With Accomplice’s popularity rising over the last year, endorsements coming in, a new tour and a lead singer with the soulful powerhouse voice that only Terry Ilous possesses, I think it is safe to say that group founder Sean Michael Clegg may be floating on could nine. And that’s if you don’t count his endorsement with Jackson Guitars as the spokesman behind the hot new Randy Rhoads Prototype III Guitar, an absolutely beautiful, sleek guitar named after one of the original guitar kings himself.
Knowing that Sean is proud and honored to be the spokesperson of his childhood hero’s namesake guitar, it felt like a perfect time to sit with him and as many members of the band I could and get their insight into Accomplice, as well as some of the other bands they’re still active in. That’s right: Not a band to sit on their laurels, many of the band members are involved with other bands and community projects. They have known since an early age that music ran through their veins, pushing them to pursue music and the lifestyle that music allows to those who live the rock ‘n’ roll fantasy 24/7. While most fans and those out of the industry may think it is all about the chicks and the perks, in Accomplice’s case, much of it has to do with playing music: fulfilling dreams they have had since they were young kids, helping others achieve their dreams now, and collaborating with other musicians every moment they get. They are really kickbacks to what the industry was like when everyone would sit and jam with other musicians from many different bands back in the day.
AAM: Sean, you originated the group in what year, and who was in the original lineup?
Sean Michael Clegg: Accomplice was originally formed in 1985 and included myself on guitar, Stephen Green on vocals, Mike Harary on guitar, Steve Conrad on bass, and Denny Rasmussen on drums. All were local Long Beach musicians at the time.
AAM: How did you get that original lineup together?
SMC: I was working in a local guitar shop called McCabe’s in Long Beach. I was just 17 at the time and had recently got my Randy Rhoads prototype. I was playing in my first circuit band Messenger with drummer Denny Rasmussen. Stephen Green and Mike Harary were in another local band, Centurion. One day they approached me at the shop, and asked if I would like to join forces. So we set up a jam between the 4 of us and made magic. We found Steve Conrad in another local band and basically stole him away. We were doing Iron Maiden-meets-Racer X kind of double-guitar shred back then. Some of that material was so good that I may record some of it for posterity.
AAM: Sometimes when you have so many talented musicians working together there are clashes. Over the years, have you found easier ways to work as a team?
SMC: Well, yes, you have to be democratic for sure, but that can get tough with 6 different opinions flying around the room. I think after time a leader or 2 usually appear to steer the ship, and I think that can be a good thing as long as he doesn't run the ship into a rock! Seriously though, I think bands benefit when somebody in the group has a clear vision for the group. Musically, stylistically, image. I think that's what sets some groups apart, or even sometimes makes mediocre groups seem great.
AAM: Accomplice has had more success over in Europe, especially Germany, than the states thus far because over there they have always stayed with that ‘80s type of feel-good rock ‘n’ roll and hard rock. The pendulum is turning again, and trends run in 20-year cycles. Have you noticed your popularity growing here, and can you see your popularity growing here in the next couple years?
SMC: Absolutely! Actually, we have had our first FM airplay in the states this year, and tons of college and Internet radio exposure. We've been selling more and more CDs, so it seems our popularity is growing here. I think some of the good reviews and press have helped quite a bit too. We did a short East Coast tour and some West Coast dates that included playing with Deep Purple last August. That was great exposure.
AAM: All of you are very into collaborating with other musicians. What is it that makes the process so interesting, and fruitful?
SMC: There is something to learn from everyone I play with. Every musician has a different perspective on music based on his training, likes and dislikes, etc. It can be very inspiring to work with musicians who may have more or experience, or just a different point of view. Sometimes in bands, players can be very closed, and unable to adjust to other points of view. I try not to be that way. I also love playing with cats from different genres of music. That's how you get good, by taking a little bit from every musical experience, and incorporating that into your own style. It's very important to listen to people with an open mind too, and even be able to hear constructive criticism occasionally. It's not just about rock or metal for me, it's about MUSIC, all kinds of music. I'm trying to master as many styles as I can, so I try to be more sponge-like.
