IN SHORT
     Songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, video visionary/director, touring sideman, studio session man, band leader, gun for hire.

BACKGROUND
     Gary Schutt, born and raised in Monticello, NY, son of a professional Catskills jazz drummer, started playing along to Bay City Roller's records on his fathers drum kit before his feet could reach the pedals.
     Gary has basically been a one man solo artist since he was really young. Acquiring a cheap 4-track recorder and a slew of original tunes, he started recording & producing at age 15, writing, arranging and performing all the parts himself in his parents basement. Initially trained as a drummer, Gary quickly picked up guitar, bass and piano, and later singing.
     Gary graduated and taught at the prestigious Berklee College Of Music and continued writing, recording, producing and performing there.  Once establishing himself at Berklee, Gary participated in countless recitals, concerts and studio sessions. Although known as a confident guitarist on campus, Gary led a handful of recitals on vocals, played drums in a couple of shows, played bass for the popular local band IN THE PINK, and led his own original band PALISADE.  
     After graduating from Berklee, Gary started producing his own tapes of original music that he sold at numerous record stores around the Boston area.
     Gary moved to Los Angeles in August of 1992 to join Jeff Scott Soto's (former vocalist for Yngwie Malmsteen) new band SLAM. Still continuing to write his own songs and self produce tapes, Gary now sold his tapes through mail order and his original song catalog grew close to 100 songs.
     Locating to Florida after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, Gary joined West Palm Beach cover band SIGNAL ZERO. During this time Gary and Jeff Scott Soto released a CD in Japan and Europe of all Gary Schutt tunes called "Sentimetal". Every magazine that reviewed the 11 song CD had nothing but praise for the up and coming talent.
     In 1999, Gary released his second solo CD "Playthings" on the Chicago based Pulse Records label. Gary produced, wrote and performed everything on the entire album. Yes, for the first time we get to experience Gary as a singer!  And thus started the launch of Gary's solo career, with over 15 item to date in 2016 on Gary's own record label PALISADE RECORDS.
     Gary is the lead guitarist and musical director for Florida's #1 Ozzy Osbourne tribute band called DIARY OF AN OZZMAN, booked through Maximum Bands
     In 2017 Gary started a new band project called PANIC FIRE, a re-branding of his original music.  Panic Fire triples as a working cover band, original band and is the backbone of Diary of an Ozzman, and sometimes PF opens for DOAO, convenient!  
     2019 Gary joins Tampa Bay original hard rock band Mr. Bella.  A 20 year veteran band of the FL scene, they've opened for such nationals such as Stryper at the house of Blues Orlando.  

     In 2021 Gary started a Van Halen tribute band called Live Without A Net with some of Tampa’s greatest talents.

ACHIEVEMENTS
     In June of 1992, Gary was featured in the "Spotlight" column of Guitar Player Magazine.
     In June of 1993, Gary showed up in Guitar for the Practicing Musician Magazine's "Resume" column.
     In 2000, Gary performed "Live Wire" as a medley on the Motley Crue tribute CD "Kickstar My Heart" on Pulse Records.
     In 2008 Gary performed the track "Carry Me Away" on a Rick Springfield tribute CD "Workign Class Dogs" on Fast Lane Records.
     On 11/13/2010 Gary's 6 piece original band played the annual RIBFEST in St Pete FL opening for Rick Springfield and Grand Funk Railroad before 10,000 people!
     Gary Schutt Band won the local round of the Hard Rock Rising 2012 global band competition, beating 12,000 bands worldwide to be one of the 86 GLOBAL finalist competing to play at the Hard Rock Calling Festival in London. read more click here
     On 9/27/2013 Gary performes solo as part of the Melodic Rock Fest 3, a three day weekend concert of big melodic rock act from all over the world including Eric Martin, Ted Poley, W.E.T., Eclipse, Heaven And Earth, Harem Scarem and Steve Augeri. 
    On 10/27/2017 Gary performed his solo act at the opening night Rock N Skull rock festival in Tremont IL on the same bill as Jack Russell of Great White, and many others. The other nights included Enuff Z Nuff, Bullet Boys, Tango Down and L.A. Guns.

TOURS
Since 2001, Gary has done numerous world tours as bassist for Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen, Journey, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Queen Extravaganza, Sons Of Apollo). Gary has performed with Jeff's band in Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Holland, Belgium, England, Ireland, U.S., Brazil and Australia and can be heard on many of Jeff's albums and seen on his live DVD's. 
In the spring of 2005 Gary did a two week tour as lead guitarist for singer, songwriter, model, surf champ Daize Shayne

FESTIVALS
RIBFEST (St Pete FL) - November 2010 - Gary Schutt Band, Rick Springfield, Grand Funk Railroad...
MELODIC ROCK FEST (Chicago IL)  - September 2013 - Gary Schutt solo, Eric Martin, Glen Burtnik...
ROCK N SKULL (Tremont IL) - October 2017 - Gary Schutt solo, Jack Russell...

