We spoke with Philip Sayce and he mentioned you were responsible for hooking him up with Melissa. Can you describe your initial encounter with Philip? 

I had gone into a guitar store and went in the back and there was a guy who was demonstrating this guitar amplifier and I just kind of strolled in. So, the guy is playing for a while and I started asking questions and we started talking and he and I both started playing guitar. He didn’t know who I was or anything and I didn’t really know who he was. I’m John and he’s Phil and we just started playing guitar. He was playing and I was like, “Wow, you really great. What is your deal? What are you doing?” 

I have an A&R job at Atlantic, too, so I am always looking for talent and I am always curious about people as artists and writers and players. I really liked his playing. I could tell he was the real deal. So, basically we started talking to each other. I asked him what he was doing and he said, “Oh, I am on tour with Uncle Kracker. I used to play with Jeff Healey.” I was like, “Oh.” He said, “I just moved here from Canada.” I said, “Well you know I have a studio. You should come over and talk to me.” 

A week before Melissa had said, “You know I am looking for a guitar player. I am thinking of trying somebody different.” He came over and I talked to him some more and he saw my studio. I liked his energy and his attitude. He was very humble and I called up Melissa and I said, “You know what? I think I found you this guy and I think he could be great for you.” He gave me some CD’s and a DVD showing me some stuff he had played live. I gave that to Melissa and she went and had lunch with him and she called me and she said, “I like him. He’s good, right?” I said, “Yeah. He’s good. He’s really f***ing good.” 

He is a real strong lead guitar player and she was like, “Alright.” That was basically it - unless he totally screwed up. Then he went and played with the band for a couple songs and they really liked him and she hired him. It was not a big audition process. God bless her, she really gave me a lot of credit. She was like, “Are you sure?” And I was like, “Yes. He’s great. You’ll be fine.” 

It worked out great. He and I have become friends. I think he was more in disbelief than anyone. He is really a sweet guy and really humble and he just couldn’t believe that a stranger would do such a good deed and not want anything. (laughs) He lucked out. To me it is one of the best guitar gigs in the world because you really get to be yourself. Also, the parts that you get to learn and play are from people who put a lot of time and love into those parts. 

Do you have a special message you would like to relay to Melissa’s fans? 

Don’t forget me! (laughs) I miss them. I tell ya, I love making records and you know I am really lucky I get to work with some of the most amazing artists in the world, but I miss playing in that band. I miss going out there and rocking and having fun. I make a lot more money at home (laughs), but you know I love playing in a band and I love that band. I see Kenny, Mark and Melissa and I miss it and I love it. So, that is why the new guitar player had to be somebody who I thought had a strong presence to balance her. 

It doesn’t matter how strong Philip is, we all know whose name is on the marquee. It didn’t matter what I did. I see Philip when he is holding the guitar over his head and he’s biting the guitar and doing some Hendrix and doing a lot of Stevie Ray Vaughan stuff, but it is still Melissa. She’s in charge and it is great.