4BITTEN - George Maroulees

George Maroulees is the guitarist of the Greek band "4bitten" He lives in Athens. One of those people who breathe and live only for the music he loves. Like many rock musicians and like all other members of the band, he is pleasant, friendly and helpful. I asked him a few questions through our email box and he answered almost immediately. He just comes back from a tour with legendary English band, UFO. A tour that he will keep in memory for a long time. He talks a bit about how he fell in love with guitar and his debut in a band:

R'n'R : What was your first guitar and how old were you when you first play guitar ?

GM : My first guitar was an Ibanez and my father bought it for me at the age of 14.

R'n'R : Do you remember your first band ?

GM : My first was called Black Voyage and we were playing Heavy Metal.It was in 1995.

R'n'R : What gave you the envy to make your life in a rock’n’roll band ?

GM : When i was first picked up the electric guitar, my dream was to learn it and to form a band so we can tour the world.

R'n'R : First meeting with the others members of 4bitten ?

GM : We formed 4Bitten in 2002. Me and the bass player Akis (Kotas) were friends from high school and in 2001 we met Fofi (Roussos, the singer) and Angelo (Giampourush, drums) as we were playing in a cover band.

R'n'R : Your influences are Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Metallica but what are you listening to in the new rock’n’roll generation ?

GM : I'm listening to a lot of new bands nowadays. Black Stone Cherry, Alter Bridge, Shinedown, Buckcherry, Airbourne, Stone Sour, Audioslave, Mastodon to name a few...

We can see that George have good taste in the choice of his beloved bands.

R'n'R : I’d like to know more about the guitars and amps that you use, please.

GM : For guitars, i'm mainly using Gibson Les Paul and Gibson Flying V's. I also love Fender Stratocaster and old Ibanez guitars. For amps, in live situations i'm using Koch Amps and Marshalls and in studio old Marshalls heads like JCM 800 Marshall and Marshall Jubille.

George uses Gibson Flying V like a certain Michael Schenker, one of his idols.

R'n'R : Do you think that the web helped you for your notoriety ? If yes, how ?

GM : The web, definitely helped us to spread our music to the world. Myspace, Revernation,Twitter and facebook can spread the word as also can the digital distribution but the one thing that needs a band is to go out on the road.

R'n'R : I’d like to know who are your favourite guitarists ? Did you already meet your idols ?

GM : Randy Rhoads, Tony Iommi, Gary Moore, Edward Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Ritchie Blackmore, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Vinnie Moore, Michael Schenker, Jeff Beck, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai to name a few. I met a few of them during the years and recently i met the one and only Vinnie Moore in our tour with UFO.

R'n'R : Do you think it’s harder for a greek band to be famous than American or English bands ?

GM : I think it's harder to get out of Greece and share your music but if you try it, you will find that isn't so much. You must have good music and lyrics and the passion to play live everywhere.

R'n'R : I’ve read in 4bitten’s biography that Dan Reed helped you a lot. Can you explain?

GM : Dan Reed was the first man taken us with him to tour UK back in 2009 and 2010. He is a nice guy and we are in touch with him since then. It was a very good start for us playing for the first time in the UK audience.

R'n'R : You opened for MSG, Uriah Heep, Tygers of Pan Tang. Did they learn you something? How was the meeting with Michael Schenker ?

GM : All this bands we toured with were very special for us and playing with them was an honour. We played for big crowds and we learned that it's a long way to the top if you wanna Rock N Roll. Michael Schenker is a great guy and one of my biggest influence in the guitar. Meeting him was ace!!

R'n'R : An anecdote to tell me that you had on tour ?

GM : Hahaha i remember we were heading in Madrid, Spain and we got lost in the way. Finally we found our way and we arrived in the venue 10 minutes before our show.

R'n'R : Nowadays is it easier than before to live from music?

GM : I think it's harder nowadays to live exclusively from music. You must do a lot of things like playing live, do records and even teach music.

R'n'R : Talk to me about “Delirium” your latest album ? It's an excellent album, very heavy.

GM : "Delirium" is an album that has this Hard Rock feel inside but with a modern approach. We are influenced by the 70's and 90's music and we are trying to put these influences in our music.

R'n'R : How do you compose in 4bitten ? Is it a team work ? Does Fofi write all the lyrics ? What’s your inspiration when you write ?

GM : We compose music as a team. Fofi writes all the lyrics. Sometimes i'm writing a riff and then we are working it all together, sometimes Fofi has a melody in her mind and i'm writing some chords. It's not a standard procedure.

R'n'R : Your european tour with UFO was a success, what did you learn from such a legendary band ? Musically and humanly. All members of UFO seem to be gentlemen.

GM : Our tour with UFO is one that we will remember for a long time. The crowds were great and every night we had a blast on stage. UFO members are such nice guys and make us feel so nice during the tour. We find out that even though they are the biggest band in hard rock they are so grounded and friendly to their crowds.

R'n'R : “Far from Grace” is a bit different of the other songs of the album. Did you intentionally write it for US radios ?

GM : As soon as we wrote "Far From Grace" we realized that it was the most melodic track in the album. So yes, it is a great song for radio air play.

R'n'R : Your lyrics seem to be full of hope. Do you believe in the future of humanity ?

GM : We believe that with the right choices, people will accomplish their goals. Life is so short, so you must live every minute of it.

R'n'R : George, I’d like to know what are your hobbies ?

GM : My hobbies are drinking beer listening to records and fishing!!!!!

R'n'R : You’re greek. You live in a country with social and political problems. As a lot of Europeans countries. Can you see an out of the crisis ?

GM : Yes we have a lot of economical problems right now here in Greece but this is no excuse for not the people go out and live their lives. I think better days are coming for all of us. You can't stop Rock N Roll !!!!! Thank you!!

R'n'R : The last question George. I’m French, so can you tell me a memory from your tour in France please ?

GM : We played for the first time in France. First city was Caen (my city). We loved the venue of the people. It was great to chat after the show with fans. Also the greatest French hospitality. Excellent food and drinks. The same in Bordeaux plus the excellent Bordeaux wine. During the show at Bordeaux, a man in the front row, hold a paper that had wrote down "George give me a pick". That was something also to remember!

I approached the band after their show with UFO in Caen in France, I can tell you that all members of the band are nice, pleasant, friendly and smiling (autographs, photos, discussions about rock'n'roll), and it is a proven fact, they love beer! We must now reckon with Greece in the world of rock'n'roll. Don't hesistate to buy their excellent latest album "Delirium". See you on the road bro!

Published on march 28, 2013