Drew Shirley
Switchfoot.com
How long have you been a musician? How did you get into it in the first place?
My mom made me take piano lessons. I quit when I got into high school and she said “you’ll thank me some day.” She was right. I picked up my older brothers guitar and taught myself a few chords to play in church youth group. After that I discovered Led Zeppelin and went on to write some songs, start a band and then keep playing in bands for the last 15 years. Thanks mom.
Who have been some of your major musical influences, past or present?
Watching The Violet Burning as a kid in so cal was huge. Then I got into blues in college and it was all about B.B. King and SRV. Led Zeppelin rocked my producing and band sound world and Jimmy Page would be considered one of my greatest influences.
What drew you to using pedals initially? Have you been using them throughout your playing career? How have pedals helped to shape your sound, or influence the style that you’ve created?
The first amp I got sucked at distortion sounds, it was a Roland JC120. So, I got a tube screamer and my youth leader gave me his Ibanez AD9. The pedal obsession started there. I got a Tube King pedal and used it a ton before branching out into more boutique effects of the day like Lovetone and ZVEX.
What’s your current setup look like? Take us through your pedal rig (feel free to include amps and instruments as well if you’d like):
(Current set up—always subject to mods and inspiration—)
Elliott Royal Haven signature, or, Tele, or, Tonemaster guitar… Creation Pedalboard… Greer Lightspeed…Walrus Audio 385… JHS signature BunRunner Fuzz… Tuner… Walrus Audio Julia Vibrato/Chorus… Cusack Tremolo… Ibanez AD9 (had one ever since first started)… Matthews Effects Astronomer… JHS Panther Cub Delay… Radial Switchbone amp switcher and boost… into an assortment of amps currently being sorted!
Favorite type of pedal (drive, delay, fuzz, etc. – more than one answer is always acceptable!):
My favorite would have to be an overdrive pedal that can drive a tube amp well. That to me is the basis of good tone. Simply a good guitar into a good amp. The first and most important pedal to me is the one that can drive that amp into saturation/distortion while retaining the touch sensitivity and articulation of your playing.
You’re stranded on a desert island – which three (3) of the following do you want to have?
Instruments: My 1965 Gibson 330
Amps: My 1970 Fender Princeton reverb
Pedals: 70’s Ibanez AD9
What’s up next for you/your band(s)?
We have released our 10th studio album called “Where The Light Shines Through” and are touring the US. The 55 city tour is called “Looking for America” and it’s with our friends in Relient K.
The Klon hype: Love it or Hate it?
Love it. Hype on!… But, don’t believe the hype.
Any last comments, promos or anything you’d like to talk about?
I am currently releasing a guitar collaboration with Elliott Guitars called the Royal Haven. It is a new design inspired by a 1960 Epiphone Coronet and a 1960 Gibson Junior double cut away. Also, be on the lookout for a signature pedal collaboration with one of the best companies in the business.
Thanks so much to Drew for taking the time to answer some questions! Make sure to go check out switchfoot.com, cheers!
GET EXCLUSIVE UPDATES, CONTEST INFO, SEE OUR LATEST DEMO VIDEOS AND MORE:
Trackbacks/Pingbacks