metalmaniac93
Well-known member
I have always dug Chet's playing and he was a student of Randy's!! Wonder what happened to him?
Enjolras56
New member
Chet was my teacher from about '91 to '93! I learned about him from a GFTPM article (intrigued by the fact he was Randy's student) and found out he taught out of a little music store called Grayson's Tunetown in Montrose, CA (near LA) which wasn't too far from me. Great teacher! I probably made my biggest jumps in picking technique while I was with him.
I think during my first lesson, I asked him to demonstrate his "upside-down" technique doing a Bach thing. Pretty awesome.
I went on to work in that music store in the mid to late 90's and Chet was still teaching there at the time.
Probably in the early to 2000's, he left teaching and went on to own and operate a recording studio in Burbank, CA.
Last I ran into him mid 2000's, I believe he had sold the studio and was doing something non-music related (?)
I'll ask the store next time I stop by
I think during my first lesson, I asked him to demonstrate his "upside-down" technique doing a Bach thing. Pretty awesome.
I went on to work in that music store in the mid to late 90's and Chet was still teaching there at the time.
Probably in the early to 2000's, he left teaching and went on to own and operate a recording studio in Burbank, CA.
Last I ran into him mid 2000's, I believe he had sold the studio and was doing something non-music related (?)
I'll ask the store next time I stop by
Enjolras56
New member
Oh, I just found this- looks like he has a website now. http://chetthompson.com/home
Read his 2014 recap and he talks about what he's up to with music after being away for a while.
Read his 2014 recap and he talks about what he's up to with music after being away for a while.
OUTLAW1969
Well-known member
The last time that I saw him, I asked him about his Hellion days, and what he used in the studio on "Bad Attitude". He said that he would email me some info about his gear. I figured that he forgot, but then 2 weeks later he sent this:
"For Hellion and SlamNation I used a custom guitar that I built myself; warmoth neck/body and Seymour Duncan distortion pick ups--amps 69 Marshall heads modified by Jose Arrendondo, lexicon pcm, eventide harmonizer 900 series. I used metal picks for most everything. I can't tell you how many hours I worked just on tone alone but
I can tell you it boils down to a great sounding guitar, a warm crunchy amp, no distortion pedals, not much effects blocking the signal, and finally tone has a lot to do with the hands."
Super nice guy, and there is a rumor that he broke up one of Mick Mars' marriages
"For Hellion and SlamNation I used a custom guitar that I built myself; warmoth neck/body and Seymour Duncan distortion pick ups--amps 69 Marshall heads modified by Jose Arrendondo, lexicon pcm, eventide harmonizer 900 series. I used metal picks for most everything. I can't tell you how many hours I worked just on tone alone but
I can tell you it boils down to a great sounding guitar, a warm crunchy amp, no distortion pedals, not much effects blocking the signal, and finally tone has a lot to do with the hands."
Super nice guy, and there is a rumor that he broke up one of Mick Mars' marriages