Coming under the spell at a young age—as did many of his contemporaries—of both Jimmy Page and then Eddie Van Halen, he was deeply inspired by the creative genius and innovation of both of these legendary artists. Being completely self-taught, Fred relied on his own discipline and determination to develop his craft in the pursuit of self-actualization. From early on, the goals of both technical mastery and individuality were dual driving forces that fueled his passion for the instrument. As much as playing itself provided a deep sense of inner harmony, original composition was always an essential aspect of his personal fulfillment.

A self-proclaimed “gear freak” Fred has always taken a serious interest in combining state-of-the-art equipment with his love of classic vintage instruments—especially the rare and exotic—to achieve the highest quality of sonic excellence. Long before terms like “sampling” and “looping” became part of the overused lexicon of today, Fred was delving into uncharted territory with his exploration of layered sounds and multiple textures.