In only a few short years Alex Grossi has become one of the hardest working and sought after rock guitarists in the country. He inked his first recording deal with Atlantic Record with the Boston-based pop rock band Angry Salad in 1999. In support of the record Alex and Angry Salad did over 1000 shows across the country, recorded music for the Quincy Jones produced movie The Smokers, did multiple television appearances as well as recording the theme song for the WB Network drama series DC.
In 2001  he signed with TVT Recording Artists Ignite for two world tours. Upon returning from the tour, Alex was chosen by Elektra Records out of over 75 L.A. area guitarists to be the musical director for one of their new artists Aimee Allen. The band toured and recorded for the better part of 2002.
In 2003 Alex joined up with Hollywood rockers Beautiful Creatures. Shortly thereafter, Alex and BC began writing and recording BC’s second record Duece for JVC Records (Japan) and Spitfire/BMG (U.S.).

In June of 2004 Alex was contacted by Quiet Riot front man Kevin Dubrow to participate in the first annual Bad Boys of Metal Tour which featured Kevin, as well as the late Jani Lane of Warrant, Steven Adler of Guns ‘N Roses and Bang Tango.
In late 2004 Alex was offered the guitar position in Quiet Riot.

SD: Which pickups do you use and for which guitars?
AG: My main touring guitar is a PRS Custom 24, I put Duncan JB humbucker in it a few years ago on a whim and it just sounded perfect. I then outfitted my Les Pauls with them as well.
 
With Seymour Duncan I have found an improvement in my performance and execution- when your tone is good you tend to have a lot more confidence which makes things flow a lot better.

With Seymour Duncan pickups I get consistency. I am doing a lot of fly dates that require me to use rental backline, so even though I know what amps I am getting, they still do vary from night to night. You know how different amps of the same model tube amp can sound slightly different; with the PRS/Duncan combo at least I know exactly how things are doing to sound on my end every night.
I can always count on Seymour Duncan to bring any guitar to the next level. Almost every guitar I tour with gets loaded with Duncans before it ever hits the stage.

SD: Have you used any of the Seymour Duncan pedals?
AG: Yes, I currently have the Pickup Booster on my pedal board and I love it, not to sound like Nigel Tufnel, but it gives me that “extra push over the cliff” when I need it. I currently don’t own the Shape Shifter and the Deja Vu pedals but I hear great things about them and I am looking forward to trying those pedals as well.

 
QUIET RIOT TOUR DATES
SAT    8/20/11     GLEN FLORA, WI – NORTHWOODS ROCK RALLY
SAT    8/27/11     WABASH, IN – HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FRI      9/16/11     DAYTONA BEACH, FL – SICKBOYZ BAD HABIT LOUNGE
SAT     9/17/11     JACKSONVILLE, FL – BREWSTERS PIT
SUN    9/18/11     SANFORD, FL – RT 46 ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT
SAT   10/01/11     AKRON, OH – TANGIERS
SAT   10/07/11     SAN ANTONIO, TX- SUNKEN GARDEN
SAT   10/22/11    ATLANTA, GA – NORTH ATLANTA TRADE CENTER
SUN   10/23/11   TEMPE, AZ – CLUB RED
HOTEL DIABLO TOUR DATES
9/2 WHISKY A -GO GO – WEST HOLLYWOOD CA.
9/3 BACK ALLEY – FULLERTON CA.
9/9 STARLINE – FRESNO, CA.

About the band:
Alex’s main band is Quiet Riot, whom Alex has been playing with since 2004 along with Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banali and bassist Chuck Wright. Quiet Riot recently reformed with a new vocalist and are touring both the US and abroad, most recently performing at the Bang Your Head Festival in Germany as well as multiple North American rock festivals and headline dates.Quiet Riot continues it’s tradition of performing live for the fans in 2011 and dates are already being secured for 2012.
Alex also has a new project called Hotel Diablo with Wasp bassist and drummer Mike Duda and Mike Dupke and vocalist Rick Stitch with whom Alex worked in Adler’s Appetite. Recently entering the studio with Rockstar Supernova/Guns ‘N Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke, the first song from those sessions has been released and Hotel Diablo are starting to do some shows in Southern California.
Alex Grossi was born and raised in South Windsor, Connecticut. At age 17 he got a job teaching guitar lessons in East Hartford CT. Upon finishing high school, he moved to Boston where he joined up with Angry Salad. The band was soon signed to Atlantic Records and toured extensively until 2001. Grossi then re-located to Los Angeles and quickly became one the hardest working guitarists in town, eventually landing him the guitar spot in Quiet Riot when the band re-formed in 2004.
Want to know more about Alex and his bands? Check out:

Alex’ website, Quiet Riot’s website, Hotel Diablo’s website.