ION INDIE MAGAZINE August 2014, Volume 3 | Page 57

small the stage may be--from
open mic events to benefits
for people in need, to
headlining large gigs in
bigger venues--the quality
“likes” keep adding up and
up. And after those of you who
are reading this article are
done, check out the links
we’ve provided and listen to
the mp3 that’s playing while
you are reading. I can
guarantee that you will be a
new quality “liker” and fan of
The Russello Project.
Russello has been playing
guitar since he was fifteen,
after being inspired by JIMMY
PAGE in “The Song Remains
the Same”, and by sixteen, he
was giving lessons. When he
and his best friend, Paul,
picked up their first guitars,
they both had that same
dream every kid with a guitar
has—to get in a band and be a
famous musician. Paul
decided to go the route of
taking lessons from an instructor, while Charlie decided to learn from magazines and music books. In a
short period of time, Paul was playing “Jingle Bells” and Charlie was playing “Crazy Train”. Where the
instructors in the area seemed to be too rigid and boring for what Charlie was looking for, the books,
such as Doug Mark’s “Metal Method” were exactly what Charlie was looking for to show him how to play
the style he was seeking at the time.
Quickly making a name for himself on the local Metal scene, Charlie was shredding it up in a few cover
bands and becoming THE most notable guitarist in a scene that also featured many phenomenal
guitarists—most notably, KARL LOGAN, now of MANOWAR. Always wanting more of himself, Charlie went
to California to learn at the hands of the masters at THE GUITAR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. There, he
spent one on one time learning from the likes of PAUL GILBERT (MR. BIG/RACER X), JENNIFER BATTEN
(MICHAEL JACKSON/JEFF BECK) and even on occasion, AL DI MEOLA. While there, he even go some
instruction and conversations with EDDIE VAN HALEN, JOE PASS, SCOTT HENDERSON and STEVE VAI.;
among many others. He tells me, “Without a doubt, hands down, that year of education and guitar out
in Hollywood at GIT was the best year of my life—when it comes to anything other than my family.”