 The
Great Kat Interview in Rock Is Life EZine
(Winter 2006) by George Dionne
The Great Kat is a guitar virtuoso that has made it her passion to resurrect classical
music and combine it with shred guitar. I had the opportunity to sample The Great Kat via
her current CD Wagner's War and DVD Extreme Guitar Shred (read
CD/DVD review). I was quite impressed with not only how fast she could play the
guitar, but that she was equally as fast on the violin. After hearing this, I wanted to
find out what exactly makes The Great Kat purr. After The Great Kat returned my e-mail
questions, I got my answer; exposing the moron masses to classical/shred and shameless
self-promotion.
I could go on and on telling you about the past, present, and future of The Great Kat, but
quite honestly, she does a good job of that herself. I could tell you all of the products
that The Great Kat has for your listening enjoyment and what others are saying about them,
but once again, she beats me to it. I did have to cut back a big of her shilling, but if
you want to know more about The Great Kat, you can visit her website for the same
information. If you're not sure what it is, you will after reading this interview. Oh, and
for the record; in regards to all the exclamation points and capitals, I've heard The
Great Kat speak, that would be her shouting.
RIL: If I knew absolutely nothing about The Great Kat, how would you describe
your music to me?
GK: The Great Kat is a Juilliard Graduate Violin Goddess
turned Blood-Dripping Guitar Shredder/ “Top 10 Fastest Shredders Of All Time”(Guitar
One Magazine). The Great Kat’s Music is “SHRED/CLASSICAL”-a unique
blend of Shred Guitar, Speed Metal, and note-for-note authentic Classical Music scores
from the great Masters of Classical music: Vivaldi, Beethoven, Bach, Wagner, Liszt,
Paganini, Rossini, etc. Go to The Great Kat Guitar Shredder website at and hear
SHRED/CLASSICAL for yourselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RIL: Classical music fans and guitar shred fans are like night and day, why did
you make the decision to combine the two?
GK: Classical Music is DEAD and the ONLY way to RESURRECT
it is by COMBINING it with SHRED GUITAR and Speed Metal. The Great Kat is actually taking
EXACT VIOLIN solos I play on the violin and TRANSCRIBING THEM NOTE-FOR-NOTE on the guitar
WITH the ORIGINAL ORCHESTRATION as the GENIUS COMPOSERS wrote them hundreds of years
ago!!!!!!!!
RIL: Why is The Great Kat so angry?
GK: Because the MORON MASSES are too SLOW and STUPID to
wake up to the fact that EVERYTHING is on the INTERNET and THEREFORE EVERYTHING is now
FAST, BRILLIANT, COMPLEX and with BILLIONS of BYTES of INFORMATION!!!!!!!!! You MUST be a
genius to compete with this GLOBAL SOCIETY!!!!!!!! The Great Kat’s Shred/Classical
Music FORCES you to be a FAST-THINKING GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!
RIL: You’re latest album Wagner’s War is comprised of 7
classical/shred compositions by Wagner, List, and Sarasate. What was your inspiration for
putting these particular pieces together?
GK: The Great Kat’s GROUNDBREAKING “WAGNER’S WAR” CD was
CREATED on 9/11 !! That day, The Great Kat, who LIVES in NEW YORK
CITY and Long Island, NY, was in my recording studio on Long Island, rehearsing music for
a new CD. When I saw the images of the World Trade Center being attacked and being
destroyed I was FURIOUS, OUTRAGED and HORRIFIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My CD IMMEDIATELY became a BATTLE CRY to WAR –
“WAGNER’S WAR”!!!!!!!! The Great Kat’s “RIDE OF THE
VALKYRIES” (from Wagner’s Opera Cycle “The Ring”--“Die
Walkure”) IS the “BATTLE CRY” to WAR!!!!! On “WAGNER’S WAR”
CD, the song “WAR” was written out of SEVERE RAGE and the song
“TERROR” was written in HORROR out of the TERRORIST ATTACK on THE WORLD TRADE
CENTER AND MY CITY-NEW YORK CITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOW LISTEN to the Great Kat’s
CD: “WAGNER’S WAR”!!!! “WAGNER’S WAR” Features:
ACT I: WAR
1. Wagner’s "The Ride Of The Valkyries" (from the
Opera "Die Walkure"). This music is THE DEFINITIVE "BATTLE CRY" to
WAR, featuring OPERA SINGERS, THE GREAT KAT’S SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND SHRED BAND!
