Phil X

Phil X
Phil X in 2013
Background information
Birth name Phil Theofilos Xenidis[1]
Also known as Phil X
Born (1966-03-10) March 10, 1966
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • vocals
Years active 1982–present
Associated acts
Website philx.tv

Phil Theofilos Xenidis (born March 10, 1966), better known as Phil X, is a Greek-Canadian[2] musician and songwriter. Since 2013 he has played lead guitar with Bon Jovi and officially replaced former lead guitarist Richie Sambora in 2016.

Career

In 1982, Phil 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.[3]

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.[4] From 1992 to 1993 he played with Triumph, recording Edge of Excess and touring with them.[5]

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.[6]

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[7] 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.[8]

Bon Jovi

In 2011, Phil X substituted for Bon Jovi's lead guitarist Richie Sambora,[9] who missed 13 dates after entering rehab,[10] and later filled in for Sambora on the US and Europe leg of the 2013 tour after Sambora left the band suddenly due to personal reasons.[11]

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,[12] the entire British leg of the tour including the Isle of Wight Festival[13] and Hyde Park BST dates,[14] the South African leg,[15] the South American leg, and the Australian leg of the tour.[16]

In 2016, Phil became an official member in the band along with bass guitarist Hugh McDonald and also features as guitarist for the band on their single, "This House Is Not for Sale" and album of the same name.[17]

Personal life

Xenidis was married to his first wife Ninette Xenidis from 1994 until their divorce in 2010, and is currently married to his second wife, Lindy Green, since 2013. He grew up in Mississauga.[18]

Equipment

Xenidis has used a vast range of guitars during his session and live work. His most notable guitar is his ESP LTD Viper,[19] which he refers to as the "sticker guitar".

In 2012, Xenidis received a signature guitar from Yamaha,[20] in 2015 followed the release of a signature XG model made by Framus.[21] Phil invented the "Flip Stick",[22] 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.[23] His demonstrations of rare and vintage guitars have had over 30 million views on the frettedamericana YouTube channel.[24]

Discography

The following is a list of Phil X's discography as a band member, apart from his session work.

with Triumph
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
with Bon Jovi

Session work

The following is a complete official list of the rest of Phil X's work.[25]

References

  1. ↑ https://twitter.com/TheRealPhilX/status/258243135291920384
  2. ↑ Kourti, Marianna. "Greek-Canadian Phil Xenidis Named Lead Guitarist on Bon Jovi's Tour - Canada". GreekReporter.com.
  3. ↑ "Sidinex - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives".
  4. ↑ Beggs, Mike (2 April 1992). "Guitarist finds fame staring him in face at a Kansas store". Toronto Star. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  5. ↑ David, David (26 April 2011). "Review of Triumph, Greatest Hits Remixed". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  6. ↑ "The Bushdoctors - The%20Bushdoctors CD. Heavy Harmonies Discography".
  7. ↑ Rosen, Craig (23 April 2013). "Jon Bon Jovi Comes Clean About Richie Sambora on 'Ellen'". Yahoo Music. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  8. ↑ Internet Movie Database (2001). "IMDB: Full cast and crew for Josie and the Pussycats". IMDB. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  9. ↑ Kennedy, John R. "Canadian musician Phil X replaces Richie Sambora in Bon Jovi".
  10. ↑ "Bon Jovi replaces Richie Sambora with Phil X". Music-News.com. 2 May 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  11. ↑ "Bon Jovi Tour: Greek-Canadian Phil X to Replace Sambora - Canada.GreekReporter.com".
  12. ↑ "Bon Jovi incanta San Siro nell'unica tappa italiana (senza il chitarrista Sambora)".
  13. ↑ "Isle of Wight Festival: Jon Bon Jovi vs Richie Sambora". 5 June 2013.
  14. ↑ "Barclaycard Presents British Summer Time In Hyde Park - Bon Jovi".
  15. ↑ Coffey, Kevin (4 April 2013). "Bon Jovi show to go on without Sambora". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  16. ↑ "Bon Jovi Wows Melbourne". The Age. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  17. ↑ "NEWS – BonJovi.com".
  18. ↑ https://www.mississauga.com/whatson-story/8003124-mississauga-s-phil-x-gives-shout-out-to-bon-jovi-bandmates-on-hall-of-fame-induction/
  19. ↑ Americana, Fretted (19 April 2012). "At Long Last: Phil X's Custom LTD Viper on Fretted Americana". YouTube. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  20. ↑ Press Release, Yamaha (21 Dec 2012). "Yamaha Launches Phil X Signature Guitar – the SG1801PX9". Yamaha. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  21. ↑ "Video: NAMM 2015: Framus". Guitar Player. January 2015. Retrieved April 2015. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  22. ↑ Demo, Flipstick (11 Feb 2008). "Phil X Flipping Out 1989". YouTube. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
  23. ↑ "Phil X's Gear".
  24. ↑ Brass, David (9 Nov 2012). "30 Million Views on Our YouTube Channel". frettedamericana.com. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  25. ↑ "--: The REAL Phil X :--".
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.