Roger Zee: Who inspired you to take guitar lessons at age ten?
Kristen Capolino: At age five, my father introduced me to the music of Blues-Rock guitarist Gary Moore.
Every morning at breakfast, I would watch his VHS vids and try to play along. I kept rewinding that favorite lick until I got it
right! To this day, I’m still trying to figure out some of his riffs (laughs)! The first time I heard his beautiful ballad, "Empty Rooms,"
it brought tears to my eyes and made me want to play music and connect with people just like he did. Naturally I longed for a Gibson Les Paul
just like his Peter Green model. My father surprised me and had his left-handed black Gibson Flying V rebuilt
for a small, right-handed player. When I turned nine, he bought me my very first “grown-up” Gibson, a beautiful red Les Paul Studio. He also
introduced me to some of my other big influences -- Michael Schenker and Al Dimeola. If it wasn’t for my dad, I probably wouldn’t have ever
picked up the guitar.
Roger Zee: Who currently plays in the Kristen Capolino Group?
Kristen Capolino: I love my new line-up -- so talented and a pleasure to work with!
It’s kind of funny because my drummer, Andrew Foster, played guitar with us for years but actually started on drums. I didn't
know this until we began jamming and writing together. For years we searched for an awesome percussionist. We worked happily with
Chris Redden for a while, but he’s in high demand and not always available. So we continued our search until one day Andy came over and
said, “That’s it. I’m coming out of retirement!”. He’s been my drummer ever since and I just love it! Talented sweetheart Chuck Torres
plays bass. We worked with him and Chris for years. I’m just so happy that the stars aligned and brought Chuck back to us. For
the last three years, Devin Daversa has played rhythm guitar and sung backup. We just brought in another amazing guitarist and singer,
Corey Digiovanni. We recently performed our first show together at the Rustic Barn in Troy, NY, and he's such a pro. He and I got together
for a month prior to the show and worked on parts and vocals together. I love his meticulousness and great ear.
Roger Zee: Do you also work as a side person and/or teach guitar?
Kristen Capolino: It’s always fun to do side projects. I enjoy playing corporate events with "Face The Music." I really appreciate
that their musical director, Ken McGloin, pulled me in a few years ago and gave me the chance to try something new.
It’s so much fun learning different kinds of music and meeting new people. He’s even had me substitute teach for him at the High Meadow
School in Stoneridge, NY. Although I don’t do it as often as I would like, I find it so inspiring to connect with these kind, talented kids
and help them grow as musicians.
Roger Zee: Talk about your association with Bill Edwards and the annual Christmas for Veterans concert and CD.
Kristen Capolino: I met Bill Edwards through a guitar mentor, Nick Moroch. Because Bill’s father served in the military,
Bill's always held our veterans very close to his heart and wants to help. Six years ago he created the
Westchester Allstars Christmas For Wounded Veterans Concert and CD. All of the proceeds go to associations such as Veterans Adaptive
Sports. He had Nick Moroch record most of the guitars on the first Christmas album. Since Nick couldn't
make the initial show, he invited me to sit in. I had some big shoes to fill (laughs), but I jumped on it. Bill and I immediately connected.
The next year I found myself playing on another song or two. The year following, I performed my own tune at the show. After earning my
stripes, I feel honored to play as part of the main band on almost every song! Bill and his wife have become family and the whole group has
grown really close. I feel so lucky to have worked with Carmine Appice of The Vanilla Fudge,
Gene Cornish of The Rascals, and Pete Levin of The Levin Brothers.
Roger Zee: Describe your favorite and/or most unusual gig.
Kristen Capolino: I will never forget the night at fourteen that I performed with Michael Schenker at The Downtown in Long Island.
A year earlier, I met him when he played at the Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie. As a kid, I loved his song “Lights Out” so much that I
recorded my own version of it at age thirteen! That night at the Chance my dad decided to
have some fun and gave Michael my version of “Lights Out” and a video of me playing it at one of my favorite open mics. We really didn’t expect a
response. But the next day I received a very complimentary email from him. I couldn’t believe it when he said that I played better
than him when he was my age. So a year later my parents and I went to see him perform at The Downtown in Long Island. As always, Shenker's on
fire. During the show I happened to make friends with the biggest biker in the place. At the end of the show Michael jumped into another one
of his best songs, “Armed And Ready”. The biker and I started playing air guitar together. Spontaneously, he picked me up onto his shoulders.
I had a full view of Michael now so I kept playing air guitar. At that moment, Shenker happened to look up and we made
eye contact. I couldn’t believe he recognized me a year later! He then signaled me to join him on stage and turned to his tech and gave him
a heads up. Filled with excitement, I immediately yelled out to my dad that Michael wanted me to come up on stage. My
father couldn’t believe it! Then my mother pointed out Michael whispering to his tech so we rushed up to the stage. My heart
raced because I knew I would join one of my guitar idols. Suddenly someone handed me the the rhythm guitarist Wayne Findley's Carvin guitar.
Even though it's so heavy and hung all the way down to my knees, I didn’t care. I was ready to rock! Shenker leaned over to me and asked
if I knew “Rock Bottom” in the key of E. One of his most iconic songs, I jumped right in. When it came time to solo, Michael killed it
and nodded to me to take over. As the crowd cheered, Michael put his hands up in the air. The crowd suddenly realized that I was playing,
and a guy yelled out, “Holy f***! It’s the little girl!” After the show, Michael kindly signed my ‘89 black Flying V and ‘99 V with
"Number One." I will never forget that night!
Roger Zee: What advice do you give young and upcoming musicians?
Kristen Capolino: I always tell them to play from their hearts. It’s important to learn from the best musicians. But you
have to create your own style. Be yourself and play because you love to. It's easy to get caught up in the competition and
forget what music's really about -- making people happy!
©2017 Roger Zee