Greg Handevidt was born in 1965 in Concord, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. His family later moved to Jackson, Minnesota where he metDavid Ellefson when they were 10 years old. Shortly after graduating from high school, the two moved to Hollywood, CA in order to pursue careers in music. They rented an apartment directly below the apartment where Dave Mustaine lived. Dave Mustaine had parted ways with Metallica only weeks earlier. Mustaine, Ellefson and Handevidt then formed Megadeth. Shortly thereafter, Dijon Carruthers joined the band on drums. Only months afterMegadeth was formed, Handevidt returned to Minnesota. He moved to Marshall, Minnesota where, in 1985, he formed Kublai Khan with Kevin Idso, John Fedde and Michael Liska. The band opened for numerous national and international acts such as King Diamond, Kreator, Voivod and Metal Church. Kublai Khan played underground for some time until their 1987 debut album, Annihilation. Despite the recording being met with very good reviews, Kublai Khan disbanded 2 years later. In 1989, Handevidt joined the military and served in the U.S. Navy until 1998. Today, Greg Handevidt is an attorney licensed to practice law in California and Minnesota. He resides, with his family, in Minnesota.[
Dijon Carruthers - Was the drummer for Megadeth in 1983 but contributed nothing to a full album
Lee Rausch - Was the drummer for Megadeth in 1983 and was featured on the 1984 demo "Last Rites"
Kerry Ray King (born June 3, 1964[1]) is an American musician, best known as the lead and rhythm guitarist for the American thrash metal band,Slayer. He co-founded the band with Jeff Hanneman in 1981 and has been a member ever since. He has made guest appearances with acts including the Beastie Boys, Marilyn Manson, Pantera, Anthrax, Ice-T, Witchery, Sum 41, Megadeth and Metallica. He is known for playing B.C. Rich guitars with Marshall amplifiers.
King was born in Los Angeles, California. His father was an aircraft parts inspector, and his mother was an employee of a telephone company. When he was a teenager, Kerry started learning guitar at Calvano's music in South Gate Ca. Russ Dismuke was his teacher. Kerry began his career in a Pat Boone cover band. Kerry moved to Phoenix, Arizona as an adult. He divorced once; his current wife is Ayesha King.[2] In 1981 King was trying out for the position as a guitarist in a band. After the session was over Jeff Hanneman approached him and the two began playing Iron Maiden and Judas Priest songs with the session drummer. Hanneman mentioned "Why don’t we start our OWN band?” [Laughs] I was like, “… Fuck yeah!"[3] King's trademark appearance, was praised to such a degree by Blender magazine, who included a tour of his body ink.[4] King'sacronym, KFK, was revealed to mean "Kerry Fuckin' King" in the January 2007 Issue of Guitar World.[5] King currently resides in Corona, California.
Guest appearancesIn addition to appearing on Slayer's albums, he has also made several guest appearances as lead guitarist. While lending production to 1986’sReign in Blood, Rick Rubin was also helming production of the Beastie Boys debut album Licensed to Ill. Rubin felt the track "No Sleep till Brooklyn" needed a guitar solo, so he offered King several hundred dollars to lay down the part.[6] King has since commented that his playing ability "certainly wasn’t that of a virtuoso".[6] "No Sleep till Brooklyn", whose title was a spoof on Motörhead’s 1981 live album No Sleep 'til Hammersmith, was originally intended to feature King being knocked offstage by a gorilla in its music video though King refused.[6] King replied, "If there’s gonna be anyone knocking anyone offstage, it’ll be me knocking the gorilla", which is what subsequently happened.[6] King has reminisced that he thought the Beastie Boys were cool, although never having heard any of their music at the time.[6] On Licensed to Ill, King also played the guitar solo on the song "Fight For Your Right (To Party)".[7]
King contributed a lead guitar outro part to Pantera’s song "Goddamn Electric", which appeared on the 2000 album Reinventing the Steel.[8] King’s rig was set up in Pantera’s bathroom backstage just after Ozzfest in Dallas, as the group still didn't have their own dressing room on top of not appearing on the festival bill.[8] After King had finished the first take, Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell ran in and yelled "DON’T LET HIM DO IT AGAIN!"[8] King tried again with the hope he would find a superior rendition, though the first take was used.[8] King has also made several guest appearances in Marilyn Manson's "Rape Of The World" tour, joining the band to play classic tracks such as "Little Horn", "1996" and "Irresponsible Hate Anthem". Many fans noticed elements of King's own style used on these occasions.[9] On October 21, 2010, the finale date of the Jägermeister Music Tour, King joined Megadeth on stage, at the Gibson Amphitheater in Hollywood, California to perform "Rattlehead" which was the first time in 26 years that King has shared the stage with Megadeth and Inan with his band.[10]
[edit]Feuds
King has had well-publicized disagreements with several of his contemporaries, including a long-standing feud with Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, who attempted to persuade King to leave the "poseurs," "lame spikes," and "eyeliner" of Slayer behind and focus on Megadeth. In GuitarWorld.com's Dear Guitar Hero, King noted that he "admires him to this day" as a guitarist, though he considered Mustaine a "hypocrite."[11] In 2009 Slayer and Megadeth co-headlined a small, four show Canadian tour.[12] In January 2010, Dave Mustaine and Kerry King were in a T.G.I. Friday's in Temecula, California, getting to know each other again.[13] The feud between King and Mustaine was suggested by a Blabbermouth.net interview to have been dropped after a chance meeting at an airport, as King noted that he "just couldn't remember" what the feud was about anymore.[14]
There was a feud between King and Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn, who claims that King started "talking shit about us out of nowhere."[15] King labeled Machine Head as “sell-outs” after the release of their 2001 album Supercharger. King continued to criticize the band stating "They're responsible for rap-metal," "they fooled me into thinking they're metal," "'they have no integrity left."[15] Flynn has since noted that King has "finally squashed the beef."[16] When Lars Ulrich proposed in 2009 a tour between the "Big Four" thrash metal bands, King suggested that Machine Head be included instead of Anthrax, because the latter was going through a lot of turmoil during that time.[17] King stated in an interview that Machine Head's The Blackening is "kick-ass."[18]
In 2006, Slayer's producer Rick Rubin lent production to Metallica's then-untitled Death Magnetic album, instead of Slayer for their album Christ Illusion. King deemed this action a "slap in the fucking face,"[19] labeling Metallica as a "sinking ship."[20] During an interview on drummers, King said that Soulfly drummer Joe Nunez did not join Slayer because "his mother wouldn't let him," that Adrian Erlandsson "hits his drums like a fag," and that Raymond Herrera "has no hands".[21] In 2011, a whole 9 years later, Adrian Erlandsson responded by posting a photo on his Lockerz account of a bent bass drum beater along with the caption, "Up yours, Mr. King, soft hitters don't bend bass drum beaters!"[22]
[edit]Style and influenceKerry King's first experience with a guitar was when he was a child.[23] Early albums, such as Hell Awaits and Reign in Blood, featured a "wailing style" and "demented soloing often mimicking the screams of the song's victims."[24] Steve Huey of Allmusic described his and Jeff Hannemans guitar solos as "wildly chaotic,"[25] and Thom Jurek, also of Allmusic, described his work on 2006'sChrist Illusion as "create an intensely harrowing and angular riff that changes from verse to verse, through the refrain and bridge, and comes back again.
King was born in Los Angeles, California. His father was an aircraft parts inspector, and his mother was an employee of a telephone company. When he was a teenager, Kerry started learning guitar at Calvano's music in South Gate Ca. Russ Dismuke was his teacher. Kerry began his career in a Pat Boone cover band. Kerry moved to Phoenix, Arizona as an adult. He divorced once; his current wife is Ayesha King.[2] In 1981 King was trying out for the position as a guitarist in a band. After the session was over Jeff Hanneman approached him and the two began playing Iron Maiden and Judas Priest songs with the session drummer. Hanneman mentioned "Why don’t we start our OWN band?” [Laughs] I was like, “… Fuck yeah!"[3] King's trademark appearance, was praised to such a degree by Blender magazine, who included a tour of his body ink.[4] King'sacronym, KFK, was revealed to mean "Kerry Fuckin' King" in the January 2007 Issue of Guitar World.[5] King currently resides in Corona, California.
Guest appearancesIn addition to appearing on Slayer's albums, he has also made several guest appearances as lead guitarist. While lending production to 1986’sReign in Blood, Rick Rubin was also helming production of the Beastie Boys debut album Licensed to Ill. Rubin felt the track "No Sleep till Brooklyn" needed a guitar solo, so he offered King several hundred dollars to lay down the part.[6] King has since commented that his playing ability "certainly wasn’t that of a virtuoso".[6] "No Sleep till Brooklyn", whose title was a spoof on Motörhead’s 1981 live album No Sleep 'til Hammersmith, was originally intended to feature King being knocked offstage by a gorilla in its music video though King refused.[6] King replied, "If there’s gonna be anyone knocking anyone offstage, it’ll be me knocking the gorilla", which is what subsequently happened.[6] King has reminisced that he thought the Beastie Boys were cool, although never having heard any of their music at the time.[6] On Licensed to Ill, King also played the guitar solo on the song "Fight For Your Right (To Party)".[7]
King contributed a lead guitar outro part to Pantera’s song "Goddamn Electric", which appeared on the 2000 album Reinventing the Steel.[8] King’s rig was set up in Pantera’s bathroom backstage just after Ozzfest in Dallas, as the group still didn't have their own dressing room on top of not appearing on the festival bill.[8] After King had finished the first take, Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell ran in and yelled "DON’T LET HIM DO IT AGAIN!"[8] King tried again with the hope he would find a superior rendition, though the first take was used.[8] King has also made several guest appearances in Marilyn Manson's "Rape Of The World" tour, joining the band to play classic tracks such as "Little Horn", "1996" and "Irresponsible Hate Anthem". Many fans noticed elements of King's own style used on these occasions.[9] On October 21, 2010, the finale date of the Jägermeister Music Tour, King joined Megadeth on stage, at the Gibson Amphitheater in Hollywood, California to perform "Rattlehead" which was the first time in 26 years that King has shared the stage with Megadeth and Inan with his band.[10]
[edit]Feuds
King has had well-publicized disagreements with several of his contemporaries, including a long-standing feud with Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, who attempted to persuade King to leave the "poseurs," "lame spikes," and "eyeliner" of Slayer behind and focus on Megadeth. In GuitarWorld.com's Dear Guitar Hero, King noted that he "admires him to this day" as a guitarist, though he considered Mustaine a "hypocrite."[11] In 2009 Slayer and Megadeth co-headlined a small, four show Canadian tour.[12] In January 2010, Dave Mustaine and Kerry King were in a T.G.I. Friday's in Temecula, California, getting to know each other again.[13] The feud between King and Mustaine was suggested by a Blabbermouth.net interview to have been dropped after a chance meeting at an airport, as King noted that he "just couldn't remember" what the feud was about anymore.[14]
There was a feud between King and Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn, who claims that King started "talking shit about us out of nowhere."[15] King labeled Machine Head as “sell-outs” after the release of their 2001 album Supercharger. King continued to criticize the band stating "They're responsible for rap-metal," "they fooled me into thinking they're metal," "'they have no integrity left."[15] Flynn has since noted that King has "finally squashed the beef."[16] When Lars Ulrich proposed in 2009 a tour between the "Big Four" thrash metal bands, King suggested that Machine Head be included instead of Anthrax, because the latter was going through a lot of turmoil during that time.[17] King stated in an interview that Machine Head's The Blackening is "kick-ass."[18]
In 2006, Slayer's producer Rick Rubin lent production to Metallica's then-untitled Death Magnetic album, instead of Slayer for their album Christ Illusion. King deemed this action a "slap in the fucking face,"[19] labeling Metallica as a "sinking ship."[20] During an interview on drummers, King said that Soulfly drummer Joe Nunez did not join Slayer because "his mother wouldn't let him," that Adrian Erlandsson "hits his drums like a fag," and that Raymond Herrera "has no hands".[21] In 2011, a whole 9 years later, Adrian Erlandsson responded by posting a photo on his Lockerz account of a bent bass drum beater along with the caption, "Up yours, Mr. King, soft hitters don't bend bass drum beaters!"[22]
[edit]Style and influenceKerry King's first experience with a guitar was when he was a child.[23] Early albums, such as Hell Awaits and Reign in Blood, featured a "wailing style" and "demented soloing often mimicking the screams of the song's victims."[24] Steve Huey of Allmusic described his and Jeff Hannemans guitar solos as "wildly chaotic,"[25] and Thom Jurek, also of Allmusic, described his work on 2006'sChrist Illusion as "create an intensely harrowing and angular riff that changes from verse to verse, through the refrain and bridge, and comes back again.
Gary C. "Gar" Samuelson (February 18, 1958 in Dunkirk, New York – July 14, 1999 in Orange City, Florida) was a drummer best remembered for his work with the thrash metal band Megadeth from 1984–1987, contributing to their first 2 albums.
[edit]BiographyLittle is known about Samuelson before he joined Megadeth. It is known that he and Chris Poland played in a jazz fusion band called The New Yorkers, and that before this, both practiced and played together for many years.
After meeting with Dave Mustaine and Dave Ellefson of Megadeth in 1984, he joined the band, and Poland soon followed, this being what Mustaine refers to as 'the first real line-up'. Samuelson would go on to serve as the band's drummer until 1987, appearing on the albums Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, and Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?, as well as serving through tours, until he was ultimately fired for his extreme drug addictions, especially heroin.[citation needed] Gar's style was heavily influenced by years of jazz training. This is exemplified in the tracks "These Boots" and "Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!". Samuelson's work on Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? was slightly simpler and more economical to the song structure, which had evolved rapidly from the debut album. He was considered a very unorthodox drummer among the other thrash metal bands of the 1980s. He and his brother Stew, along with Billy Brehme, Travis Karcher and Andy Freeman, formed Fatal Opera, which released a self-titled album in 1995 and the Eleventh Hour in 1997.
