Interview with Miles Schon

by **nutz4Neal** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 12:06 pm

http://www.marinij.com:80/lifestyles/ci_13415960

Schon follows in father's footsteps, but his own way
Paul Liberatore
Posted: 09/24/2009 08:54:53 PM PDT

Miles Schon says on his MySpace page that he comes from a musical family and was "raised on good old rock 'n' roll."
He's too modest to say that his father is Neal Schon, one of the great American lead guitarists, a founder of Journey, the only member to have played on all the band's albums.

Miles is his father's only son. He has five sisters and grew up in Novato. He decided to follow in his dad's footsteps after injuring his knee playing football at Novato High.

Now 21, he wrote all but one of the songs on his debut album, which he's now recording at Prairie Sun Studios in Cotati. On Sept. 26, he'll be fronting the Miles Schon Band at the seventh annual Rock'n Blues by the Lake, a fundraiser for Novato public schools. The outdoor concert, at Stafford Lake County Park, also features the B-52s and top 24 American Idol contestant Blake Lewis. Schon performs from 11:05 to 11:35 a.m.

Q. Did you ever think, "My dad is a famous guitar player, maybe I should try something else?"

A: I still have thoughts about that. At the same time, you have to do what makes you happy. And that makes me happy.

Q. What was it like growing up with a famous rock guitarist for a dad?

A: It was great in the sense that I always had someone to look up to and to show me how it's done. He set a high bar, and I had high expectations for myself because of who he is and what he does, especially after I decided I also wanted to choose that path in life.

Q. Did he encourage you?

A: He was always encouraging, but he didn't push me into anything. He always let me do what I wanted to do. I was much more of an athletic guy. I was really deeply into football, basketball, baseball. I blew my knee out halfway through the football season. So I was on the sidelines the year my team won the championship. I'd already been playing guitar since my freshman year, but I really got into it at that point.

Q. Does you father give you guitar lessons?

A: When he's on tour, I talk to him when I can, mostly by texting back and forth. But it's just about watching him. It's not about sitting down with him and playing. It's seeing what he does and hearing how he approaches the guitar. A lot of it is instinctual for me and a lot of it I don't have a clue about, and that's what makes me different than him.

Q. In what way are you different?

A: My dad's a very melodic player. He's a super soulful dude and shreds like mad. He turned me on to other guitar players at a young age, saying, "Check this guy out and that guy out." But I'm working on my own style.

Q. Who'd he turn you on to?

A: Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, a lot of classic rock dudes. Jeff Beck's got to be my all time favorite.

Q. Do you often get compared to your dad?

A: More in looks than I do in our playing styles. People find similarities and everybody's got their own opinion, but I don't worry about that because I've heard that stuff my whole life. I just pay attention to what I sound like and what I try to do.

Q. You're working on your debut album. How would you describe your sound?

A: Progressive hard rock with blues and jazz and punk mixed into one melting pot.

Q. What kind of a career to you see for yourself?

A: I'm trying to stay healthy. I'm looking at longevity and being able to play my whole life. I struggle with a little bit of tendinitis in my left hand, and I've heard so many stories about guitar players not being able to play the rest of their lives because of issues like that. I just want to be able to continue to be creative, to learn music and listen to all sorts of music and maybe pick up and learn some different instruments along the way.

IF YOU GO

What: Seventh annual Rock'n Blues By the Lake

When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 26

Where: Stafford Lake County Park, Novato

Tickets: $15 to $200

by **Saint John** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 12:15 pm

Excellent find. Thanks so much. Seems like a good kid.

by **Ratgirl** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 1:19 pm

Cool.. thanks for posting Ms. Bon!

by **fredinator** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 1:22 pm

How odd that Miles has tendinitis but not Neal (that I know of). Thoroughly enjoyed this article, thanks N4N...

by **Chubby321** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 4:02 pm

Did he encourage you?

A: He was always encouraging, but he didn't push me into anything.

Good to know.

Q. Do you often get compared to your dad?

A: More in looks than I do in our playing styles.

So true, nice looking just like the Dad

Thanks for sharing.

by **Rip Rokken** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:08 am

Nice little interview! The dad comparison questions are natural, but I'm sure he'd like it if they'd put more focus on questions about his own stuff. If it were a longer interview, I'd say 1/4 - 1/3 dad questions, the rest Miles questions.

by **Saint John** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:16 am

Bonnie, where was the publication out of? San Rafael area?

by **DrFU** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:22 am

Well, now there's a grounded 21 year old.

