I started playing guitar when I was seven years old. I got my first guitar for Christmas. I played it a bit but not that much. Then when I turned twelve or thirteen, MTV was just popping up and I was inspired by the videos that I saw. At that point I really became interested in the instrument again. All I did was play guitar. I played in clubs when I was 15. I left high school, got my GED and started regional touring with cover bands. I moved to Boston and went to Berkeley College of Music for one semester.