Few guitarists embody the balance of technical mastery and pure passion quite like Xander Demos. With his band XDB, Demos channels the melodic firepower of metal’s golden era while carving out a sound that feels both timeless and fresh. Having shared stages with legends and inspired a new generation of players, he’s built a reputation as one of the scene’s most electrifying guitarists. In this conversation, Xander opens up about his early influences, the brotherhood within XDB, and the moments on stage that left him in awe—while offering a glimpse into what’s next for a band driven by melody, energy, and love of the craft.
- Xander, you’ve built a reputation as one of Pittsburgh’s most electrifying guitarists. What first drew you to the guitar, and when did you know this was your calling?
I was drawn to the guitar by watching MTV in the very early 80s. I started out wanting to be a drummer but then watching those videos of Brad Gillis, Neal Schon, Eddie Van Halen and Tom Scholz changed that. I was quite happy after my parents encouraged me (in the most parental way ever) to play drums and they immediately bought me a guitar. I was hooked….
- Your band XDB has been making waves with its melodic metal sound. What do you think sets this project apart from the many other bands in the genre?
I think we are more complimentary to bands that are similar to us but I think what may set us apart is what we do is rooted in simplicity and when we play I can just tell that all of us in the band just love music, harmony and melody. You can hear our influences in the writing as well.
- You’ve shared the stage with some legendary acts. Can you take us back to one of those moments where you thought, “Wow, I can’t believe I’m here”?
I have been very lucky to share the stage with very talented people. I think the very first time it really hit me was at one of those NAMM metal jamm shows in Anaheim about 10 years ago. What was so cool to me was being able to be on stage playing a Racer X song (Into The Night) with Jeff Martin (the singer of Racer X). It was just such a surreal experience since Racer X has always been one of my favorite bands since the late 80s. Playing with Ripper Owens gave me that same feeling when we toured together in 2017. He’s such an immense talent and I had a blast.
- Metal can sometimes feel intimidating to people on the outside. How do you make sure your music remains accessible and welcoming to new listeners?
I think that metal can get a reputation for being overly aggressive to some people but there are so many sub-genres that I feel that there’s something for everyone in metal. I will usually tell people to listen to a few of our songs and while there may be metal elements, at the end of the day, it’s melodic and inviting and most of all, catchy. That’s how you reel them in.
- Being a frontman and a lead guitarist requires both skill and leadership. How do you keep your band motivated and moving forward together as a unit?
Well, lucky for me, since Rob Kane joined XDB he is our official frontman and it lets me get out there just play to my best ability. The band has been motivated by the common core that has brought us together – the music. The product we have we are very proud of and the five of us are really pushing to the future and writing more music. That is the best result I could have asked for.
- Fans often talk about how music gets them through tough times. Has there been a moment when a fan shared with you how your music impacted their life in a meaningful way?
Yes, actually there has been… I was pretty surprised to hear it but I was talking to someone at one of our shows who told me that they listened to my first record “Guitarcadia” because it was different from what they had been hearing, but said it inspired them to play guitar because they called my instrumentals “songs within songs”… I was pretty happy to hear that, even though I am a self-proclaimed “wank shredder”.
- You’ve been in the business long enough to see how much the industry has changed. What advice would you give young guitarists or bands trying to find their way today?
I’m terrible at advice but my advice to guitar players is to learn another instrument or two to understand COMPOSITION. Eventually, it will make you a better guitar player because you’ll understand how other instruments play into things. As far as bands, go with what works but make sure you have chemistry with each other. That’s one of XDB’s strong points. Create the music, refine it, learn how to record, learn how to do videos, learn how to market your product but above all, get out there and PLAY!
- Looking ahead, what excites you most about the next chapter for XDB—new music, tours, or maybe something fans wouldn’t expect?
What is exciting for me is the new album we have coming out. I think that all of the songs are catchy and well done. We all love playing live so we are hoping to get to do some light touring to support the product. I wish I had more surprises to talk about but in this world of viral content, we are hoping it breaks for us.