AAM: You did the “She’s On Fire” CD vocals with Johnny Gioelli, who is very all-American sounding, and will be performing live with Terry Ilous, who brings his European feel and Latin soul to the band. Both very different flavors… how interesting it must be to hear the music you wrote and composed sung by two different singers.
SMC: Well, first of all, I love both singers. Johnny did a tremendous job in the studio for us. He really sang his heart out and did a lot of work on harmonies and overdubs. I had goose bumps the first time I heard his vocals on "Everywhere." Terry has a more soulful bluesy approach, which is captivating live. The first time I heard him sing the opening track, "Take Love," with the band, I was blown away. He has a great ability to take a melody and make it his own, adding those Coverdale-like vocal stylings that he is famous for.
AAM: Accomplice has done a couple of CDs. When can we expect a follow-up, and who will be in the lineup?
SMC: On the next CD, the lineup is as follows: Terry Ilous on lead vocals, Michael T. Ross on keys, Scott Snyder on bass, Rigo Amezcua on drums, and yours truly, Sean Michael Clegg, on guitar. I know that with that lineup we will kick some ass! I'm working on material now, so we are going to start recording pretty soon. I’m hoping to get it out late this year. I'm also working on my first solo record, which will be a combination of instrumental pieces and songs with various guest singers appearing.
AAM: Will there be a change in the sound, and flavor, with Terry recording on the CD? His voice has so much range of emotion, and vocal flare.
SMC: Well, I think for Accomplice there is always a change in sound and flavor solely based on the fact that we’ve had a different lead singer on every record so far. For this collaboration I am already writing music with Terry in mind, and you can expect us to use his full range of vocal emotions. I'm thinking "classic sound" and "timeless quality." I've been thinking about what made rock 'n' roll great in the first place. What influenced my heroes, you know? It’s like rock has become a dog feeding on its own tail. The things that made rock great, like experimentation in sound and style, an eclectic approach to a record, these things are lost in today's cookie-cutter music scene. If you're diverse then you don't 
know who you are. Bands are forced to write for their niche markets and regurgitate rehashed old chord progressions, instead of really taking things to another level. I'd like to somehow tap into that original spirit of rock 'n' roll on this record.
AAM: Rigo, how do you manage doing double duty with Accomplice and Agent Steele? That has got to be a heavy load, and tiring?
Rigo Amezcua: Well, I also manage playing 5 nights a week in local bars and clubs. You can say I'm somewhat of a band whore. I've always played in more than one band at a time as far as I can remember. I love all kinds of music and love to play them all. One style would get boring after a while and I don't see myself playing rock or metal when I'm 60. Or, hmm, maybe I will! Well, fortunately when Agent Steel is busy nothing is going on with Accomplice and vice versa, so it has not been a problem. I am a full-time musician, so it’s never tiring or a heavy load. It beats the shit out of working in a warehouse, an office, or something else where they don’t give two sh--s about you like I had for so many years. Never again, I hope. The clubs, bars, arenas, stadiums, and the road are my office, and I'm my boss.
AAM: Any formal drum training, or where you born pounding drums and pots and pans?
RA: Same answer you hear time and time again. When I was 2 or 3, drums were very appealing to me. My father was in a mariachi band so you can say I have musical genes and a good ear. I was surrounded by all styles of music growing up. My mother loved big band, swing jazz. One sis liked oldies and R&B. My other sis liked reggae and funk. My bro listened to jazzy rock funk stuff like Chicago, AWB, EW&F, and so on and I of course was listening to rock. I knew drumming was what I wanted to do 'cause it’s the only thing I didn't have a problem working at. In the 4th grade I joined band and played snare drum, only learning rudiments and how to read drum music. In the 7th through 9th grades I had my introduction to the drum set, on which I knew how to play some drum beats because during the time I was learning the snare drum, I would put it by my bed and there was my drum set. I would do this all day and night. By the 9th grade, my friends and I had a band together playing parties and clubs. I haven't stopped since. So this was my training. I never took a lesson 'cause I didn't want someone to teach me what they knew for fear of sounding like them. Don't get me wrong, I tried to play like my entire drum heroes to a point, then I took what I was able to and made it my own.
