Musician with manifold facets, we find at the same time Didier Chesneau as composer (NTS/Wagram), guitarist (sessions, demonstrator
Lag/Elixir/Larrivée/Rocktron), sound engineer and producer (Universal, Wagram, EMI, SPV).
Headline official website:
www.headlinetheband.net
Melody Studio:
www.melodystudio.fr
Lag Guitars:
www.lag.fr
Myspace's:
www.myspace.com/headlineofficial www.myspace.com/melodystudio
Biography (issued from Lag "Artist" page)
Didier Chesneau begins music thanks to the saxophone (as his musician father), but in order to break the « academic » side of the conservatory, he quickly turns to the guitar. First self-educated, he will learn technic and harmony with Nils Aziosmanoff (devotee of Philippe Catherine) then with Charles Raynal (professor at the fabulous Berklee College and accompanist of Al di Meola). The doors of the Parisian studios open thanks to Nils and, in parallel with his studies of sound engineer, he participates regularly to sessions and accompaniments. He meets Sylvie Grare in studio and after a first demo with the musicians of Patrick Rondat, they audition musicians and form the band HEADLINE in 1994.
The events accelerate: Midem, winners of the International Concours of the Salon de la Musique, Dani « Guitarist Magazine » Giorgetti allows them to come about at the festival « Cannes Musique Passion » (with nice memories beside Stuart Hamm, Jonathan Mover, Michel Cusson).
In 1997 comes out « Escape » the first album of Headline, the recognition is immediate, elected « 5th international hope », the band goes on acoustic FNAC tour and Olivier Garnier, at this time CNR label manager, allows them to play beside Vanden Plas, Dio, Superior In parallel with the beginning of Headline and his sound engineer activities, Didier Chesneau manages for five years « Backstage », two music schools located in the Center France area, thanks to them he organizes quarterly master classes welcoming Patrick Rondat, Jean-Claude Rapin, Pascal Mulot, Sébastien Choir
In 1999, Olivier Garnier inaugurates the first French signature of his new label, NTS, launching « Voices of Presence » the second album of Headline. French tours, Printemps de Bourges, show cases, the band shares the gigs with fabulous bands like Dream Theater, Stratovarius, Vanden Plas, Rhapsody and will be elected among the « best French bands » (2nd and 5th) by the readers of the musical and metal press.
No lack of activities thanks to the stunt companies Skyros and Mythics Warriors (Merlin, Braveheart, Gladiator), Headline shoots his first video clip in the Cathare fortress of Queribus under the camera of Stéphane Marty (X Files). Having co-produced the Headline albums, the proposals of direction flow and Didier Chesneau joins the console for many artists and still makes demos (Salon de la Musique, Musicmania) for LAG and ROCKTRON.
With « Duality » 3rd album of the band (came out early 2003), Headline is elected « best French band » and « metal video clip of the year » (realized by Stéphane Roland) thenks to the audience MCM/Hard Rock Magazine. The doors of Europe open and we find Headline beside Evergrey, After Forever, Hirson Festival, « Hard Rock » Trophies broadcasted on channel MCM, acoustic show cases The year 2003 will end with the European openning of the American band Symphony X who, from Amsterdam to Granada will lead them over Europe. The promotion of « Duality » ends beginning 2004 by a headline gig « Tournai Prog Event Festival » en Belgium.
In parallel, Didier Chesneau participates to many projects: « Ritchie Blackmore Tribute » (Lion Music), « Bass Attitudes » (XIII bis), « Métisse » (musical comedy), « Shooting Star » (Arcade) End 2005, he composes with M. Aurore Gotta (J. Hallyday, P. Bachelet) the original music of « La légende de la Licorne », musical show produced by his friends of « Mythic Warriors » that will attract more than 1500 persons by show.
After the production of various albums (Milydian, Magic Kingdom, Invictus, Iron masqu), 2008 is devoted to Headline in order to prepare and record the successor of « Duality » foreseen in 2009.
Interviewed on his cooperation with LAG guitars, Didier is always very enthusiastic:
« I met Michel Chavarria when Headline began in 98, the fingerboard of my « Rockline » had been broken and I took the opportunity, when going to Midem, and make it repared. In love with guitars, history and photography like me, we immediately sympathize, he made two custom models based on « Beast » but in massive maple with a maple touch, the other ebony, the whole with EMG.
We then began to make workshops in order to try micros and mixing of woods. I wanted a warmer sound, take off my EMG without losing precision, I asked him to make a guitar with a body composed with maple and mahogany.
I am proud enough that certain of our research had lead to the birth of MORGANE, than ROXANNE and ARKANE Prestige, what fabulous instruments they are
But I think that the big success of Michel is that he knew how to transpose this know-how on more economic series. We all learnt music, and what more frustrating than have to play on a board with strings for lack of means
Music is sharing, and the quality should not be synonymous of means, event if the market obliges us to make compromises
I am very proud to be a part of this « family LAG » and to bring my contribution, the 25 years approach happy birthday !!! »
Rendez-vous in 2009, for the new Headline album !!!
Equipment:
- Lag Arkane Master
- Lag Imperator 3000
-Lag Beast custom shop
-Lag 7st pro
-Lag: Morgane prestige
-Lag Roxanne prestige
- Fender strat 68'
- Fender strat "David Gilmour"
- Gibson Les Paul
- James Trussart "Warmoth kit"
-Ovation Elite
-Taylor 810
-Mesa Boogie « Roadster »
-Mesa Boogie « Triaxis »
-Mesa Boogie « Recto speaker »
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