TUNE-UPS V
O L . 3 7 | N O . 5 | MAY 2016
Avenged Sevenfold Guitarist Synyster Gates ’ 2015 Summer Tour Survival Guide — Mayhem Fest
In this new feature from the August 2014 issue of Guitar World , the guitarists of Avenged Sevenfold , Morbid Angel , Trivium and other metal acts tell how they ’ ll beat the heat and tame the crowds on the season ’ s biggest tours .
Your sweatiest concert ever ? Definitely the 2004 Warped Tour when we played in Arizona . I think it got up to 127 degrees , and I remember feeling like I was going to faint . Just god awful . So we drank a bunch of margaritas to keep us extremely sedated .
Considerations when playing an outdoor show versus an indoor show ?
Nothing at all . We just go out there and have a lot of fun . I mean , the only time you ’ re ever worried about anything is if there are extreme elements , like rain or crazy wind .
Primary gear you ’ ll be playing this summer ? My gear is pretty easy . I usually play through my Hellwin amp and signature guitar [ Schecter Synyster Custom ]. I ’ m not a big effects sort of guy — I like to keep it simple .
One item you will carry with you at all times this summer ? A ProTools rig strapped to my back , literally . It keeps me sane , writing a bunch of different stuff like classical stuff or any guitar stuff . I don ’ t like being locked in a cage on the creative scale . I need an outlet .
10 GUITAR PLANET | MAY 2016