Gar is known as one of the first drummers to use DW drums. He used DW drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Remo drum heads, and what was known to be early Vater Drumsticks.
[edit]DeathSamuelson died at the age of 41 in Orange City, Florida on July 14, 1999; the cause of death was reportedly liver failure. His body was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Atlantic Ocean; also, a memorial service was made in Lankford Chapel. It is unknown if Mustaine or any other Megadeth members attended these ceremonies.
On July 25, 1999, Mustaine dedicated a performance of the song "Peace Sells" in Samuelson's memory, at the Woodstock Festival. Long-time friend and bandmate Chris Poland said about Samuelson: "He was a true friend. Everything I know about—time, rhythm and feel—I learned from Gar, so I'll always hear his voice in my music." His drumming was an influence in variations of extreme metal.
The 2002 remixed and remastered version of 'Killing Is My Business..." is "dedicated to the memory of Gar Samuelson".
[edit]BiographyLittle is known about Samuelson before he joined Megadeth. It is known that he and Chris Poland played in a jazz fusion band called The New Yorkers, and that before this, both practiced and played together for many years.
After meeting with Dave Mustaine and Dave Ellefson of Megadeth in 1984, he joined the band, and Poland soon followed, this being what Mustaine refers to as 'the first real line-up'. Samuelson would go on to serve as the band's drummer until 1987, appearing on the albums Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, and Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?, as well as serving through tours, until he was ultimately fired for his extreme drug addictions, especially heroin.[citation needed] Gar's style was heavily influenced by years of jazz training. This is exemplified in the tracks "These Boots" and "Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!". Samuelson's work on Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? was slightly simpler and more economical to the song structure, which had evolved rapidly from the debut album. He was considered a very unorthodox drummer among the other thrash metal bands of the 1980s. He and his brother Stew, along with Billy Brehme, Travis Karcher and Andy Freeman, formed Fatal Opera, which released a self-titled album in 1995 and the Eleventh Hour in 1997.
Gar is known as one of the first drummers to use DW drums. He used DW drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Remo drum heads, and what was known to be early Vater Drumsticks.
[edit]DeathSamuelson died at the age of 41 in Orange City, Florida on July 14, 1999; the cause of death was reportedly liver failure. His body was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Atlantic Ocean; also, a memorial service was made in Lankford Chapel. It is unknown if Mustaine or any other Megadeth members attended these ceremonies.
On July 25, 1999, Mustaine dedicated a performance of the song "Peace Sells" in Samuelson's memory, at the Woodstock Festival. Long-time friend and bandmate Chris Poland said about Samuelson: "He was a true friend. Everything I know about—time, rhythm and feel—I learned from Gar, so I'll always hear his voice in my music." His drumming was an influence in variations of extreme metal.
The 2002 remixed and remastered version of 'Killing Is My Business..." is "dedicated to the memory of Gar Samuelson".
Chris Poland (born December 1, 1957) is an American guitarist, best known for being a former member of thrash metal band Megadeth.
Early careerPoland began playing the guitar in high school in Dunkirk, New York. He later replaced a former guitar instructor, Dick "Max" Maxfield, in the Cambridge, NY based rock/jazz band Welkin. He moved to Los Angeles in 1977, where from 1977 to 1982 he was the lead guitarist in the New Yorkers, a Jazz/Rock fusion band, with Robert Pagliari on fretless bass, Gar Samuelson on drums, Stu Samuelson on guitar, and Don Roper on saxophone. He says that he learnt timing playing with Gar and also that playing with him made him a better player.
[edit]MegadethIn 1984, Poland's bandmate from the New Yorkers, Gar Samuelson, became the drummer of thrash metal band Megadeth. Megadeth had been formed the previous year by Dave Mustaine, the original lead guitarist of fellow thrash metal band Metallica, who had been fired from the band because of his substance abuse. After seeing Samuelson perform live with Megadeth, Poland went backstage and suggested an impromptu audition as a lead guitarist. Poland thereafter became a full member of the band, along with Samuelson, Mustaine, and bass player David Ellefson.
In 1985, Megadeth released their first album Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!, which showcased Poland's dynamic style of playing. However, he was arrested by police for trying to score heroin, Poland left the band during the tour to support the album, and was replaced temporarily by guitarist Mike Albert. Poland later rejoined the band to record their second album Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? in 1986. The album was highly acclaimed critically for both its instrumental and lyrical complexity, and is today considered widely to be one of the defining records of thrash metal. Allmusic referred to Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? as "One of the most influential metal albums of its decade, and certainly one of the few truly definitive thrash albums".[1]
Mustaine later referred to Poland as "an amazing guitar player—he can play circles around me".[2] However, Poland and Samuelson's relations with Mustaine and Ellefson worsened, due in part to the former's increasing drug dependencies which led to the pair pawning the band's equipment to fund their drug habits.
In July 1987, a conflict arose between Mustaine and Poland regarding a t-shirt contract that Poland claimed to have been left out of. Poland quit the band in protest leading to an ongoing feud between the two musicians. For Megadeth's third album So Far, So Good... So What! Mustaine wrote a song called "Liar" about Poland's drug use and lifestyle. Mustaine would regularly dedicate it to Poland during live performances.
[edit]Post-MegadethAfter leaving Megadeth, Poland was treated successfully for substance abuse, and joined punk rock legends The Circle Jerks as a bass player. In 1990, he released Return to Metalopolis a solo heavy metal/jazz fusion album. Shortly beforehand, he agreed to record demos for Megadeth's fourth album, Rust in Peace, but declined what would be the first of two offers to re-join the band permanently (in this instance partly because of his concentration on his solo album, and the fact that, since most of the album's music and arrangements had already been written, Poland felt that the scope for his input would be limited). Guitarist Marty Friedman joined Megadeth later that year, and adapted some of Poland's guitar solos for the release version of Rust in Peace, which would go on to be one of Megadeth's most critically praised albums.
In the mid to late 1990s, Poland worked on other collaborative musical projects, including the progressive rock band Damn the Machine, with David Randi on bass, and Dave Clemmons as vocalist and co-guitarist. In 1993, the band released their eponymous debut album (on A&M Records), with strongly political lyrical content. They also released a promotional record, Silence, featuring covers of "I'd Love to Change the World" by blues-rock band Ten Years After, and "Cat Food" by progressive rock/jazz fusion band King Crimson.
Upon Dave Clemmons' departure from the band, the remaining members recruited a new vocalist, John Skipp, and re-formed as Mumbo's Brain, recording Excerpts From The Book Of Mumbo in 1995. The band disbanded following the departures of David Randi, and John Skipp.
[edit]2000sIn 2000, ten years after the release of Return to Metalopolis, Poland released his second solo album, Chasing the Sun, as well as a solo compilation album Rare Trax. In 2007, he released Return to Metalopolis - Live, featuring a live performance of the titular album.
Poland is currently a member of the primarily jazz fusion band OHM, formed in 2002, with Poland on guitar, Kofi Baker on drums and Robertino Pagliari on bass guitar. They released their self-titled debut album in 2003, followed by Amino Acid Flashback in 2005, and Circus of Sound in 2008. The band also released a live album in 2004, and a DVD, Live at the New Brookland Tavern, in 2006.
In 2003, Poland performed a solo on Purified from the Lamb of God album As The Palaces Burn. The following year, he contributed to Lamb of God's next album, Ashes of the Wake, with a guitar solo on the album's instrumental title-track (beginning at 3:45 and ending at 4:15).
In a surprise turn in 2004, Dave Mustaine requested Poland to record guitar solos for the Megadeth record The System Has Failed, the first Megadeth album not to feature original bass player and founding member David Ellefson. Poland recorded the solos on a contractual basis, but did not re-join the band. Poland and Mustaine subsequently came into dispute with one another over payments relating to the album, however, they appear to have made amends once more as Poland began posting on the official Megadeth online message board.
In 2008, Poland appeared on Misty Mountain Hop: A Millennium Tribute to Led Zeppelin by heavy metal/hard rock band Harry Slash & The Slashtones. The following year, he recorded a track for the compilation record Guitars That Ate My Brain (which also includes a track by Guns N' Roses' guitarist Bumblefoot).
In 2009, Poland formed OHMphrey, a side-project with Robby Pagliari of OHM, and Jake Cinninger, Kris Myers, and Joel Cummins of progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee. OHMphrey's debut album, OHMphrey, was released through Magna Carta Records on May 19, 2009.
[edit]Playing stylePoland has a severed tendon on the index finger on his fret hand, which allows him to stretch unusually far with his finger. He has partially attributed the greater flexibility that this affords him to the evolution of his signature guitar playing style, defined by smoothly phrased passages and wide intervallic leaps.
[edit]Discography
Solo albums
Early careerPoland began playing the guitar in high school in Dunkirk, New York. He later replaced a former guitar instructor, Dick "Max" Maxfield, in the Cambridge, NY based rock/jazz band Welkin. He moved to Los Angeles in 1977, where from 1977 to 1982 he was the lead guitarist in the New Yorkers, a Jazz/Rock fusion band, with Robert Pagliari on fretless bass, Gar Samuelson on drums, Stu Samuelson on guitar, and Don Roper on saxophone. He says that he learnt timing playing with Gar and also that playing with him made him a better player.
[edit]MegadethIn 1984, Poland's bandmate from the New Yorkers, Gar Samuelson, became the drummer of thrash metal band Megadeth. Megadeth had been formed the previous year by Dave Mustaine, the original lead guitarist of fellow thrash metal band Metallica, who had been fired from the band because of his substance abuse. After seeing Samuelson perform live with Megadeth, Poland went backstage and suggested an impromptu audition as a lead guitarist. Poland thereafter became a full member of the band, along with Samuelson, Mustaine, and bass player David Ellefson.
In 1985, Megadeth released their first album Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!, which showcased Poland's dynamic style of playing. However, he was arrested by police for trying to score heroin, Poland left the band during the tour to support the album, and was replaced temporarily by guitarist Mike Albert. Poland later rejoined the band to record their second album Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? in 1986. The album was highly acclaimed critically for both its instrumental and lyrical complexity, and is today considered widely to be one of the defining records of thrash metal. Allmusic referred to Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? as "One of the most influential metal albums of its decade, and certainly one of the few truly definitive thrash albums".[1]
Mustaine later referred to Poland as "an amazing guitar player—he can play circles around me".[2] However, Poland and Samuelson's relations with Mustaine and Ellefson worsened, due in part to the former's increasing drug dependencies which led to the pair pawning the band's equipment to fund their drug habits.
In July 1987, a conflict arose between Mustaine and Poland regarding a t-shirt contract that Poland claimed to have been left out of. Poland quit the band in protest leading to an ongoing feud between the two musicians. For Megadeth's third album So Far, So Good... So What! Mustaine wrote a song called "Liar" about Poland's drug use and lifestyle. Mustaine would regularly dedicate it to Poland during live performances.
[edit]Post-MegadethAfter leaving Megadeth, Poland was treated successfully for substance abuse, and joined punk rock legends The Circle Jerks as a bass player. In 1990, he released Return to Metalopolis a solo heavy metal/jazz fusion album. Shortly beforehand, he agreed to record demos for Megadeth's fourth album, Rust in Peace, but declined what would be the first of two offers to re-join the band permanently (in this instance partly because of his concentration on his solo album, and the fact that, since most of the album's music and arrangements had already been written, Poland felt that the scope for his input would be limited). Guitarist Marty Friedman joined Megadeth later that year, and adapted some of Poland's guitar solos for the release version of Rust in Peace, which would go on to be one of Megadeth's most critically praised albums.
In the mid to late 1990s, Poland worked on other collaborative musical projects, including the progressive rock band Damn the Machine, with David Randi on bass, and Dave Clemmons as vocalist and co-guitarist. In 1993, the band released their eponymous debut album (on A&M Records), with strongly political lyrical content. They also released a promotional record, Silence, featuring covers of "I'd Love to Change the World" by blues-rock band Ten Years After, and "Cat Food" by progressive rock/jazz fusion band King Crimson.
Upon Dave Clemmons' departure from the band, the remaining members recruited a new vocalist, John Skipp, and re-formed as Mumbo's Brain, recording Excerpts From The Book Of Mumbo in 1995. The band disbanded following the departures of David Randi, and John Skipp.
[edit]2000sIn 2000, ten years after the release of Return to Metalopolis, Poland released his second solo album, Chasing the Sun, as well as a solo compilation album Rare Trax. In 2007, he released Return to Metalopolis - Live, featuring a live performance of the titular album.
Poland is currently a member of the primarily jazz fusion band OHM, formed in 2002, with Poland on guitar, Kofi Baker on drums and Robertino Pagliari on bass guitar. They released their self-titled debut album in 2003, followed by Amino Acid Flashback in 2005, and Circus of Sound in 2008. The band also released a live album in 2004, and a DVD, Live at the New Brookland Tavern, in 2006.
In 2003, Poland performed a solo on Purified from the Lamb of God album As The Palaces Burn. The following year, he contributed to Lamb of God's next album, Ashes of the Wake, with a guitar solo on the album's instrumental title-track (beginning at 3:45 and ending at 4:15).
In a surprise turn in 2004, Dave Mustaine requested Poland to record guitar solos for the Megadeth record The System Has Failed, the first Megadeth album not to feature original bass player and founding member David Ellefson. Poland recorded the solos on a contractual basis, but did not re-join the band. Poland and Mustaine subsequently came into dispute with one another over payments relating to the album, however, they appear to have made amends once more as Poland began posting on the official Megadeth online message board.
