Chuck Shute Podcast

Kiko Loureiro (Megadeth)

April 07, 2022 Kiko Loureiro Season 4 Episode 235
Chuck Shute Podcast
Kiko Loureiro (Megadeth)
Show Notes Transcript

Kiko Loureiro is former guitarist in Angra and current guitarist in Megadeth.  He's here today to talk about the upcoming Megadeth tour with Lamb of God, Trivium and In Flames.  We also discuss his guitar playing, winning a grammy, auditioning for Megadeth, and more!

00:00 - Intro
00:38 - Learning Guitar
03:35 - Working Through Plateaus & Practicing
07:03 - Auditioning for Megadeth
09:25 - Tour with Lamb of God, Trivium & In Flames
12:21 - Stage, Mascots, Guitars  & Presentation
13:34 - Set List & Stage Effects
16:00 - Adding "The Conjuring"
16:54 - James LoMenzo & Dirk Verbeuren
20:07 - Dave Mustaine Health Update
21:58 - Dealing with Fans
24:40 - Winning a Grammy
27:27 - Erik Gronwall
28:06 - Music Charity
29:04 - Outro

Kiko Loureiro website:
https://kikoloureiro.com/

Megadeth website:
https://megadeth.com

Hungry for Music website:
https://hungryformusic.org

Chuck Shute website:
http://chuckshute.com

Support the show

Thanks for Listening & Shute for the Moon!

Chuck Shute:

Coming up, I got Kiko Loureiro. He's the guitarist for Megadeth. And he's going to talk about the tour with lamb of God. He's gonna talk about Guitar Tips and lots of other fun stuff. So don't go anywhere. But if you could real quick, do me a favor. If you're watching this on YouTube, please hit the like button and subscribe to my channel. I would greatly appreciate that and you'll be updated for future episodes. Thanks so much and stick around for Kiko. Please welcome Kiko Loureiro. I hope I said that right?

Kiko Loureiro:

Yes, perfect.

Chuck Shute:

Yes. All right. Well, Akiko I've listened to your work with a Angra, your solo work, your work with Megadeth. And I've come to the conclusion that you're you're really good fucking guitar player. Oh, thank you so much. But it wasn't always that way. Right? I mean, you've worked at this for years. And was there ever a time where you weren't good?

Kiko Loureiro:

Of course. Yeah, I started I started playing classical guitar when I was 11. And then I got my first electric when I was 14, you know, like a black SD. Like a copy, you know, keep some copy. Just like Tommy, Tommy was a big fan of Tommy army. Black Sabbath. And, yeah, so then I started practicing, you know, the learning the scales and the Pentatonix and the licks and riffs. And it took me, you know, a few years, but, yeah,

Chuck Shute:

I just I love that story. How your teacher wasn't your teacher, the thought that you needed therapy? And then your mom instead? Are?

Kiko Loureiro:

Yeah, so no, no, no, actually, at school, I wrote, you know, just for like, a, you know, a composition I wrote, like, they asked to tell a story center to write a story. And I told a very aggressive story, I think, you know, like, Odyssey, you know, talking about, I think it was kind of describing a metal festival with a loud guitars, the mud, the skulls, the blood and all that, you know, like, like, I was, like, 1314. And then of course, the, the principal from the school asked my mother to go there for a meeting. And, and then she said, Yeah, your son, probably, you know, has a problem, you have to take him to a psychologist or something like this. And then my mother bought the guitar, the electric guitar, you know, it's like, the classical, the classical guitar was not, you know, it was not enough. You know, so in my classical guitar teacher also told her like, to my mother, like, buy him a guitar. He's like, into rock now. So, and then, yeah, and then I went to all, you know, start having lessons and learning. I, you know, like, my first guitar lesson I was, I still remember, you know, the guy playing Black Dog from Led Zeppelin. And then, you know, it's like, wow, that's, that's what I want, you know, so, yeah, from them on. Then on, I started, I started practicing a lot. When I was 1516. Bannon was like, reading to play many hours a day and trying to, you know, rehearse with friends and studying bands. And yeah, yeah. So

Chuck Shute:

did you ever get to the point where you like, just plateaued? And how did you work through that? Because I know for me, I started playing guitar when I was a kid. And I just got to a point where I plateaued and I was like, I can't get any better. And I just, I just gave up. I don't know, did you ever reach that and you push through it? Or did you just continue to keep getting better?

