BIOGRAPHY

Pete Vroman began playing the guitar at age 14. He studied for three years with Berklee College of Music alumnus and Drome Sound Music School founder Ed Munger, and developed quickly under his guidance. Working on fret board visualization, sight reading (in Mel Bay and Berklee Guitar Method books), as well as a nine month period of classical guitar study, he was becoming more well-rounded. Concurrently, he studied the great rock guitarists from the ‘60s through the ‘80s independently.

Upon hearing a homemade tape of Pete’s rock stylings, the teacher gave his student a fantastic compliment and learning opportunity. Munger invited Pete into a recording studio to perform lead guitar on the teacher’s new song, ‘Riding a Dream’. It was a magical experience for the 16 year-old – seeing how music is engineered. It was ‘through the looking glass’, and the recording light went red. Pete played a solid lead track throughout, earning praise from the teacher and studio owner alike. Knowing that he was getting no cash for the session, studio owner Marc Earnst passed on a pair of ‘super cool’ black leather pants, which Vroman wore with pride for the next two years. Pete will forever be thankful to his first mentor Ed Munger for that huge vote of confidence and formative studio experience.

At age 17, Pete was accepted to Berklee College of Music. During his tenure there, he became close friends with John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy, and John Myung – the trio who would emerge as the progressive music powerhouse known as DREAM THEATER. It was a rare and inspiring opportunity for him to study closely and jam with Petrucci, who is widely regarded as one of the best guitarists of his generation.

After Berklee, Pete moved to ‘the Live Music Capital of the World’, Austin, Texas. While there, he formed the progressive metal fusion group BRIDGE. Additionally, he worked as a guitarist-for-hire with several Austin songwriters. Among those he recorded, toured, and showcased with were Tommy Eglin, Jeff Elledge, Roxanne Hale, Beth Black, and Diamond’s Edge. He played shows throughout the Southwest and California with his own band, as well as the Austin-based artists mentioned above. Having performed at the prestigious South by Southwest Music & Media Festival five times (two of those being private VIP showcases for record execs and music producers), Pete was fast-becoming a veteran high pressure performer while still in his twenties.

 In 1994, Zakk Wylde – lead guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne since ‘87 – decided to take a break from the Ozzman and start his own band. Pete had a contact close to the Ozzy camp, and quickly found out about the vacancy…and what a vacancy it was! Playing lead guitar for Ozzy Osbourne was considered by many to be the ‘high throne’ of heavy metal guitar. Zakk was (and still is) a fantastic guitar player – his shoes nearly impossible to fill. Brimming with excitement, Pete quickly recorded a demo including an original composition as well as covering notable solos from Ozzy’s repertoire. This was Fed Ex’ed along with a promo package, which included an endorsement from old friend John Petrucci. After three days, it was confirmed that he was one of the top five(!) possibilities for the coveted spot. Needless to say, it was tough for him to sleep over the next week! In the end, the gig went to Joe Holmes, who had a bit of an inside track, as he was a former student of the late, great Randy Rhoads. (For the uninitiated, Randy was the first lead guitarist to write and record with Ozzy after he parted ways with BLACK SABBATH in ’79.)

Meanwhile, Pete was also building up a strong practice as a guitar instructor in Austin. His reputation as an educator-to-watch began to emerge, namely with his position as head of the guitar department at the Westlake Hills-based Fine Arts Academy. With an abundance of patience, an ability to connect with students of all ages, and an expanding knowledge base, he was developing into a sought-after teacher. In 1996, he accepted a position at the Austin School of Music, recently founded by close friend and Austin veteran guitar guru David Sebree. Notably, A.S.O.M. employs only the finest teachers in every musical genre – a few have even been on Grammy Award-winning recordings! Due to his increasing profile, Pete’s instruction schedule was soon full, with 30 to 60 students on a weekly basis. He maintained the roll of full time teacher for the next three years, as well as gigging regularly all over Texas. In 1998, Pete was selected to teach at the National Guitar Summer Workshop’s first Austin summer camp. There, he had the privilege of meeting master educator and impeccable guitarist Matt Smith, who is co-founder of the workshop’s curriculum and teaching philosophy. The experience was very successful and highly enjoyable, and further added to Vroman’s growing list of credentials.

In addition to teaching, Pete is a published columnist, and has written several guitar lessons for Texas Beat and Austin Music magazines. He has also worked on transcriptions for the Hal Leonard Music publication of Eric Johnson’s ‘Venus Isle’ songbook.

 1998 also marked the Austin debut of the rock musical ‘Love, Janis’. Based on the letters that the young and developing star Janis Joplin wrote home to her sister, the show was alternately  humorous, poignant, rockin’, and tragic. Pete performed on stage in the Zachary Scott Theater production as lead guitarist in the band. The musical was a huge success, having an extended run. Ten years later, the show is still (running) on Broadway, and employs musicians and actors from national touring companies.

Citing family health issues back in upstate NY and ‘burn-out’ from the heavy teaching schedule and music business in general, Pete returned to the Albany area in September of 1999. Unable to keep his guitars in mothballs for more than five months, he joined forces with fellow native Scotian Benny Little, performing as the ‘damn good acoustic’ duo DOUBLEBACK throughout upstate NY and Vermont. Two and a half years of shows resulted, with a set list that included songs from The Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews, Paul Simon, C.S.N., and the Rev. Gary Davis. From ’03 to ’05, Pete played with Glens Falls-based power trio VELOCITY, covering tunes ranging from early-era Rush to Black Sabbath to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The group – which included bassist/vocalist Chris Piazza and drummer Pat Brosnan – rocked upstate the NY bar circuit from Lake George to Schenectady with a vengeance.

In March of 2004, Pete answered an ad in Albany’s Metroland weekly. The acoustic duo TEN YEAR VAMP was holding auditions for additional band members. At this point, it goes without saying that he landed the gig, and has since been laying down the lead guitar law with 10YV throughout the Northeast. In addition, he has co-produced, co-mixed and helped finance the first two 10YV cd’s – ‘ROCKSTAR’ and ‘UNDER THE MASK’. These original offerings have helped cement 10YV’s standing as one of NY’s finest original modern bands. The group has showcased as a finalist at M.E.A.N.Y. Fest (Music Emerging Artists of New York), as well as landing in the top 60 of 7,000 – yes, 7,000! – bands involved in bodog BATTLE of the BANDS ’07 – ’08. They have played the prestigious CBGB’s, the Blender Theater at Grammercy, and the Knitting Factory in NYC, drawing critical acclaim from the infamously non-plussed Village Voice columnist Michael Musto. Pete will be co-producing the upcoming recording ‘TEN YEAR VAMP – Live at Olive Ridley’s’ on the band’s own label.

On nights off 10YV, Pete will be running with his other posse - a new, heavier unit called TALL COOL ONES, who debut in April of ’08. This guitar-driven juggernaut also features former full time 10YV bassist Tim Keenan, vocalist Tommy Love (Decadent Royals, Blue Hand Luke, The Blue Machine), guitarist Pat MacGloin (local Thin Lizzy aficionado), and drumming powerhouse Bob Fisher (Meltdown).