PERFORMED WITH
Gregg and Matt Bissonette (David Lee Roth), Neal Schon (Journey), Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Dave Meniketti (Y&T), Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow), Bobby Kimball (Toto), Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen, Journey, Sons Of Apollo, more), Buck Dharma (Blue Oyster Cult), Ken Tamplin, Doug Aldrich (Dio, Whitesnake), Jimmy Paxson (Alanis Morrisette, Rod Stewart), Joe Travers (Duran Duran, Dweezil Zappa), Brian Tichy (Billy Idol, Foreigner, Whitesnake), Glen Sobel (Alice Cooper), John DeServio (Black Label Society), Steve Ferlazzo (Avril Lavine), Bryan Beller (Joe Satriani, The Aristocrats, Steve Vai, Dethklok), Mars Cowling (Pat Travers), Chris Wormer (Charlie Daniels, Jo Dee Messina), Ryan Hoyle (Collective Soul), Tom McDyne & Kevin Rothney (John Oliva's Pain), Casey Grillo (Kamelot, Queensryche), Michael Angelo Batio, Courtney Cox (Iron Maidens), Jeff Martin (Racer X), Matt Thompson (King Diamond), Ralph Santolla, Zak Stevens (Savatoge, Circle II Circle), Ira Black (Vicious Rumours, Dokken), Pontus Norgren (HammerFall), Chris McCarvill (Dokken, House of Lords), Jack Frost, Neil Turbin (Anthrax), Dewey Bragg (Kill Devil Hill), Jimmy D'Anda, August Zandra (Dennis DeYoung), Ronny North, Melissa McGhee (American Idol season 5), Joey Dee (“The Peppermint Twist”). 

SHARED THE BILL WITH
KISS & MOTLEY CRUE (pre-show), BON JOVI (pre-show), SLAUGHTER-MITCH PERRY-JAKYL-SEBASTIAN BACH (opener), STEEL PANTHER (opener), ALICE COOPER (3x pre-show), DREAM THEATER (2x pre-show), WHITESNAKE (pre-show), Criss Angel (pre-show), JEFF BECK (pre-show), QUEENSRYCHE (2x pre-show), ROCK OF AGES (pre-show), ERIC MARTIN (2x opener), SOTO (opener), PAT TRAVERS (opener), LINKIN PARK (pre-show), LENNY KRAVITZ (opener), EXTREME (opener), NIGHT RANGER (opener & pre-show), GHOST (pre-show), TESLA (pre-show), SAIGON KICK (opener), BOSTON (pre-show), PETER FRAMPTON (2x pre-show), N'SYNC (opener), JANET JACKSON (pre-show), EDDIE MONEY (opener), BTO (opener), The FOUR TOPS (opener), WAR (opener), AMBROSIA (opener), AVERAGE WHITE BAND (opener), HARDLINE (opener), STEELHEART (opener), HONEYMOON SUITE (opener), TYKETTO (opener), SCRAP METAL (members of Slaughter, Night Ranger & Nelson - opener), MICHAEL W. SMITH (opener), K.C. & the SUNSHINE BAND (opener), RICK SPRINGFIELD (opener), ROBBIE STIENHARDT (opener),  CORKY LAING (opener),  GRAND FUNK RAILROAD (opener), MARTY BALIN (opener), ZO2 (opener), THE ARISTOCRATS (opener), MICHAEL ANGELO BATIO (opener), FOZZY (opener), COLD (opener), BUSH (pre-show, SLIPPERY WHEN WET (2x opener), SAIGON KICK (opener), MADAME MAYHEM (opener), SAINT MOTEL (97X promo gig), JACK RUSSELL (opener), EDGAR WINTER (opener), JOHN CAFFERTY (opener), JOE STUMP (opener), Texas Hippie Coalition (opener). Satriani Vai 2024 (pre-show).

 

Notable venues performed at:  Hard Rock Live (Orlando 2x), House of Blues (Orlando 2x), House of Blues Myrtle Beach, House of Blues New Orleans (3x), Daytona Beach Band Shell, Jannus Live St Pete FL, Ruth Eckerd Hall Cafe Stage (numerous), The Orpheum Ybor/Tampa, Vinnoy Park (4x) St Pete FL, Whiskey A Go-Go Hollywood CA, The Roxy Holywood CA, The Cavern Club Liverpool UK (2x), Hard Rock Cafe Vegas, Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood CA, Hard Rock Cafe Universal CA, Hard Rock Cafe Tampa (numerous), Hard Rock Cafe San Fransisco, Berklee Performance Center (2x).  

ENDORSEMENTS
Gary is currently an endorsing artist with Peavey Electronics, Atomic Guitars, DiMarzio Pickups, Blue Magic Strings, Tremol-no, Gator Cases.

live with Jeff Scott Soto

Commodore 64

Bohemian Rhapsody

Gonna Die Trying