Howie Simon discusses Winger, Jeff Scott Soto, The Hard Way and more
Interview by Ken Morton Howie Simon began playing guitar at age 6 in his hometown of Buffalo, New York. His earliest influences were Elvis Presley and KISS. With credits as epic as his dynamic axe work, Howie is currently on the road with the one and only Winger, lending his guitar expertise to the legenday band. Howie also performs locally with The Hard Way, and will be appearing with the band at The 51st Anniversary Rainbow Bar and Grill Party In The Party Lot Show - unleashing crowd favorites such as Diabolical Bitch, That Ain’t Love, and I Can’t Go Home. Highwire Daze recently had the opportunty to interview Howie Simon to discuss his absolutely outstanding career in music. Read on... How did you wind up meeting Eric Jeffreys and joining 34
The Hard Way? I’m going to be completely honest here – I had to call Eric when I got these questions to ask him how we met because I simply don’t remember! Apparently, he came to see me at a local club where I was playing a show with Alcatrazz, and a mutual friend introduced us. So, back in 2015 when his guitarist at the time went on vacation, he reached out to ask me to sub in with the band for a couple of shows. Fast forward 5 or 6 years later and his guitarist decided to move out of town permanently so he called me to do the gigs regularly. And here we are… The Hard Way recently played some big shows at The Whisky opening for the likes of Ace Frehley and Lita Ford. What was the experience like for you, and did you know either performer from before? I have been on quite a few festival bills with Ace March/April 2023
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