Rock guitarist, guitar player and session musician, Richard Barber - available for hire for your working band in Oahu, Hawaii

Richard Barber
My Teacher, the Rockstar

By Damon Galo Calizo

Imagine sitting in a classroom with a rockstar as a teacher. Doesn't that, well, rock? Richard Barber will be just that, once his group's debut album is released. A teacher by day and an electric guitarist the rest of the time, Richard's greatest ambition is to make an honest living out of playing rock music. The urge to play and create original rock songs was so strong that his band, Borrison Ivy was soon born.

What turns you off?
"People's willful ignorance. By that, I mean people who are happy in their ignorance and argue for it and defend it.

A bit like how most people can't, and don't, critically think, but just mouth the opinions, thoughts and ideas that they have unconsciously imbibed from their surrounding culture while getting older."

If I had a super power.....
"I would end world hunger. The fact that we still have world hunger is absolutely shameful. Powerful governments should not rest until they have tried as hard as possible to get food, running water, shelter, medicine and education to EVERY fellow human being on this planet."

My most embarrassing moment was when.......
"I went to a job interview wearing a t-shirt and trousers, and my fly was undone."

The most important thing I've ever learned is that.......
"One should never stop learning, improving, growing, developing and making mistakes. I have learned that it is important to make as many mistakes as possible, and learn from them."

Words to live by?
"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates

What's your favourite place in the whole world?
"My mind. It's also my least favourite place sometimes."