Shred Sean: Blessed by a Broken Heart, Those Guys, and a Life Built on Guitar

“I can’t stop. I’ll stop when I die.”That line sums up Sean Maier’s story.Known to many as Shred Sean, Sean is a guitarist, songwriter, teacher, and performer whose life with music started the way so many great stories do: with one song that changed everything.For Sean, that song was Bush’s “Glycerine.” He heard it as a kid, picked up the guitar, and never really put it down. What started with a seventh-grade guitar class and a few power chords quickly turned into hours of practice, a deep dive into players like Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, George Lynch, Nuno Bettencourt, and Paul Gilbert, and a lifelong obsession with getting better.In this episode of The SoCal Setlist with Brian Jensen, Sean talks about growing up in Long Island, working in his parents’ deli, trading sandwiches for VHS shred guitar lessons, building confidence through small wins, and eventually joining Blessed by a Broken Heart after answering a MySpace bulletin looking for a shred guitar player.By 21, Sean had left New York to join the band in Montreal, and by 22 he was touring Europe, signing record deals, recording in major studios, and touring with the band globally.But this conversation is not just about the highlight reel.Sean also talks about the grind: sleeping on floors, touring out of vans, dealing with criticism, watching opportunities come and go, and learning that a career in music requires serious thick skin. As he puts it, people are going to doubt you, and you have to really believe in yourself.From playing large stages in front of thousands, to finding new ways to keep his original music alive, Sean’s story is a reminder that the path is rarely straight, but the people who last are the ones who keep finding a way.This is the story of someone who has passion, purpose, and relentless drive.In This EpisodeSean and Brian talk about:How Bush’s “Glycerine” sparked Sean’s love for guitarGrowing up in Long Island and working in his parents’ deliLearning guitar in seventh grade and getting laughed at during an early performanceBuilding confidence through small winsDiscovering Van Halen, Yngwie, George Lynch, Nuno Bettencourt, and Paul GilbertTrading deli sandwiches for VHS shred guitar lessonsJoining Blessed by a Broken Heart through MySpaceLeaving New York for Montreal at 21Touring Europe and signing international record dealsRecording Pedal to the Metal Playing in JapanWhy musicians need thick skinWhy Sean says he’ll keep playing music no matter whatHis current work with Those Guys and his own original musicFollow Sean on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shredstarz/Watch the official video for "Megadrive" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9MZlI5Ux94SoCal Soundcheck is sponsored by Tsunami Cables.SoCal Soundcheck is proud to be sponsored by Tsunami Cables. These are high-quality, dependable cables built for working musicians, serious players, and anyone who values gear that performs night after night.When your signal matters, your cable matters.Use promo code SOCALSOUND at checkout for 10% off your order at TsunamiCables.com.