Rick Setlock is the Lead Guitarist for the 60’s – 90’s cover band Generals Krank.  He was born and raised in Pottsville, PA (The home of Yeungling brewery!!!!). He first picked up the guitar at the age of 10.  His parents bought him a cheap acoustic guitar form Sears and    Roebuck.  After the initial euphoria wore off, Rick really didn’t play that guitar very often.  The guitar sat in a closet untouched for the next five years.  

Five years later after an afternoon of baseball practice, a friend of Rick’s invited him over to his house to show him his electric guitar and amp.  He proceeded to play along with the entire Back In Black album by AC/DC.
 

Rick watched in amazement as his friend played his favorite songs, which included, “Back In Black”, “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” as well as Rick’s favorite song of all time – “Hells Bells”.  After seeing his friend rip out these tunes, Rick went home and immediately began learning how to play “Hells Bells”.  Rick practiced the song over and over until his fingers were split open by the guitar strings.  It was the start of a passion that would shape the rest of Rick’s life.

Rick learned to play guitar by ear without any formal training.  He read a lot of books, watched videos and attended numerous concerts.  Rick’s musical taste’s evolved from AC/DC to more complex guitar oriented music such as Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and his all time favorite group Van Halen.  Seeing Van Halen live for the first time, in 1986, was a religious experience for Rick. It inspired Rick to take his guitar playing to the next level.  He worked for hours on end learning the lightning fast guitar solos of Eddie Van Halen. 

Much of Rick’s current playing style is based on the licks that he learned from the early Van Halen recordings.  In fact, he realized one of his dreams in 1998, when he actually met Eddie Van Halen backstage at one of his concerts in Madison Square Garden.  Rick said, “He was a very down to earth guy who really cares about his fans!!!”

As far as equipment goes, Rick has what is known as GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome).  It is basically a disease in which you cannot stop buying musical equipment.  Currently Rick owns 21 guitars as well as numerous amps and effects pedals.  Rick’s current gigging equipment includes 2 Music Man Axis guitars, 1 Peavey Wolfgang guitar, a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier amp, MXR Flanger and Phase, Hush Super C, Furman Power Conditioner, and a Yamaha Digital Effect Processor.