AAM: Michael, you have been with many groups, including Angel, Hardline, Lizzy Borden, and so many I can’t fit them all in. How did you end up playing with such great bands and musicians, and at what age did you start making these connections? Were you what is considered a child prodigy?
Michael T. Ross: Living in Los Angeles, I have been able to make friends with great players just by hanging out locally. And being a keyboardist, it has allowed me to pick and choose my projects wisely. Things starting really happening for me in the late ‘90s when I began working with ex-Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian, who produced our record. Music has been a very important influence in my life since a very early age; however, I certainly wouldn't consider myself a child prodigy by any means.
AAM: They say there are “piano/keyboardist fingers.” I have seen yours, and you have them: very long, thin, and light. At what age did you begin playing? What is your formal training, and where? And was the ability apparent at a very young age?
MR: I began playing at the age of 8, studying classical piano for 10 years. Later, I then studied with Dixie Dregs’ keyboardist T Lavitz in Santa Monica for 3 years before starting my studies with Derek.
AAM: Sean, you have a master’s in music, specifically classical guitar. How long did you take to achieve that, and what was the process like at a university rather than a music school?
SMC: Yes, I went to Cal State Fullerton from 1992 to 1999, getting first my bachelor’s and then my master’s degrees in music performance. It was a fantastic time of musical growth for me. You learn to look at music and music performance on a much deeper almost spiritual level; chasing the secrets of music performance that touch the human soul. In order to obtain a music degree you have to study all sorts of subjects pertaining to music, and learn to conduct, compose and arrange for all instruments. You also have to pass a level of proficiency on the piano. Some of my favorite courses were music history, and ethno-musicology, which is the study of music from around the world. Playing in the Guitar Orchestra led by David Grimes was an amazing experience. We toured California every spring with that ensemble.
AAM: You work with older adults in your school district, you have the band, you have your record label, the studio, and a life. When do you personally plan to rest?
SMC: I honestly try and leave Sunday as a day of rest.
AAM: Tell the readers about your studio and record label, Sonic Vibe Records. You recorded “She’s On Fire” on it, but you have also been producing smaller bands on it, giving them a chance to work with some prime musicians like Scott Snyder and Rigo Amezcua. In producing under Sonic Vibe Records, you’re giving back to kids who had the dreams that you had. What does it mean to you, and to them? Do you think you can make it a viable, good-sized Indie Label at some point?
SMC: The studio I am working to grow has been a great resource for local musicians, and I'm sure the artists who use them are very appreciative when world-class musicians sit in on their records. The studio was born out of the band’s need to make home-spun recordings, and quickly grew into a place for local songwriters to flesh out their material with a full band backing them. I have a great pool of musicians including but not limited to the members of Accomplice. I work with a lot of diverse musicians. I did have Rigo in on a jazz recording and a pop rock recording in the same week recently! The label Sonic Vibe Records came about as a way for Accomplice to release "She's On Fire." After having self-produced the CD we got international distribution and are continuing to build a worldwide fan base. We've been doing great in Europe, and now we're picking up steam here. With the continued success of "She's On Fire," I hope to release our subsequent CDs as well as those from the up-and-coming artists in our recording studio now. Dog 'n' Butterfly featuring Lizann Warner, the female singer from Guitar Hero III, and Konstant Sol are a couple artists to keep a lookout for.
AAM: As a kid you idolized Randy Rhoads, and would go to a guitar shop where you grew up just looking at his guitars on the shelves, and sometimes playing them. Knowing that, sadly, he died at only 25, with that anniversary this March in fact. What feelings and inspiration did he give you to aspire to be a guitarist?
