Phil X
Phil X | |
---|---|
![]() Phil X in 2013 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Philip Eric Xenidis[1][2][3][4][5] |
Also known as | Phil X |
Born |
March 10, 1966 (age 50) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
Instruments |
|
Years active | 1982–present |
Associated acts | |
Website |
philx |
Notable instruments | |
ESP LTD Viper, Yamaha SG, Framus XG, Gibson Les Paul, Gibson ES-335, Fender Telecaster, Fender Stratocaster, Magnatone Tonemaster Amplifier, Evil Robot Amplifier, Friedman Amplifier |
Philip Eric Xenidis (born March 10, 1966), known as Phil X, is a Greek-Canadian[6] musician and songwriter. Since 2013, he has played live with Bon Jovi, replacing former lead guitarist Richie Sambora. In 2013, he was originally an unofficial member when he first joined Bon Jovi. However in 2016, he became an official band member, along with bassist Hugh McDonald and provided lead guitar on the band's thirteenth studio album This House is Not for Sale.
Career
In 1982 he formed the hard rock/heavy metal band Sidinex (naming it after himself, the moniker being his last name spelled backwards) with singer Todd Farhood, bassist Kevin Gingrinch and drummer Scott Masterson. The band released only one EP in 1985, Forever Young, before changing name to Flip City in 1987 and disbanding soon after.[7]
An opportunity in Xenidis' career came when he was asked in 1990 to tour with Randy Coven, whom he met through Aldo Nova; in 1991, he toured the US with Aldo Nova.[8] From 1992 to 1993 he played with Triumph, recording Edge of Excess and touring with them.[9]
In 1994, Phil collaborated with Terry Brown, Doug Varty, Rob Kennedy and others to form a short lived band, The Bushdoctors, in Mississauga, Ontario. They recorded one album, a self-titled debut, now out of print.[10]
Phil X is a prolific session guitarist, having played on albums by Tommy Lee, Methods of Mayhem, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, Orianthi, Rob Zombie, Chris Daughtry, Alice Cooper, Thousand Foot Krutch and many others. He wrote the song "Tired" and also played guitar on Tommy Lee's Tommyland: The Ride album. He has appeared with Tommy Lee and Bon Jovi on Ellen[11] and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Phil X was featured in the "making of" bonus features for the movie Josie and the Pussycats. He acted as a music coach for the film and taught the young actresses to appear as if they were actually playing their instruments.[12]
Bon Jovi
In 2011 Phil X substituted for Bon Jovi's lead guitarist Richie Sambora,[13] who missed 13 dates after entering rehab,[14] and later filled in for Sambora on the US and Europe leg of the 2013 tour after Sambora dropped out due to personal reasons.[15] In mid-2013 he filled in for Sambora during a number of dates of the Because We Can tour, including their only Italian date in Milan,[16] the entire British leg of the tour including the Isle of Wight Festival[17] and Hyde Park BST dates,[18] the South African leg,[19] the South American leg, and the Australian leg of the tour.[20]In 2016, Phil became an actual member in the band along with bassist Hugh McDonald and also feature as guitarist for the band on their single, This House Is Not for Sale and album of the same name.[21]
Equipment
Xenidis has used a vast range of guitars during his session and live work. His most notable guitar is his ESP LTD Viper,[22] which he refers to as the "sticker guitar". In 2012, Xenidis received a signature guitar from Yamaha,[23] in 2015 followed the release of a signature XG model made by Framus.[24] Phil invented the "Flip Stick",[25] a specially modified replacement for the usual whammy bar on Floyd-Rose-equipped guitars. He is endorsed by Cleartone Treated Guitar Strings and Everly Star Picks as well.[26] His demonstrations of rare and vintage guitars have had over 30 million views on the frettedamericana YouTube channel.[27]
Discography
The following is a list of Phil X's discography as a band member, apart from his session work.
- with Triumph
- Edge of Excess (1993)
- with Powder
- A Very Special Christmas 5 (2001) (on "Christmas Don't Be Late (The Chipmunk Song)")
- Sonic Machine (2002)
- Powder (2005)
- Nothing (2008)
- with Phil X & The Drills
- Kick Your Ass in 17 Minutes. (2009)
- We Bring the Rock N Roll (2011)
- We Play Instruments N Sh!t (2012)
- with Bon Jovi
- This House Is Not for Sale (2016)
Session work
The following is a complete official list of the rest of Phil X's work.[28]
- Nice Place to Visit (1988) by Frozen Ghost
- Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin (1991)
- Shake Your Spirit (1992) by Frozen Ghost
- Naveed (1994) by Our Lady Peace (solo on "Denied")
- Methods of Mayhem (1999) by Methods of Mayhem
- Brutal Planet (2000) by Alice Cooper
- Movement in Still Life (1999) by BT
- Music from and Inspired by M:I-2 (2000) (on "Scum of the Earth" by Rob Zombie)
- I Get Wet (2001) by Andrew W.K.