In 2008, Poland appeared on Misty Mountain Hop: A Millennium Tribute to Led Zeppelin by heavy metal/hard rock band Harry Slash & The Slashtones. The following year, he recorded a track for the compilation record Guitars That Ate My Brain (which also includes a track by Guns N' Roses' guitarist Bumblefoot).
In 2009, Poland formed OHMphrey, a side-project with Robby Pagliari of OHM, and Jake Cinninger, Kris Myers, and Joel Cummins of progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee. OHMphrey's debut album, OHMphrey, was released through Magna Carta Records on May 19, 2009.
[edit]Playing stylePoland has a severed tendon on the index finger on his fret hand, which allows him to stretch unusually far with his finger. He has partially attributed the greater flexibility that this affords him to the evolution of his signature guitar playing style, defined by smoothly phrased passages and wide intervallic leaps.
[edit]Discography
Solo albums
- 1990: Return to Metalopolis
- 2000: Chasing the Sun
- 2000: Rare Trax (compilation)
- 2007: Return to Metalopolis Live (live)
- 1985: Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!
- 1986: Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
- 1990: Rust in Peace (Poland's solos appear on the demo recordings of "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due", "Take No Prisoners", and "Rust in Peace... Polaris", which were released as bonus tracks on the 2004 remaster)
- 2000: Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years (compilation)
- 2004: The System Has Failed
- 2005: Greatest Hits: Back to the Start (compilation)
- 2007: Warchest (compilation)
- 2008: Anthology: Set the World Afire (compilation)
- 1993: Damn the Machine
- 1993: Silence EP
- 2003: As the Palaces Burn
- 2004: Ashes of the Wake
- 2003: OHM
- 2004: "Live" On KPFK 90.7 FM, Lion Music
- 2005: Amino Acid Flashback
- 2006: Live at the New Brookland Tavern(DVD)
- 2008: Circus of Sound
- 2012: Polcat, GrooveQuest Records, TBA
- 2001: Warmth in the Wilderness: A Tribute to Jason Becker, Lion Music
- 2002: Squadrophenia, Cosmosquad, Marmaduke Records
- 2004: Give Us Moore! - Gary Moore Tribute, Lion Music
- 2006: Double Heart Project - Human Nature's Fight, Brennus
- 2006: Jimi Hendrix Tribute - The Spirit Lives On Vol. 1 & 2, Lion Music
- 2008: Innervisions, Tadashi Goto, Progrock
- 2009: Guitars That Ate My Brain
- 2009: Misty Mountain Hop: A Millennium Tribute to Led Zeppelin
- 2009: The Call of the Flames, Shredding the Envelope, Standstill And Scream Music
- 2011: Metalusion, Glen Drover, Magna Carta
- 2012: Plains of Oblivion - Jeff Loomis
- 2012: Two Minutes to Midnight: A Millennium Tribute to Iron Maiden, Versailles Records
Mike Albert - was the guitarist for Megadeth in 1985 as a touring member
Chuck Behler (pron.: /ˈbiːlər/; born June 13, 1965 in Livonia, Michigan) is an American former musician who played drums for the heavy metal bandMegadeth[1] from 1987 through 1989, recording the album So Far, So Good… So What! with the group in 1988. He also appeared in the 1988rockumentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years.
Bandleader Dave Mustaine knew Behler because Gar Samuelson, the previous drummer for the band, used Behler as his drum tech. Behler eventually gave up his place in Megadeth to his own drum tech, Nick Menza.
Before Megadeth, Behler was a member of The Meanies and Sinclair, among other groups.
Son: Christian Sinjin Behler (07/06/1988) With a former girlfriend who surrendered custody at the time of his birth.
In an interview with Shawn Drover, Shawn stated that Chuck currently lives in the Detroit area, and attends Megadeth shows whenever they are in the area.
Bandleader Dave Mustaine knew Behler because Gar Samuelson, the previous drummer for the band, used Behler as his drum tech. Behler eventually gave up his place in Megadeth to his own drum tech, Nick Menza.
Before Megadeth, Behler was a member of The Meanies and Sinclair, among other groups.
Son: Christian Sinjin Behler (07/06/1988) With a former girlfriend who surrendered custody at the time of his birth.
In an interview with Shawn Drover, Shawn stated that Chuck currently lives in the Detroit area, and attends Megadeth shows whenever they are in the area.
Jeff Young (born March 31, 1962) is an American guitarist. He graduated from Musicians Institute in 1985, and is best known for his time with thethrash metal band Megadeth, appearing on the 1988 album So Far, So Good... So What!. In addition to his subsequent music projects, he served as an author in Guitar for the Practicing Musician.
Early lifeYoung was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1980, he graduated from Fairmont High School in Kettering, Ohio, and moved to Hollywood to attend Musicians Institute/GIT in 1984. He graduated from the Institute in 1985 and began his career as a guitar teacher.
[edit]MegadethYoung is the lead guitarist on Megadeth's platinum selling, So Far, So Good... So What! (1988 Capitol Records).
Megadeth's transient guitarist, Jay Reynolds (of Malice), had commissioned Young to play all of his solos on the new album, transcribe the previous Megadeth releases and teach him everything in time for the pending tours. However, after witnessing Young decipher previous guitarist Chris Poland's solos from Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? note-for-note in less than 30 minutes, frontman Dave Mustaine decided to cut out the middleman and enlist Young into the fold. Young joined the band with only two weeks left in the recording schedule and contributed half of the guitar solos and multiple electric & acoustic rhythm parts to the album.
Jeff's career with Megadeth was spent recording and touring in support of their 1988 platinum selling album, So Far, So Good...So What! His first performance with the band appeared in The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years as a member of Megadeth.
While Young had joined a popular thrash metal band with a rabid fanbase, his own musical tastes were more diverse than Megadeth's technical style.
In 2009, Young issued an online reply to false statements made by Dave Mustaine. He replied to Mustaine's claim that he (Mustaine) "sang" Jeff's guitar solos to him. Jeff accused Mustaine of lying about this, saying Mustaine never sang a solo to him nor was he even in the recording studio when Young wrote or recorded his parts.
[edit]Author and Jazz & World Fusion ExcursionsFollowing his time in Megadeth, Jeff was in the unsigned LA glam metal band Broken Silence for 2 years, and wrote the cult-classic Fingerprints column in Guitar for the Practicing Musician magazine. He also began intensive study of the blues with legendary guitarist, Steve Hunter (Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Jason Becker).
For a portion of the 1990s, Jeff stepped away from his career to deal with the untimely deaths of first his father and later his mother while immersing himself in the further study of classical, flamenco, gypsy jazz and other world music varieties
In 1998, he resurfaced with new Brazilian musical partner, Badi Assad. Together, the duo crafted exotic soundscapes for Verve/PolyGram records collaboration entitled, Badi Assad's Chameleon. The album (co-written, arranged, and produced by Jeff), climbed to the top of the world music charts in Germany & Holland also topping JAZZIZ magazine's Readers Poll: "Best Brazilian Albums of the Year."
Opening concerts for renowned artists including Joe Cocker and Cassandra Wilson, as well as performances on 1999's Lilith Fair and Farm Aid 2000 are testament to the considerable cross-over appeal of Badi and Jeff's "new world music" explorations. Jeff's association with the Assad family also spawned songwriting collaborations with guitar luminary Sergio Assad and two pieces on Badi's Verde album.
In 2003, the track "Waves" from Chameleon was featured in the Michael and Kirk Douglas film It Runs in the Family, as well as on the movie's soundtrack.
[edit]EquilibriumIn late-October 2009, his debut solo album, Equilibrium, was released on CDBaby.com.[1] Young began working on the album in 2000. He overcame testicular cancer in 2003. For the project, Young draws on flamenco, classic, 6 & 12 steel-string guitar styles as well as the electric guitar. The album features performances by Debby Holiday, Twinkle, Gilli Moon, Lenine, Matt Chamberlain, Hilary Jones, Tony Franklin and Viviana Guzman.
Jeff's eleven song solo debut, Equilibrium is available world-wide on his own water.songs.music label and on sale now on iTunes and at cdbaby.com
[edit]Other ProjectsYoung is the host of the Internet radio show Music Without Boundaries. He also gives guitar lessons at the Guitar Center on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. [1]
[edit]Discography
Early lifeYoung was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In 1980, he graduated from Fairmont High School in Kettering, Ohio, and moved to Hollywood to attend Musicians Institute/GIT in 1984. He graduated from the Institute in 1985 and began his career as a guitar teacher.
[edit]MegadethYoung is the lead guitarist on Megadeth's platinum selling, So Far, So Good... So What! (1988 Capitol Records).
Megadeth's transient guitarist, Jay Reynolds (of Malice), had commissioned Young to play all of his solos on the new album, transcribe the previous Megadeth releases and teach him everything in time for the pending tours. However, after witnessing Young decipher previous guitarist Chris Poland's solos from Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? note-for-note in less than 30 minutes, frontman Dave Mustaine decided to cut out the middleman and enlist Young into the fold. Young joined the band with only two weeks left in the recording schedule and contributed half of the guitar solos and multiple electric & acoustic rhythm parts to the album.
Jeff's career with Megadeth was spent recording and touring in support of their 1988 platinum selling album, So Far, So Good...So What! His first performance with the band appeared in The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years as a member of Megadeth.
While Young had joined a popular thrash metal band with a rabid fanbase, his own musical tastes were more diverse than Megadeth's technical style.
In 2009, Young issued an online reply to false statements made by Dave Mustaine. He replied to Mustaine's claim that he (Mustaine) "sang" Jeff's guitar solos to him. Jeff accused Mustaine of lying about this, saying Mustaine never sang a solo to him nor was he even in the recording studio when Young wrote or recorded his parts.
[edit]Author and Jazz & World Fusion ExcursionsFollowing his time in Megadeth, Jeff was in the unsigned LA glam metal band Broken Silence for 2 years, and wrote the cult-classic Fingerprints column in Guitar for the Practicing Musician magazine. He also began intensive study of the blues with legendary guitarist, Steve Hunter (Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Jason Becker).
For a portion of the 1990s, Jeff stepped away from his career to deal with the untimely deaths of first his father and later his mother while immersing himself in the further study of classical, flamenco, gypsy jazz and other world music varieties
In 1998, he resurfaced with new Brazilian musical partner, Badi Assad. Together, the duo crafted exotic soundscapes for Verve/PolyGram records collaboration entitled, Badi Assad's Chameleon. The album (co-written, arranged, and produced by Jeff), climbed to the top of the world music charts in Germany & Holland also topping JAZZIZ magazine's Readers Poll: "Best Brazilian Albums of the Year."
Opening concerts for renowned artists including Joe Cocker and Cassandra Wilson, as well as performances on 1999's Lilith Fair and Farm Aid 2000 are testament to the considerable cross-over appeal of Badi and Jeff's "new world music" explorations. Jeff's association with the Assad family also spawned songwriting collaborations with guitar luminary Sergio Assad and two pieces on Badi's Verde album.
In 2003, the track "Waves" from Chameleon was featured in the Michael and Kirk Douglas film It Runs in the Family, as well as on the movie's soundtrack.
[edit]EquilibriumIn late-October 2009, his debut solo album, Equilibrium, was released on CDBaby.com.[1] Young began working on the album in 2000. He overcame testicular cancer in 2003. For the project, Young draws on flamenco, classic, 6 & 12 steel-string guitar styles as well as the electric guitar. The album features performances by Debby Holiday, Twinkle, Gilli Moon, Lenine, Matt Chamberlain, Hilary Jones, Tony Franklin and Viviana Guzman.
Jeff's eleven song solo debut, Equilibrium is available world-wide on his own water.songs.music label and on sale now on iTunes and at cdbaby.com
[edit]Other ProjectsYoung is the host of the Internet radio show Music Without Boundaries. He also gives guitar lessons at the Guitar Center on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. [1]
[edit]Discography
- 1988, Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What!.
- 1998, Badi Assad - Chameleon
- 2003, It Runs in the Family (Soundtrack)
- 2010, Jeff Young - Equilibrium (Solo)
Nick Menza (born July 23, 1964 in Munich, Germany) is an American drummer best known for his work in Megadeth[1] from 1989 to 1998, appearing on five of the band's studio albums.
Early lifeAs the son of jazz musician Don Menza, Nick began playing drums at the age of two, at which age he performed at his first public concert when during the intermission someone sat him down on Jack DeJohnette's drums and he proceeded to play. His influences stem from being nurtured ?around the tutelage of such notables as Buddy Rich, Steve Gadd, Nick Ceroli, Jeff Porcaro and Louie Bellson.[2]
Beginning his professional musical career at the age of 18 drumming in the band Rhoads featuring singer Kelly Rhoads, brother of the late Randy Rhoads, Nick released his first record with Rhoads called Into The Future in Europe.
[edit]Musical careerMoving on to session playing including styles ranging from R&B to gospel, funk and heavy metal, recording with the likes of John Fogerty, Nick caught the attention of then Megadeth drummerChuck Behler and became his tech. When Megadeth needed a drummer in 1989, Nick Menza was asked by Dave Mustaine to join the band. Mustaine noted that Menza previously filled in on drums when Behler was unable to. Menza first played live with Megadeth on May 12, 1988 in Bradford, England. This prior experience and personal relationship led to the invitation to join Megadeth for the 1990 recording Rust in Peace.