SMC: The anniversary of his death was March 19th. I'm going to try and go to San Bernardino and participate in the yearly gathering there. It would be great to meet his mother Delores. When I first heard the EP release of Ozzy with Randy long before "Blizzard" came out, and especially when I heard the guitar solo on "Mr. Crowley," I can only say it had a profound impact on me. Only EVH's "Eruption" before that had moved me in such a powerful a way. The fiery tone, coupled with his beautiful solo orchestration and an energetic hunger for something new, has seriously influenced my own approach to soloing.
AAM: Now you are following in your guitar hero’s footpaths. You are officially a spokesman for Jackson Guitars’ Randy Rhoads Prototype III guitar. You have the one-of-a-kind, which may go on to be mass produced. You are now part of a legend, and on your way to being a guitar legend in your own right. What runs through your head when you see the guitar, know what you’re standing by is so precious to you and so coveted by so many, and that you must carry it with some humility and honor?
SMC: You said it best, I'll carry it with humility and honor. It is amazing to me to have this connection with Randy. I only hope I am worthy! I feel like I've come full circle from being such a huge fan to finding my own way, and now being endorsed by Jackson Guitars myself! The guitar is the third Jackson ever made, prototype #3, intended for Randy Rhoads himself! I actually spent the day at the Jackson custom shop just yesterday and had master builder Mike Shannon holding the guitar for the first time in 25 years. The whole shop descended on us and everyone wanted to see the guitar! It is amazing to hold such an important piece of Jackson Guitar history. Check out the April 2007 issue of Guitar World magazine for the complete story on the lost Randy Rhoads guitar.
I should mention that Randy Rhoads had an influence on me going for my master’s degree in classical guitar, because I always knew that's what he wanted to do. I always thought in the back of my mind I was doing it a bit for him and all the rockers who want a deeper understanding of their instrument and music in general. Having the master’s degree has opened many doors of musical work for me, from producing and arranging, to playing in orchestras etc. A few years ago I actually got to put together a band for a production of the Who's "Tommy." I conducted the band from my guitar; it was an amazing experience. Aside from that, writing is a big part of getting that degree, and I am talking with Guitar World magazine about doing a column on "classical guitar techniques for the electric guitarist." I'm really excited about that. It proves that dreams come true for sure.
AAM: Scott, you have been with some great bands too. What have you picked up from each band, and taken to others you have worked with?
Scott Snyder: I find that each band has their own way of approaching a show, from concerning themselves with meter, pitch, look, moves or sound – all very important. But energy, excitement and grooving as band are more important, and most important, songs that in themselves move people. We all know it’s not the band, its usually the song.
AAM: You’re also a professional tattoo artist. Where do you tattoo out of, or do you just walk around with your gear and whip it out when you want (LOL)? How long have you been a licensed tattoo artist?
SS: I work in Riverside, CA, in very small, very busy shop called Ground Zero Tattoo. I have been tattooing for about 6 years, but I have been drawing my whole life and I wish had started tattoo art sooner. But music took all my time, it’s my #1 love.
AAM: What music do you all listen to when you are not in the studio or on stage?
SMC: If I'm not listening to what's being recorded in the studio, then it's classic and progressive rock, or classical and jazz mostly. I don't listen to the radio much. I just listen to enough to keep up with what’s going on.
MR: We all basically listen to the same stuff, from melodic rock to hard rock. Scott is into Linkin Park, Michael constantly plays his Dream Theater CDs, Terry focuses more on radio material.
RA: I still listen to a lot of funk, R&B, swing, and some rock. I never tire of Chicago, Tower of Power, Average White Band, Earth Wind and Fire, and Steely Dan. And of course the ‘70s and ‘80s rock, which were the best bands of all time, because every band had their own identity. Cheap Trick didn't sound like The Cars and so on.
SS: I really like Dream Theater and Avenged Sevenfold. I'm very open to all music, even some hip hop... (NOT)! I have a background in fusion, jazz and hard rock, plus having an older bass-playing brother who turned me on to groups like Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Humble Pie, and Return To Forever.