- The Sinister Urge (2001) by Rob Zombie
- Never a Dull Moment (2002) by Tommy Lee
- Emotional Technology (2003) by BT (on "Superfabulous")
- House of 1000 Corpses - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2003)
- We're a Happy Family: A Tribute to Ramones (2003) (on "Blitzkrieg Bop" by Rob Zombie)
- Under My Skin (2004) by Avril Lavigne (on "He Wasn't" & "How Does It Feel")
- Day of Fire (2004) by Day of Fire
- Breakaway (2004) by Kelly Clarkson (on "Where Is Your Heart" & "Walk Away")
- The Art of Breaking (2005) by Thousand Foot Crutch
- Tommyland: The Ride (2005) by Tommy Lee
- Daughtry (2006) by Daughtry
- The Day Has Come (2006) by Cheyenne Kimball (on "Hanging On" & "Mr. Beautiful")
- Devils & Angels (2007) by Mêlée
- The Flame in All of Us (2007) by Thousand Foot Crutch
- Worlds Collide (2007) by Apocalyptica (on "I Don't Care")
- The Stewart Copeland Anthology (2007) by Stewart Copeland on "Big Drum Tribe"
- Gavin DeGraw (2008) by Gavin DeGraw
- Scars & Souvenirs (2008) by Theory of a Deadman (background vocals)
- Patience (2008) by Nick Lachey
- Halestorm (2009) by Halestorm (additional guitar solos)
- Believe (2009) by Orianthi (rhythm guitar)
- Last Train Home (2009) by Ryan Star
- Leave This Town (2009) by Daughtry (additional guitars)
- Scream (2009) by Chris Cornell (on "Long Gone [Rock Version]")
- All I Ever Wanted (2009) by Kelly Clarkson (on "I Do Not Hook Up", "Cry", & "Don't Let Me Stop You")
- Just Like You (2009) by Allison Iraheta (on "Don't Waste the Pretty" & "Don't Wanna Be Wrong")
- For Your Entertainment (2009) by Adam Lambert (on "Aftermath")
- Sunday Love (2012) by Fefe Dobson (on "Don't Let It Go to Your Head" & "This Is My Life")
References
- ↑ http://www.familia.evemor.com/research/collection-10182/biographical-summaries-of-notable-people?s=162756641&itemId=509856&action=showRecord&indId=individual-162756641-1000021
- ↑ "Phil X".
- ↑ "Phil X - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives".
- ↑ "Phil X and DigiTech products".
- ↑ "Bon Jovi is headed to Wells Fargo Arena without guitarist Richie Sambora".
- ↑ Kourti, Marianna. "Greek-Canadian Phil Xenidis Named Lead Guitarist on Bon Jovi's Tour - Canada.". GreekReporter.com.
- ↑ "Sidinex - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives".
- ↑ Beggs, Mike (2 April 1992). "Guitarist finds fame staring him in face at a Kansas store". Toronto Star. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
- ↑ David, David (26 April 2011). "Review of Triumph, Greatest Hits Remixed". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
- ↑ "The Bushdoctors - The%20Bushdoctors CD. Heavy Harmonies Discography".
- ↑ Rosen, Craig (23 April 2013). "Jon Bon Jovi Comes Clean About Richie Sambora on 'Ellen'". Yahoo Music. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ↑ Internet Movie Database (2001). "IMDB: Full cast and crew for Josie and the Pussycats". IMDB. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ↑ Kennedy, John R. "Canadian musician Phil X replaces Richie Sambora in Bon Jovi".
- ↑ "Bon Jovi replaces Richie Sambora with Phil X". Music-News.com. 2 May 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
- ↑ "Bon Jovi Tour: Greek-Canadian Phil X to Replace Sambora - Canada.GreekReporter.com".
- ↑ "Bon Jovi incanta San Siro nell'unica tappa italiana (senza il chitarrista Sambora)".
- ↑ "Isle of Wight Festival: Jon Bon Jovi vs Richie Sambora". 5 June 2013.
- ↑ "Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time In Hyde Park - Bon Jovi".
- ↑ Coffey, Kevin (4 April 2013). "Bon Jovi show to go on without Sambora". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
- ↑ "Bon Jovi Wows Melbourne". The Age. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
- ↑ "NEWS – BonJovi.com".
- ↑ Americana, Fretted (19 April 2012). "At Long Last: Phil X's Custom LTD Viper on Fretted Americana". YouTube. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ↑ Press Release, Yamaha (21 Dec 2012). "Yamaha Launches Phil X Signature Guitar – the SG1801PX9". Yamaha. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ↑ "Video: NAMM 2015: Framus". Guitar Player. January 2015. Retrieved April 2015. Check date values in:
|access-date=
(help) - ↑ Demo, Flipstick (11 Feb 2008). "Phil X Flipping Out 1989". YouTube. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
- ↑ "Phil X's Gear".
- ↑ Brass, David (9 Nov 2012). "30 Million Views on Our YouTube Channel". frettedamericana.com. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
- ↑ "--: The REAL Phil X :--".