UFO guitarist Vinnie Moore is featured in a new Guitar World article answering fan-submitted questions. Following is an excerpt.

Q: Your playing style has changed a lot compared to the beginning of your career. How do you see your own evolution?

A: "That’s something I’ve never given a lot of thought to. I just pick up the guitar and follow my own muse. I don’t plan but I get bored easily, so I have to keep exploring different directions and be inspired by different things. I like being adventurous."

Q: What’s the one thing as a guitarist that you admire when playing songs and solos written by Michael Schenker?

A: "I would say his sense of melody, like, say 'Only You Can Rock Me', where the middle solo is so much a part of the song that you can’t play it without reproducing what he created there. Also, in the middle of 'Love To Love' there’s a great melodic part as well that’s really key to that song."

Q: Would you ever return to your roots in music with another neoclassical album like Time Odyssey or The Maze? 

A: "I don’t see that happening at all. Those first two records were really hardcore in that style, then I did a couple more albums, including The Maze, so that’s four albums in that style. I think that’s enough. I don’t really feel that style so much anymore."

Read the complete Q&A here.

The follow-up to Vinnie Moore’s 2015 release, Aerial Visions, was released on October 9, via his label Mind's Eye Music. Titled Soul Shifter, Vinnie's ninth solo album features guest appearances by legendary artists Rudy Sarzo and Jordan Rudess, with Richie Monica on drums, Michael Bean (bassist from Vinnie’s Time Odyssey album), John Cassidy (keyboards), and John Pessoni (drums).

Vinnie is considered one of the originators of shred guitar, and has released eight influential solo albums, and six albums and a live DVD as a member of rock royalty legends UFO. He’s made countless album guest appearances, and has even recorded the soundtrack for a Pepsi TV commercial. He’s been a member of Alice Cooper’s band and was opening act for Rush on their Roll The Bones tour with his own band. His solo and UFO recordings as well as live performances have amassed rave reviews all around the globe from both fans and music press, catapulting  him into guitar icon distinction! He has been an inspiration for fans and guitarists worldwide.

Say’s Vinnie, “I have been touring all over the world extensively with UFO and my solo band for the past 16 years. I started this album a couple years back and have been working on it religiously between tours. It’s quite different than any of my others. It has elements of things I’ve done in the past, but has gone much deeper into certain areas. There is an overall sort of contrast between energetic upbeat songs, versus ballad-like soulful ones which has always been a big part of my style. There are some Jam elements in places too. This is likely the most emotional and soulful thing I have ever done. Very moody, with lots of feel. I wrote a song as a tribute to Carlos Santana, called 'Brother Carlos', and another called 'Gainesville Station', which is a tip of the hat to Steve Gaines. Both players were huge influences on me when I was learning to play, and continue to be now.

“When something moves me, what I am feeling flows directly into music. That’s how I deal with reality. I woke up one morning to the news that Chris Cornell had passed and it really hit me hard. I went into my studio, picked up a guitar and immediately wrote and recorded 'Mystified'. Without intending to do so, and because of what was going on around me at the time, this album in a way became a tribute to people who meant something to me. The Allman Brothers were always one of my favorite bands and I was working on a song called 'Soul Rider' that was inspired by them. While writing it, unfortunately Greg Allman left us. A lot of heart went into recording that song. Also, I wrote a song called 'Heard You Were Gone' for my friend and band mate Elliott (Dean Guitars) who left us unexpectedly a couple years back.

“There are definitely some downhearted cathartic moments on this album, but they’re balanced out with songs like 'Kung Fu Grip' and 'Funk Bone Jame' that represent the opposite side of my personality, which is my constant joking and quirky sense of humor.”

Vinnie has done hundreds of shows all over the planet, including Europe, UK, Scandinavia, Brazil, US, as well as India, S. Korea, Lebanon, Mexico, Russia, and Canada. The UFO Last Orders tour began in England in March, and will continue in the US on October 9.

“Ancient astronaut theorists suggest that Vinnie may have been spawned from alien DNA! Or at least his left index finger anyway.” - Giorgio Thessaloniki, Ancient Aliens

“Solo records are a great vehicle because the canvas is totally open and I can paint whatever and wherever I want. There’s total freedom in not having boundaries. All of my influences are on the canvas, from Rock to Blues to Be-Bop to Funk, even R&B and beyond. I have always felt music deeply even before I played guitar. After I began playing, it became my vehicle to express and release what I feel inside. I love channeling my soul into melodies and songs.”

Pre-order the new album via iTunes, or Apple Music.

Tracklisting:

"Funk Bone Jam"
"Same Sun Shines"
"Kung Fu Grip"
"Mystified"
"Brother Carlos"
"Gainesville Station"
"Soul Rider"
"Mirage"
"Heard You Were Gone"
"Across The Ages"