User:Rylan Hughes

Rylan Hughes (born February 20, 1985), occasionally refered to a 'Sparky', is an English guitarist best known as the lead guitarist from Apocalypse Incorporated. His unique image and unquestionable skills put him amongst the best of current day guitarists.

Early Years
Born as Rylan Hughes in Plymouth, Devon to parents Peter Hughes and his Mum. A teacher and that respectively. Hughes was the first child to complement the family. Growing up he had difficulties like any child. This was expressed when discussing his childhood and adolescence, about the way his peers treated him knowing his father was a teacher, " All these guys at school used to give me so much stick because my old man was a teacher, and they thought I could get away with a lot things, which to a point I could".

Later Years
It was around this time that Hughes started to develop a strong taste for rock and heavy metal music along with many of his high school friends. This love of music by bands such as Guns N' Roses and Metallica inspired him to take up the guitar. Hughes excelled quickly at his new found instrument under the watchful eye of local guitar instructor Ian.

Still the young but quickly rising guitarist had troubles. "I started playing around the same sort of time as other guys in my year. At the time my first guitar was an acoustic. The guys at school would rip into me calling me an acoustic pro - which got to me."

Around this time the young Hughes started to jam with other school musicians. Gathering Friday afternoons in music room two, with another guitarist - Paul Messenger, bassist - Rory Houghton and drummer - Ryan Andrews. After a few months of this the band decided to enter the schools battle of the bands competition, under the name Mullets Of Power. Two tracks were performed, both covers. First Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne with vocalist Robyn which went down well. The next track was Fade To Black by Metallica. Friend and general hanger on Jon Wright fulfilled the vocal position in a rendition which was later described as being "Alright".

After a few years of playing Hughes decided that he wanted to take his career in the direction of playing guitar and applied for a much coveted place at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, Surrey. Here he excelled immensely achiving a higher Diploma and currently working towards a degree an that.

Whilst studying and partying in Guildford Hughes has developed many different styles of playing including funk, metal, acoustic, blues, jazz and country.

Equipment
Hughes owns over 4 guitars.

2005 Fender Paisley Strat

1980's Shadow super strat

2004 Washburn Dime Stealth

An acoustic

Kramer (hockey) Bass

Amps

Fender thing

1983 Marshall JCM 800 half stack

Effects

Fulltone Clyde wah pedal

MXR Van Halen Phaser

Boss Reverb

Ibanez Tubescreamer

Digitech Whammy