While warming up on his unplugged Les Paul electric guitar, Eddie Ellis zips through one of rock music’s most famous guitar solos’Eddie Van Halen’s ‘Eruption?. The unamplified chords are soft, but if you listen carefully you can hear Ellis play the other Eddie’s trademark riffs–including two-tapping–with ease.
Not bad for a kid who won’t turn 17 until May.
Currently, the Oxford High School junior is working on songs and guitar riffs for an upcoming extended play album of three to five songs. Ellis plans to use the EP as a demo for his music in hopes of signing with a record company, recording a full-length album and embarking on a musical career.
‘I’ve been playing a lot of live guitar stuff with my Uncle Alan,? Ellis said, referring to Alan Paul of the Manhattan Transfer. ‘I’ve been writing songs for years. It’s come to the right point in time where I’m at the age and if you look at the industry right now, most of the successful musicians are in their younger teens. What I have to offer that’s different is it’s a little more sophisticated than your typical Disney pop rock. It’s a lot more meaningful and that’s what I’m going for.?
Specifically, Ellis describes the music he’s working on as ‘The Beatles with Buckcherry guitar slammed on it.? The Fab Four meets heavy guitars.
As far as musical groups go, Ellis also gets inspiration from Pink Floyd, The Eagles and other sixties rock bands. He likes eighties Hair Metal bands like Bon Jovi and Van Halen along with newer groups like The Jonas Brothers, Maroon 5 and Coldplay. In short, his style of music is the newer rock and pop bands ‘with a sixties vibe.?
Ellis? album, which currently contains the songs ‘Love for Two? and ‘Change?, has a threefold message: peace, love and freedom. It is tentatively scheduled to be released April 25.
Change is a word often heard in the 2008 presidential race, and while Ellis originally wanted to have a political message in his album, it’s something he’s now subduing.
?[Political messages] sometimes can cause record labels to get scared,? he said.
The EP is still untitled and currently in pre-production as Ellis works on ideas and demos. He’s working with his father, John Ellis, on songs and is even co-writing songs with his father and producers. He records guitar and vocal tracks at his home studio while the bass and drum tracks will be recorded by studio musicians.
‘We have a good recording set-up in the basement,? he said. ‘It’s the same equipment as a recording studio, but on a limited scale.?
Once the EP is recorded, mixed and mastered, Ellis plans to use his website and connections to promote his music and see if he can get signed to a record label. If all goes well, by the end of the year he’ll release an LP.
Ellis? talent for music should come as no surprise when you consider his musical bloodline. John Ellis is also a musician who’s working on a custom guitar amplifier business and released an album titled ‘Having Fun? in 2002. Paul is not only a singer and songwriter for the Manhattan Transfer but also one of the band’s founding members. What’s more, Paul’s daughter and Ellis? cousin, Arielle, performs under the name ‘R’ielle?, has an album titled ‘That Girl? and is currently negotiating with record labels.
With his musical roots, Ellis has been playing guitar for as long as he can remember and took guitar lessons for a while.
‘I realized [guitar lessons] weren’t working for two reasons,? he recalled. ‘I’d get better than the guitar player teaching me or they were trying to force stuff I wasn’t going to use. So I thought it would be best to focus on my own direction.?
When it comes to favorite guitarists, he likes AC/DC lead guitarist Angus Young and Van Halen’s rhythm guitar playing. As far as guitars go, Ellis owns about 20 of them and likes to use Les Paul Gibsons. He also uses a Fender Stratocaster and a Taylor acoustic.
While born and raised in Michigan, Ellis hopes to relocate to Los Angeles to continue his music career and to network further in the City of Angels’a town known as a hub for rock music (along with television and movies). Music is what he wants to do for his career, and according to Paul, Ellis is off to a good start.
‘He’s really quite remarkable for his age,? Paul said of his nephew. ‘He is an incredible guitarist and musician. As a blues and rock player, his chops are beyond his years. Also, as a writer and producer, he’s beyond his years. He has great drive and passion for music and I think he’ll go far.?
While the talent no doubt is there, Paul said Ellis and other musicians will have to keep on top of the ever-changing music business, particularly the business side. Music sales are being done more and more through digital downloads rather than through album sales.
‘The music industry has completely changed from when [The Manhattan Transfer] first came up,? Paul explained, referring to the early 1970s. ‘To be successful, you really need to understand the business, how it works today and have a key understanding in marketing.?
Paul added that his nephew has a good grasp of internet marketing and the technology behind it, and that’s something other artists should do also.
John Ellis, no doubt, is very proud of his son.
?[Eddie’s] brilliant, and he’s one of those rare naturals,? he said. ‘I think his album will be a little different from what you’re hearing now. He’s keeping a modern edge to it. Music today is so generic where there are good songs by themselves, but the albums seem to have the same feel to every song. He’ll change that with what he’s doing.?
Eddie Ellis? website is www.eddietellis.com.