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Guitar Player's Guitar Superstar 2011
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The GP staff picked five finalists from hundreds
of video entries to battle it out in front
of judges Muriel Anderson, Reeves Gabrels,
and Carl Verheyen for the GPGS 2011 crown.
Hosting the event was guitar legend Larry
Carlton, and a killer house band of Nashville
session greats backed up the finalists. Presenting
and event sponsors were Ampeg (who
debuted the company’s new GVT tube amps
by providing the show’s backline), EMG Pickups,
Framus, NAMM, and SKB Corporation.
Host Larry Carlton (left) and finalist Mark Kroos listen as the judges rate Kroos’ performance.
Jeremy Ore unleashed “Instrumental Shred” with some help from the looper on a DigiTech RP355 and a PRS Custom 24. Forrest Lee, Jr. threw down some supersonic country on his self-built solidbody (with B-Bender) on “Telethon.”
The five finalists in the post-show “photo
booth” (left to right)—Fredrik Halland, Arek
Religa, Forrest Lee, Jr., Mark Kroos, and
Jeremy Ore. Finalist Arek Religa decodes his intro riff on
“Chicago Guitar Knight” for the judges.
Host Larry Carlton kicks off Guitar
Superstar 2011. He was so warm
and personable that it seemed the
competition was in his living room
and the audience members were his
houseguests.
Ampeg GVT “Straight Up Tone” contest winners
Elephantgun opened the GPGS 2011 show.
Wielding a Tom Anderson Hollow T Classic,
Fredrik Halland slipped in and out of several
styles throughout “True Expressions.”
The GPGS 2011 judges in the photo
booth (left to right)—Reeves Gabrels,
Carl Verheyen, and Muriel Anderson.
Judge Carl Verheyen
digs in during
an improvised set
with judge Reeves
Gabrels.
Judge Reeves Gabrels
attacks his signature
Reverend guitar during the
surprise,
improvised performance
with Carl Verheyen.
Ampeg’s Social Network Manager Ryan
Cassady (left) dials in a brand new
GVT
amp for GPGS house-band guitarist
Chris Leuzinger.
GPGS house band drummer
Craig Krampf (left)
and bassist Dave Pomeroy
in the rehearsal room
before the big show.
GPGS 2011 champ
Mark Kroos accepts
his award.
The judges—in rapt “evaluation mode”—assess a performance.
Each finalist was rated for tone, technique, charisma,
and composition.
Arek Religa (left) shows off his third-place award with GP’s
Barry Cleveland.
GP’s Art Thompson presents Fredrik Halland with his second
place award.
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