Kiko Loureiro:

Not getting better. It's not like a exponential thing. It's like, it's just like, you have a lot always you have a plateau. It's like up, plateau up plateau. And you have to figure out ways to get out of the plateau. You know. So I think like, when I was 1617, I was like, reading to practicing. And discovering music is, you know, studying harmony and other things as well. So, yeah, so of course, the plateau is always there. It's part of life, you know? Yeah. And then you need to keep going, if you understand that, that is a, it's part of the process of getting better. You just keep doing it. And then you know, one day it's like, well, I'm better and then you know, and then I'm better. You know, you have to understand the plateau is part of the process. Okay, so don't give up.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, that's good. That's good to know. Yeah, cuz you kind of have an interesting approach. I heard you say something about how you, you kind of took like a sports athletic approach to guitar in a way that you were like, competitive and you want it to, to keep getting better and proving kinda like Olympic athletes do.

Kiko Loureiro:

Yeah, well, yeah, not. Yeah, kinda Yeah. Like, no practicing, you know, because first of all, you differentiate, practicing and playing, you know, because we like to play, which is like, playing with friends or in clubs or with a backing track, just having fun. And then when you're playing, you're kind of playing the same thing, you play what you know, you know, you apply what you know. But then you have to stop and have at least one two hours a day that you practice, which is like, your train you, you, you fix the mistakes, you'll discover new things. You, you play the difficult things, you know, you you suffer, basically, you know, and then if you if you do that for when two hours a day, and then the rest of the day your play, and then we're gonna evolve fast, you know? Do you still? That's a secret?

Chuck Shute:

Yeah. Do you still practice one or two hours a day?

Kiko Loureiro:

Well, yeah, the practice like this. Yes, one hour. Not Not every day. But today, I was playing. And then of course, because that's my professional. So yesterday, we had like, three, four hours rehearsal. And we have the call starts coming, you know, the tour starts, it starts this Saturday. So I'm always playing so, but when I when I need to prepare myself for tour, and then I know how to practice, you know, if my technique is not there, but if I have to learn a new solo, I use the practice method, you know, just play very slowly. I correct the mistakes. And then I know it takes time to get there. I know that I understand the plateau. period, and then it just keep practicing. Right. And then that's the way I learned it's all isn't that a memorize that solos? Yeah. So let's learn. Yeah. I'm just

Chuck Shute:

gonna say Didn't you have to learn the songs for Megadeth? Like, when you joined? It was like, pretty quickly, right? And then you use you said, Hey, can I send you guys a video of me do and you put that video on your YouTube? I think it's your most popular YouTube video. Yes. There's mistakes in it though.

Kiko Loureiro:

Yeah, well, yeah. Because I got a call and then, you know, from from, from Dave, and then he asked, like, Oh, can you send some videos of your planet songs? So I chose trust, holy wars. Symphony, and anyone?

Chuck Shute:

Yes, that's the one that's on your YouTube. Yeah.

Kiko Loureiro:

Yeah. Yeah, so I had, like, the weekend I went, I wanted to send the videos as fast as I could, right. Because, you know, I, I felt well, probably a lot of guitar players are sending those videos, right. So. And then I remember how, like, Saturday and Sunday, I was like, playing over and over. And again, like using the methods of, you know, the script that I just described, the, you know, practicing for real. And then memorizing the songs because Iraq, you cannot have a piece of paper in front of you, right, you're gonna have a piece of paper in front of you to play live. So I needed to memorize and to play, you know, just naturally, you know, the songs and by heart, the first songs, and then I did a video, so the mistakes is like, it's not exactly then when I met Dave, and then we went and we rehearsed for the concert. Then I saw Dave playing the riffs. And then I noticed that it was a bit different, you know, because sometimes, like, by year you, you don't get the, you know, the right thing. And I was great to have the Dave as a preacher, you know, to write his riffs. And also I was in those videos, you know, I was I was playing actually, you can find I uploaded four of the four songs you can I'm playing some parts that Dave's parts you know, because I was not sure you know, the mistakes are more like that, you know, so

Chuck Shute:

yeah, that's so cool to to hear to see those like stripped down and just it's mostly the guitar you can hear the background but yeah, that's that's really cool. So yeah, so the new tour you would Lamb of God, how should how crazy to the shows get is that because I haven't been to like a metal metal show in a while. Is there mosh pits? I remember when I was a kid, there would be like mosh pits. Is that still a thing?

