GES : Hello Manu, thank you to have accepted this interview ! So, can you speak a little bit about your musical experiences  ?
Manu : Hello Franck, it' s a great pleasure for me to do it as I think your website is really cool, and I hope it will help guitar maniacs to find what they search.
So I' ve begun playing guitar at 12 during 1984, diplomed at CMCN ( now MAI ) in 90, where I become teacher, then I become demonstrator for Lag guitars, and James Trussart. I' ve done the "Metal Paganini" method, and played in several bands. In 95 comes the album BASTA with the band MANIAC SPLEEN, then in 98 my first solo album INDIAN AKROBATIK finishing to be endorsed by IBANEZ. I participate in the same time to many musical magazines ( Guitar & Bass, Guitarist, Guitar Extreme, GuitareLive.com ). In 2002 comes my second album AUTOPARODY and my DVD Metal Machine in 2006. During 2006 will comes the new MLB album, named THE BOUNDER.

GES : You just have done an instructional DVD, « Metal Machine » and I have to admit that it is why I wanted to do this interview. I really think that it' s very cool and interesting to make that kind of things, and it' s very well done ! Did you get this idea for a long time ?
Manu : Yes absolutly, I wanted to do that since a long time, showing all the technics I use the most, because the Metal Paganini method was based on Nicolo Paganini "Caprices", not mine. At first I wanted to do a simple method with a CD but I thought it would be coolest to do a video !

GES : The DVD makes me think a little about what have done Paul Gilbert, with his funny parts ! Are there some videos that you specially enjoyed watching in the past ?
Manu : Of course, I love Paul Gilbert as a musician but also as a human, Ritchie Kotzen, Frank Gambale ( very instructional ). Those videos didn' t stop to be used when I was 20 years old !

GES : Can we say that this DVD is a good representation of your playing ?
Manu : That' s right, but the most difficult thing is to play with these technics without beeing a robot, it has to be musical.

GES : Concerning the end part, can you tell who are the guys playing with you ?
Manu : They are two friends of mine, Kermheat and Pascal Vigné, who have their own solo album already available.

GES : Who are the guitarists that influenced you the most ? Your playing makes me think sometimes to Jason Becker, and most of all on the title « Le cauchemard de Nicolo » … I hope you will take it like a great pleasure !! ;o)
Manu : Thank you ! I love Jason Becker ! I' ve listened a lot to classics like Hendrix, Blackmore, Beck, Van Halen then Varney' s guitarists like Gilbert, Kotzen, Greg Howe...

GES : You play metal music but do you have other style you like to play ?
Manu : I' ve worked a lot on jazz at the beginning, now I' m between rock and metal, and I' m creating a new band in a very rock style.

GES : If you had to keep only 5 albums at home... ?
Manu : All mine lol ! No, it' s a hard question ! I' m fan of so many styles, I' m going to try to find one of each. The first Van Halen, "made in japan" of Deep purple, "Thriller"  Michael Jackson, "Blood Sugar Sex Magic" from the Red Hot, "Master of Puppets" Metallica.

GES : It seems you are endorsed by Ibanez and Zoom, how did it happen ? Is it a logical continuity after your first album or is it because your a teacher at the M.A.I ?
Manu : Both of them, after my album Indian Akrobatik I' ve contacted them and it was ok ! That makes me think that I can say I will be playing on September at the french Music Trading Show with IBANEZ.

GES : Concerning your new Album, will it be like the previous one ?
Manu : It will be available during 2006 and the name is THE BOUNDER. It will be more easy to listen than AUTOPARODY. More melodical ideas, very loud rythms and a better sound.

GES : Who will play on it ?
Manu : Mister DIRK VERBEUREN, who plays with Soilwork, Scarve, Phazm and who is becoming a very well known musician, GUILLAUME BIDEAU will sing ( Scarve, The Cube and preparing his solo album ) and LOIC COLIN on bass ( SCARVE ). I' ve met them at the MAI at different periods, and it' s both human and musical good feelings that make us play together. Are also invited for some solos PATRICK RONDAT, PASCAL VIGNE, KERMHEAT and CHRISTOPHE GODIN.

GES : Do you have some shows coming ? May be with your band MLB ?
Manu : Of course, after the new album I will make a tour, but before I will do some masterclasses for IBANEZ,  you can find the dates on the band' s website.

GES : Manu I really want to thank you for your time, and wish you all the best for the futur !!
Manu : Thank you for this interview and all what you do to make the guitarists world better. And of course... beer, sex & rock'n'roll !!!