For the next ten years, Nick became associated with Megadeth's "classic" period and also his Greg Voelker Rack System. This included a double-bass drum kit with the tom-toms mounted on a lower chrome rack and all cymbal crashes mounted on a higher rack, which was supported by two chrome bars behind the drummer. This was later adopted by Megadeth on 2004's Blackmail the Universe tour, which featured a similar rack system.
Poster for the Clash of the Titans tour, during Menza's tenure with Megadeth
By 1998, while the band was still touring in support of Cryptic Writings, Menza was having knee problems and sought medical advice. He was informed he had a tumor, which was later found to be benign, and had it removed. As a result, Megadeth hired a temporary replacement by Jimmy DeGrassorather than cancel any dates. When the time came to record a follow-up album, Menza was not asked back and DeGrasso became the band's official drummer. Menza has said in several interviews that, while in the hospital recovering from knee surgery, he received a phone call from Mustaine that simply said "Your services are not needed anymore". After his departure, he began work on Menza: Life After Deth[3] with guitarist Anthony Gallo,[4]bassist Jason Levin,[4] and guitarist Ty Longley.[4] The album was initially intended to have a 2002 release date and tour to follow, however, on the tour in 2003 with the reformed Great White, Longley was among the 100 people killed in The Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island[5] and a year later Jason Levin died of heart failure, Menza and Gallo were devastated and the Life After Deth tour was never announced.[6]Guest guitarist Christian Nesmith son of Monkees Mike Nesmith did some leads and Menza hired producer Max Norman (Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth).
Following the reissue of the entire Megadeth catalog, Menza was invited to reunite with Megadeth in 2004. Days after a reunion was announced Menza was fired after rehearsals and replaced with Shawn Drover. Dave Mustaine said that this was because Nick "just wasn't prepared".[7]
In April 2006, Menza joined the Los Angeles-based metal band Orphaned to Hatred.[8] The group describe their sound as "a continuation of the heavy style of '90s Pantera". He left the band in late 2010.
In March 2011, Menza appeared in a music video for Mindstreem's "We Up Next" a song originally written by current SIN 34 guitarist Anthony Gallofeaturing Tony Lanza and Daniel Wayne Jr. on Vocals. The actual recording is Menza (drums), Gallo (guitars), Gregg Babuccio (bass), and Tony Lanza and Daniel Wayne jr. (vocals).
Also in March 2011, Menza's band Deltanaut posted up a video for their song "Sacrifice".[9]
Nick Menza has been using Soultone Cymbals exclusively since 2005.
[edit]Bands
Early lifeAs the son of jazz musician Don Menza, Nick began playing drums at the age of two, at which age he performed at his first public concert when during the intermission someone sat him down on Jack DeJohnette's drums and he proceeded to play. His influences stem from being nurtured ?around the tutelage of such notables as Buddy Rich, Steve Gadd, Nick Ceroli, Jeff Porcaro and Louie Bellson.[2]
Beginning his professional musical career at the age of 18 drumming in the band Rhoads featuring singer Kelly Rhoads, brother of the late Randy Rhoads, Nick released his first record with Rhoads called Into The Future in Europe.
[edit]Musical careerMoving on to session playing including styles ranging from R&B to gospel, funk and heavy metal, recording with the likes of John Fogerty, Nick caught the attention of then Megadeth drummerChuck Behler and became his tech. When Megadeth needed a drummer in 1989, Nick Menza was asked by Dave Mustaine to join the band. Mustaine noted that Menza previously filled in on drums when Behler was unable to. Menza first played live with Megadeth on May 12, 1988 in Bradford, England. This prior experience and personal relationship led to the invitation to join Megadeth for the 1990 recording Rust in Peace.
For the next ten years, Nick became associated with Megadeth's "classic" period and also his Greg Voelker Rack System. This included a double-bass drum kit with the tom-toms mounted on a lower chrome rack and all cymbal crashes mounted on a higher rack, which was supported by two chrome bars behind the drummer. This was later adopted by Megadeth on 2004's Blackmail the Universe tour, which featured a similar rack system.
Poster for the Clash of the Titans tour, during Menza's tenure with Megadeth
By 1998, while the band was still touring in support of Cryptic Writings, Menza was having knee problems and sought medical advice. He was informed he had a tumor, which was later found to be benign, and had it removed. As a result, Megadeth hired a temporary replacement by Jimmy DeGrassorather than cancel any dates. When the time came to record a follow-up album, Menza was not asked back and DeGrasso became the band's official drummer. Menza has said in several interviews that, while in the hospital recovering from knee surgery, he received a phone call from Mustaine that simply said "Your services are not needed anymore". After his departure, he began work on Menza: Life After Deth[3] with guitarist Anthony Gallo,[4]bassist Jason Levin,[4] and guitarist Ty Longley.[4] The album was initially intended to have a 2002 release date and tour to follow, however, on the tour in 2003 with the reformed Great White, Longley was among the 100 people killed in The Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island[5] and a year later Jason Levin died of heart failure, Menza and Gallo were devastated and the Life After Deth tour was never announced.[6]Guest guitarist Christian Nesmith son of Monkees Mike Nesmith did some leads and Menza hired producer Max Norman (Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth).
Following the reissue of the entire Megadeth catalog, Menza was invited to reunite with Megadeth in 2004. Days after a reunion was announced Menza was fired after rehearsals and replaced with Shawn Drover. Dave Mustaine said that this was because Nick "just wasn't prepared".[7]
In April 2006, Menza joined the Los Angeles-based metal band Orphaned to Hatred.[8] The group describe their sound as "a continuation of the heavy style of '90s Pantera". He left the band in late 2010.
In March 2011, Menza appeared in a music video for Mindstreem's "We Up Next" a song originally written by current SIN 34 guitarist Anthony Gallofeaturing Tony Lanza and Daniel Wayne Jr. on Vocals. The actual recording is Menza (drums), Gallo (guitars), Gregg Babuccio (bass), and Tony Lanza and Daniel Wayne jr. (vocals).
Also in March 2011, Menza's band Deltanaut posted up a video for their song "Sacrifice".[9]
Nick Menza has been using Soultone Cymbals exclusively since 2005.
[edit]Bands
- Megadeth (1989–1998; 2004)
- Marty Friedman (1992–1997)
- Menza (1997–present)
- Chodle's Trunk (2000–2001)
- Fear Assembly (Mindstreem) (2002–2003)
- Memorain (2005–2008)
- Orphaned to Hatred (2006–2010)
- Deltanaut (2006–present)
- 1990 - Megadeth - Rust in Peace
- 1992 - Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction
- 1992 - Marty Friedman - Scenes
- 1994 - Megadeth - Youthanasia
- 1994 - Marty Friedman - Introduction
- 1994 - Nativity in Black - Tribute to Black Sabbath
- 1995 - Megadeth - Hidden Treasures
- 1996 - Marty Friedman - True Obsession
- 1997 - Megadeth - Cryptic Writings
- 2000 - Megadeth - Capitol Punishment
- 2002 - Menza - Life After Deth
- 2006 - Memorain - "Reduced To Ashes"
- 2006 - Megadeth - Arsenal of Megadeth
- 2007 - Megadeth - Warchest
- 2008 - Megadeth - Anthology: Set the World Afire
Martin Adam "Marty" Friedman, (born December 8, 1962) is a guitarist, well known for his tenure as the lead/rhythm guitarist for heavy metal bandMegadeth, which lasted almost a decade. He has resided in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan since 2003, and has[1] hosted his own television programs, Rock Fujiyama and Jukebox English on Japanese television.
Early career (1982–1989)Friedman is a largely self-taught guitarist [2] known for his improvisation and for fusing Eastern musical with Western music and other styles, such asneo-classical, thrash metal and later progressive rock. When playing, Friedman often uses arpeggiated chords and various customized scales and arpeggios, some of which relate to Asian, Middle Eastern and other exotic scales, which are different from the typical minor/major pentatonic and 7 modes based off of the Major scale. He also occasionally uses sweep picking and frequently uses F# when possible.
He has a very unorthodox right hand picking technique, namely the angle in which his hand is clenched goes against the conventional palm mutefrequently used in Metal music. He also frequently uses the upstroke as opposed to the down stroke, especially on the high strings (strings B and E). His solos tend to target certain notes that relate to the rhythm chords that are played underneath his leads. He utilizes very vocal-like bending techniques, which are more interesting than just hitting the target note itself. Overall, if you were to remove the backing tracks he is soloing over, you can still picture them in your mind, as his solos tend to emphasize certain keys in the chord progression. These qualities make Friedman's solos unique and hard to duplicate using an alternate picking approach, and while it's not always the case, faster licks that are alternate picked start with an upstroke and rather than strictly pick from the elbow or wrist, he'll also pick moving his fingers.
Marty took up the guitar at age 14 after seeing a KISS concert. Almost immediately he formed a band and started playing original songs, the reason being that originals are easier to play than covers. "Because," he says, "even if you screw up, you just claim that the song is written like that and no one can challenge you."[3] The mother of one of Marty's friends ran an event center with a two-level stage, and Marty and his friends used it as a rehearsal space. Soon word spread about their band, and, since they were in a rural area, people would come from miles around to socialize and listen to music. "Rehearsals" very quickly became live shows. Marty formed and played lead guitar in several other bands, including Deuce, Hawaii(which had previously been called Vixen), and notably Cacophony. Cacophony featured neoclassical metal elements and synchronized twin guitarharmonies and counterpoints shared with guitarist Jason Becker. He played guitar on the 1987 album "It Won't Be Long" by Christian rock bandShout.[4] In 1988, he recorded demos for Jet Red that eventually were released as bonus tracks on the 2009 Jet Red release "Flight Plan".
[edit]Megadeth (1990–2000)When Cacophony broke up in 1989, Friedman auditioned for the thrash metal band Megadeth after a tip from fellow guitarist Jeff Loomis. Friedman was initially rejected by Megadeth frontmanDave Mustaine for having multicolored hair. However, after undergoing what Mustaine called "Rock School 101", Friedman officially joined Megadeth in February 1990.[5] Friedman's audition can be seen as an Easter egg on the Megadeth DVD Arsenal of Megadeth. The first album he recorded with them was Rust in Peace which was released on 24 September 1990. [6] Rust in Peace was certified platinum by the RIAA in 1994 and was nominated for the Best Metal Performance Grammy at the 33rd Grammy Awards.[7][6] He further developed his style of playing exotic scale solos from the Cacophony era, and integrated it into the music of Megadeth. In July 1992, Megadeth released Countdown to Extinction, which was a more commercial album, aimed at a wider audience, and sold double platinum.[6] Friedman played on Megadeth's further releases Youthanasia (1994), Cryptic Writings (1997), and Risk (1999). After a total of five studio albums with Megadeth, in December 1999 Friedman announced his departure from Megadeth.[5] His last show with them was on January 14, 2000. Later, he stated that he got tired of playing metal music and felt that he could not evolve as a musician. [8] In an interview with Ultimate-Guitar.com in March 2007, he claimed that he wanted Megadeth to move towards a more aggressive sound and that he'd rather have been playing straight pop music than the pop-influenced metal Megadeth was playing at the time.[9] During Friedman's time in the band, they sold over ten million albums worldwide.[10]
[edit]Japanese lifeFriedman currently lives in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.[11] He also appears on Japanese television and as a columnist for a major Japanese music magazine and a national daily newspaper.[12]
Friedman speaks Japanese fluently.[10] He became a regular member of the cast of TXN's musical TV program Hebimeta-san (ヘビメタさん) (anglicized as "Mr. Heavy-Metal") with Japanese idolYoko Kumada before the show came to an end in 2005. He had his own heavy metal TV program called Rock Fujiyama alongside Shelly, Ken Ayugai (Kenny Guy), Yorimasa Hisatake (Rock Ninja Yorimasa) and ex-Scanch member Rolly Teranishi from April 2006 until March 2007. In November~December 2005 he toured with singer Ami Suzuki on her "Suzuki Ami Around the World" live house tour, which took place in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya.
He was featured on Jukebox, a television program in which Marty and two Japanese people translate the lyrics of various English songs into understandable Japanese. He has also made guest appearances on the television programs Eigo de Shabera Night and Tamori Club.
Friedman is also a member of the Japanese musical group Sound Horizon which has contributed soundtracks to various anime and video games.
In 2008 Friedman played the role of Paul Weinberg, an English language teacher, in Isshin Inudou's Gou-Gou Datte Neko de Aru.[13]
In 2009, Friedman appeared on The Quiz Show, a Japanese TV drama starring Sho Sakurai as a guest professor.
In February 2010, he made a guest appearance on guitar for the Ramones' song "California Sun" when CJ Ramone toured Japan.
He also launched a record label under Avex Group, Gokukara Records.[14]
Shortly after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Friedman began auctioning off a great variety of his musical equipment and paraphernalia that he used as a member of Megadeth, including some of the earliest productions of Jackson Kelly. A message attached to each Ebay item stated that all proceeds would go to the GlobalGiving foundation, in an effort to help those whose livelihood had been wiped out by the disaster.
In 2011, Friedman participated on guitar in the recording of the future 2012 hit "Mōretsu Uchū Kōkyōkyoku Dai 7 Gakushō «Mugen no Ai»" by the popular Japanese girl group Momoiro Clover Z.[15][16] A year later, on December 5, 2012, out came an album by a mysterious group Metal Clone Z produced and arranged by him. It contains metal covers of Momoiro Clover Z's songs. The band members were not revealed.[17]
Marty Friedman announced his marriage (via a city hall ceremony) to a 41-year-old Japanese cellist at his birthday party in December 2012. [18]
As of recently Friedman has joined a band named Skyharbor.