AAM: What have been some of your best times playing, hanging out together, making music together?
SMC: With the current lineup I'd have to say playing with Deep Purple was a dream realized for most of us. Seeing New York and Washington D.C. for the first time was great. In the past, joining Steve Vai and Brad Gillis on stage were big for me personally. Opening for Rush, and Van Halen at Blockbuster pavilion, and all the shows at The Galaxy with groups like Judas Priest, Kings X, MSG and Night Ranger. Those shows are what put us on the map, and playing with so many of my New Jersey heroes was great! In the old days we had a band house in Cerritos, CA. We used to throw raging parties at the drop of a hat. We would get a few hundred people crammed into our house to drink keg beer and watch the band play all night. We used to really stretch ourselves musically back then. And with a house full of inebriated adoring fans...man, those were some good times! I wish it wasn't all East coast. It such a blurrr!
SS: It would have to have been playing with Judas Priest, ‘cause they were so down-to-earth, and living proof that even after all their success, they still have fun, and don't let it get to their heads.
MT: Opening for Deep Purple at the Ventura Theater last summer was definitely a highlight for all of us, and flying to for shows on the East Coast. We've rehearsed at Sean's studio in Orange County for many years and have had many great moments. In the summer of 2001, we worked all summer with Led Zeppelin's producer Andy Johns there, which was a pinnacle moment for us. Also, when recording "She's On Fire," it was great to see how well Sean and Simon Phillips worked together, making the record that much more special.
RA: Well, I document every move I make with my bands, that's my hobby. A I put together 2 videos documenting our first trip together to the shows: us hanging out, traveling, and of course jamming together on stage. If you watch these videos, that's what I like to share with these guys. It was a blast.
AAM: With such rock greats from various generations and genres in Accomplice, there is nothing the band can’t do. What can we look forward to sound-wise, lyrically, in and out of the studio?
SMC: Certainly something eclectic and musically more diverse than the previous records, I think. That's part of finding the roots of Rock for me. Being open to new sounds and blending different styles, all with the idea of creating something that people would want to listen to for years to come. Lyrically I think something more open and all-encompassing, less introspective than "She's On Fire." I think it's great when a song can mean different things to many different people. That’s what I look for; I don't want us to get stuck in one particular musical niche. I think it would be great to have full-on Metal, a Pop Rock song and an acoustic ballad all on the same release. It's OK to have different genres even on the same CD. Look at Zep for instance. I think people’s tastes are more diverse than they are often given credit for. I'd like to have a record that anybody could listen to and find something they dig. And again 100 years from now!
AAM: Where do you want to see Accomplice go for yourselves and as band-mates? With the rebirth of feel-good rock ‘n’ roll and heavy metal, the sky may be the limit.
MR: To complete the next record, get picked up on an extended tour and get out to Europe for the festivals to make sure we get our music out there and heard by the fans. We have been fortunate enough to get Terry and Rigo in the band and look forward to their continued involvement. To continue promoting our latest release "She's On Fire," play live as much as possible and continue pursuing all our other endeavors.
SS: Just to be able to get the chance to be included in a great tour situation with a great support band and the right major label to back us.
RA: I would like to see the band, between everyone's busy schedules, get together seriously, and for like a month put our heads together and write the album. With everyone's talent it will be a killer record.
SMC: I could see this lineup having some longevity and perhaps making multiple releases for Sonic Vibe Records! There seems to be some kind of super-group chemistry going on here. I think we will be capable of great things! I hope we can use our resources to the fullest and take this project to the next level. I know there is great momentum right now, propelling us forward, and I have a great feeling about this next record. Big things are ahead!
There you have it. Accomplice has “She’s On Fire” out now, and a new CD in the works. They’ve played with so many greats already, it can only get better. AAM thanks Accomplice for making time for the interview amid their very busy schedules, and wishes them all the best. Find out more at www.accomplicemusic.com.
