2007 Host

Take a knee. Take a bow. Take a moment to pay respects to rock n roll’s regal and rebellious Queen V.

In her iron fist, this ferocious singer clutches a mic and claims sovereignty over your senses with that hard-edged, bombastic rock sound you’ve been missing. With her new album Death or Glory, which features contributions from the likes of Vernon Reid (Living Colour) and Tom Morello (Audioslave, Rage Against the Machine), V prepares to turn the rock world on its butt with bold and sexual lyrics, palpable passion, and a generous dose of caustic wit.

Not just a powerful female voice but a force to be reckoned with, V has been spearheading the growth of her own career from day one, never having an agent or a manager. Shortly after her brother taught her to read using the lyrics of Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” our own soon-to-be-Queen was already calling the stage home. After years of piano lessons, V ditched the keys in favor of the six-string, later claiming, “It’s easier to jump around with a guitar than a piano.”

Musical chops in place, V needed a name fit for a woman who would one day be rock’s leading lady. “‘Queen V’ was a reaction to the way women were portrayed in music at the time, shaking their [backsides], looking pretty, and having nothing at all to say,” V said. “I wanted to bring something else to the table and by calling myself ‘Queen V,’ it was the perfect way to challenge myself to raise the bar, to throw my hat into the ring.”

V joined the fight with two self-released, self-promoted projects, beginning in 2002 with her “Critical” EP, which featured Lez Warner (the Cult) on drums.  The EP marked the beginning of V’s work with longtime songwriting partner and producer Phil Schmoll.  “‘Critical’ was basically a ‘coming-out’ party for me,” V said.  “It was a great learning experience that helped me get my sea legs.”  The singer proved she was out in full force when, while performing at Don Hill’s the following year, she caught the attention of Twisted Sister’s manager and embarked on a tour with the band.  Six months later, she was invited to tour with Billy Idol, further honing her onstage persona with rock’s best.

The singer used her experience with the rockers to add an even grittier edge to her full-length, self-titled release and proved she had absorbed some of the on-stage charisma of her touring mates when she took off on her own trek in 2005 and was asked to open for Bon Jovi.  While V can easily deliver an all-out rock show, she decided to set out on a solo acoustic tour in 2006, sparing no level of intensity.  “I thought it would be a nice change of pace to be one on one with the audience,” she says.  After having seen V perform at the Viper Room, Morello asked her to join him for several “Axis of Justice” shows featuring his solo acoustic act, The Nightwatchman.  V happily obliged and shared the stage with other acts such as Ben Harper, Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), Jill Sobule, and Cypress Hill.

For more information on Queen V please visit www.queenv.com.

2007 Judges

The North American Rock Guitar Competition is pleased to announce our final round judges for 2007.

John 5, Lead Guitarist, Rob Zombie

With one of the most impressive resumes in rock, John started his career by working with some of the biggest names in the music industry including k.d. Lang, David Lee Roth and Rob Halford. With experience across a variety of genres, he is most well known as one of the best modern shredders today. He is even likened to the Page or Hendrix for THIS generation. However, you could be forgiven if you hadn't heard of him. Up until he joined shock rock troupe Marilyn Manson in 1998, and gained the moniker of John 5, as John Lowery, he had devoted his time to making other people's music sound good.  And it was only in 2004, after Les Paul had persuaded John to make music for himself, he set out to do that.   Parting ways with Manson in April 2004, John began work on his first solo album, "Vertigo".  And from that point onwards the world has come to know the name John 5. With two critically acclaimed solo albums under his belt and a third released in April 2007 (The Devil Knows My Name - 60 Cycle Hum Records), plus a new permanent position with Rob Zombie, John has paved a bright future as a credible solo artist, known for his own style. Steve Vai called John "an underrated guitar giant" back in 2004 as he lent a seal of approval for the first solo album Vertigo, but judging from the sheer volume of work John 5 has been involved in over the past three years, underrated he is not anymore.  Visit John’s website at www.john-5.com

Jude Gold, Associate Editor, Guitar Player magazine
He spends his working day up close and personal with some of the world's most renown guitarists, interviewing legends and upstarts, including Peter Frampton, Jon Buckland (Coldplay), Angus and Malcolm Young (AC/DC), John Scofield and Joe Satriani. A dedicated guitarist himself, Gold has worked with a wide range of artists, including George Clinton, 2 Live Crew and Eddie Money. He toured and recorded for three years with JGB (formerly the Jerry Garcia Band) and just finished a tour with acclaimed bassist and Buffalo native Billy Sheehan, of Talas fame.

Frank Johns, Electronic Supervisor, Gibson Guitars
A key player in continuing his company’s 112-year tradition of quality for performers and their instrument, Johns brings his extensive knowledge of the inner workings of the guitar to meet the needs of today’s guitarist. He oversees the manufacturing and production of the pick-ups for all Gibson, and some Epiphone, guitars. Gibson (led by Buffalo native Dave Berryman) is known for its classics─the ES-175, ES-335, Flying V, Explorer, Firebird, SGs and Les Pauls─as well as its forward-looking innovations. Frank worked with 2005’s Competition winner, John Mameli, at the Gibson plant this past winter on building his very own guitar!

Beth Marlis is the Director of the world-reknown GIT program at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, and has also been an staff instructor there for 20 years.  She holds a Masters Degree in Music from USC, a Bachelors Degree in Music from  UC Santa Cruz, and is an honors graduate of GIT.   Beth has also been involved with numerous tours, studio recording projects, music videos, and has composed a dozen film scores; while maintaining a career as a professional "sideman" in LA.  While working her way up the musical food chain, Beth has performed with a wide range of artists including Harold Land, Brownie McGee, Louis Bellson, Helen Reddy, and many, many others.

Beth is also co-author (with Dan Gilbert) of the books: "Guitar Soloing"  (sold over 70,000 copies) and "Advanced Guitar Soloing" published by MI/Hal Leonard. She also appears in the companion instructional video release: "Guitar Soloing".

Kevin O’Brien, Marketing Director, Fichte-Endl Eye Associates

Every year the managers of the NARGC hear our guests giving opinions about how they would have ranked our finalists.  In honor of our loyal NARGC fans who come back year after year, we have placed a “layman” on this years panel. 

As an avid and often rabid fan of music Kevin O'Brien attends nearly ALL live music events both in WNY and surrounding areas. Most recently, he did a brief stint on stage with the BPO/Pink Floyd performance where Kevin sang the chorus of "Another Brick In The Wall".  He has had the honor of meeting many rock guitarists and just returned from seeing both The Who and The Stones on a back-to-back tours in Las Vegas.  Considered one of his prize possessions is a concert ticket from Jethro Tull, 1971 when they played the old Memorial Aud.  Originally born in Puerto Rico and raised in WNY, Kevin calls Buffalo his home and is the proud parent of two children also living in Wheatfield.  Mr. O'Brien’s 19 year old son is also a budding guitarist in his own right and has performed at a few of Buffalo's venues.  "I consider it an honor to be part of such a prestigious event" adds Mr. O'Brien.