[edit]Amps and Effects
[edit]ShoutMain article: Shout (band)#Discography
[edit]CacophonyMain article: Cacophony (band)#Discography
[edit]MegadethDate of releaseTitleLabelSeptember 24, 1990Rust in PeaceCapitol RecordsJuly 14, 1992Countdown to ExtinctionCapitol RecordsOctober 31, 1994YouthanasiaCapitol RecordsJune 17, 1997Cryptic WritingsCapitol RecordsAugust 31, 1999RiskCapitol Records[edit]SoloDate of releaseTitleLabel1988Dragon's KissShrapnel Records1992ScenesShrapnel Records1994IntroductionShrapnel Records1996True ObsessionsShrapnel Records2002Music For SpeedingMF Music2006LoudspeakerAvex Trax2008Future AddictAvex Trax2009Tokyo JukeboxAvex Trax2010Bad D.N.A.Avex Trax2011Tokyo Jukebox 2Avex Trax
Early career (1982–1989)Friedman is a largely self-taught guitarist [2] known for his improvisation and for fusing Eastern musical with Western music and other styles, such asneo-classical, thrash metal and later progressive rock. When playing, Friedman often uses arpeggiated chords and various customized scales and arpeggios, some of which relate to Asian, Middle Eastern and other exotic scales, which are different from the typical minor/major pentatonic and 7 modes based off of the Major scale. He also occasionally uses sweep picking and frequently uses F# when possible.
He has a very unorthodox right hand picking technique, namely the angle in which his hand is clenched goes against the conventional palm mutefrequently used in Metal music. He also frequently uses the upstroke as opposed to the down stroke, especially on the high strings (strings B and E). His solos tend to target certain notes that relate to the rhythm chords that are played underneath his leads. He utilizes very vocal-like bending techniques, which are more interesting than just hitting the target note itself. Overall, if you were to remove the backing tracks he is soloing over, you can still picture them in your mind, as his solos tend to emphasize certain keys in the chord progression. These qualities make Friedman's solos unique and hard to duplicate using an alternate picking approach, and while it's not always the case, faster licks that are alternate picked start with an upstroke and rather than strictly pick from the elbow or wrist, he'll also pick moving his fingers.
Marty took up the guitar at age 14 after seeing a KISS concert. Almost immediately he formed a band and started playing original songs, the reason being that originals are easier to play than covers. "Because," he says, "even if you screw up, you just claim that the song is written like that and no one can challenge you."[3] The mother of one of Marty's friends ran an event center with a two-level stage, and Marty and his friends used it as a rehearsal space. Soon word spread about their band, and, since they were in a rural area, people would come from miles around to socialize and listen to music. "Rehearsals" very quickly became live shows. Marty formed and played lead guitar in several other bands, including Deuce, Hawaii(which had previously been called Vixen), and notably Cacophony. Cacophony featured neoclassical metal elements and synchronized twin guitarharmonies and counterpoints shared with guitarist Jason Becker. He played guitar on the 1987 album "It Won't Be Long" by Christian rock bandShout.[4] In 1988, he recorded demos for Jet Red that eventually were released as bonus tracks on the 2009 Jet Red release "Flight Plan".
[edit]Megadeth (1990–2000)When Cacophony broke up in 1989, Friedman auditioned for the thrash metal band Megadeth after a tip from fellow guitarist Jeff Loomis. Friedman was initially rejected by Megadeth frontmanDave Mustaine for having multicolored hair. However, after undergoing what Mustaine called "Rock School 101", Friedman officially joined Megadeth in February 1990.[5] Friedman's audition can be seen as an Easter egg on the Megadeth DVD Arsenal of Megadeth. The first album he recorded with them was Rust in Peace which was released on 24 September 1990. [6] Rust in Peace was certified platinum by the RIAA in 1994 and was nominated for the Best Metal Performance Grammy at the 33rd Grammy Awards.[7][6] He further developed his style of playing exotic scale solos from the Cacophony era, and integrated it into the music of Megadeth. In July 1992, Megadeth released Countdown to Extinction, which was a more commercial album, aimed at a wider audience, and sold double platinum.[6] Friedman played on Megadeth's further releases Youthanasia (1994), Cryptic Writings (1997), and Risk (1999). After a total of five studio albums with Megadeth, in December 1999 Friedman announced his departure from Megadeth.[5] His last show with them was on January 14, 2000. Later, he stated that he got tired of playing metal music and felt that he could not evolve as a musician. [8] In an interview with Ultimate-Guitar.com in March 2007, he claimed that he wanted Megadeth to move towards a more aggressive sound and that he'd rather have been playing straight pop music than the pop-influenced metal Megadeth was playing at the time.[9] During Friedman's time in the band, they sold over ten million albums worldwide.[10]
[edit]Japanese lifeFriedman currently lives in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.[11] He also appears on Japanese television and as a columnist for a major Japanese music magazine and a national daily newspaper.[12]
Friedman speaks Japanese fluently.[10] He became a regular member of the cast of TXN's musical TV program Hebimeta-san (ヘビメタさん) (anglicized as "Mr. Heavy-Metal") with Japanese idolYoko Kumada before the show came to an end in 2005. He had his own heavy metal TV program called Rock Fujiyama alongside Shelly, Ken Ayugai (Kenny Guy), Yorimasa Hisatake (Rock Ninja Yorimasa) and ex-Scanch member Rolly Teranishi from April 2006 until March 2007. In November~December 2005 he toured with singer Ami Suzuki on her "Suzuki Ami Around the World" live house tour, which took place in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya.
He was featured on Jukebox, a television program in which Marty and two Japanese people translate the lyrics of various English songs into understandable Japanese. He has also made guest appearances on the television programs Eigo de Shabera Night and Tamori Club.
Friedman is also a member of the Japanese musical group Sound Horizon which has contributed soundtracks to various anime and video games.
In 2008 Friedman played the role of Paul Weinberg, an English language teacher, in Isshin Inudou's Gou-Gou Datte Neko de Aru.[13]
In 2009, Friedman appeared on The Quiz Show, a Japanese TV drama starring Sho Sakurai as a guest professor.
In February 2010, he made a guest appearance on guitar for the Ramones' song "California Sun" when CJ Ramone toured Japan.
He also launched a record label under Avex Group, Gokukara Records.[14]
Shortly after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Friedman began auctioning off a great variety of his musical equipment and paraphernalia that he used as a member of Megadeth, including some of the earliest productions of Jackson Kelly. A message attached to each Ebay item stated that all proceeds would go to the GlobalGiving foundation, in an effort to help those whose livelihood had been wiped out by the disaster.
In 2011, Friedman participated on guitar in the recording of the future 2012 hit "Mōretsu Uchū Kōkyōkyoku Dai 7 Gakushō «Mugen no Ai»" by the popular Japanese girl group Momoiro Clover Z.[15][16] A year later, on December 5, 2012, out came an album by a mysterious group Metal Clone Z produced and arranged by him. It contains metal covers of Momoiro Clover Z's songs. The band members were not revealed.[17]
Marty Friedman announced his marriage (via a city hall ceremony) to a 41-year-old Japanese cellist at his birthday party in December 2012. [18]
As of recently Friedman has joined a band named Skyharbor.
[edit]Amps and Effects
- Fractal Audio Axe-FX II processor (current)
- Engl Special Edition (current)
- Engl Powerball (2011 tour)
- Custom Audio Electronics CAE 3+ preamp (former)
- Bogner/Halfer Triple Giant (former)
- Crate Blue Voodoo (as power amp, former)
- VHT 2150 power amp (former)
- Maxon AF-9 Auto Wah[19]
[edit]ShoutMain article: Shout (band)#Discography
[edit]CacophonyMain article: Cacophony (band)#Discography
[edit]MegadethDate of releaseTitleLabelSeptember 24, 1990Rust in PeaceCapitol RecordsJuly 14, 1992Countdown to ExtinctionCapitol RecordsOctober 31, 1994YouthanasiaCapitol RecordsJune 17, 1997Cryptic WritingsCapitol RecordsAugust 31, 1999RiskCapitol Records[edit]SoloDate of releaseTitleLabel1988Dragon's KissShrapnel Records1992ScenesShrapnel Records1994IntroductionShrapnel Records1996True ObsessionsShrapnel Records2002Music For SpeedingMF Music2006LoudspeakerAvex Trax2008Future AddictAvex Trax2009Tokyo JukeboxAvex Trax2010Bad D.N.A.Avex Trax2011Tokyo Jukebox 2Avex Trax
Jimmy DeGrasso (born March 16, 1963) is an American heavy metal drummer. He is currently the drummer for Black Star Riders, F5, andDokken.
DeGrasso was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1981.
DeGrasso has also performed with David Lee Roth, Lita Ford, Ozzy Osbourne, White Lion,[1] Suicidal Tendencies,[2] and Y&T.[3] More recently, DeGrasso was a member of Megadeth,[2] a multi-platinum heavy metal band.
He was Alice Cooper's drummer who played in Wayne's World (at the very end of the 'Hey Stoopid' tour), South America '95, Summer '96 and '97 tours along with filling in for his good friend Eric Singer in Summer '08. Prior to his work with Alice Cooper, he played with Talas (before they recorded), Suicidal Tendencies and White Lion.
CareerDeGrasso joined the veteran metal band Y&T in 1986, replacing their original drummer Leonard Haze. He remained with the group into the '90s. He would go on to play on Dave Mustaine's (Megadeth vocalist/guitarist) side project band, MD.45 in 1995. Mustaine asked him to join Megadeth in 1998 as drummer and continue the band's Cryptic Writings Tour. He was asked to play with Megadeth five days before the next show. He walked around with a walkman all day to memorize the songs. DeGrasso recorded and toured behind Megadeth's Risk album in 1999–2000, The World Needs A Hero in 2000–2001 and was featured on Megadeth's first ever live CD and DVD release, Rude Awakening in 2002.
Since Megadeth, DeGrasso has performed at the prestigious Modern Drummer Festival in 2002, Ultimate Drummers Weekend in Australia, Drummer Live in the United Kingdom and toured with Stone Sour (Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor’s side project) and guitar legend Ronnie Montrose. Jimmy played with David Lee Roth Band in 2006 and joined with Ministry on their final tour in 2008. He is a highly sought after session player and drummer.
He currently resides in San Jose, California, where he runs his own drum shop, San Jose Pro Drum.
In late August and early September DeGrasso played 11 shows with Alice Cooper to fill in for Eric Singer while Singer played a few KISS shows in the United States.
Today, DeGrasso is a full time drummer for heavy metal band F5, Hail (along with current Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson).
In summer of 2012 DeGrasso toured with Dokken, filling in for Mick Brown who was touring with Ted Nugent.
In December 2012, DeGrasso was announced as the drummer with Thin Lizzy spin-off band, Black Star Riders.[4]
[edit]Former bands as drummer
DeGrasso was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1981.
DeGrasso has also performed with David Lee Roth, Lita Ford, Ozzy Osbourne, White Lion,[1] Suicidal Tendencies,[2] and Y&T.[3] More recently, DeGrasso was a member of Megadeth,[2] a multi-platinum heavy metal band.
He was Alice Cooper's drummer who played in Wayne's World (at the very end of the 'Hey Stoopid' tour), South America '95, Summer '96 and '97 tours along with filling in for his good friend Eric Singer in Summer '08. Prior to his work with Alice Cooper, he played with Talas (before they recorded), Suicidal Tendencies and White Lion.
CareerDeGrasso joined the veteran metal band Y&T in 1986, replacing their original drummer Leonard Haze. He remained with the group into the '90s. He would go on to play on Dave Mustaine's (Megadeth vocalist/guitarist) side project band, MD.45 in 1995. Mustaine asked him to join Megadeth in 1998 as drummer and continue the band's Cryptic Writings Tour. He was asked to play with Megadeth five days before the next show. He walked around with a walkman all day to memorize the songs. DeGrasso recorded and toured behind Megadeth's Risk album in 1999–2000, The World Needs A Hero in 2000–2001 and was featured on Megadeth's first ever live CD and DVD release, Rude Awakening in 2002.
Since Megadeth, DeGrasso has performed at the prestigious Modern Drummer Festival in 2002, Ultimate Drummers Weekend in Australia, Drummer Live in the United Kingdom and toured with Stone Sour (Slipknot vocalist Corey Taylor’s side project) and guitar legend Ronnie Montrose. Jimmy played with David Lee Roth Band in 2006 and joined with Ministry on their final tour in 2008. He is a highly sought after session player and drummer.
He currently resides in San Jose, California, where he runs his own drum shop, San Jose Pro Drum.
In late August and early September DeGrasso played 11 shows with Alice Cooper to fill in for Eric Singer while Singer played a few KISS shows in the United States.
Today, DeGrasso is a full time drummer for heavy metal band F5, Hail (along with current Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson).
In summer of 2012 DeGrasso toured with Dokken, filling in for Mick Brown who was touring with Ted Nugent.
In December 2012, DeGrasso was announced as the drummer with Thin Lizzy spin-off band, Black Star Riders.[4]
[edit]Former bands as drummer
- Mama's Boys ~ 1985–1986
- Y&T ~ 1987–1990, 1995
- White Lion ~ 1991
- Fiona ~ 1992
- Suicidal Tendencies ~ 1992–1995
- Alice Cooper ~ 1994–2002, 2008-2010
- Megadeth ~ 1998–2002
- O'2L ~ 2006
- David Lee Roth – 2006
- Ministry ~ 2008
- Dokken ~ 2012
- 1986 Ozzy Osbourne – Ultimate Sin (session drummer)
- 1987 Y&T – Contagious
- 1990 Y&T – Yesterday & Today Live
- 1990 Y&T – Ten (also featuring Stef Burns)
- 1991 White Lion – Escape from Brooklyn – VHS
- 1992 Fiona – Squeeze
- 1994 Suicidal Tendencies – Suicidal For Life
- 1995 Y&T – Musically Incorrect
- 1996 MD.45 – The Craving
- 1997 Alice Cooper – Fistful of Alice
- 1998 A.N.I.M.A.L. – Poder Latino (session drummer)
- 1998 Y&T – Endangered Species
- 1999 Megadeth – Risk
- 2000 Megadeth – Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years
- 2001 Megadeth – The World Needs a Hero
- 2001 Megadeth – Behind the Music
- 2002 Megadeth – Rude Awakening
- 2002 Megadeth – Still Alive... and Well?
