Held in Anaheim, California, this year’s National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) show takes place Jan. 24 -28. The event is a platform for music industry dealers and distributors looking to demonstrate the latest products. Trade-exclusive exhibitors are the main attraction; guests attend by invitation. But music gear is not the only star. Naturally, when unveiling their equipment, NAMM association members employ the best musicians, including singer and guitarist extraordinaire Melia Maccarone.

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An endorsed artist with GHS® strings, Sinister® guitar picks and Spectraflex® cables, Melia, who began playing after attending a Green Day concert, has been known to shred anything having fret wires and humbucker pickups. In fact, after high school graduation, at one GD show, Billy Joe Armstrong called Melia up to play guitar on the band’s “Jesus Of Suburbia.” That was just the start of things to come.

An indie, award-winning musician, Maccarone’s video “Bats Beneath Moonlight” and “Deep Waters” continue to be favorites with the singer-songwriter’s growing legion of fans, who sometimes refer to the guitarist as the “Purple Princess,” her signature color. Melia has shared the same stage with, among others, The Offspring, Eve 6, Steve Vai, Lacuna Coil and Buckcherry. If you get the chance, stop by the GHS® strings exhibit, Hall D, booth 4614, on Sat., Jan. 27 at 3:30pm for Melia’s interview.