Name: Phillip R. Porter

DOB: 11.09

POB: Vienna / Austria

Instrument: Guitar

Endorsements: Ibanez Guitars

The past:

I started playing the guitar at the age of 14. My dad and me were in the USA for holidays and my Cousin was really into Guns 'n' Roses and that kind of stuff. So we drove around in his Camaro Firebird and listened to tapes of Guns 'n' Roses. I got a cheap used guitar (Hamer Slammer Series - an Imitation of the California Model) and a Fender Princeton Chorus Amp. It was the time I got my first Priest Album (I think it was "Painkiller"...) and I was blown away! I simply just had to figure out what they did and how they played! So i got into Rock and Metal. It was hard for me at the beginning as I had no one to ask for help or anything. So I spent one whole summer standing in my Parents garage and just playing Blues licks and pentatonic stuff.

When I first was confronted with the Lute Suites of J. S. Bach I started practicing more and more. I took lessons in school but it was a group of 4 so it took ages until it was my turn, so I felt very frustrated with that. At around the same time I started to listen to bands like "Pantera" "Angra" "Sepultura" a.s.o. One of my mates had the first guitar lessons which were available in Vienna and when I saw Malmsteen ripping on the guitar it was clear to me. I had to play and exercise until I could play stuff like that. Frankly, it were Guitarists like Glenn Tipton, Yngwie Malmsteen and Joe Satriani that kept the fire burning and kept me interested in playing the guitar. What I loved about Malmsteen is of course his classical phrasing and style. I started playing the Piano when I was seven so I had a strong bound to classical music already in the early years of my life and I still am a big fan of classical music. It was not until I heard Malmsteen that I realized what one can do with a guitar. Through him I started to apply my classical music vocabulary in a rock or metal context.

Again my life changed when I first heard Dreamtheater. “Images & Words” was my favourite Album for many months. John Petrucci is an example for excellent musicianship. (all members of DT are superb musicians!!!) My life changed again when I heard the music of Symphony X. Michael Romeo had a massive influence on me and my style of playing.

The present:

Now I work very closely with my guitar teacher who is one of the best things that could ever happen to me and I am grateful to know him. Special Thanks goes to my beloved wife who introduced us. Thanks Katie <3 I learned some amazing stuff through him although it is tough and hard at times – but it is worth it. (technical studies of Abel Carlevaro - do I need to say more???)

The future:

I continue my amazing journey through the world of music. I learn something new every day. There is hardly a day when I do not hold the guitar in my hands. I hope to be able to touch people with my music...

Siren's Cry:

This band was not actually founded it was something that evolved over many years: I played in School with one of my mates and we were goofin' around on our instruments. Some of the Songs which were recorded on „Center of Might“ derive from that writing period – take „The Burden“ for instance. The ideas for middle section and the Intro riff come from these sessions. The song „Hand of Fate“also came from that time...

At some point Phil (the guy I jammed with was called Phil too..) and me seperated. We were into different kind of music and he wanted to do his thing and so I took the material and continued to work on it and started look for new members..