- 2005 Megadeth – Greatest Hits: Back to the Start
- 2006 Megadeth – Arsenal of Megadeth
- 2007 Megadeth – Warchest
- 2008 F5 – The Reckoning
- 2008 Megadeth – Anthology: Set the World Afire
- 2010 Alice CooperTheatre of Death, LIve at Hammersmith 2009
- 2011 The Worshyp – Evil Abounds (session drummer)
- 2011 Alice Cooper - Welcome 2 My Nightmare
Al Pitrelli (born September 26, 1962 in New York, NY) is a guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Alice Cooper, Joe Lynn Turner, Asia and Savatage.
Early career (1982-1995)Al Pitrelli attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston in the early 1980s (where keyboardist Derek Sherinian was his dorm roommate; they would later work together in the Alice Cooper band). After dropping out of Berklee, Pitrelli worked as a session musician during his early days, and also taught guitar lessons in Manhattan, NY. His first major label gig was performing with Michael Bolton, helping him support his single, "Fool's Game". Pitrelli said of the single, "This was when Michael Bolton was still trying to be Sammy Hagar and not Engelbert Humperdinck"[1]
Pitrelli was Alice Cooper's guitarist and musical director from 1989 until 1991 on the Trashes The World Tour. Pitrelli joined Dee Snider's Widowmaker for two albums in the early to mid 90's, and also briefly played with Stephen Pearcy (Ratt) in a band called Vertex. Pitrelli also joined Asia, appearing on their albums Aqua in 1992 and Aria in 1994. Pitrelli would be featured on many New York sessions, including for Kathy Troccoli, Taylor Dayne, Randy Coven, Exposé. His songs have been covered by Y&T, Lita Ford and Derek Sherinian of Dream Theater. For a month he substituted in Blue Oyster Cult.
[edit]Savatage (1995-2000)Al joined Savatage in 1995, joining at the same time as Chris Caffery returned to the band (Chris had previously been a part of the band around the release of Gutter Ballet in 1989). Al played guitar on the albums Dead Winter Dead and The Wake of Magellan and did some of the lead guitar work on Poets and Madmen despite being a member of Megadeth at the time. (Al was responsible for the outro of Stay With Me A While, the main solo of Morphine Child, the main solo of The Rumor, the first part of the main solo in Commissar & the outro of Commissar [2] During his time with Savatage, he was asked by their producer Paul O'Neill if he was interested in joining his side project, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Al agreed and has played a role in all of their records thus far.Steve Vai said in an interview that he was impressed by his playing.
[edit]Megadeth (2000-2002)Al was a member of Megadeth from 2000–2002, replacing Marty Friedman. Dave Mustaine asked him to join the band after hearing good reviews from the then Megadeth drummer Jimmy DeGrasso, who he played with during his days with Alice Cooper in the early 90s. Al only joined the band after an "audition" in front of a live crowd in Vancouver on January 16, 2000, 2 nights after Marty played his last show with the band, he was asked to play when it was 15 minutes before the show and was shocked as they never rehearsed. He was present during the recording of Rude Awakening, a live CD/DVD that was released in 2002. He also recorded The World Needs a Hero with the band. When Megadeth entered hiatus after Dave Mustaine injured his arm, Al re-joined Savatage on April 9, 2002 and also continued his work with TSO.
[edit]Recent work (2002-present)More recently, Al has collaborated with Jane Mangini (his former wife) on a project entitled O'2L that has given both musicians critical acclaim. During the winter months, Al and Jane tour with Trans-Siberian Orchestra. In Spring of 2010 they toured with TSO in the inaugural presentation of "Beethoven's Last Night".
In 1998, Al Pitrelli was featured on the video game album Sonic Adventure Remix, where he played guitar on a remix of the game's theme song - Open Your Heart.
[edit]DiscographyThis list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
[edit]Danger Danger
Early career (1982-1995)Al Pitrelli attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston in the early 1980s (where keyboardist Derek Sherinian was his dorm roommate; they would later work together in the Alice Cooper band). After dropping out of Berklee, Pitrelli worked as a session musician during his early days, and also taught guitar lessons in Manhattan, NY. His first major label gig was performing with Michael Bolton, helping him support his single, "Fool's Game". Pitrelli said of the single, "This was when Michael Bolton was still trying to be Sammy Hagar and not Engelbert Humperdinck"[1]
Pitrelli was Alice Cooper's guitarist and musical director from 1989 until 1991 on the Trashes The World Tour. Pitrelli joined Dee Snider's Widowmaker for two albums in the early to mid 90's, and also briefly played with Stephen Pearcy (Ratt) in a band called Vertex. Pitrelli also joined Asia, appearing on their albums Aqua in 1992 and Aria in 1994. Pitrelli would be featured on many New York sessions, including for Kathy Troccoli, Taylor Dayne, Randy Coven, Exposé. His songs have been covered by Y&T, Lita Ford and Derek Sherinian of Dream Theater. For a month he substituted in Blue Oyster Cult.
[edit]Savatage (1995-2000)Al joined Savatage in 1995, joining at the same time as Chris Caffery returned to the band (Chris had previously been a part of the band around the release of Gutter Ballet in 1989). Al played guitar on the albums Dead Winter Dead and The Wake of Magellan and did some of the lead guitar work on Poets and Madmen despite being a member of Megadeth at the time. (Al was responsible for the outro of Stay With Me A While, the main solo of Morphine Child, the main solo of The Rumor, the first part of the main solo in Commissar & the outro of Commissar [2] During his time with Savatage, he was asked by their producer Paul O'Neill if he was interested in joining his side project, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Al agreed and has played a role in all of their records thus far.Steve Vai said in an interview that he was impressed by his playing.
[edit]Megadeth (2000-2002)Al was a member of Megadeth from 2000–2002, replacing Marty Friedman. Dave Mustaine asked him to join the band after hearing good reviews from the then Megadeth drummer Jimmy DeGrasso, who he played with during his days with Alice Cooper in the early 90s. Al only joined the band after an "audition" in front of a live crowd in Vancouver on January 16, 2000, 2 nights after Marty played his last show with the band, he was asked to play when it was 15 minutes before the show and was shocked as they never rehearsed. He was present during the recording of Rude Awakening, a live CD/DVD that was released in 2002. He also recorded The World Needs a Hero with the band. When Megadeth entered hiatus after Dave Mustaine injured his arm, Al re-joined Savatage on April 9, 2002 and also continued his work with TSO.
[edit]Recent work (2002-present)More recently, Al has collaborated with Jane Mangini (his former wife) on a project entitled O'2L that has given both musicians critical acclaim. During the winter months, Al and Jane tour with Trans-Siberian Orchestra. In Spring of 2010 they toured with TSO in the inaugural presentation of "Beethoven's Last Night".
In 1998, Al Pitrelli was featured on the video game album Sonic Adventure Remix, where he played guitar on a remix of the game's theme song - Open Your Heart.
[edit]DiscographyThis list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
[edit]Danger Danger
- Rare Cuts (2003)
- The Bomb (2005)
- Alice Cooper Trashes The World (DVD, 1990)
- Classicks (1995)
- Place Called Rage [3] (1995)
- CPR (1992)
- Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years (2000)
- The World Needs a Hero (2001)
- Behind the Music (DVD, 2001)
- Rude Awakening (2002)
- Still Alive... and Well? (2002)
- Greatest Hits: Back to the Start (2005)
- Anthology: Set the World Afire (2008)
- Morning Wood (1994)
- Dead Winter Dead (1995)
- The Wake of Magellan (1998)
- Poets and Madmen (2001)
- Christmas Eve and Other Stories (1996)
- The Christmas Attic (1998)
- The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve (DVD, 2000)
- Beethoven's Last Night (2000)
- The Lost Christmas Eve (2004)
- Night Castle (2009)
- Blood and Bullets (1992)
- Stand by for Pain (1994)
- Vertex (1996)
- Guitar Battle (1998)
Vincent Colaiuta (born February 5, 1956) is an American drummer based in Los Angeles. Originally from Republic, Pennsylvania, he began playing drums as a child and received his first full drum kit from his parents at the age of 14. He is notable for his technical skill and his musical versatility, having played with many artists from a wide variety of genres; to quote Sting's introduction, with whom he has had a long association, "...and in the opinion of many, the best drummer in the world, Vinnie Colaiuta".
CareerAfter attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston for a year, Colaiuta had his first big break as a member of the Christopher Morris Band in 1976-1977. Playing and recording with the Christopher Morris Band (MCA 2282) in 1977, Colaiuta relocated with the band to Los Angeles. After leaving the Christopher Morris Band, he made a mediocre living playing with lounge bands. His next break came in April 1978 at the age of 22, when Colaiuta auditioned for Frank Zappa, an audition that involved performing the notoriously difficult piece entitled "The Black Page". The audition was successful and Colaiuta went on to work with Zappa as his principal drummer for studio and live performances. He played on the successful Zappa albums Tinsel Town Rebellion, Joe's Garage, and Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar. Joe's Garage was named one of the top-25 drumming performances of all time in a 1993 Modern Drummer article.
About Colaiuta's ability to play Zappa's notoriously complex music and the complex style of polyrhythms, guitarist Steve Vai told the following story:
He's one of the most amazing sight-readers that ever existed on the instrument. One day we were in a Frank rehearsal, this was early '80s, and Frank brought in this piece of music called "Mo 'N Herb's Vacation." Just unbelievably complex. All the drums were written out, just like "The Black Page" except even more complex. There were these runs of like 17 over 3 and every drumhead is notated differently. And there were a whole bunch of people there, I think Bozzio was there. Vinnie had this piece of music on the stand to his right. To his left he had another music stand with a plate of sushi on it, okay? Now the tempo of the piece was very slow, like "The Black Page." And then the first riff came in, [mimics bizarre Zappa-esque drum rhythm patterns] with all these choking of cymbals, and hi-hat, ruffs, spinning of rototoms and all this crazy stuff. And I saw Vinnie reading this thing. Now, Vinnie has this habit of pushing his glasses up with the middle finger of his right hand. Well I saw him look at this one bar of music, it was the last bar of music on the page. He started to play it as he was turning the page with one hand, and then once the page was turned he continued playing the riff with his right hand, as he reached over with his left hand, grabbed a piece of sushi and put it in his mouth, continued the riff with his left hand and feet, pushed his glasses up, and then played the remaining part of the bar. It was the sickest thing I have ever seen. Frank threw his music up in the air. Bozzio turned around and walked away. I just started laughing.[1]
"The Black Page Drum Solo/Black Page #1"
MENU
0:00
One of Zappa's complex, percussion-based compositions featured on Zappa in New York.
Problems listening to this file? See media help.Colaiuta is mentioned in Frank Zappa's song, "Catholic Girls" by the character Mary.
[edit]Session workAfter leaving Zappa, Colaiuta went on to work with a long list of notable rock and pop artists, including Gino Vannelli, Joni Mitchell, Barbra Streisand, Sandy & Junior, Jay Vaquer, Clannad, Wang Chung, Chaka Khan, Megadeth, The Beach Boys, Leonard Cohen and Jeff Beck. He has also appeared with many notable jazz musicians, including Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Haslip, Quincy Jones, the Buddy Rich Big Band and Buell Neidlinger. He has also played with Chuck Loeb, David Goldblatt, David Sancious, Dean Brown, Jeff Porcaro, Jim Beard, John Patitucci, Mark Egan, Gigi D'Alessio,Robben Ford, and Tim Landers.
[edit]1990s
Colaiuta performing with Kenny Garrett
In 1990, Colaiuta successfully auditioned as drummer in Sting's touring band in support of his album The Soul Cages. Colaiuta remained as a member of Sting's band for the next seven years. He declined the offer to go out on the road for the Brand New Day tour in 1999 due to the considerable length of a typical Sting world tour. Colaiuta's studio work with Sting can be heard on Ten Summoner's Tales (1993), Mercury Falling (1996), three songs onBrand New Day (1999) and two songs on Sacred Love (2003). In September 2003, he returned to Sting's touring lineup in a brief promotional tour ofSacred Love, but once again declined the offer to participate in the world tour. At 10.21.2011 Vinnie Colaiuta rejoined Sting´s tour band for performing on the Back to Bass Tour. So he continues his live collaboration with Sting after almost fifteen years.
Colaiuta released a self-titled solo recording in 1994, and still remains one of the most in demand studio musicians playing on countless albums,[2]film soundtracks, TV and radio jingles. His dedication to self-improvement is legendary: Dom Famularo, a famous drum educator and Colaiuta's friend, once told a story about Colaiuta opening his door while practising on a drum pad; after a few minutes of a chat on the door step, Colaiuta said: "I'm such a bad host, I haven't offered you anything! Do you want a pad?"
Colaiuta has won a total of 18 Drummer of the Year awards from Modern Drummer magazine's annual reader polls. These include 10 awards in the "Best Overall" category. Colaiuta was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1996. The publication also cited Colaiuta as being the most important drummer of our time.
