MIKE KENEALLY INTERVIEW #1
(Originally aired on June 4, 2009)
Describing multi-instrumentalist and composer Mike Keneally is a challenge. He played keyboards and guitar in Frank Zappa's band (this has to be one of the most demanding gigs in the universe), and appears on six Zappa albums, including 1988's Broadway The Hard Way and 1991's The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life. Keneally has also released 11 solo albums of unique, adventurous music, and he's featured on albums by Beer For Dolphins and The Mistakes.
Keneally is an amazing guitarist and equally gifted on keyboards. He tours as Steve Vai's keyboardist, and has recorded an album of Vai's music on acoustic piano called Vai: Piano Reductions Vol. 1. Guitar in hand, Keneally recently joined the touring edition of Dethklok — the death metal band featured in the animated series Metalocalypse on Adult Swim.
In 2009, we interviewed Keneally coinciding with the release of Scambot 1, the first solo album in a planned trilogy. In our exclusive feature, Keneally talks about recording Scambot 1 and explains the concept behind this project, which combines music with an illustrated story he'll serialize on the web. Keneally also reflects on working with Zappa and what it's like to perform in Dethklok. During our feature, we'll hear selected cuts from Scambot 1. This music is unlike anything you've heard, we promise.