2. “War” – HEAVY and BRUTAL ODE to WAR!
3. “Terror” – “TERROR! HORROR! MURDER!”
ACT II: REVENGE
4. “Punishment” – PUNISHMENT TO TRAITORS!
5. “Humiliation” – HUMILIATION and REVENGE RIPS
through this GUITAR SHREDFEST!
ACT III: VICTORY
6. Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody #2” – The
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA and SHRED BAND. Join together in this INSANE version of this famous
rhapsody!
7. Sarasate’s “Zapateado” – THE GREAT KAT'S
LIGHTNING-FAST GUITAR TECHNIQUE and DEMONIC VIOLIN VIRTUOSITY SHINE on this INCREDIBLE
VIRTUOSIC SHOWSTOPPER!
Download a MUSIC SAMPLE of “Wagner’s War” CD at
The Kat website
RIL: Since Wagner is actually pronounced Vagner, should the album be referred
to as Vagner’s Var?
GK: WHO CARES, just go to The Kat website and GET
GENIUSIZED as FAST AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PRESS QUOTES on THE GREAT KAT GUITAR GODDESS:
"The Great Kat can outplay just about every guitarist on the
planet. She can zoom up and down a fretboard faster than a hungry cheetah on steroids. Her
fretboard speed is awesome." - GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE!
(Hold on Kat! I know the press just loves you, but I'm not going
to advertise my competition. I'll give you Guitar Player Magazine)
RIL: Wagner’s War clocks in at just eleven minutes, don’t you think
an “album” should be longer?
GK: LONG-WINDED, TIME-EATING “ALBUMS” are OUT OF
DATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No one has an attention span OR the time to spend more than 2
minutes on listening to music, due to the SPEED and POWER of COMPUTERS and the
INTERNET!!!!!!!! WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RIL: If I were to attend one of The Great Kat’s live performances, what
could I expect?
GK: “The Great Kat Shred Show” Features:
-Insane Guitar Shredding
-Shred/Classical Masterpieces of Bach, Wagner, Beethoven, and MORE
-Phenomenal Violin virtuosity
-Great Kat Guitar Dominatrix WHIPPING Slaves!
-Fans being tortured, abused and humiliated
-Outrageous costumes and crazy on stage antics!!!!!!
RIL: Are you currently touring?
GK: The Great Kat ONLY plays large shows and festivals.
Stay tuned to the Kat website
for ALL Kat News!!!!!!!
Now check out The Great Kat’s NEW “EXTREME GUITAR
SHRED” DVD!!!!!!!!!!!!
“EXTREME GUITAR SHRED” DVD Features:
6 EXTREME GUITAR Music Videos:
-ZAPATEADO-Classical Violin/Guitar Virtuosity –Shred version of
Pablo de Sarasate’s virtuoso violin piece “Zapateado”.
-TORTURE CHAMBER: Torture Devices and Extreme abusive of inferior males
-CASTRATION-The Great Kat Dominates and controls through castration-eliminates the
appendage that make MEN think they are IMPORTANT
-LIVE IN CHICAGO-The Great Kat’ Shred Guitar Live with
Fans/slaves and total chaos!
-DOMINATRIX-The Great Kat takes a slave and humiliates and abuses
him!
-WAR-PRO-WAR! The Great Kat’s response to 9/11. The U.S. was
attacked by TERRORISTS MURDERERS WHO KILLED 3,000 INNOCENT PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!
“WAR” Music Video is A REMINDER to NEVER FORGET 9/11 OR THE HOLOCAUST!
4 SHRED BONUS FEATURES:
-HOT SHRED BITS-Hot Kat Photos mixed with INSANE violin and Guitar
Shredding
-SHRED FAQs-Q&A on The Great Kat and Classical Musicwith Baroque Insanity!!
-SHRED CREDITS-Credits from the DVD mixed with Wagnerian Opera!
-SHRED ONLINE-Kat web site and contact info
SHRED VERSIONS of Classical Music Masterpieces:
-Wagner’s “The Ride of the Valkyries” (From
Wagner's Opera "Die Walkure")
- Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody #2”
-Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons”
-Bazzini’s “The Round of the Goblins”
-Sarasate’s “Zapateado”
-SHREDDING HOT KAT photos and wild graphics. Go To The Kat website for DVD
samples and HOT photos!
RIL: Did you get anything in return for allowing your version of Listz’s
“Hungarian Rhapsody #2” to appear in the movie Coming Attractions?
