Phil X facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phil X
|
|
|---|---|
Phil X performing in 2013
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Theofilos Xenidis |
| Born | March 10, 1966 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1982–present |
Theofilos Xenidis (born March 10, 1966), known to the world as Phil X, is a Canadian rock musician. He is most famous for being the lead guitarist for the legendary rock band Bon Jovi. He officially joined the band in 2016, taking the place of former guitarist Richie Sambora.
Contents
Musical Journey
Early Bands and First Gigs
Phil X's music career started back in 1982. He formed a hard rock band called Sidinex, which was his last name spelled backward. The band released one EP, Forever Young, in 1985.
A big break came in 1990 when he was asked to tour with musician Randy Coven. The next year, he toured across the United States with another Canadian artist, Aldo Nova. From 1992 to 1993, he played with the band Triumph, recording the album Edge of Excess and touring with them.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Phil X worked with many different bands and artists. He was the guitarist for the power pop band Powder, which released three albums. He also played a guitar solo on the song “Denied” for the Canadian band Our Lady Peace.
Joining Bon Jovi
In 2011, Phil X got a huge opportunity. He was asked to fill in for Bon Jovi's lead guitarist, Richie Sambora, who had to miss some shows for personal health reasons. A friend of both Phil X and Jon Bon Jovi recommended him for the spot.
In 2013, when Sambora left the band, Phil X stepped in again for the "Because We Can" tour. He played shows all over the world, including in Europe, South Africa, South America, and Australia.
Finally, in 2016, Phil X became an official member of Bon Jovi. He played guitar on their album This House Is Not for Sale and their more recent album, Bon Jovi: 2020. In 2019, he was honored with a spot on the Mississauga Music Walk of Fame in his home province of Ontario.
Guitars and Gear
Phil X is known for his love of guitars and has used many different ones over the years. He is also famous for his popular YouTube videos where he demonstrates rare and vintage guitars.
Favorite Guitars
Phil X has a unique way of setting up his guitars. He often removes the neck pickup (a device that "picks up" the string's sound) to let the guitar's body vibrate more freely. This helps create a clearer sound. He sometimes puts an action figure in the empty space for fun!
His most famous guitar is an ESP LTD Viper that he calls the "sticker guitar" because it's covered in stickers.
In 2012, the company Yamaha created a signature guitar just for him. Later, Framus guitars also released a signature model for him. He even invented a special kind of whammy bar called the "Flip Stick." In 2019, he officially became a Gibson artist.
Amplifiers and Pickups
For his powerful sound, Phil X uses Friedman amplifiers and even has his own signature model, the Friedman X.
He also designed his own guitar pickups with a company called Arcane, Inc. Pickups are important because they turn the vibration of the guitar strings into an electrical signal, which then goes to the amplifier. He has four custom models that other guitarists can buy.
Personal Life
Phil X was born in Canada to Greek-Canadian parents. He grew up in the city of Mississauga, Ontario. He is married to Lindy Green, and they have two children together.
Selected Discography
Besides his work with Bon Jovi, Phil X has played guitar on albums for many famous artists. This is called being a session musician. He has worked with Chris Cornell, Tommy Lee, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, Alice Cooper, and many others. Here is a short list of albums he has played on as a band member.
With Triumph
- Edge of Excess (1992)
With Powder
- Sonic Machine (2002)
- Nothing (2008)
With Phil X & The Drills
- Kick Your ... in 17 Minutes. (2009)
- We Bring the Rock N Roll (2011)
- We Play Instruments N ... (2012)
- ... Good Lookings Vol.1 (2019)
With Bon Jovi
- This House Is Not for Sale (2016)
- 2020 (2020)
- Forever (2024)