Kiko Loureiro:

Yeah. So depends on the venue, because now from some Vantage, you have some, you know, some seats. So, but if it's an open venue, yes, it gets really crazy. Really good. Yeah. Yeah,

Chuck Shute:

that's fine. As long as you guys don't have to you because you don't have to deal with all that. So you're on stage you just get to watch and enjoy it.

Kiko Loureiro:

It's actually fun to watch

Chuck Shute:

Yeah, so it's a co headlining tour. So how does that work? Like who closes the show? Or do you trade off?

Kiko Loureiro:

Now? Megadeth does the load the headliner? You know, the last, the final? The final one, so always inflames friggin Lamb of God and Megadeth every night, same order.

Chuck Shute:

Okay, and how do those fans mix? Because? Do most people love all those bands? Or is there some that are just there to see one or the other? Because I know, you know, Megadeth obviously, you know, started in the 80s. Lamb of God started a lot later. And then the other two bands, I'm assuming they started a lot later as well.

Kiko Loureiro:

I would assume that everyone loves Megadeth you know? And then I think I think some some, some fans might get to see the tribune or inflamed for the first time. And I think is a is a great way to, you know, to get to know those bands. They're amazing bands. And Lamb of God, you know, everybody thinks the song so everybody's there. Also for lamb of God. I think it's amazing package, you know, because even even if you're like a Mac, or like old school Megadeth fans or even don't know, the new bands is a great opportunity to to get to know those other bands. And, but there's a lot of for sure, a lot of lamb of God fans there as well, because we can hear the crowd singing the songs and then getting going nuts. Yeah, with the music. And their concert is amazing as well. You know, the energy is like you know, amazing. Yeah, their energy. So yeah, so this idea of having like four bands for great bands so together, you know, yeah, so flowing out like a like a big festival

Chuck Shute:

you know, ya know, it's really cool. I was I was just listening to Trivium and inflames and and lamb of God cheeks. I'm not super familiar with them. But I was like, oh, yeah, all three of the all four you guys are great bands. And I'd like to hear more. So I think that's gonna be a great concert.

Kiko Loureiro:

And it's good to have to be a different styles you know? Because then doesn't get boring. You know? And, and I if you're if you're like one band, you can see the other one and discover new things and then you know, yeah,

Chuck Shute:

so yeah, so what is the stage show gonna be like, because I know what I really love and I don't think there is enough of as like the heavy metal mascots is Vic rattle head. He'll be here right on this tour. Of

Kiko Loureiro:

course. Yeah. Okay.

Chuck Shute:

Other stage props or effects or can you say?

Kiko Loureiro:

I mean, the, the looks amazing. You know, the, you know, had the video walls and Marshall cabinets. Fix. They're like the two different bricks. The traditional one and the dystopia, Vic. Yeah. So it's a fun is a fun coffin. Yeah.

Chuck Shute:

Okay, cool. And now how many guitars do you bring on tour and how much gear do you have to bring?

Kiko Loureiro:

Guitars? Around 666 or seven? Yeah. So, I mean, and then Dave, I would say somewhere there to like seven eight guitars. We do have I do have one guitar here with me at the hotel, one guitar backstage and then at least five guitars on stage. The acoustic guitar for the song conquer die as well. And yeah.

