MadonnaTribe meets Monte Pittman

A costant presence on stage and in the studio with Madonna for years, Monte Pittman stopped at MadonnaTribe in December 2011 to share his thoughts about one of the biggest passions of all: Music.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Prince Montster!

MT: Monte, Welcome to Madonna Tribe!
First of all congratulations on your three nominations for the All Indie Music Awards.

MP: Thank you so much. This is my first time being nominated for anything like this.

MT: How did you get your passion for music and how did you start your career?

MP: I’ve always had a passion for music. I got my first guitar when I was 13. Started my first band and played my first gig when I was 14. I moved to Los Angeles when I was 24. From there, I started playing guitar for Madonna and for Prong.

MT: You are currently out promoting your newest cd “Pain, Love, & Destiny” and have just finished a promo tour in Texas. How did it feel performing in front of your hometown crowd of Longview Texas?

MP: It was so great to see so many friends and family as well make new ones. It was my first time playing my solo material there and it was a lot of fun for everyone. I can’t wait to get back.

MT: Where was “Pain, Love, & Destiny” created and would you consider it a “concept” album?

MP: I never considered it to be a concept album but you can certainly take it that way. The songs do reference themselves. It was recorded over the summer with Noah Shain producing it. There are pieces of songs that I’ve had for years and there are parts that I came up with right when I was recording. I had the solo for “(I Am) The Black Rabbit” mapped out in my head but when we were recording my fingers did something else. I liked it so much, we kept it. So that solo is the first and only take I did of it. It’s one of my favorite things I’ve ever done.

MT: What is your favorite song of this album and why?

MP: That changes all the time. Maybe “Outside The Box“. I like the lyrical content of that one.

MT: How did your paths cross with the one and only Madonna?

MP: I started giving her guitar lessons. From there, she asked me to join her band and be her guitarist. I’ve been with her ever since.

MT: The NFL just officially announced that Madonna will be the halftime performer during the Super Bowl 2012 in Indianapolis Indiana. Are you also part of that amazing show? If so how do you feel about this upcoming show and how do you think it will further your career?

MP: I’ll be there! Everyone is so excited. Playing the Super Bowl is one the biggest gigs you could ever play. It’s particularly cool that it’s the 2012 Super Bowl.

MT: What helpful tips would you give the MadonnaTribe readers that want to break into the music industry or just want to learn how to play guitar?

MP: Do it because you love it. One of the most cherished things I’ve learned from Our Beloved Queen is to pay close attention to the finer details. Take everything slowly. Step by step.

MT: What is your favorite guitar and why?

MP: Right now my Jarrell MPS signature model. It debuts in January. I’m really excited about it. In a nutshell, if I had one guitar that could do everything I’ve done in my career so far – this one is it. In Madonna terms: It can go from “Lucky Star” to “A New Level (Pantera)” to “Swim” to “White Heat” to “She’s Not Me” to “Material Girl” to “Amazing”. All of those sounds and tones from one guitar.

MT: Where would you see yourself five years from now?

MP: Touring on my fifth solo album… or sixth…

MT: Any final words for our MadonnaTribe members and readers?

MP: I would like to thank each and every person for their support and for welcoming me into their Tribe! It’s been a pleasure and an honor playing for everyone for the last decade. I hope to have the privilege to play for you for many, many more decades to come. Make sure to check in at www.montepittman.com on everything that’s going on with me. I’m going to be playing all over the place in the next year supporting my new album “Pain, Love, & Destiny” and I hope everyone comes out and has a beer with me! See you then.

Interview written and conducted by Gabriel aka gabhou for MadonnaTribe

Get in touch with Monte on montepittman.com