Teenage Idol: LYLE WATT!

Thu, 10/07/2008 - by Rory Sullivan

Today's Elevenses Throws Eleven Quick Questions At 'The Teenage Idol' Lyle Watt!

Lyle Watt is a 15 year old guitar player from the Highlands of Scotland and through a display of unbridled natural talent, Lyle was runner-up at Guitar Idol 2008. Lyle says, “I have only 3 interests in life - guitar, more guitar and even more guitar! I've been playing guitar since I was 3, but I've really only been playing seriously for the past 5 or 6 years, and I absolutely love it!”

So what’s your drink of choice at 11am in the morning?

Well, considering that I’m never usually awake at this point in the morning, I don’t really know! But, going on the rest of the day, I’ll have to say Coke.

Which song/album really made you want to play guitar?

Pretty much anything by Joe Satriani. I remember seeing a few videos when I was a little kid and just thinking WOW! From then on, I wanted to do what he was doing, and it hasn’t really changed since.

Who’s your favourite guitarist ‘at the moment’?

It’s going to be hard naming just one. But, at the moment, Andy James. I got his album, In The Wake Of Chaos, at the LIMS. He even signed it for me! It’s an absolutely phenomenal album, and Andy is a really nice guy to boot.

Who’s the world’s most underrated band – past or present?

I really don’t know. There are so many bands out there that don’t get the recognition that they deserve, that for me it’s impossible to name one.

So what are you up to at the moment?

Summer Holidays! 6 weeks of no school. So it’ll probably be band practice a lot of the time. Got a gig at the start of next month and we still have half a set to fill!

What’s the guitar/band scene like in Scotland for a budding teenager like yourself?
Who would be in your dream line-up – past or present?

Absolutely terrible. It is really shocking. I’m lucky enough to have found an amazing bass player – Isaac Sutherland, and an amazing drummer – Duncan McLachlan – for our band “MegaWatt” – spot the god awful pun! But they’re quite a bit older than me. I won’t tell you how much older though – I might never walk again!

Vocals: Ronnie James Dio

Keyboards: Jordan Rudess

Drums: Mike Portnoy

Guitar 1: Lyle Watt

Guitar 2: Paul Gilbert

Bass Guitar: Marco Hietala

How many guitars do your own and which one is ‘your precious’?

Last count was 9. My precious would probably be my ESP. It’s an M-200FM. Nothing special about the guitar itself, but it just plays really brilliant, like it was made for me. My other precious would be a BC Rich Deceiver that Dad bought me a few years ago, but that’s just sentimental value.

So you’re stranded all alone on a desert island but amazingly there’s a bar, a stereo and some electricity – what 3 albums do you want to find on top of that stereo?

Marco Sfogli – There’s Hope

Satriani – The Extremist

Andy James – In The Wake Of Chaos

OK, if possible, put these six guitar players in order of preference - Eddie Van Halen, Rory Gallagher, Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Paul Gilbert and John Mayer…

1. Paul Gilbert
2. Stevie Ray Vaughan
3. Rory Gallagher
4. Yngwie Malmsteen
5. John Mayer
6. Eddie Van Halen (sorry everyone!)

So what’s your drink of choice at 11pm in the evening?

Same again, Coke. (No alcohol for me!)

Interview - 9th July 2008