The cop out begins here. I will try to never but finite values on musicians that play from the soul. I could do some short comments, though.....disclaimer: these are not the only comments that I have, just the ones that I thought of at the moment.

John Petrucci

One of my favorites. Absolute virtuoso of the instrument, especially his right hand from Hell

Yngwie Malmsteen

Still the only guitarist that went out of his way to trash me, but also a great player

Eddie Van Halen

Always something to like about his playing, especially the free, but inventive rhythm parts.

Kurt Cobain

Great songwriter and performer. I saw his guitar playing as more of a means to and end.

Alex Lifeson

Super guy and very inventive, always looking for ways to complement the song

Gary Hoey

Energetic and talented, but I can't remember seeing him live

Dimebag Darrel

Surprisingly well rounded and talented. I like his approach

Steve Howe

Hero of mine, will always be. Original and quirky, of course. He changed my life as a player

Joe Satriani

He deserves the praise that he gets, because he really is amazing. I love his soloing.

Steve Vai

He keeps getting more interesting the more I hear him. Always a showman, but very inventive player.

Stevie Ray Vaughn

He really did nail down. Always on, and such a feel on the axe. His group let me hitch an overnight ride on his bus when I was really ill and couldn't travel very well. His playing defines swinging blues to me.

Eric Johnson

An old friend, and a stellar player. Very good composer, immaculate performer.

#4:How do you feel about todays music scene.

It's not the scene so much as the media and business being so unaware of how much rich variety is available in this world. I don't particularly like the small amount of opportunities available to musicians to play gigs, which is a big part of it.

#5:What band(s) should give up and call it a day?

Anybody who doesn't get a little bit nervous and excited before a gig, who doesn't think of ways to improve the show, turn on the audience, etc. Going through the motions just gives live music a bad name.

#6:Can we expect to see any Steve Morse videos on Mtv any time soon?

Er, uhh.......er, hmmmmm........NO.

#7:If you could put togeather a "dream" band with any musician's dead or alive, with you being the lead guitarist who would you pick and why?

Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo, David Crosby, Jon Anderson, Allanis Morissette. because they've all written some of my favorite music. I could think of lots of other combinations for different types of bands, but that would be my choice for some really good sounding stuff.

#8:What was your most memorable gig and why?

The first stadium gig we did in Chile. The audience climbed over the P.A. and Sound tower and it collapsed on about a hundred people. The power went out, and there were people hurt everywhere. The wires to the stage power were severed and spewed sparks like the 4th of July. I later saw that gig on a t.v. advertisement of a video called "Banned from T.V." or something like that, which showed horrible things happening to people.

#9:What gig would you most like to forget about?

The New Year's Eve I played where the keyboard player of the pick up band didn't show up. And it was a reading gig. And I couldn't read well enough to cover everything. And the female singer only sang show tunes. Ones I never heard of.

#10:Which do you prefer?

Music from the eighties or music from the nineties?

It's impossible to say. The good songs are the ones I like, say one of Tom Sholz' tunes like "more than a feeling" was brilliantly done, as well as "....teen spirit" by Nirvana. It's the songs, or the writing and production that make the talented bands stand out.

Megadeth or Metallica?

Sorry, I don't like this comparison, since they have their strengths and weaknesses, like all bands, and I would rather congratulate them both on staying together.

N'Sync or Backstreet Boys?

I can't really keep track of which of those is which, anyway....they all sing good, though

Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughn

Jimi for being the pioneer, Stevie for having the dedication to incorporate his style in an incredible tribute.

The Who or Led Zeppelin?

I got to see both live when they first toured the States, and Zep hit me hardest, but it could have been the company I was with or the chemical balance, who knows?

South Park or The Simpsons

Now I'm on board, There is no better writing in the North American Continent than the team that does the Simpsons, especially when you pick up all the subtle, hidden stuff. I do have opinions, after all....

