“A versatile, highly experienced and qualified guitarist and teacher - Chris has the ability to play a wide variety of genres and teach them in depth alongside technique and theory”
15+ years in the music industry
BA(Hons) Degree in Professional Music Performance
Enhanced DBS Certificate
The Rock Project, Berkshire from 2015 – 2020
Chris is a professional musician and teacher who has been working in the industry for over 15 years and has gained vast amounts of experience along the way. He is passionate, educated and highly creative, specialising in songwriting, performance and teaching . From performing to recording, composing to lyric writing, rehearsing to teaching, he has learned from the best and honed his skills to now pass on to you!
MARISA AND THE MOTHS
Christian Rivers, known as Chris Merton at the time, wrote, recorded and performed with MARISA AND THE MOTHS - a Reading based, Female-Fronted, Modern Grunge-Rock Band. MARISA AND THE MOTHS won a 2019 Album of the Year Award, Classic Rock Magazine’s track of the week, have been played on Kerrang, Planet Rock and BBC Radio, amongst many others.
Click the Links below to hear Chris’ work with MARISA AND THE MOTHS:
MARISA AND THE MOTHS Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/4AjGhQCCyOseKcUC5O1U7b?si=whnPIrQcTQC6f8Z-99HLJQ
MARISA AND THE MOTHS YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvRszL6fh2G_YAj0-hlqalQ
Overseas Work
Chris worked as a Lead Guitarist in a various function bands in Dubai and on ferries around Europe for many years. Chris would perform 3 hours a night, 6 nights a week in luxury venues worldwide. With a current repertoire of over 1000 songs and the ability to learn and perform up to 50 new songs a week, ranging from Elton John to Rage Against the Machine and everything in-between, there is no musical challenge he cannot rise to. “Music is my life, and for me, there is nothing more rewarding than playing and performing with talented, like-minded musicians and artists and passing on my skills and knowledge to my students”. Click the video to the right to see examples of Chris’ performances in Dubai from 2013 - 2015.
Band and Session Work
Chris has been in 2 successful originals bands and also writes and records his own original songs. Chris currently plays lead guitar in various function bands, where he is also a backing vocalist. As a Professional Session Guitarist, Chris is used to laying down guitar tracks for Albums, Promotional Videos and even Nursery Rhymes. Click the videos below to see examples of Chris’ Lead Guitar work.
Crazy Diamond - Pink Floyd Tribute Band
Chris was impressively the Lead Guitarist in a Pink Floyd tribute act called Crazy Diamond, which toured extensively in the UK. He spent hours upon hours studying David Gilmour’s style and sound and is able to replicate it with unbelievable accuracy. Click the videos below to see examples of Chris’ performances with Crazy Diamond.
