Recently speaking to Guitar Player, Billy Morrison shared his initial fears of collaborating with guitarist Steve Stevens.
The host said while Steve is the main guitar player in the band, they both play complicated parts together. Morrison’s reply is as follows:
“We do. Look, Steve is one of the greatest guitar players in the world, absolutely. There’s no way I could do what he does, but I knew what he wanted for a twin-guitar thing. I wasn’t supposed to just do this bedrock thing so he could play. They wanted different tones and textures.”
Facing Initial Fears
The musician went on to reveal the task that initially intimidated him:
“It was a little scary at first: Steve would be playing this crazy thing, and he’d walk over and go, ‘Can you play a third above this and we’ll do a harmony?’ I’d be like, ‘No, I can’t play like you, man.’ But he pushed and encouraged me, and we worked out our styles.”
Building A Musical Connection
Through Stevens’ encouragement and Morrison’s determination, the two guitarists developed a musical rapport. Morrison also talked about forming Camp Freddy, a rock ‘n’ roll collective known for its cover performances at high-profile gigs. His ability to attract musicians like Dave Navarro and Matt Sorum showed Billy’s people skills and the appeal of the group’s laid-back ethos. Stevens’ involvement in Camp Freddy eventually led to Morrison joining Billy Idol’s band as Stevens’ guitar co-pilot.
Reflecting on his 15-year tenure with Stevens and Idol, Morrison noted:
“Playing with Steve and Billy has been the most remarkable experience in my whole life. Working with them has allowed me to grow as a musician so much. I don’t do what Steve does because I can’t – and why would I even try? He’s Steve Stevens. But I’ve been able to establish my own identity and sound in the band, and I’m so grateful for their belief in me.”
Looking ahead, Morrison is set to release ‘The Morrison Project,’ a solo album featuring guest appearances from Stevens, Steve Vai, John 5, Ozzy Osbourne, and other notable artists. In this project, the guitarist takes on the majority of the instrumental and vocal duties, including some guitar solos. Scheduled for release in April, the album promises a mix of metal and electro-rock tracks.
