By Staff | October 22, 2026
When we put out a call for best bass interviews, we were kind hoping someone would mention Rich. Luckily, a lot of people did. With decades spent playing lead guitar before iLL RAiSED tapped him for the bass job, Rich decided to bring his sweeps and alternate picking along with him. The Queens native has a bass tone that growls and cuts through the guitars, and he’s learned where to put the fancy stuff without losing the groove. We had a chance to sit down and chat with him about his technique, playing through the exhaustion of ITP treatments and the thrill of getting his daughter to follow in his footsteps.
All photos by David Aviles @Genesis_Warrior_ and Andrea Dajbura Ureña @AjayuBolivian
Growing up in East Elmhurst, how much did Queens shape you as a musician?
Queens is everything. Growing up in East Elmhurst, you are surrounded by a melting pot of cultures, sounds, and an undeniable grit. NYHC and the locals into the music scene have a distinct, no-nonsense attitude. The energy on the streets here naturally finds its way into the rehearsal room and onto the stage. It teaches you hustle, resilience, and how to command a room because Queens doesn't give away respect for free—you have to earn it.
You started playing guitar at six, so what grabbed you about it that early and made you stick with it for more than three decades?
At six years old, the guitar just felt like magic. It was the ultimate outlet for energy and expression. What kept me hooked for over 30 years is that the guitar never stops challenging you. There's always a new technique to master, a different style to unlock, or a deeper way to connect emotionally. It evolved from a childhood fascination into a core part of my identity and my therapeutic escape.
After spending years as a lead guitarist, what went through your head when iLL RAiSED basically said, “okay, now play bass”?
Honestly, my first thought was a mix of surprise and a welcome challenge. When you've spent your life thinking like a lead guitarist, shifting to bass forces you to rewire your brain. But iLL RAiSED has a very specific, aggressive driving force, and I realized that stepping into the bass slot wasn't about holding back—it was about holding down the foundation while bringing that heavy, technical edge to the low end.
How did you figure out how to bring things like alternate picking, sweeps, and solos to bass without just sounding like a guitarist who got handed the wrong instrument?
It was a balancing act. The trap is overplaying and muddying the rhythm. I had to learn how to lock tightly into the pocket with the drums first, ensuring the groove never dropped. Once that foundation was concrete, I treated the alternate picking and sweeps as rhythmic accents rather than just "showboating." It’s about using guitar-centric techniques to give the bass a percussive bite that drives the song forward dynamically.
Your bass tone goes against the usual “more low end” approach, so how did you arrive at that aggressive mids-and-treble sound?
In heavy music, a sub-heavy bass can easily get swallowed up in the mix. I wanted a tone that slices right through the wall of E's guitar rather than just sitting underneath it. By pushing the mids and treble, the bass gets this raw, grinding growl and a sharp attack. It gives the band an extra layer of aggression and ensures every single note and articulation is distinctly heard.
What have the Jackson CBXNT IV basses given you that made them the right instruments for the way you play?
Jackson basses are absolute beasts for heavy music. When I first joined iLL RAiSED, I was playing a Tobacco Burst Fender PJ bass, and honestly, the neck felt like holding the thicker end of a baseball bat. Transitioning from guitar, the PJ just wasn't working for the technical stuff. Plus I love that funky Rickenbacher pickguards they have.
You were dealing with ITP and Rituxan treatments while recording and performing - what kept you determined to keep making music through all of that?
Music wasn't just a commitment; it was a lifeline. Dealing with ITP and going through Rituxan treatments takes a massive toll on you physically and mentally. I always told everyone I felt fine but honestly I've never felt more drained. But when everything else feels uncertain or out of my control, stepping into the studio or on a stage gave me that power. The brotherhood in the band kept me anchored throughout that whole time.
How has becoming a father changed you as a musician, especially now that your daughter is already showing an interest in following you into music?
Fatherhood shifts your entire perspective. It deepens your purpose. As a musician, it made me value my time more and sharpened my focus. Seeing my daughter show an interest in heavy music and the bass is hands down the most rewarding feeling in the world. It turns music from a personal passion into a legacy. It pushes me to work harder because I want to show her firsthand what this life in music can become.
What does being part of iLL RAiSED give you creatively that you weren't getting from the djent and metalcore bands you played with before?
Djent and metalcore are cool for technical stuff, but they can get super clinical and boxed into a specific formula. iLL RAiSED is just a completely different animal. It strips away all that rigid, over-calculated math and replaces it with pure, unfiltered attitude and a groove that actually moves people. Playing bass in this band is a totally visceral experience. It’s not about staring at a fretboard trying to hit perfect, robotic time signatures. It’s about locking in with the drums so hard that you literally feel the instrument shaking your chest. We're building a sound that hits the crowd right in the face, and having that creative freedom to just write music with them has made a real positive impact on my life.
Anyone you'd like to shout out for their support?
Honestly, everyone thats came out to show love at our shows. Also the bands we played with Non Residents, Faca, The Errorists, Furia and But, Pyrite to name a few and everyone at knifetwister for the opportunity to put my story out to the world.
Check out the band at https://illraised.com or on their instagram at https://www.instagram.com/illraisednyhc/