One of the most distinctive voices in modern music today, Myles Kennedy is a consummate musician. Equally accomplished as a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, he is also one of the of the hardest working men in the business. Well known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for both Alter Bridge and Slash's band, Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, he also maintains an active solo career. On top of all that Myles remains an in-demand collaborator, having worked with artists including Sevendust, Gov’t Mule, Disturbed, Halestorm and Mark Morton and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of Lamb of God and Run DMC respectively. Based in Spokane Washington, Myles also possesses a rich history as an instructor and session guitarist. His longstanding relationship with PRS Guitars has most recently birthed the Myles Kennedy Signature model.

FIVE MINUTES WITH MYLES

PRS: Congratulations on the recent release of the new PRS Myles Kennedy model! There’s so much that goes into the launch of a signature instrument, what was your favorite part of the process?

Myles: Thank you! It was a fun process overall. I enjoyed riffing (pun intended) with everyone during the R&D phase. My favorite part was unboxing the initial prototypes. It was an incredible thrill to finally play what we had all put our heads together to develop, that’s when it all started to feel real and tangible to me. I’ll never forget that.

PRS: After field testing your new signature model for quite some time, how would you say it has added to your experience as a songwriter and performer?

Myles: For me, an instrument should inspire you in several ways, not only to motivate you to play but to help pull something out of you on a spiritual level. I know that might sound a bit silly, but for me it’s paramount. It should have mojo….that elusive vibe! It should be a creative tool to help you tap into a deeper part of yourself. Once I started performing and writing with the signature guitar I realized we had developed something that would help me achieve my goals as an artist.

PRS: You’ve been an avid PRS player for a long time. Which models have you found yourself relying on the most over the years? Aside from your signature model of course!

Myles: Initially, I was a big McCarty fan. That was the first PRS I ever purchased back in 1998 while I was in the Mayfield Four. In 2007 while Alter Bridge was making Blackbird, I discovered the SC 245. That became my go-to PRS guitar for well over a decade. AB 3, Fortress, The Last Hero, and Walk The Sky were all recorded with that guitar. It has a great midrange that works well in the Alter Bridge context.

PRS: What do you love the most about your PRS guitars?

Myles: What I love most about my PRS guitars is their build quality and consistency. I’ve toured all over the world for the last 2 decades and they never let me down. It kind of blows my mind when I think about all the temperature and humidity changes we would subject those instruments to. Regardless of the environment, they always managed to withstand the elements.

PRS: Following a stint in Europe, Alter Bridge’s Pawns and Kings Tour continues with US dates through August. What’s next on the band’s agenda?

Myles: We are still working on what the touring plan is for the remainder of 2023. I am assuming we will start to wrap the current album cycle down after that and start thinking about the next one.

PRS: Its’s been a little over a year since your last release with Slash and The Conspirators, can we anticipate a new record or tour dates anytime in the future?

Myles: Since everyone has so many projects, it’s always a bit of a challenge to know what SMKC’s plans are for the immediate future. Hopefully, we will be able to reconvene one of these days.

PRS: Are you currently planning a follow up to your last solo record, The Ides of March?

Myles: Yeah, I would like to eventually follow Ides Of March up with something. I’m proud of that record and how the solo project has evolved since starting the journey 6 years ago. It’s also a great outlet for me as a guitarist. What I enjoy most is the element of improvisation. We never know what’s going to happen from night to night. I love that challenge.

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Photo Credit: Chuck Brueckmann