User:Gary Cappuccio/sandbox

West Milford’s heavy metal guitarist

Thursday, October 3, 2013 BY DEB AIKEY

CORRESPONDENT

Suburban Trends

At the age of 52, Gary Cappuccio of West Milford may not be your typical heavy metal guitarist. However, after playing in bands for over 30 years, he has finally realized his dream of earning a recording contract.

His band, Ode to Orpheus, was recently signed by Mega Force Records, Sony Entertainment. Their album, "Dark Side of the Sun," was released Sept. 17.

The road to recording glory was a long one for Cappuccio, who started playing guitar at a young age on the steps of his grandfather's home in Clifton.

His grandfather bought him his first guitar and he would sit with him while learning to play it. Shortly afterward, he began taking guitar lessons from Jim Kenyon at the local music store.

"Jim is one of the finest diversified guitarists that I had ever seen. He taught me blues guitar, slide guitar, funk guitar, country music, rock and roll, progressive metal and jazz rock," says Cappuccio.

"My cousin was in a band and I used to watch him rehearse and I was totally inspired," says Cappuccio, adding, "I wanted to become a performer."

He started seriously playing guitar at age 15 and was in bands throughout high school, playing in local venues in New York and New Jersey. Even though he studied classical piano at William Paterson University, Cappuccio was always drawn to heavy meal guitar playing, composing and arranging his own music. He's also composed music for films.

Cappuccio cites Jeff Beck as his main musical influence and "learned all his licks." In addition to heavy metal guitar riffs, he also plays classical, flamenco, jazz and the blues. He infuses his classical background in his metal compositions, imagining what Bach, Mozart and Chopin would sound like with a guitar edge.

Despite holding down a number of varied jobs, including volunteering at the West Milford Animal Shelter and working in rehearsal studios where bands practiced and recorded, Cappuccio always wished to be a performer. Eight years ago he left his job to make music his full-time career.

"I've been around musically with a lot of different people," says Cappuccio, who has played alongside Vince Martell of Vanilla Fudge. He's opened for Blue Oyster Cult at the Paramount Theatre and has also played the Starland Ballroom in New York City.

In addition to his solo work, he currently plays guitar in two bands, Ode to Orpheus and D.O.A.: Dead on Arrival. Both bands were founded by drummer Rick Ferrusi and feature Mike LePond on base, Donnie Shickle on vocals and Cappuccio on guitar and keyboards.

"Ode to Orpheus has been around for several years and our CD has been in the works for quite a while," says Cappuccio. The progressive heavy metal CD features 11 original tracks and musically depicts what is going on in the world today. Cappuccio labels the band "progressive heavy metal" because the "music requires more chord changes, more intricate guitar solos and is more creative."

"Our CD 'Dark Side of the Sun' revolves around the concept of World War III, what is happening in the world put to music," says Cappuccio. "For example, our song 'Road Rage' deals with angry people on the road and 'Aggression' talks about the way the world is heading with protests in cities and nuclear weapons."

Cappuccio co-produced "Dark Side of the Sun," as well as composing and arranging the guitars and orchestrating the music through the use of keyboards, violins, violas and other classical instruments.

This past August, he played alongside his band mates as D.O.A. at Woodstock. That band performs more classic rock-style music in the late 1960s/early 1970s mode.

"D.O.A has been around since 1972 and I joined them several years ago," says Cappuccio. "I put an ad on the Internet saying that I was a heavy metal guitarist looking for a band. I auditioned and got the job."

"Gary takes his music very seriously," says Shawn Reams of North Jersey Guitar in West Milford, who has repaired and sold Cappuccio a few guitars over the years.

"He is a frequent visitor to our store," Reams says. "He is a pretty humble guy who is interesting, easy going and very focused on what he does."

What's next for Cappuccio? He plans to begin work on a solo project, to be called Cappuccio, in which he will blend heavy rock with classical music. He says that he brings his "dreams into reality on the music industry stages."

Cappuccio and Ode to Orpheus will be playing at the Fusion Café, 188 Kiel Avenue in Butler, on Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. He says Ode to Orpheus plans to start touring next year to support their album and hopes to play local venues, such as Big John's in Newfoundland, in the coming months to warm up for the coming tour.