Michael St Pere Interview
The atmospheric album cover for Like zfather,like Son.
I had the opportto put somecquestions tonMichel about his solo album, here what he said tonthe questuons i posed to him.
1/ I'm fascinated by your choice of tracks to cover - tell me about why you chose the ones you did to cover?
MSTP - Thank you – I have been wanting to do an album like that for many years, they are some of the songs that have shaped my guitar formation, I started to learn guitar with my father at around 9yo, my dad was a Ventures fans and I learned to play guitar with these instrumental 60’s guitar bands. They are some of the songs that have shaped my musical journey.
2/ Why Jonas and Jimmy as the rhythm section?
MSTP - During the pandemic, I recorded most of these songs as demos just for keeping busy and have fun, I had programmed the drums and played the bass and put them on YouTube. Fans asked me to release these songs as an album, and for the album, I needed to replace the programmed drums with a real drummer. And since the bass would need to be redone because of the new drums, I thought it would be cool to give the album a Band or trio feel. I had seen Jimmy play with Spock’s Beard in Aschaffenburg and I remember thinking that it would be cool to play with him in the future. I have a lot of respect for what both Jimmy and Jonas do, they always sound great in any projects that they are involved with, And I was fortunate that they accepted to play on my album.
3/ Was this all recorded remotely as each of you are busy with your own projects?
MSTP - Absolutely, Drums were recorded in Los Angeles and Bass in Vienna, while all Keys and Guitars in my studio in Canada
4/ Who are your main influences guitar wise?
MSTP - I have many great guitar players, Steve Hackett, Steve Rothery Joe Satriani and many more, but my guitar is mostly influenced by singers, I have always wanted to be a singer but unfortunately my voice is very limited so I have always approached my guitar playing as if I was singing.
5/ Will you be doing any shows to support this album?
MSTP - It would be a lot of fun. It is something I have in mind, hopefully it will happen.
6/ Is Mystery on hold at present or is there new music coming soon?
MSTP - We just took a year off from Touring, we are writing the new album now and we should start recording very soon, there might also be a Live album
7/ What's next for you Michel?
MSTP - Now that my Solo album is available, I will get into the Mystery mode and make sure we have a new album in 2027, I also have to finish mixing the HUIS live album and one by Mystery. If time permits, I would love to make another solo Instrumental album but this time with original songs.
Author John Wenlock-Smith Wednesday 14th October 2026