Chuck Shute:

Oh, that's awesome. So can you tell me the setlist? Like I mean, I'm assuming obviously there's gonna be like P cells and something destruction is going to be in there. Yeah, prizes though. Is there anything that

Kiko Loureiro:

the staples we always play? You know, like Symphony hangar. P cells. Tornado trust. she wove some songs. Yeah. We, we have like, I don't know, maybe 25 songs, then we can mix. I think that to be honest, I don't know. Maybe around 15 songs. A concert. So we have you know, we can no we have rehearsed and then because not only about us knowing how to play the songs, but all the texts. There's a lot of the videos for the video walls, the light, you know, the light design is a lot of stuff that's programmed nowadays, right? As you can imagine. Yeah. So like the monitoring is like a lot of stuff is programmed with the snapshots, you know, for the different songs. The the patches for the guitar tones, right clean or solo or, you know, rhythm. This is all changes following the time code, so I don't I don't have a pedal board with me, either Dave. So everything's programmed, which is amazing, right? It's amazing. So that's why every song that we if you want to change a song, everything has to be you know, we need to know beforehand, so, and then all the tags, everything has to be programmed before so, but sometimes we do decide about a song and we play like a good old days just, you know, just play without, with no video or no programming but, but to put out like a great show. We need all those all this technology around us. And yeah, we do have like around 25 songs. And then we play around 15 I guess. So. Sometimes we play mechanics and our old, you know, older, older, you know, the first album, like The Conjuring, you know, for the diehard fans or like the old school fans, you know, we mix like 90s 80s or like dystopia songs, you know? Yeah. Yeah. I

Chuck Shute:

love all that. It's interesting that you mentioned the conjuring, I didn't realize the story like they had Dave hadn't done that in like, 17 years, because he was like, this song is like about like, black magic. He's like, I think I might have like, done some fucked up shit back in the day. But then, was it the drummer? Chris, that hit? said, why don't you just change the lyrics? So he changed some of the lyrics and now it's back in the set?

Kiko Loureiro:

Yeah. Something like that. Yeah. Was like, maybe. Well, not two years. Yeah. United. Delta 19. Something like that. Yeah, maybe even 2020? I don't know. Like, yeah, it's pretty recent. Yeah. That he decided, okay, let's, let's do it. You know, that is an amazing song. It's an amazing, great riff there. Yeah, it's super cool. And then now we play a lot we play. We're always adding that song to the sunset.

Chuck Shute:

That's cool. Let's get some great riffs. How to tell you about how's James working out on bass now? Is he a philan? member or see become a permanent member?

Kiko Loureiro:

I don't know. His permanent. Yeah, I don't know how.

Chuck Shute:

Because but on Wikipedia, it says like, touring session only. And I was like, I thought he was like an official member.

Kiko Loureiro:

Well, he did. Yeah. He did a tour. last tour. Kind of like filling in. Right. And then but now he's, he's here with us. So you know. He said, Yeah, using Yeah. But he's amazing. Like, it's great. It's great guy and great player, great person. Super cool to be with him. He has so many stories. And the he has a great relationship with Dave as well. Because of the you know, they played together. Before. So yeah, so So a great, great, great guy to be touring with him. Yeah. And

Chuck Shute:

what about Dirk the drummer? Because that's kind of be I think that's something that gets overlooked a lot is like, it's gotta be one of the hardest genres of music to be a drummer for is like speed metal, like, does he get physically exhausted after a show? I would think that'd be tiring to just pound the drums like that.

Kiko Loureiro:

You know what? Dirk, it's such an amazing drummer. He can play like, even even way faster. It's like, he's basically an athlete. You know, he's like, just practicing double bass and back backstage. He's, like, an hour like, just, you know, playing his blastbeats so actually, I don't Yeah, for him, it's like just walking in the park. Of course, like, you know, it's like, it's pretty demanding. Yeah, joking. But he has, like, an amazing technique. And then the more technique you have, you just play light. You know, it's easier, you know, for me to you know, the, some people think that if you play fast, you you need more energy, or no, it's the opposite, you know, because you learn how to play, you know, blight, you know, just with a light touch, you know,

Chuck Shute:

you guys make it look so easy.

Kiko Loureiro:

I mean, the thing is, like, it has to feel easy and looks difficult. Okay, yeah, so that's the that's the thing. People look at stuff Wow, that's amazing. So hard to play that in for us. We have to feel like oh, this is so easy.

Chuck Shute:

That's cool. Well, that's why you rehearse and that's why

Kiko Loureiro:

we practice Yeah, your practice to feel like okay, I can do it, you know, and then we always practice in a way that if if necessary is not necessary, but we have more we can play faster. You know, we have more technique, you know, you know, more gas in the tank if necessary, you know, but what, but like shows like that and tours like this with four bands. So it's not like three hours concert right? So, so it's it's not a problem. And we can give a lot of, you know, we play with a lot of energy, you know, during the set.

