While shred is obviously dead, and good music doesn't need to have technical guitar work, don't you think that there is a significant lack of creativity and musicianship in the industry today?
Q. How long do you think pop will rule, and what do you hope or think the next trend will be?

"Shred" was never 'alive', and 'technical' can be defined many ways. All the guitar you hear on the radio or tv is the pro standard. The gtr players on late-night tv can play circles around any of the 'technical' guitarists that are out there. Those are the real players, working and entertaining, as well as having an endless arsenal of deep chops. There is no lack of creativity and musicianship in the industry any more or less than there ever was, it's just that your musical taste may not be evolving. Nothing wrong with that, but pop will always rule, that's what popular music is. Musicians are just the ones who play it. Thanx 4 the questions!