Ernie Ball or Gibson

This is a setup, right? Ernie Ball is the only company on the planet that gave me the guitar the exact way I wanted it, with no strings attached.....get it? They make strings, you know.....

Studio or Live

Live for me, for fun, sporting challenge, and instant gratification. Studio for leaving something behind for the world....to be downloaded for free, of course.

#11:You performed on the album "Working Man" which was a tribute to Rush. That album which was put together by Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy was criticized on the internet by Rush Drummer Neil Peart, He responded to a question by saying that "it was an attempt by a bunch of bar-band musicians to cash in on Rush's name, and that "it had nothing to do with paying tribute". What is your response to his comments?

I know Neil a little bit after having toured with them. We all have a different take on tribute albums. To me, coming from a bar band, literally, most of my life, I think it's cool when people do tribute tunes about the Dregs, or Purple.....especially if they write something that sounds similar, but do give credit to it being "inspired by...." Neil is a very down to earth, nice guy. I know that, and can only surmise that he just sees it as a way to sell records with their name (Rush) on it. Neil may just be categorically against the concept of doing another band's material, indeed using their fame as an angle to justify and sell the recording. Me personally, I think it's more of that, than him hating that particular record........If there was any cash to be cashed in on regarding that recording, would you mind telling everyone that they must have lost my address.....just kidding, a little...nobody went shopping for cars with the session fees, I'm sure... Bottom line, Neil had to be having a bad day, he's a nice guy, and the album was well done, Mike!

#12:What band or bands do you think are overrated?

Any band that claims to be the next Beatles.

#13:What do you remember most about the following years?

1970:

Getting accepted to music school

1975:

Getting my pilot's license and finishing college

1980:

Producing my second Dregs album and realizing that being a producer is the hardest job in the world

1985:

Enjoying the fact that people came out and supported my trio when we toured

1990:

Counting the days until my little boy would be born

1995:

Enjoying a number of tour legs with Deep Purple

2000:

They were wrong about Y2K, and they are certainly wrong about all predictions

#14:What was your biggest music related check, and what did you do with it?

It was not from royalties, since you said "biggest", not "smallest". But, I paid off my twin engine airplane with it, and that sure felt good.

#15:What bands/artists have you played with before?

Dregs, Deep Purple, Steve Morse Band, Kansas, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Albert Lee, John McLaughlin, Al Dimeola, Paco De Lucia, Manuel Barrueco, Eddie Van Halen, John Petrucci, Jimmy Herring, Jon Finn, Jerry Peek, Dave LaRue, Van Romain, Rod Morgenstein, Jordan Rudess, Carlos Santana, Narada Michael Walden, Jaco Pastorius....., Steve Vai, Joe Satriani

#16:Considering your talents and style, why haven't you been a part of the G3 tour?

We were unable to accept an invitation due to a conflict with my schedule of existing dates with Deep Purple.

#17:Of all the people you have toured with over the years, who was the biggest pain in the ass to deal with?

I personally do not hold it against anyone who just wants things done right, on time. Most people that get hated in this business do so because they insist on getting details right, and don't know how to express that tactfully. I could name some people that were utterly tactless, but still had an element of fairness: "Do it right and I won't have to freak out at you". OK, maybe the rude roadie for ZZ Topp that grabbed my wife's ass......or the only guitarist on the planet that bad rapped me because my vibrato was different than his.......or the manager from L.A. that ripped the Dregs off....or..........

#18:If you could go back in your career and change anything, what would it be and why?

It would be to kick that guy in the face.....see above.......Seriously, it would really be to thank all the musicians in my bands for giving it their best. I never said that enough. To be a musician, you have to really love it, and mostly the only reward that is outstanding will be recognition of your efforts....

#19:What advice do you have for up and coming guitarists?

If you want money, buy lottery tickets. If you love music, practice and keep your overhead to the bare minimum. Keep your promises, who you are is more important than what licks you know to any band leader.

#20:When all is said and done how do you want the world to remember Steve Morse?

A positive influence on the world....to some degree, and a great Father.