| |
Sheree Fray
Lead/Rhythm Guitars, Keyboard &
Backup Vocals
My musical roots came from playing piano as
a child. My parents had me take classical piano lessons and entered
me into recitals. I won ribbons for best performance. When I
was 12, I discovered who Jimmy Page was.
He introduced me to the guitar and was my
mentor. I remember hearing "Black Dog" and was amazed.
As a teenager, I began taking
guitar lessons from various teachers around the south side of Chicago.
Bill Ferry, then later Alex Kane of LSD, (now Antiproduct) Eric Mantel,
Sal Mancini to name a few and then later branched off on
my own studying theory and songwriting.
I always had a passion to play in a
band. I began developing my ear more and taught myself to learn
recordings of my favorite artists. I'd lock myself away in my room and
practice for hours.
I became musically active in my first band
called Nightmare, Inc. which quickly evolved into Velvet Hammer. This
was an all female (excluding the drummer) original band.
As time went on, I formed a
second band called Iron Tears with my male musician companions as Velvet Hammer eventually broke up.
This second band, Iron Tears recorded a
six song demo disc and began playing shows in Chicago and the south
suburbs. I began gaining recognition as one of the few female guitar
players in the area.
As time went on, Iron Tears went
through different lineups and evolved into the band, FRAYD. This
particular lineup was together for about 3 years and
went into the studio to record a 13 song CD. After shopping
this disc (entitled, "In Loving Memory Of All Things Lost") and playing more shows,
FRAYD evolved into yet another band.
This time calling itself Gravity Well.
Gravity Well recorded a 2 song demo
which featured tracks "Soul Beneath The Skin" & "Get Up".
The band went through numerous members and eventually reformed with an
old drummer friend. The band then decided to change their name back to FRAYD.
As the band went through numerous
changes and musicians would come and go, this three piece lineup has been
the most productive of them all.
The band has been diligently working
toward writing new material for the upcoming CD's that will be finished
this year.
"Reprogram/Resurrection" literally
got it's name because the band needed to reprogram and resurrect itself
and will be finished in 2008!
In addition to
Reprogram/Resurrection, another upcoming FRAYD CD is also in the works.
AND......In addition to the new FRAYD
discs that I am very excited about, I have plans to record my first
instrumental CD which will include all original tracks written and
arranged by myself. The disc will feature myself on guitar and
keyboard.
I have been, for the past 3 years,
studying recording and the art of producing in a studio setting and am
absolutely loving it.
~ Sheree Fray
My Guitars/My Gear:
1989 Charvel Model 3
2000 Parker Nitefly
1975 Gibson Les Paul
2006 BC Rich Dagger
Washburn Acoustic/Electric
Epiphone Concerto
Focus 3000 by Kramer
JCM 2000/Marshall Cabinet
Line 6 POD XT Guitar Effects
Rocktron Chameleon 2000 Rack Effects
BBE Sonic Maximizer
Furman Line Conditioner
Currently playing through a Bose L1
Pedals
Boss
Bad Horsie Wah
Crybaby Wah
My favorite rock bands are:
Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Ozzy,
Ronnie James Dio, Rainbow, Deep Purple, old Aerosmith, Heart,
Fleetwood Mac, Jethro Tull, Rush, Metallica, Robert Plant solo, Faith No More,
Black Label Society, Korn, Soundgarden, Audioslave, Floyd, Dream Theater,
Iron Maiden, Fight, Priest, Alice In Chains, Prong, Queensryche,
there's more but too much to list!
I've become more inspired and excited by the pure energy of Black
Label Society. I think Zakk is one
of the few guitar players (and hard working) today who stays true to
what he believes in! Thanks Zakk for your inspiration and for the
wonderful music you have given us!
My favorite guitar players are:
Jimmy Page ....you are
untouchable. There is only one of you. You changed my life.
Zakk Wylde.....you drive me wild. I love your solos, they are so
electrifying yet melodic.....and I love
your "signature squeal" as I call it. I can’t get enough.
Craig Goldy......Goldy is golden. I love your solos .Especially the
solo on Dio’s "As Long As It’s Not About Love"......oh my God!
Dave Murray & Adrian Smith.....together you two are amazing! I
love the "Brave New World" disc.
Nancy Wilson......you have most certainly blossomed into an
amazing musician. You are truly a unique individual.
Joe Perry.....you are one cool dude, I really love the old
Aerosmith albums. So much feeling and unique sound.
John Petrucci.....I am truly amazed by your technique, flawless!
.
Allan Holdsworth.....I saw you in concert a few times and couldn’t
believe what I was hearing.
John McLaughlin....you are in a world all your own, most
guitarists will never get there.
Al DiMeola....I’ve seen you play live a few times and I was
completely mesmerized by your natural ability to make the guitar do
whatever you wanted it to.
Michael Hedges.....your music is so beautiful, a definite unique sound
& style. R.I.P.
Billy McLaughlin.....your music is so refreshing and I feel
good when I listen to "Fingerdance".
Lindsay Buckingham.....I am so amazed by your finger picking.
Michael Schenker.....I saw you live and you blew me away!
Definitely underrated.
KK Downing & Glenn Tipton......the both of you, like Maiden’s dueling
duo are phenomenal. I love the way you both feed off each other.
Jerry Cantrell...........I like the way you play from your heart
and soul.
Eddie Van Halen........ Your style and sound is
all your own. Very fluent player. You make finger tapping look so
easy!
Randy Rhoads...... His leads were so dynamic and
full of energy. He had a very unique style and sound. R.I.P.
Dimebag...... Dynamic leads and so full of energy
as well. Very fluent and creative player, Dimebag was.
R.I.P.
Stevie Ray Vaughn..... One of the best white blues
player I've ever heard. R.I.P.
Jimi Hendrix........ His playing, to me, is so out
there. No one sounds like Hendrix! R.I.P.Eric Johnson..........
Awesome player with unique sound & nice vocals, Easy to listen
to. Love
"Cliffs of Dover."
There are so many amazing players and each one of them is so very
unique.
Photo By: Smoke & Mirrors Photography
|
|