[edit]2000 to present
Five Peace Band (Chick Corea not pictured)
In 2006 to 2007, Colaiuta toured with Jeff Beck and Tal Wilkenfeld on bass, with Jason Rebello playing keyboards, in Eric Clapton'sCrossroads Guitar Festival.
Colaiuta recorded and toured with Faith Hill, recorded with the thrash metal outfit Megadeth on their album The System Has Failed, and toured with Jeff Beck and Herbie Hancock.
From October 22 to November 23, 2008, Colaiuta toured Europe with John McLaughlin, Chick Corea, Kenny Garrett and Christian McBride in the Five Peace Band.
2009 was the release of the Zappa alumni all star band The Mar Vista Philharmonic, featuring Tommy Mars, Bruce Fowler, Walt Fowler,Arthur Barrow, among others, on Jon Larsens Zonic Entertainment label.
[edit]EquipmentCymbals
In 2012, Vinnie Colaiuta began playing and endorsing Paiste cymbals, particularly the 602 series; Paiste created prototype 602s in new sizes to accommodate his requirements which have now been developed into full retail products.
He was, previously, a long-time Zildjian Cymbal and Drumstick endorser and, in 1990, was heavily involved in the development of their A Custom line of cymbals.
Drums
Around the time of Paiste's announcement, Vinnie was also announced as a Ludwig endorsee.
Prior to his association with Ludwig, Vinnie has endorsed Yamaha and Gretsch drums.
In a career as diverse as his, Vinnie has, naturally, been pictured playing a number of drumset brands. He was regarded as a genuine lover of Gretsch products, reportedly using them in a clandestine manner (often in recording sessions) when not an official endorsee. As a result, his move away from Gretsch drums was a surprise to many.
Generally speaking, his preferred drumset configuration comprises a 22" bass drum, 10" and 12" rack toms, 14" and 16" floor toms with a main and auxilliary snare drum.
[edit]Discography[edit]With Frank Zappa
CareerAfter attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston for a year, Colaiuta had his first big break as a member of the Christopher Morris Band in 1976-1977. Playing and recording with the Christopher Morris Band (MCA 2282) in 1977, Colaiuta relocated with the band to Los Angeles. After leaving the Christopher Morris Band, he made a mediocre living playing with lounge bands. His next break came in April 1978 at the age of 22, when Colaiuta auditioned for Frank Zappa, an audition that involved performing the notoriously difficult piece entitled "The Black Page". The audition was successful and Colaiuta went on to work with Zappa as his principal drummer for studio and live performances. He played on the successful Zappa albums Tinsel Town Rebellion, Joe's Garage, and Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar. Joe's Garage was named one of the top-25 drumming performances of all time in a 1993 Modern Drummer article.
About Colaiuta's ability to play Zappa's notoriously complex music and the complex style of polyrhythms, guitarist Steve Vai told the following story:
He's one of the most amazing sight-readers that ever existed on the instrument. One day we were in a Frank rehearsal, this was early '80s, and Frank brought in this piece of music called "Mo 'N Herb's Vacation." Just unbelievably complex. All the drums were written out, just like "The Black Page" except even more complex. There were these runs of like 17 over 3 and every drumhead is notated differently. And there were a whole bunch of people there, I think Bozzio was there. Vinnie had this piece of music on the stand to his right. To his left he had another music stand with a plate of sushi on it, okay? Now the tempo of the piece was very slow, like "The Black Page." And then the first riff came in, [mimics bizarre Zappa-esque drum rhythm patterns] with all these choking of cymbals, and hi-hat, ruffs, spinning of rototoms and all this crazy stuff. And I saw Vinnie reading this thing. Now, Vinnie has this habit of pushing his glasses up with the middle finger of his right hand. Well I saw him look at this one bar of music, it was the last bar of music on the page. He started to play it as he was turning the page with one hand, and then once the page was turned he continued playing the riff with his right hand, as he reached over with his left hand, grabbed a piece of sushi and put it in his mouth, continued the riff with his left hand and feet, pushed his glasses up, and then played the remaining part of the bar. It was the sickest thing I have ever seen. Frank threw his music up in the air. Bozzio turned around and walked away. I just started laughing.[1]
"The Black Page Drum Solo/Black Page #1"
MENU
0:00
One of Zappa's complex, percussion-based compositions featured on Zappa in New York.
Problems listening to this file? See media help.Colaiuta is mentioned in Frank Zappa's song, "Catholic Girls" by the character Mary.
[edit]Session workAfter leaving Zappa, Colaiuta went on to work with a long list of notable rock and pop artists, including Gino Vannelli, Joni Mitchell, Barbra Streisand, Sandy & Junior, Jay Vaquer, Clannad, Wang Chung, Chaka Khan, Megadeth, The Beach Boys, Leonard Cohen and Jeff Beck. He has also appeared with many notable jazz musicians, including Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Haslip, Quincy Jones, the Buddy Rich Big Band and Buell Neidlinger. He has also played with Chuck Loeb, David Goldblatt, David Sancious, Dean Brown, Jeff Porcaro, Jim Beard, John Patitucci, Mark Egan, Gigi D'Alessio,Robben Ford, and Tim Landers.
[edit]1990s
Colaiuta performing with Kenny Garrett
In 1990, Colaiuta successfully auditioned as drummer in Sting's touring band in support of his album The Soul Cages. Colaiuta remained as a member of Sting's band for the next seven years. He declined the offer to go out on the road for the Brand New Day tour in 1999 due to the considerable length of a typical Sting world tour. Colaiuta's studio work with Sting can be heard on Ten Summoner's Tales (1993), Mercury Falling (1996), three songs onBrand New Day (1999) and two songs on Sacred Love (2003). In September 2003, he returned to Sting's touring lineup in a brief promotional tour ofSacred Love, but once again declined the offer to participate in the world tour. At 10.21.2011 Vinnie Colaiuta rejoined Sting´s tour band for performing on the Back to Bass Tour. So he continues his live collaboration with Sting after almost fifteen years.
Colaiuta released a self-titled solo recording in 1994, and still remains one of the most in demand studio musicians playing on countless albums,[2]film soundtracks, TV and radio jingles. His dedication to self-improvement is legendary: Dom Famularo, a famous drum educator and Colaiuta's friend, once told a story about Colaiuta opening his door while practising on a drum pad; after a few minutes of a chat on the door step, Colaiuta said: "I'm such a bad host, I haven't offered you anything! Do you want a pad?"
Colaiuta has won a total of 18 Drummer of the Year awards from Modern Drummer magazine's annual reader polls. These include 10 awards in the "Best Overall" category. Colaiuta was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1996. The publication also cited Colaiuta as being the most important drummer of our time.
[edit]2000 to present
Five Peace Band (Chick Corea not pictured)
In 2006 to 2007, Colaiuta toured with Jeff Beck and Tal Wilkenfeld on bass, with Jason Rebello playing keyboards, in Eric Clapton'sCrossroads Guitar Festival.
Colaiuta recorded and toured with Faith Hill, recorded with the thrash metal outfit Megadeth on their album The System Has Failed, and toured with Jeff Beck and Herbie Hancock.
From October 22 to November 23, 2008, Colaiuta toured Europe with John McLaughlin, Chick Corea, Kenny Garrett and Christian McBride in the Five Peace Band.
2009 was the release of the Zappa alumni all star band The Mar Vista Philharmonic, featuring Tommy Mars, Bruce Fowler, Walt Fowler,Arthur Barrow, among others, on Jon Larsens Zonic Entertainment label.
[edit]EquipmentCymbals
In 2012, Vinnie Colaiuta began playing and endorsing Paiste cymbals, particularly the 602 series; Paiste created prototype 602s in new sizes to accommodate his requirements which have now been developed into full retail products.
He was, previously, a long-time Zildjian Cymbal and Drumstick endorser and, in 1990, was heavily involved in the development of their A Custom line of cymbals.
Drums
Around the time of Paiste's announcement, Vinnie was also announced as a Ludwig endorsee.
Prior to his association with Ludwig, Vinnie has endorsed Yamaha and Gretsch drums.
In a career as diverse as his, Vinnie has, naturally, been pictured playing a number of drumset brands. He was regarded as a genuine lover of Gretsch products, reportedly using them in a clandestine manner (often in recording sessions) when not an official endorsee. As a result, his move away from Gretsch drums was a surprise to many.
Generally speaking, his preferred drumset configuration comprises a 22" bass drum, 10" and 12" rack toms, 14" and 16" floor toms with a main and auxilliary snare drum.
[edit]Discography[edit]With Frank Zappa
- Joe's Garage (1979)
- Saarbrucken (1979)
- Tinseltown Rebellion (1981)
- Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar (1981)
- The Man From Utopia (1983)
- Guitar (1988)
- Any Way the Wind Blows (1991)
- Strictly Commercial (1995)
- You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 (1988)
- You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4 (1991)
- You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 (1992)
- The Lost Episodes (1996)
- Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute (1996)
- Have I Offended Someone? (1997)
- Son of Cheep Thrills (1999)
- Halloween (2003)
- Trance-Fusion (2006)
- Buffalo (2007)
- Wild Things Run Fast (1982)
- Dog Eat Dog (1985)
- Night Ride Home (1991)
- Hits (1996)
- Misses (1996)
- Songs of a Prairie Girl (2005)
- Acoustic Live in Newcastle" (1992)
- Ten Summoner's Tales (1993)
- Mercury Falling (1996)
- Brand New Day (1999)
- Sacred Love (2003)
- 2012 Brian Bromberg, Bromberg Plays Hendrix
- 2011 Steve Kusaba, Centrifugal Satz Clock: Morning
- 2011 Jay Vaquer, Umbigobunker!?
- 2011 Doug Lunn, The Doug Lunn Project
- 2010 Kermit Driscoll, Reveille
- 2010 Anna Mjöll, Christmas Jazzmaz
- 2010 Jeff Richman, Like That
- 2010 Lee Ritenour, 6 String Theory
- 2010 Herbie Hancock, The Imagine Project
- 2010 Jeff Beck, Emotion & Commotion
- 2010 Mark Egan, Truth Be Told
- 2009 The Mar Vista Philharmonic, No Forest Fire
- 2009 Luciana Souza, Tide
- 2009 Eros Ramazzotti, Ali e Radici
- 2009 Various Artists '80s Metal: A Double Dose
- 2009 Melody Gardot, My One & Only Thrill
- 2009 Five Peace Band, Five Peace Band (Live)
- 2009 Soup From 8 To Infinite
- 2009 James Newton Howard, Duplicity (Soundtrack)
- 2009 Torcuato Mariano, So Far from Home
- 2009 Madeleine Peyroux, Bare Bones
- 2008 Asia, Progressive Rock Friends
- 2009 Jeff Beck Performing This Week: Live at Ronnie Scott's (Blu-ray DVD)
- 2008 Jeff Beck Performing This Week...Live At Ronnie Scott's
- 2008 Luz Rios, Aire
- 2008 Brian Culbertson, Christmas & Hits Duos
- 2008 Megadeth, Anthology: Set the World AFire
- 2008 Various Artists Les Paul and Friends: Tribute to a Legend
- 2008 Simone Borghi, On Line
- 2008 River: The Joni Letters with Herbie Hancock
- 2008 Herbie Hancock, Then & Now: The Definitive Herbie Hancock
- 2008 Dave Koz, Greatest Hits
- 2008 George Duke, Dukey Treats
- 2008 L.A. Chillharmonic, The L.A. Chillharmonic
- 2008 Glen Campbell, Meet Glen Campbell
