She was also Randy Rhoads' only female student from the age of 9 to 15 years old
Janet Robin Interview
1. What advice did RR give that she still uses to this day?
Ian, UR
Well Randy never gave me exact advice. It was just mostly about practicing as much as I can and being dedicated to music.
2.What was your most enjoyable memory with Randy?
Simon
hmm.. well I think when he came out one time after our lesson and told my Mom that I was doing really well with the guitar and that someday I was going to be better than him at his age! Ha! I found that really funny.. but very generous of him to say. I think he was just trying to inspire and motivate me, which he did!
3.What is key advice randy gave you that helped you throughout your playing
career?
Wareagle, UR
Hmm.. well I guess it was again, to be dedicated to music, practice as much as you can and be unique. He didn't really turn out "Randy" clones. He seemed to want his students to develop their own style.
4. Janet, your music and path is very different from Randy's. How much of
your own musical individuality is owed to Randy's ethos of being yourself
and not copying?
Matt, UR
I think A LOT of my individuatlity is owed to Randy. Again, he wanted us to be unique. Have our own style. He was so unique himself, but what would be the point of totally copying him? He taught me some great riffs, right hand technique.. writing catching guitar riffs for songs, etc.. things that I still use to this day. However, I have been inspired by many other musicians througout my career.. The Beatles, Led Zep.. and Lindsey Buckingham, whom I had the chance to work with for 3 years.
5.Have the songs you have performed on the tour of Prague and now the UK evolved?
Graham GS
Yes, definitely.. every time I go on the road, my songs change a bit- mostlly because I'm playing live so much, I want to add or subtract things from the original song, just to change it up a bit.. and also each audience is different.. sometimes I stop in the middle of the song to banter up with the audience.. it really depends on the night.
6.Do you compose the Guitar solos or play the different
Andy, GS
I compose the solos for the records and try to stick close to how they are when I play live but I do A LOT of improvising on stage. I did a lot that in my lessons with Randy. I really like the spontinaity of making something up on the fly.. and it works so when you are "in the moment"
7.What was it like playing with Lindsey Buckingham?
Keith, GS
Playing with Lindsey is like playing with a musical genius, like Mozart. He is a renaissance man. He can do it all. Incredible guitarist, producer, songwriter, arranger, and performer. I learned what it takes to be a performer and put on an entertaining show from him.. but also about songwriting, and how important "the song" is.. He really is a true artist and still inspires me to this day.
8.Was Randy a Jimmy Page fan?
Pupil Ravens Wood
Well I have heard rumors that people say Randy was not into Jimmy Page, but from all my accounts of 5 years of lesson with Randy, I just have to say that is not true. I was a BIG fan of Page and was always asking Randy about Page riffs and Zeppelin songs, etc. he showed me stuff all the time and from what I could tell he was into it.. maybe he secretly didn't like Page but if so, he didn't show that side to me.
9.How are the European fans different from the US ones?
Pupil ravens Wood
Ah.. well I love American fans of course.. it's my country. However, I must say that in Europe it seems like many people are open to new music, new faces.. no matter the style, age or gender.. In America sometimes it feels like the music business gets stuck in patterns. Things in Europe seem to be always moving.. changing.. exploring.. and the audiences seem really open to this. They love live music, they want entertainment and they are truly supportive fans.
10.Janet would you share with the Guitar Society the 'karma incident' that
happened with Dweezil Zappa
Matt, GS
Well.. I was invited by Rudy Sarzo for a Randy Rhoads benefit. This was quite a while ago, back in the early 90's. They paired me with Dweezil Zappa. Our song was "Crazy Train." When I met with Dweezil he made it clear to me that he was going to do the solo and I would play the rhythm.. well I didn't fight it and just went with the flow. He practiced and practiced so that he had that solo nailed note from note.. And.. when it came time to perform, we were playing song and suddenly he broke a string on his guitar, which had a Floyd Rose. The guitar spiraled out of tune in a matter of seconds.. we kept playing the song, and I took over and played an improvised solo on Crazy Train, while Dweezil was switching guitars. Well, I just think it's the way Randy would have wanted it. I played my own style on the song. I didn't copy his solo that he did. What's the point of doing that? Anyhow, I did feel bad for Dweezil because he worked so HARD on getting that solo down. Well, it didn't work out.. perhaps Karma? I do want to say that Dweezil was nice to work with, it wasn't a bad situation, I think he just had a certain plan in mind for that song and that benefit show, but unfortunately it didn't totally go as planned.. however, I think it worked out fine! and the spirit of Randy was very present the whole night!
11.How important is it to use myspace and the internet in light of the
closure of record companies and the change in the music industry?
Pupil, Ravens Wood
The Internet is the way to go these days.. Well if you are signed to a major label even, you have to use the power of the internet to connect with people all over the world. I'm indie but I have reached out to so many people and people have found me online. It really is an incredible tool. And, one of the reasons I'm touring in Europe now. I met a band from the Czech Republic who invited me out to play festivals in 2007 and I have been back twice since.
12.Are people surprised your Guitar playing and general style are so
different from your teacher...what would Randy think of that?
Pupil, Ravens Wood
Well as I mentioned above, I am not surprised my style is different from Randy's since he encourged us to all be unique. However, if you listen to some of my songs, you can actually hear some Randy riffs and techniques, like pull-offs, quick runs, pentatonic scale riffs, etc.. also composing guitar riffs as the center of the song. I learned that from Randy. However, you know we were different ages.. so I was listening to some different music growing up maybe then what Randy was listening too.. also, I worked with many other people after Randy, like Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac), and he inspired me and influenced me a lot as well.
13.What was the first band you were in?
Pupil, Ravens Wood
The first band I was in was a neighboord band with some kids I also went to school with. We were called ROXX, and our first gig was playing a birthday party for John Travolta's dad.. yes.. that's true! Our singer was John Travolta's nephew, so he got us the gig and we got paid from John himself, $100! whew..
I got to meet John and watch him write the check.. it was amazing.. 14.What are your favourite Guitar techniques you use?
Pupil, Ravens Wood
I have many.. I'm really into percussive stuff now on my acoustic gutiar.. that would be using a lot of right hand percussive techniques.. popping the strings, banging on the guitar, etc.. also I love doing pull offs and hammers.. especially on the acoustic.. also pinching.. i've been transfering some electric guitar techniques to acoustic and it's been fun to experiment..
ROCK ON!
janet
