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hardest working musicians in the biz. Interstate Live was fortunate and was recently able to interview this very busy guitarist about Hotel Diablo, his relationship with the Adler's Appetite camp and what it has been like to work with some of rock's most notable names.
Westminster, Colorado
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Alex Grossi talks Hotel Diablo and more...
by Tom Walsh
Posted on November 14, 2011
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Alex Grossi is not a household name in the vein of Slash, Joe Satriani, Eddie Van Halen or even DJ Ashba, but he should be. In the public eye he is not as famous as the aforementioned guitarists but is, and has been a sought after guitarist for recording work and touring. He has also been recruited by many bands for his incredible guitar playing.
At the young age of seventeen he was teaching guitar at Riccardo's Music in Connecticut before moving to Boston where he joined the rock band Angry Salad. Angry Salad was soon signed to Atlantic Records and toured relentlessly before being bought out of their contract. Alex then moved to L.A. where he quickly built a reputation as one of the hardest working musicians in the music biz.
Over the years he has played with some of some of rock music's greatest performers including Quiet Riot with Kevin Dubrow (now with new vocalist Mark Huff), Jani Lane, Beautiful Creatures, Bang Tango, and most recently with Steven Adler and Chip Z'Nuff in Adler's Appetite.
Alex is now part of another project called Hotel Diablo, further cementing his rep as one of the
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I interviewed you about a year ago and you were a busy guy at that time, playing with Adler's and taking on other side projects. Since then you quit playing in Adler's, managed them for a while and then left the Adler's camp altogether. What led up to your decision to step away from the whole Adler's Appetite thing?
I had a great time playing with Steven and Chip. Performing those iconic GN'R songs night after night was great, especially being a huge GN'R fan. I am also proud to have written and recorded with Steven, and yes, for a while I handled a lot of the day to day during our 2010 summer tour (when his book came out).
In late 2010 I had to step away from Adler & company because my schedule w/ QUIET RIOT started to fill up again and I simply couldn't be in two places at once. We are still friends, Steven was actually very supportive of me going back to QR, he is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet.
You are now playing in Hotel Diablo with Mike Duda and Mike Dupke from W.A.S.P. and Rick Stitch from Ladyjack and Adler's. How did the decision come about to start another band and how did Rick come into the picture?
As you know, Rick left the Adler camp soon after I did - for different reasons. We had gotten pretty tight musically while writing for Adler, however it was frustrating because it seemed like we were trying to simply "clone appetite" as far what kind of music we were going to write. Don't get me wrong, I love that record, but it got very predictable and stale - and because the bands set was 90% GN'R covers, the general thought in the band was that we really had no choice but to stay that way stylistically.
Rick and I had been writing all along and knew we had some good stuff. In retrospect I am glad we waited to put the music out this way, rather than with Adler's Appetite ..
Set It Off has already been released and is a bad ass track, but you have a promo out showcasing a bunch of song samples. Are all those songs already one hundred percent complete in the studio? If so, when can we expect a full album release?
Thanks and yes, those songs are all done. We have about half of the record in the can and are actually going back in next week to track more - look for a proper release right around the new year.
I'm assuming it had been a while since you shared any studio time with Rick. How was it going into the studio with him on this project? Did it seem like any time had passed at all?
The last thing Rick and I did in the studio were "Stardog" and "Fading" which we recorded with Fred Coury (Cinderella) producing. Rick did great during those sessions. It wasn't much different this time doing the Hotel Diablo stuff with Gilby Clarke. We were all prepared, and since Rick had recorded with Gilby before they had a synergy that was refreshing to be around.
I've heard that you and Mike Duda had been kicking a project idea around for quite some time before Hotel Diablo formed. Did you think that it would come to fruition and what exactly did you two have in mind originally?
Mike and I first talked about doing this in 2006, he even had the name back then. We never really had a "plan", it just kind of fell into place. It's not everyday you get a line-up this solid, so we are running with it...
I know a lot of musicians in the Hollywood area know, or know of each other, but how long have you known Mike Duda and how did you guys meet?
We are both from the east coast, but we actually met out here in LA. In 2006 we needed a bassist for "Hookers N' Blow" which was a touring cover band that I was doing with Dizzy Reed (GN'R keyboardist) - living through those tours made us pretty tight!!
How is the writing done in Hotel Diablo? Did you guys set out to write certain songs certain ways, or did it all come pretty organically?
Every song has been different - some start with a pro-tools session, some start with an acoustic guitar and a melody and others have been derived from all four of us in the room banging it out...
When is Hotel Diablo going to hit the road?
We are keeping it mostly west coast for now - AZ, CA, NV...There have been offers to do some fly away's, but we are keeping it local for now. We have a show next month at The Whisky and plan on showcasing a lot of the new stuff there.
You have played with some heavy hitters and legends in the rock world such as Kevin Dubrow, Steven Adler, Jani Lane and many more. What's it like to be able to get on stage with these guys and knock out tunes night after night?
Playing with a guy like Kevin DuBrow really taught me a lot - the guy was one in a million on stage and off, he brought his "A" game every night, which not to many guys do. It was (and still is) really inspiring. I feel very fortunate to be playing with guys like Frankie Banali and Chuck Wright who are some of the best at what they do..
Not that you have much free time, buy I've heard that you teach back east when you have the time. Do you still teach, and where?
I used to, as my family owns a music and dance school back in CT - but I haven't been back there teaching in a couple of years.
If you weren't playing guitar professionally what do you think you would be doing with your life at this stage of the game?
I have actually really gotten into the other side of the biz by working at a booking agency out here in LA - I have been spending a good amount of time "behind the scenes"...It's cool learning the ins and outs of it.
You're what I would call an accomplished guitarist. You've recorded with some of the greats, shared stages with legends and you have been in high demand as a (pardon the term) gun for hire. But with all that under your belt is there a solo or riff out there that every time you hear it, it just floors you? I've often been curious what other guitar players, great guitarists listen to.
Thanks Tom - there will always be those guitar solos that you listen to and go "Really?" and shake your head. There are so many, but off the top of my head -
"The Sleep" off of Cowboys From Hell by Pantera - Dime was like 18 and already light years ahead of most - what a tragic loss.
"Estranged" by GN'R - such a great feel by Slash.
"Mr Crowley" - Randy Rhoads at his best.
Last but not least: You tour a lot. In your travels have you noticed straight up rock n roll making a comeback, and if so what country, state, city is it most obvious.
I don't think it ever really went anywhere, I notice that wherever I go, whether it be w/ QR or Adler or whoever, that there will always be the hardcore fans for this kind of music no matter what- you really can't say the same for too many other genres of music.
Thanks again Alex! I hope I wasn't too long winded with my questions. Hope to see you out on tour again soon.
Thank you Tom! - keep in touch
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