Sam Russell

Sam is an electric guitarist who specialises in neo-classical and metal, currently teaching in West London while he writes his debut heavy metal album. He is living proof that no matter what your musical background, or your interests, studying at BIMM gives you the tools and the connections you need to progress to a sustainable career in the music industry.

Sam is an electric guitarist who specialises in neo-classical and metal, currently teaching in West London while he writes his debut heavy metal album. He is living proof that no matter what your musical background, or your interests, studying at BIMM gives you the tools and the connections you need to progress to a sustainable career in the music industry.

Since leaving BIMM, Sam has continued to perfect his technique, musicianship and composition skills, studying courses with neo-classical virtuosos, Luca Turilli and Tom Hess, and has attended workshops with Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, Ola Englund, Vernon Reid and Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter. In the summer of 2014, Sam spent a week in the US studying music business with songwriter, producer and guitar legend, Steve Vai, even getting to jam with the man himself! That same year he attended the French ‘extreme music festival’ Hellfest, interviewing musicians including Pår from Swedish heavy metal band, Sabaton.

Since then, Sam has released multiple albums, one of which, Impetuous Desire, received a whopping 8.7/10 from Ultimate Guitar. The album features incredible drumming from Bullet For My Valentine’s drummer Jason Bowld and track eight, Fire, Desire features vocals from Ryan Mueller, a Canadian-based black metal guitarist/singer.  He continues to bridge the gap between heavy metal and continues to do amazing. Well done Sam!

Proving that as well as performance talent he also has a clear head for the business, Sam has added writing to his repertoire of musical skills, providing articles for an assortment of websites. In September 2014, he started work on a series of books, transcribing Bach’s ‘Cello Suite No. 1’ for electric guitar. He set up his own website and Suites 1 to 3 are now available for purchase at Sam’s online shop (you can get the first movement for free in the Member’s Area), with Suites 4 to 6 to be published in spring 2015.

As a skilled guitarist and guitar tutor, Sam understands how best to teach the work of accomplished composers such as Bach, so each piece is written out in both notation and tablature, with every finger specified, and is accompanied by easy-to-follow instructions which make learning simple. Sam’s site, www.SamRussell.co.uk contains valuable resources for guitarists, and you can also download a free eBook on music theory, plus free excerpts from his books.