He was just so nice to all of us last year at Gator's backyard bash; could have been weird--a houseful of older folks who are mainly his dad's fans, but he and his bandmates handled it with grace ... and lots of talent.

Terrific find, Bon; thanks!

by **JasonD** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:26 am

Nice interview.

For those of you in the California area, (sorry, Ehwmatt), did you know Miles also gives guitar lessons? I think it would be awesome to learn guitar from Miles Schon. If anyone is interested, here's his contact info:

http://www.bananasmusic.com/articledeta ... ar-Teacher

Here's his MySpace page as well:

http://www.myspace.com/134793412

by **nutz4Neal** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:49 am

Saint John wrote:Bonnie, where was the publication out of? San Rafael area?

San Rafael, Novato, Marin & surrounding areas.

I'm anxious for the new CD from Miles!

by **whirlwind** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:59 am

Neal must be terribly proud. How lucky to find your nitch so early in life.

We often discuss of how a vocalist use's his vocals while other's play instruments but we forget how your hands have to take a beating also.

by **Saint John** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 1:14 am

nutz4Neal wrote:
Saint John wrote:Bonnie, where was the publication out of? San Rafael area?

San Rafael, Novato, Marin & surrounding areas.

I'm anxious for the new CD from Miles!

Thanks, Bonnie. I'm interested in hearing it as well.

by **Michigan Girl** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:21 am

This is a great interview and he does sound like a great kid/young man!!!
Wow, an athlete first, who would've guessed!!! Thanks!! :wink:

by **Jana** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:44 am

Great interview and he does sound very together. I bet Neal is very proud of him. Neal probably didn't develop tendinits so young b/c of all the drugs and alcohol he was consuming back then. It kept his body loose and relaxed. :wink:

J/K

Website · by **steveo777** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:51 am

Jana wrote:Great interview and he does sound very together. I bet Neal is very proud of him. Neal probably didn't develop tendinits so young b/c of all the drugs and alcohol he was consuming back then. It kept his body loose and relaxed. J/K

No...Neal just got tinnitis. He blamed it on Perry for insisting on having big PA speakers in the rafters over the stage. So we've got a partially deaf lead guitarist and a partially dead bass player, but don't worry folks, Ross has been that way since 1978. :wink:

by **SusieP** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 5:31 am

Sounds like a nice young guy.
Anyone know if his sisters are musical?

Just curious.

by **nutz4Neal** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:09 am

SusieP wrote:Sounds like a nice young guy.
Anyone know if his sisters are musical?

Just curious.

One sister is quite good vocally and also with the guitar.

by **SusieP** » Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:20 pm

nutz4Neal wrote:
SusieP wrote:Sounds like a nice young guy.
Anyone know if his sisters are musical?

Just curious.

One sister is quite good vocally and also with the guitar.

Thanks.
Any chance she may follow in her dad's footsteps and go into the music biz?

by **Tito** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:11 am

Saint John wrote:Excellent find. Thanks so much. Seems like a good kid.

Great parenting.

by **Tito** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:12 am

fredinator wrote:How odd that Miles has tendinitis but not Neal (that I know of). Thoroughly enjoyed this article, thanks N4N...

It's the mother's fault. :lol:

by **stevew2** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:22 am

Tito wrote:
fredinator wrote:How odd that Miles has tendinitis but not Neal (that I know of). Thoroughly enjoyed this article, thanks N4N...

It's the mother's fault.

Or his stepmothers, he must have 5 or 6 You couldnt fit that into 1 post?

by **stevew2** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:23 am

JasonD wrote:Nice interview.

For those of you in the California area, (sorry, Ehwmatt), did you know Miles also gives guitar lessons? I think it would be awesome to learn guitar from Miles Schon. If anyone is interested, here's his contact info:

http://www.bananasmusic.com/articledeta ... ar-Teacher

Here's his MySpace page as well:

http://www.myspace.com/134793412

Dont get any idea s Jason

by **BudACAD** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 6:13 am

Miles is a very good kid and plays just GREAT! We have seen him play a few times here in Northern California and it's always cool to see how much he keeps improving. He is playing Saturday at the Gator Bash as well. The Pre Party that Frank is putting on before the Journey show at B,.R Cohn Winery in Glen Ellen... Miles ROCKS ;-)

... And thanks Bonnie for posting the interview from the IG.

Bud

by **SF-Dano** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 2:31 am

MSG (Miles Schon Group) opening on Journey's next tour????????????????

MR

Interview with Miles Schon

Interview with Miles Schon

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