Age: 52. Lives in: Uptown. Occupation: Manufacturer/owner, Z.Vex Effects.
Q: You sell hand-painted guitar pedals through your company Z.Vex Effects. Where did that idea come from?
A: In 1995 I was unemployed and built myself a guitar pedal on my kitchen table for fun. I painted it and took it to Willie's American Guitars to show it off. They placed an order immediately. I was surprised -- I had never considered manufacturing them.
Q: Who are some of your celebrity clients?
A: The Edge, Jack White, J. Mascis, AC/DC, Bill Corgan, Joe Perry, Trent Reznor, Black Eyed Peas and Beck, to name a few. Noel Gallagher gifted one to Chris Martin.
Q: We hear you're an electric dragster enthusiast. Are you competitive or do you just do it for kicks?
A: I've built up a million-watt car with my girlfriend Stella Kostolna and some buddies, and Stella and I plan to break the quarter-mile record for the National Electric Drag Race Association's XS/A3 class this month in Phoenix. We also drag race my Tesla Roadster Sport as often as we can.
Q: You're also a big road tripper. What's your ride?
![A black bear stopped after crossing Big Bay Road on Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin, on Monday, May 31, 2021. ]](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/PWNYGIY3WTSWDBOGOYD775DPP4.jpg?&w=80&ar=1:1&fit=crop)