Chuck Shute:

That's cool. So how's Dave doing? Is he feeling 100%? I mean, it's he's been over the cancer for a couple of years now. Right?

Kiko Loureiro:

Yeah. 100% 100%, I would say is better than he was in the in the in, what was that, like the last year before the cancer. So it's summer 2019. Right. And then he did all the treatment in the in, you know, the 2019. And then we went to Europe, January 2020, just before the pandemic, and everybody was kind of, you know, worried to see if he would be able to because it was almost like a year with not playing live, you know, because of the cancer. And also because we were like, We're also recording the album. And yeah, but actually, he was just better. I think, yeah, the great energy scene. Yeah.

Chuck Shute:

Yeah. Because I would think like, you'd have to be careful or something that the doctors say, hey, go nuts. And

Kiko Loureiro:

because he does not agree, I was I was thinking that seems like maybe he needs more time. You know, because I think he did. The he finished the treatment, like in I don't know, I don't remember like maybe October something like, remember. And then in January, we're there in Europe, like doing a massive tour. You know, like five weeks tour. I thought, well, that's it's gonna be too much for him. But actually, you know, yeah, like, it's great. Yeah. Modern metal short. Yeah, exactly. Right. So But do we did like, when our set kind of 65 minutes sets look a bit shorter. So he did a great, yeah.

Chuck Shute:

Cool. So the first show, I think it's in Vegas.

Kiko Loureiro:

Is that right? Yeah, we're here Mandalay Bay. Yeah. Yeah.

Chuck Shute:

So how do you guys like avoid fans than like, groupies while you're on tour? Like, do they show up at your hotel? Or do you guys like, have a secret entrance and elevator to your rooms? Or do you wear disguises? Or how does that work?

Kiko Loureiro:

No. But yeah, we don't use our names. You know, I think that's a common practice, you know, not to use your, your name to register to the hotel.

Chuck Shute:

But does fans find you to the show? Do they wait for you the hotel or their Mega stuff?

Kiko Loureiro:

depends not here. Now. I think here, it's like so many things happening. You know, but it depends on the country. Yeah. It depends, you know, if the US is less, Europe, some countries more. Yeah. South America for sure. Then you have to find ways, you know, as you said, like secret, you know, like, secret doors and things like that, you know, you're going through the kitchen, you know, like, getting right. Ready. Yeah. But, but then you? Yeah. I mean, it's fine. It's cool. You know, there's no problem to meet the fans and you become to ask for, you know, photo or to sign something that it's cool with no, no problem.

Chuck Shute:

Because you still do meet and greets and

Kiko Loureiro:

stuff, right. Yeah. Yeah. I believe, I believe nowadays, with the social media, with the meeting breed all this, you know, it's less. Because, you know, if you want to talk to us, you can send a DM, you know, like, you know, right. Oh, right, the social media thing. The craziness, you know, the crazy fans, like, I don't, I don't they, of course they exist, but I think it's less, you know, and then if you want to see us or take a picture, you have the meet and greet. And then, which is like a safe environment. Like everybody's, you just hang with the fans and take the picture, take the time, we're doing like q&a is answering the questions, and then the photos and like, sign, you know, signed posters and stuff like that. So it's a great product. So why not, you know, but if, if you're walking somewhere, and then somebody comes into a keyboard, you know, take a picture. Yeah. You know,

Chuck Shute:

how much you know how much how much is a meet and greet? Because that's gonna be expensive for Megadeth. Right or no?

Kiko Loureiro:

I don't know. Because they have different packages and stuff. Yeah. Yeah. That's cool, though.

Chuck Shute:

Well, is it cool? I mean, you guys want a Grammy? I think that is so cool. Like, what is your thoughts on that though? Because I think the Grammys just happened. I know like Eddie trunk I don't know if you listen to him ever, but he always talks about how he feels like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Grammys are kind of clueless with rock and metal. What are your thoughts on that?

