Rob Cavuoto from Guitar International spoke with QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Michael Wilton recently about a number of topics. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

Guitar International: When you look back on your career from the early days, what’s the most important thing you have learned?

Michael Wilton: "I think camaraderie between the guys in the band. When you look back over the years, it’s the opened-mindedness and being able to work with four guys, for so long, who are all different. Because Queensrÿche is the only band I have ever been in, my friends in other bands, tell me how lucky we are that we get along so well yet we are so different. I’m truly thankful."

Guitar International: So many bands get tired of touring. After 30 years what do you do to keep yourself “fresh?”

Michael Wilton: "It’s tough now, were on runs that are six days straight with one day off. It’s grueling and I’m not getting any younger. You really need a lot of rest and cut down of the drinking and partying. On days off I like to clear my mind and go golfing. That balances out so much. Right now we are on the East Coast and it’s hot which makes it tough to get out there and play. I have my guitars and ProTools on my laptop so I get to spend some time in the hotel writing."

Guitar International: You’ve accomplished so much over the course of your career, what do you think is your greatest musical accomplishment?

Michael Wilton: "There are many of them. Having the MTV Moon-man Award on my shelf in my studio is very important. Being Grammy Nominated and attending the award ceremony was an honor. We have also won tons of metal music awards and being given the keys to various cities. There are some great moments of playing at huge festivals and being asked to play at celebrity laden events. It’s was jet set time in our career during the Empire tour. As I look back, those are some amazing achievements."

Read the entire interview here.