A conversation with:
Guitar Virtuoso Pete Metropolis
This month Detroit Live magazine talks to one of Detroit’s most innovative and hard working guitarist Pete Metropolis. Pete and his band Rocktropolis have been impressing crowds for years. In addition to playing shows all over Michigan and the US the band were prominent competitors in Detroit Live Magazines “Blow up my Band 2013” Competition. DL spoke to Pete to learn a little more of what drives this Guitar Prodigi! DL: How did you get your start in music? Pete: I come from a family who share a deep
Pete: I started to really take off with my playing after age 13, it was then that I had discovered that no matter what amp or guitar I played through my style was distinct, especially the way I played a lick compared to my peers. My father, Sam Metropoulos (bass/keys for ROCKTROPOLIS), played a huge part in my early years. My life, from 13 years old and on, was everyday to make music or be with the greatest musicians in our area. My chops are due to all the years of practice. I would easily spend 8 hours a day while I was a teenager and young adult writing, playing and improving with or without other musicians.
far. I really am looking forward to what the future may bring for me. DL: “Cityscape” is something very special. Can you tell the listeners a little more about the song, It’s meaning or inspiration? Pete : “Cityscape” is actually a collaboration piece. The entire melody/lead guitar is played by me. The inspiration for this song came from feeling a sense of accomplishment, similar to that feeling you get when you have moved on to the next stage of something happening that’s life changing. DL: Can you tell us about your current recording project, ROCKTROPOLIS album “3113”? Pete: Well, our ROCKTROPOLIS album “3113” seems to have had its hills along the way. We have been looking to release this album a lot sooner. But, unfortunately sometimes things don’t always run that smooth. One of the biggest hang ups was our engineer upgraded his DAW and upgraded his plug-ins. I don’t know how many times we have remixed this thing, and fighting for the tones was a challenge. All the guitar work was recorded with Line 6 Pod Farm 2, which is line direct and has a very clean sound unlike what an amp produces. This is a new world which I have started to embark on and I see its usefulness with the layering and modeling as it is very close to the real thing. I still prefer my rig when playing live. DL: Is there a spiritual aspect of your music? How does it effect you emotionally?
love for music. Many of my family members are highly gifted musicians. I was introduced to music and musical instruments at a very early age. I was exposed to many different styles of music ranging from Classical, Ethnic (traditional and contemporary Greek, Polish, Russian, Spanish), Pop, and of course, the many different types of Rock. Because of this exposure by people with intense love for music, my love for music grew exponentially. When I was 11 years old, my dad bought me with my first guitar. He took me to Elderly Instruments (Lansing, MI) and helped me select a Washburn Telecaster copy (brown sunburst). I still have that guitar which I “dust off” from time to time. My first amp was a Fender Princeton Chorus. Some of my earliest influences were Alex Lifeson (Rush), Brian May (Queen), Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple), Yngwie Malmsteen (Malmsteen), and Iron Maiden. DL: How long have you been playing and how did you develop your signature sound? 24 LIVE
Pete: Thank you for your question. I do believe we all possess this inner connection with our talents but it’s up to us to unlock the secrets they hold. I have been very passionate toward music since a DL: You’ve worked with some great musicians. young age and had a lot of defining moments that led me down the road. My whole family is full of Can you talk a little about that? musicians, so growing up there was always music playing or being played by us. Pete: I owe a big thanks to my father Sam Metropoulos for having such a big part in jump When I play my guitar, and get the chills like I starting my musical carrier. One of my most do when listening to the music I love, all of a memorable moments was with John Macaluso (former drummer for Yngwie Malmsteen). He has sudden things seem to become magical. I feel a always been a big inspiration to me and I’ve had deep connection with myself and the music and am amazed by the things I write. Most of the time the privilege of meeting him a few times. Years while listening to the music I’ve wrote, I forget it’s later, as an adult, we finally got to hook up and me and sometimes I truly feel like I am not that jam! person. Truthfully it is amazing what music can do to somebody in the way it can move a person. Another close friend of mine is Gabe Gonzalez (George Clinton P-Funk All Stars). We always have a great time together playing or just hanging DL: In 2013 you were nominated for a Detroit Music award. How did that feel and was it your out. David Asher (The Process) has always been first? a tight friend of mine growing up and he will guest appear on our upcoming ROCKTROPOLIS Pete: I grew up and lived in Bay City, Michigan album 3113. most of my life but, have also lived in Bangor, The list of players I’ve played with can never be Maine. In the near future, my plans are to move close to the suburbs of Detroit in the Ann Arbor too big. There’s a lot more players I would love area. The Detroit market is very hard to get into to work with. I will say it has been very special to have the experiences and friends I’ve made so but I have had great acceptance from everyone DETROITLIVEMAGAZINE.COM