Kiko Loureiro:

Oh, no. Well, this year was three theater. It's a great album. That's great. Yeah. dystopia got the Grammy premiere was amazing. Megadeth I think it was nominated like 12 times. Yeah. Yes. Many, many times. And then, finally, you know, I was luckily, I was there.

Chuck Shute:

Is it true? They played the house band played Master puppets. When you guys went up to get it though, that's really weird.

Kiko Loureiro:

I mean, wow, this is like, is the house that we were gonna make like vinicola Euro like house bands like super pro guys, right? And then but here we're playing a metal, a metal metal song, you know, and they didn't know. The I think that the year was corn Megadeth Gojira and the referee I guess. So the nominee so you know, nobody knows.

Chuck Shute:

Was that and that's was that even televised? Or how does that work with those the metal awards? They never show that on TV. Right?

Kiko Loureiro:

They don't show on TV? No, no, the TV is like the the isn't a different place. At least that year. I don't know. Okay. Now. So they have this huge in the st. Staples Center right in LA. So like, one of the big theaters there. You have during the afternoon. All those you know, reggae music, whatever, children's music metal you know, a cappella album. All all the different styles of music and, and then at night, you have like the best pop, you know, the best singer or the Powerball. And then when he goes I think the that year like Adele, like she won like five Grammys or something. It was crazy. You know, the best thing or the best album The best song the best. And then, and then you see those big names like Katy Katy Perry was there or I don't know, like Adele and Beyonce, you know, right. Yeah. I just think kind of at night. So they filmed the televised that that part of the

Chuck Shute:

I think Megadeth should be at night though, because we're big on here, but I want to ask you to another thing I was on your Instagram. I saw that you. You follow Eric grow. grunwell is how do I say his name? And he he became the new singer of Skid Row. So how do you know him? And then what do you think of him getting that gig because I heard the new song and I love it.

Kiko Loureiro:

I said it was a friend of mine said I have to follow this guy. He's amazing is like from Sweden. Right? And then and then I do just following him. Because but yeah, yeah, that's amazing. Senior. Yeah, I was following him. Yeah. So yeah. Okay, well, you know, amazing singer. Perfect. Perfect for Skid Row.

Chuck Shute:

Absolutely. Well, I know you gotta get going. I'm I like to end each episode with a charity. Is there a charity that you want to mention here? There's something a nonprofit that you want to mention to people if they have extra money after they buy Megadeth tickets, of course.

Kiko Loureiro:

Oh, man, I know, I was all prepared for that.

Chuck Shute:

Well, is there some I know you're vegetarian, or I don't know if there's some sort of cause or, you know, Dave, obviously went through cancers or anti cancer, lung

Kiko Loureiro:

cancer, cancer fund, like music for children, you know? Yeah. Back in Brazil, like we helped like, but then I don't have the specific link for you. But yeah, like, like to get music to, you know, for poor kids, you know, just to have instruments and stuff like that to finance them like, yeah,

Chuck Shute:

I have stuff like, I will look and I'll put that in the show notes along with the Megadeth website so people can check this website for tour dates and get tickets and then hopefully a Meet Greet package. All that good stuff.

Kiko Loureiro:

Yes. Thanks. Thanks a lot.

Chuck Shute:

Thank you so much. I'll talk later. Okay, bye. Bye. Thank you so much to Kiko make sure to see Megadeth on tour with lamb of God Trivium and inflames I think it's going to be a great show and I'm looking forward to possibly going if I can get one of these shows another coming to Tucson I don't forget to hit that. But possibly another show. And I'm looking at the meet and greet thing here on the website. And it looks really like a very cool package that includes VIP entry, a q&a and autograph setlist poster shirt and a picture with the band and Vic rattle head. So that's very cool. Make sure to check the website yourself for tour dates. And follow Kiko and Megadeth on social media for updates. And if you enjoyed this episode, check out some of my other interviews I've done. I've had on some great metal guys as well some really good guitar players. And make sure to subscribe wherever you watch or listen and of course Your likes comment and comments on YouTube and social media and the shares and all that stuff. It helps me out a lot helps with the algorithm so that people more people will see the episodes. And that helps me out very much. So thank you so much for all your support. Have a great rest of your day. And remember to shoot for the moon.