RED Guitarist Anthony Armstrong's Obsession with Gear

RED Guitarist Anthony Armstrong’s Obsession with Gear

2011-10-11

Story by Charles Ken

RED and former Korn guitarist Brian ‘Head’ Welch are on tour

When Anthony Armstrong, guitarist for Nashville hard rock band RED, is out on the road with ex-Korn guitarist Brian “Head” Welch this fall, expect an overwhelming amount of machinery onstage. Tons of guitars, amps, processors, pedals– you name it.

“Gear geek, gear nerd. Whatever you want to call it. It’s an ongoing process,” Armstrong told the Reporter News about his gear obsession. That means, catch RED twice, and he’ll probably have two different sets of six-stringers, even if he’s just trying them out for fun. “There is always something new or better for you to use or upgrade your rig with,” he exclaimed.

Whatever the gear, it’s working for Armstrong and the boys of RED. The quartet’s latest album, 2011’s Until We Have Faces, not only hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart earlier this year, but galloped to the top of the Top Hard Rock Albums, Top Independent Albums and Top Modern Rock and Alternative Albums charts. Until We Had Faces debuted No. 2 on the Billboard 200, to boot. That makes RED one of those special Christian heavy music bands that appeals to not only the faith-based market, but also the mainstream contingent.

“It was a pretty exciting first week for sure,” Armstrong said of the week Until We Have Faces was finally unveiled to the rock public. “It’s just kind of a nonstop freight train right now.” Not that he’s complaining. Anyone who’s been to a RED show will attest to the fact the guys obviously live to tear it up onstage.

RED are on the road with “Head” through Oct. 26 on the “Kill the Machine” Tour, named after a song off Until We Have Faces. Find out dates via the news page. After the “Kill” tour dies off, RED skedaddle right to the annual Winter Jam Tour Spectacular alongside Christian bands Fireflight, Kutless, Matthew West, Newsboys and NewSong.

Author
Recent Posts

Charles Ken

Meet the expert - Charles Ken is a graduate of Michigan State University where he studied writing and history. He's a longtime music buff and covers classic rock for Audio Ink Radio. Contact him at ken@audioinkradio.com.

Search