GK: Yes!!!!!!!!!! The Great Kat's Music is NOW spreading to
all aspects of entertainment with the FIRST Shred/Classical music ever heard in a
Hollywood Movie, The Great Kat’s Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody #2,”
featured on Jason Bunch’s new comedy film “COMING ATTRACTIONS”--out in
movie theaters Spring 2006. This INSANE comedy is bringing Shred/Classical to the masses
and stars Dennis Rodman, Pat Morita, Angie Everhart and more!!!!!!! GO to The Great Kat website for more info
and check out the “COMING ATTRACTIONS” website.
RIL: Have you seen the movie? What do you think about it?
GK: So far, I’ve only seen the Trailer and it’s
INSANE!!!!!! Stay tuned to the Kat web site for the OFFICIAL MOVIE RELEASE DATE!!!!
RIL: Does The Great Kat have an alter-ego or secret identity?
GK: No. The Great Kat is a 24 HOUR A DAY PUSHY, AGGRESSIVE,
COMPETITIVE, BRILLIANT FIRE-BALL OF ENERGY and REVOLUTIONARY GENIUS who is CHANGING THE
FACE OF THE WORLD and WHO WILL OWN ALL OF MUSIC in the 21st CENTURY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RIL: What do you do when you’re not playing guitar?
GK: -SPREADING THE WORD OF SHRED/CLASSICAL!!!
-PROMOTING SHRED/CLASSICAL!!!
-EDUCATING THE MORON MASSES TO SHRED/CLASSICAL!!!!
RIL: What do your music instructors at The Julliard think of your music?
GK: WHO CARES WHAT OLD-FASHIONED, OUT-OF-DATE, 16th CENTURY
PEOPLE THINK????????!!!!!!! Do you think that BEETHOVEN, WAGNER, STRAVINSKY, BRAHMS
ACTUALLY GAVE A CRAP WHAT THEIR INSTRUCTORS THOUGHT ABOUT THEIR REVOLUTIONARY STYLES OF
MUSIC????!!!!!!!!!!!
RIL: Which have you broken more of; guitar strings, violin strings, or
men’s wills?
GK: The Great Kat has broken equal amounts of guitar
strings, violin strings, violin bow hairs, picks, guitars, violins, telephones, walls,
doors, AND MEN'S WILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RIL: If your house was on fire and you could only save your guitar or your
violin, which would it be?
GK: The Great Kat is FAST ENOUGH to save BOTH GUITARS and
VIOLINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RIL: You were signed to Roadrunner Records in the late eighties and now you
release material on your own. What happened to the Roadrunner deal?
GK: NO ONE dominates The Great Kat!!!!!!!!
RIL: Billboard states that you had a single in 1994 titled “Do You Wanna
Go Party,” that peaked at #48 on the Hot Dance Music chart & also appeared on
2000’s Booty All-Stars compilation (link - discography - under singles). This doesn’t sound very
classical/shred to me, care to explain?
GK: WHO???????????????????? The Great Kat Guitar Shredder
has NEVER done a single by that name!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RIL: Billboard also has you as a member of the group Legal Weapon back in 1981
(link - under credits). Was that you too?
GK: WHO?????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Great
Kat Guitar Shredder was ALWAYS a SOLOIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RIL: Do you think that your appearance and persona may overshadow your music?
GK: The Great Kat’s UNINHIBITED and OUTRAGEOUS PERSONA
and LEATHER-CLAD, BLOOD-DRIPPING APPEARANCE is PART of the LEGEND of The Great Kat Guitar
VIRTUOSO and is a CRUCIAL ELEMENT in UNDERSTANDING the COMPLEXITY, BRILLIANCE and
FINGER-BLISTERING GUITAR/VIOLIN GENIUS of The Great Kat’s SHRED/CLASSICAL
MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RIL: What’s next for The Great Kat?
GK: The Great Kat is in PRE-PRODUCTION for a NEW VIRTUOSO HIGH
VELOCITY CD/DVD, which will feature the FIRST SHREDDING VIOLIN and GUITAR VERSION of
PAGANINI’S “CAPRICE #24”, Bach’s Famous “Brandenburg Concerto
#3” and THE outrageously fast “FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLE-BEE”!!!!!!!!!! STAY
tuned to the Kat website
for NEWS!!!!
BOW TO YOUR METAL MESSIAH KAT!!!!!!!! NOW GO TO THE GREAT KAT WEBSITE
The Great Kat at greatkat@greatkat.com / Hotline: 631-549-7578
SHRED ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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