Hi Tracy, thanks for letting me do an interview. It would be great if you just could fill in the answers for the follwing questions. If there are any questions that you don't want to answer, then just leave them blank.
hello..i will do my best to anwser the questions..
1. Well, we all know that you have been playing with Dio, but what did you do before that? What bands did you play with? Which records do you appear on?
#1.i had many groups but not many cds...in 84 ihad a band called SWIFT KICK,,we did a E.P that was before cds,,, 87-89 i had a instrumental group called THE TRACY G GROUP and a four piece group called R.A.G.S. rags put out i tape and sold a few copyies..90-92 i had a band called ww3...we did one i cd on hollywood records..92-93 i formed a band called MANKIND...just when it got going i left to join DIO....93-99---
2. How did you get the work as guitar player with Dio? Was there a try-out or were you recommended by someone or what?
#2..JIMMY BAIN AND VINNY APPICE were the bass and drummer for ww3 so they told ronnie about me and i went down to try out...they tryed out alot of people..
3. What were the best things to play with such a famous artist/band as Dio?
#3 the songs i wrote with the band...his songs r awsome but iam a lil closer to my own stuff
4. How do you like to tour around the world for months?
#4,, ITS THE GREATEST THING TO DO.. I LOVE IT...IT GETS YOU TIRED SOMETIMES BUT ITS THE BEST...
5. How much input have you had in Dio's songwriting? There was quite a big change of music after you joined, and I guess that you are a big part of it.
#5..I co write most of the music on the 2 cds i did...
6. Who are your influences when you write and play music?
#6. when i write and play i just try to play what i feel.. when i was younger i listen tow somany band and guitarplayers its hard to type all of them...just a few ..sabbath,zep.ufo,deep purple,ac-dc,jeff beck ect...................
7. What do you do when you don't play music?
#7 ..not much..i play and record all the time in my home studio
8. Recently you left Dio, what happened?
#8.they called me and told me they wanted to add another guitar player to do the solos and the flashy stuff..that the dio fans and record label wanted the older more traditional style i said i play better with a 1 guitar band...i left on good terms/.. i wish ronnie the best
9. Were you involved in the writing for the new Dio album Magica?
#9.no
10. What are you going to do now? Is there anything new on the planned project with Vinny Appice?
#10..iam working on my own stuff that i will produce and record it my self...i have not talked to vinny in a while
11. You have played with World War III and Dio. The vocalists in those bands, Mandy Lion and Ronnie James Dio, are quite different - how is it to play guitar in so different bands?
#11.it does not matter to me..they r both way different but very heavy and both have great soul,,the soul and convition is all that matters...my guitar playing and sound will be heavy no mater who sings
12. You have played lots of old classics from both the 1970's and 1980's - which is your favourite song to play from that period of time?
#12..mistreated.....and stargazer.....awsome heavy songs
13. How did it feel when you played in a such well-known band as Dio, but weren't able to play the big venues? Does that affect your playing or do you have the same feeling when you play big festivals as when you play those smaller venues?
#13..i dont care where i play,,,it was a honor to play with dio anywhere...big or small....
Well, I think we could start with these questions. Maybe we could add some more later. I would be very thankful if you could answer these questions and let me put them on my Dio-site. Thank you very much and may you succeed in whatever you choose to do. Best wishes from a Swedish fan. /Mårten Jacobsson
i hope this helps you marten..thanx tracy g send me a copy when it is done,,,thanx....
The interview was made via e-mail in May 1999. A big thank you to Tracy for being so kind!