Steel Notes Magazine January 2017 | Page 25

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After a couple of performances on ‘ Metallurgy ’, ‘ Metallurgy Unplugged ’ and an EP release , Rusty parted ways with the Revolution and joined hands with Dominion . The same year when Dominion broke up , Rusty bagged the title of ‘ The Best Guitarist in Houston ’ in the Guitar Master Series Contest . After spending a couple of years polishing and refining his skills , leading ‘ World Class Guitar Leading Techniques ’ ( a local TV show ), and teaching at the World Class National Guitar Techniques for 3 consecutive years , Rusty joined Outworld in 1997 .
Rusty released his personal guitar playing tutorial , called the ‘ Shred Guitar Manifesto ’, in 2000 , which managed to gain endorsements from Seymour Duncan Pickups and Jackson Guitars . In 2003 , Rusty released a solo album titled ‘ Rusty Cooley ’ to his name . The same year , he was ranked as the ‘ 7th Fastest Shredders of All Times ’ by Guitar One Magazine , in April 2003 .
Rusty ’ s style has evolved from a variety of genres , including Country , Classical , Funk , Blues , and Rock . His initial inspirations include some legendary names including Becker , Bach , Vai , Tafolla , Kotzen , Firkins , Malmsteen , Gilbert , Paganini , Holdsworth , and Rhoads .
Rusty has also tested the luthier in him , releasing his signature six-stringed Dean model in 2007 , and the improvised eightstringed version named after his initials , ‘ DC RC-8 ’, in 2011 . Rusty ’ s lead work has been promoted in the ‘ Double Brutal ’, Death Machine ’ s second album . Rusty has been affiliated with a number of acclaimed luthiers , including Morley Pedals , Ibanez Guitars , GHS Strings , Maxon , and Jackson Guitars . He ’ s currently endorsed and recognized by Dean Guitars . Rusty marked his return to the playing domain by joining ‘ Day of Reckoning ’. He also released a new album ‘ Into the Fire ’ last year along with other band members . Aside from bagging various recognitions and acclaims , Rusty has been imparting his treasure trove of theoretical and practical knowledge and intricacies of guitaring through regular lessons . He will make a special guest appearance in ‘ John Petrucci ’ s Guitar Universe ’, a guitar camp to be held in August of 2017 . Rusty has continued teaching and putting music out with Day of Reckoning . I spoke with Rusty to catch up on what he ’ s been doing .
You ’ re teaching guitar lessons all day and night in Texas ? Well not all day and all night . I don ’ t start until 3 in the afternoon and I ’ ll go until 3 to 9 and then sometimes when I get home I ’ ll do skype stuff , like after this interview I ’ ve got a Skype lesson . I was out-of-town for a couple of days from Friday to Sunday night doing a guitarclinic in Maryland and just doing some make up stuff , you know just business as usual
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