Meet Steve Mazur

Steve Mazur joined Our Lady Peace as their new guitarist in December of 2001. Since then he's been impressing concert goers in Canada and the US with his skills and rapport with the fans. Steve agreed to take some questions from fans and give you a chance to learn a bit more about him.

Matt: Hey Steve! Welcome to the band...very cool meeting you after the show in NJ! I was wondering, what is the one CD or album you could not live without? Thanks. Peace! Matt from CT

Hey Matt, narrowing it to one album is tough, but a few would be Bloodsugarsexmagic by The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dogman by King's X, or OK Computer by Radiohead.

Jennifer: Obviously, music is a huge part of your life. Who or what influenced you to strive to be a musician, and what do you think you would be doing, if you weren't playing music?

I think some of the people who influenced me to pursue music would be my guitar teacher, Kevin, and my friends whom I had bands with when I was growing up. I thought that being wrapped up in music so much, everyday, teaching and playing, the way that my teacher Kevin was, was really cool and interested me so much more than other things. If I wasn't doing music I don't know what I would be doing, maybe something with film.

Michele: Hey Steve, like your Pocono t-shirt. Are you a race fan? I go there every year. Keep having fun with the band!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Michele! I'm not really a race fan, but it's cool to know that the Pocono races go on every year. I didn't know that. Thanks for the info!!!!

Gareth D. MacLeod: What was your involvement in the production of "No one lives forever" and have you worked on any other games?

My involvement in "No one Lives Forever" was only that I played guitar and Baritone guitar in the music. My friend Chris produces games for FOX interactive and his wife Becky wrote the music for it so they asked me to play on it. It was fun.

Kris: What's you favourite type of music?

I like music that moves me in some way. The type doesn't matter to me, as long as it moves me.

Kristen: Steve, how did it feel being in Michigan, your home state on the day the record was released?!

Thanks for coming to the Tower records show in Detroit, we had a great time! Yeah, it was pretty amazing being in Detroit on the day the record was released, a pretty cool coincidence that felt great.

Brandy Young: Being in a new place can sometimes be difficult... and also rewarding. What has been your most favorite/rewarding/strange experience so far? (i.e. Jeremy pulling a prank?) Oh, I saw you guys in Atlanta... it was the best show, actually the most beautiful thing I've ever seen! You guys never stop amazing me. =)

The most rewarding experience for me so far has been that the band has said that they feel more confident onstage now. I was a fan of this band before I was in it and the fact that I could help them to feel better as a band is hugely rewarding for me. Thanks for coming to the show in ATL.

Rob: Hey Steve, saw you guys in Sarnia and I thought you guys were amazing. OLP's been my favorite band from the start and I was totally blown away from the presence you had on stage. Anyway, my question is, as a fellow guitarist, what do you find is the most challenging aspect in your view of being a good guitarist and how do you improve upon that? Thanks, and keep up the great work.

Hey Rob. Thanks for coming to the Sarnia show. I'm glad that you dug it. For me, a good guitarist is someone who has something unique going on and who is always re-inventing themselves. So I think one of the most challenging things as a musician is to keep yourself fresh and to keep re-inventing yourself so that you don't get into a rut with your creativity. Good luck with your music, bro.

Paige What are your "words to live by"?

Hey Paige. I like to remember the phrase, "Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you." I forget about it often, though. I think Raine told me that Emerson was the one who said it. I first read it on the website of Francis Dunnery's (www.francisdunnery.com), who is a songwriter that I like a lot.

Daisy How have your friends and family supported you through all of this? Do you talk with them regularly while on the road? PS- I think that you are so incredibly awesome- what magnificent guitar work!!

Hey Daisy! Thanks for writing. My family and friends rule and they all have been hugely psyched for me with all of this. I talk to them as much as possible while I'm on the road. Sometimes that's not so often because we are pretty busy when we're on the road, but ironically, I get to physically see them a lot more now than I used to when I lived in Boston and Los Angeles.

Jillie_7: What is your least favorite thing about touring with the band?

Hey Jillie. My least favorite thing about touring with the band is when I can't get to sleep on the bus. It can be a bit unnerving. Thanks for writing!

Michele: Before becoming part of Our Lady Peace, what were you doing? Did you have a day job? If so, what was it? Do you miss it at all?

Hey Michele. Before I became part of OLP, I was playing with a few local Los Angeles bands and songwriters. I was teaching guitar privately and at a store and playing in a band for money, so I don't have any horrible McDonald's day job stories or anything, not since I was growing up, at least. I don't really miss any of it because being in a band where I Love the music and am a part of it is what I've always wanted to be doing.

Rachel from Cali!: How did you get started playing guitar and how did it come about that you now play with OLP...I guess you could say that I'm asking you how you got your start!

Hey Rachel! I started playing guitar when I was 7. My sisters were taking piano lessons and so my Mom had me start taking guitar lessons. I took lessons for a bunch of years from the best teacher a guy could have, and then I went to music college in Boston at Berklee. I came to play with OLP through a mutual friend whom I was playing in a band with in Los Angeles. He recommended me to the band when they were looking for a new guitar player. I owe him big. Thanks for writing!

Tim Marcinowski: What's your favorite guitar to use out of your selection?

Hey Tim! I really Love my old faithful Fender Telecaster. It's just such a great feeling and sounding guitar. It makes me smile.

Amina: hi Steve, If 7-11 is open 24 hours a day/7 days a week/365 days a year, then why do they have locks on their door?

Hey Amina. To keep the bad voices out when they come. And also to keep the slurpee from pouring out, should there be a meltdown.

Tiffany: What is your favorite OLP song to play? What is your personal favorite OLP song?

Hey Tiffany. My favorite OLP song to play would probably be "Bring Back the Sun", or "Clumsy". My personal favorite OLP song, if I had to pick one,........................I guess I would have to go with "Are You Sad".

[round 1 answers] [www.ourladypeace.net]

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