From the October 2001 Guitar World, p. 34
MAYFIELD FOUR
And then there were three
Myles Kennedy of the Mayfield Four recalls that towards the end of 15 months spent touring for the Spokane Washington, group's 1998 debut, "I started thinking that things would be different" on its next album. He didn't know how right he was.
Between that road trip and the recording of its new album, Second Skin (Epic), the Mayfield Four parted ways with its management and with second guitarist Craig Johnson, who "just wasn't working out -- put it that way." But Kennedy maintains the shake up ultimately improved the remaining trio, which includes bassist Marty Meisner and drummer Zia Uddin. "It was really tough, but at the same time it brought the three of us closer together, and that's definitely reflected in the way this new album sounds."
For Kennedy, Johnson's departure meant taking on even more responsibility in addition to songwriting, signing and lead guitar work. But you'll hear no complaints on that front, either.
"In a way, it was really liberating, because I didn't have to teach someone the guitar parts i heard in my head," explains Kennedy, who on Second Skin guided the group through another set of forceful, straightforward melodic rock that, this time around, is laced with greater dynamic nuances. "It really opened up a lot of things for me as a guitar player."
Film acting was another vista presented to Kennedy between albums. In the upcoming film Rock Star, he plays Thor, God of Thunder, a fan who gets a chance to perform with his idol, played by Mark Wahlberg. Based loosely on the story of Tim "Ripper" Owens, the Judas Priest fan who became the group's lead singer after Rob Halford's departure, the film gave Kennedy a chance to perform before 5,000 headbanging extras at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
"It was kind of a rush," says Kennedy. "They had a huge, elaborate stage, and lots of pyro explosions. For about five minutes I felt like I was in Judas Priest."
- Gary Graff
AXOLOGY: GUITAR 1991 Gibson Les Paul Classic (1960 reissue model)
AMPS (live) Marshal 800s; (studio) 1976 Mesa/Boogie
STRINGS Ernie Ball (custom set) .012-.058
CURRENTLY LISTENING TO Various Artists - O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, Queens of the Stone Age - Rated R
ALL-TIME FAVORITE ALBUM Marvin Gaye - What's Going On