- 2008 Vibes Alive, After Hours
- 2008 Los Temerarios, Si Tu Te Vas
- 2008 Leonard Cohen, The Collection
- 2008 Chanté Moore, Love The Woman
- 2008 Various Artists The Ultimate Tribute to Led Zeppelin
- 2008 LeAnn Rimes, LeAnn Rimes Collector's Edition Tin
- 2008 FJulia rancis, Lucky Penny
- 2008 Boyz II Men, Motown Hitsville Usa (Tour Edition) (W/DVD)
- 2008 Andrea Bocelli, Vivere: Best Of Andrea Bocelli (Bonus Track)
- 2008 Backstreet Boys, Unbreakable: Tour Edition (Bonus DVD)
- 2008 Randy Jackson, Randy Jackson's Music Club
- 2008 Michael McDonald, Soul Peak
- 2008 Celine Dion, X2
- 2008 Ilona, Alla en el Sur
- 2007 Megadeth, Warchest
- 2007 Faith Hill, Hits
- 2007 Bill Medley, Damn Near Righteous
- 2007 Les Sabler, Sweet Drive
- 2007 Chris Botti, Italia
- 2007 Pat Monahan, The Last of Seven
- 2007 Oz Noy, Fuzzy
- 2007 Kristina Kovac, U nebranom grožđu
- 2007 Travis Tritt, The Storm
- 2007 Dean Martin, Forever Cool
- 2007 Billy Cyrus, Ray Home At Last
- 2007 Various Artists Freeway Jam: To Beck and Back
- 2007 Mark Isaacs, Resurgence
- 2007 Michael Bublé, Call Me Irresponsible
- 2007 Brian Buckley, For Her
- 2007 Jeff Babko, Mondo Trio
- 2007 Jeff Lorber, He Had a Hat
- 2007 Daniel Lee Martin, On My Way to You
- 2007 Various Artists We All Love Ennio Morricone
- 2007 Brian Bromberg, Downright Upright
- 2007 Jill Scott, Jill Scott Collaborations
- 2007 Wayne Bergeron, Plays Well With Others
- 2006 Various Artists Legends Of Jazz With Ramsey Lewis Box Set
- 2006 Laura Pausini, Yo Canto
- 2006 Michelle Tumes Michelle Tumes
- 2006 Josh Groban, Awake
- 2006 Brian Culbertson Soulful Christmas
- 2006 George Benson Givin' It Up
- 2006 Scott Kinsey, Kinesthetics
- 2006 Bette Midler, Cool Yule
- 2006 James Taylor James Taylor at Christmas
- 2006 Kazu Matsui Project, Pioneer
- 2006 Jeff Berlin, Aneurythms
- 2006 The Ten Tenors, Here's to the Heroes
- 2006 Sam Moore, Overnight Sensational
- 2006 Richard Bona, Tiki
- 2006 Lee Ritenour, Smoke 'n' Mirrors
- 2006 Joanna, This Crazy Life
- 2006 Greg Adams, Cool To The Touch
- 2006 Various Artists Summer Jam Session
- 2006 Dan Siegel, Departure
- 2006 Various Artists '80s Metal Tribute to Van Halen
- 2006 LeAnn Rimes, Whatever We Wanna
- 2006 Michael Franks, Rendezvous in Rio
- 2006 Matt Dusk, Back in Town
- 2006 Katharine McPhee, My Destiny / Somewhere Over the Rainbow CD-SINGLE
- 2006 Gregg Rolie, Gringo
- 2006 John McLaughlin, Industrial Zen
- 2006 Marilyn Scott, Innocent of Nothing
- 2006 Various Artists Return to the Dark Side of the Moon: A Tribute to Pink Floyd
- 2006 Various Artists The Royal Dan: A Tribute
- 2006 Amy Sky, Life Lessons: The Best of Amy Sky
- 2006 Jeff Beck, Official Bootleg USA '06
- 2006 Various Artists Legends of Jazz Showcase
- 2006 Rob Whitlock, Sketchin' 2
- 2006 Erin Boheme, What Love Is
- 2006 Tom Scott, The Very Best of Tom Scott
- 2006 Various Artists Pink Floyd's The Wall Revisited
- 2006 Brian Bromberg, Wood II
- 2006 Various Artists Flying High Again: The World's Greatest Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne
- 2006 Various Artists Funk Academy
- 2006 Frank Macchia, Mo' Animals
- 2006 Chick Corea, The Ultimate Adventure
- 2006 Bunny Brunel, Dedication
- 2006 Andrea Bocelli, Amore
- 2006 Various Artists More or Less Jazz Two
- 2006 Jeff Berlin, Ace of Bass
- 2005 Ashley Maher, Flying Over Bridges
- 2005 Ricardo Arjona, Adentro
- 2005 Anastacia, Pieces of a Dream
- 2005 Eros Ramazzotti, Calma Apparente
- 2005 Burt Bacharach, At This Time
- 2005 Destiny's Child, #1's
- 2005 Various Artists Revolution Of The Spirit
- 2005 Chris Botti, To Love Again
- 2005 Various Artists 40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas
- 2005 P.J. Olsson, Beautifully Insane
- 2005 David Garfield, The State Of Things
- 2005 Kyle Eastwood, Paris Blue
- 2005 Beppe Cantarelli, Blues, Rock & Soul
- 2005 Pussycat Dolls, PCD
- 2005 Bill Evans, Soulgrass
- 2005 David Pack, The Secret Of Movin' On
- 2005 Various Artists The Loner - A Tribute To Jeff Beck
- 2005 Marilyn Scott, Handpicked
- 2005 Faith Hill, Fireflies
- 2005 Various Guitarists Fusion For Miles
- 2005 Amber Whitlock, The Colours Of Life
- 2005 Various Artists Visions of an Inner Mounting Apocalypse
- 2005 Eric Benet, Hurricane
- 2005 Bob Bennett, Lord of the Past
- 2005 Backstreet Boys, Never Gone
- 2005 Paul Anka, Rock Swings
- 2005 Allan Holdsworth, Against the Clock: The Best of Allan Holdsworth
- 2005 Jakob Magnusson, Time Zone
- 2005 Various Artists Welcome to the Nightmare: An All-Star Salute to Alice Cooper
- 2005 Marta Sanchez, Lo Mejor de Marta Sanchez
- 2005 Michael Bublé, It's Time
- 2005 Rob Whitlock, Sketchin'
- 2005 LeAnn Rimes, This Woman
- 2005 Julia Fordham, That's Live
- 2004 Frank Macchia, Animals
- 2004 Lindsay Lohan, Speak
- 2004 Vito Rezza, Drums of Avila
- 2004 Clay Aiken, Merry Christmas with Love
- 2004 Marco Antonio Solís, Razon De Sobra
- 2004 James Taylor, James Taylor: A Christmas Album
- 2004 Michael McDonald, Motown Two
- 2004 Jaffe, Something To Fall Back On
- 2004 Joe Cocker, Heart and Soul
- 2004 Various Artists Shall We Dance? (Soundtrack)
- 2004 Various Artists American Drummers Achievement Awards Honoring Steve Gadd
- 2004 Chris Botti, When I Fall In Love
- 2004 Hilary Duff, Hilary Duff
- 2004 Queen Latifah, Dana Owens Album
- 2004 Megadeth The System Has Failed
- 2004 Marilyn Scott, Nightcap
- 2004 Greg Mathieson, West Coast Groove
- 2004 Original Score Bourne Supremacy
- 2004 Jing Chi, 3D
- 2004 David Benoit, Benoit/Freeman Project 2
- 2004 Dianne Schuur, Rediscovery On GRP
- 2004 Various Artists Smooth Jazz: Cruisin
- 2004 Karizma, Lost and Found
- 2004 Renee Olstead, Renee Olstead
- 2004 Jim Brickman, Greatest Hits
- 2004 Various Artists Tribute To Jimi Hendrix: Power Of Soul
- 2004 Various Artists Spin The Bottle: Tribute To Kiss
- 2004 Vasco Rossi, Buoni O Cattivi
- 2004 Robi Rosa, Draco Mad Love
- 2004 Kimo Williams, Kimotion Live 2002 - With My Friend Vinnie
- 2004 John Wesley Harding, Adam's Apple
- 2004 Various Artists Tribute To Aerosmith
- 2004 Abe Laboriel, Live in Switzerland
- 2004 Mike Stern, These Times
- 2003 Clay Aiken, Measure of a Man
- 2003 Ilse Delange, Clean Up
- 2003 Richard Bona, Munia: The Tale
- 2003 Alejandro Sanz, No Es Lo Mismo
- 2003 Marcos Witt, Vivencias
- 2003 Nate Sallie, Inside Out
- 2003 Randy Waldman, Timing Is Everything
- 2003 Jing Chi, Jing Chi Live at Yoshi's
- 2003 Cave Men, Cave Men
- 2003 David Garfield, Giving Back
- 2003 Various Artists (Sting) The Very Best of MTV Unplugged 2
- 2003 Michael Bublé, Michael Bublé
- 2003 Bill Evans, Big Fun
- 2003 Jeff Richman, One Two
- 2003 Stanley Clarke, 1 2 to the Bass
- 2003 Andy Summers, Earth + Sky
- 2002 Laura Pausini, From The Inside
- 2002 Faith Hill, Cry
- 2002 Dana Glover, Testimony
- 2002 LeAnn Rimes, Twisted Angel
- 2002 Bob James, Morning Noon & Night
- 2002 Jack Russell, For You
- 2002 Various Artists - Pop (Sting) The Very Best of MTV Unplugged
- 2002 Various Artists Let's Roll: Together in Unity, Faith and Hope
- 2002 Robben Ford, Blue Moon
- 2002 Original Soundtrack Queen of the Damned
- 2002 Take 6, Beautiful World
- 2002 Various Artists An All Star Lineup Performing The Songs Of Pink Floyd
- 2002 Jing Chi, Jing Chi
- 2002 Lee Ritenour, Rit's House
- 2001 Chris Botti, Night Sessions
- 2001 Alejandro Sanz, MTV Unplugged
- 2001 Jann Arden, Greatest Hurts: The Best of Jann Arden
- 2001 Barbra Streisand, Christmas Memories
- 2001 The Martins, Glorify Edify Testify
- 2001 Kimo Williams, Tracking
- 2001 SHeDAISY, Whole SHeBANG: All Mixed Up
- 2001 Richard Bona, Reverence
- 2001 Dyno Four, Live at the Baked Potato 2000
- 2001 Mike Stern, Voices
- 2001 Various Artists Live at the Baked Potato - Vol. Two
- 2001 Michelle Branch, Spirit Room
- 2001 Randy Waldman, UnReel
- 2001 Yumi Matsutoya, Acacia
- 2001 Asia, Aura
- 2001 Various Artists Modern Drummer Festival 2000
- 2001 Marcus Miller, M2 (M Squared)
- 2001 Various Artists Live at the Baked Potato - Vol. One
- 2001 Stevie Nicks, Trouble In Shangri-La
- 2001 Rich Ruttenberg, Angora Station
- 2001 Karizma, Document
- 2001 Aydin Esen, Living
- 2001 Vasco Rossi, Stupido Hotel
- 2001 Amy Sky, Phenomenal Woman
- 2001 John Beasley, Surfacing
- 2000 Christina Aguilera, My Kind of Christmas
- 2000 T-Square, Friendship
- 2000 Chaka Khan, The Jazz Channel Presents Chaka Khan
- 2000 Quincy Jones & Sammy Nestico, Basie and Beyond
- 2000 Ivan Lins, A Love Affair: The Music of Ivan Lins
- 2000 Gianni Morandi, Come Fa Bene l'Amore
- 2000 Melvin Davis, Lee Tomorrow's Yesterday
- 2000 Various Artists Bat Head Soup: A Tribute to Ozzy
- 2000 Brenda Russell, Paris Rain
- 2000 Crystal Lewis, Fearless
- 2000 Los Lobotomys, Los Lobotomys
- 2000 Mike Figgis, Time Code Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
- 2000 Melissa Ferrick, Freedom
- 2000 Lothar Kosse, Rainmaker
- 2000 Larry Carlton, Fingerprints
- 2000 Jason Miles / Various Artists Celebrating the Music of Weather Report
- 2000 Steely Dan, Two Against Nature
- 1999 David Benoit, Professional Dreamer
- 1999 Ron Kenoly, We Offer Praises
- 1999 Enrique Iglesias, Enrique Iglesias
- 1999 Kenny Pore, Sessions, Vol. 2
- 1999 Kenny Pore, Sessions, Vol. 1
- 1999 Luis Miguel, Amarte Es Un Placer
- 1999 Various Artists Not the Same Old Song & Dance: Aerosmith Tribute
- 1999 Robben Ford, Supernatural
- 1999 BAL, Sometime Soon
- 1999 Bill Evans, Touch
- 1999 Tom Scott, Smokin' Section
- 1999 Frank Quintero, Bien
- 1998 Gianni Morandi, Celeste Azzurro E Blue
- 1998 Jewel, Spirit
- 1998 Gitte Haenning, My Favorite Songs
- 1998 Vasco Rossi, Canzoni Per Me
- 1998 Various Artists Outlandos D'Americas: A Rock En Espanol Tribute To The Police
- 1998 Myriam Hernandez, Todo el Amor
- 1998 Barry Finnerty, Space Age Blues
- 1998 Tony Darren, Sun Song
- 1998 Randy Waldman, Wigged Out
- 1997 Rita Lee, Santa Rita De Sampa
- 1997 Celine Dion, Let's Talk About Love
- 1997 Victor Feldman, Fiesta & More
- 1997 David Garfield, Tribute to Jeff
- 1997 Billy Joel, Greatest Hits Vol. 3
- 1997 James Horner, Cocoon Soundtrack
- 1997 Leonard Cohen, More Best of Leonard Cohen
- 1997 Bill Evans, Starfish And The Moon
- 1997 Chick Corea, Live From Blue Note Tokyo
- 1997 Various Artists Carnival: Rainforest Foundation Concert
- 1997 Steve Tavaglione, Blue Tav
- 1997 New Spirits in Jazz, New Spirits in Jazz - Vol. 3
- 1996 Michael Landau, Tales From the Bulge
- 1996 Vasco Rossi, Nessun Pericolo...Per Te
- 1996 Sergio Mendes, Oceano
- 1996 Vonda Shepard, It's Good Eve
- 1996 Various Artists Sanctuary: 20 Years of Windham Hill
- 1996 Warren Cuccurullo, Thanks to Frank
- 1996 Eros Ramazzotti, Donde Hay Musica
- 1996 Elio E Le Storie Tese, Eat The Phikis
- 1996 Eros Ramazzotti, Dove C' E Musica
- 1996 Clannad, Lore
- 1995 SMAP, 007 Gold Singer
- 1995 Umberto Fiorentino, Ulisse
- 1995 Simple Minds, Good News from the Next World
- 1995 Don Henley, Actual Miles: Henley's Greatest Hits
- 1995 David Sanborn, Love Songs
- 1995 Melissa Manchester, If My Heart Had Wings
- 1995 Curtis Stigers, Time Was
- 1995 Dan Fogelberg, No Resemblance Whatsoever
- 1995 Bobby Caldwell, Soul Survivor
- 1995 John McLaughlin, The Promise
- 1995 Drupi, Voglio Una Donna
- 1994 Diane Schuur, Heart to Heart
- 1994 Cristian, El Camino del Alma
- 1994 Rosco Martinez, Aqui Estoy
- 1994 4Him, The Ride
- 1994 Vinnie Colaiuta, Vinnie Colaiuta
- 1994 Temptations, Emperors of Soul
- 1994 Third Matinee, Meanwhile
- 1994 Roberto Carlos, Voce E Minha
- 1994 Brandon Fields, Brandon Fields
- 1993 Sonya Jason, Tigress
- 1993 Jevetta Steele, Here It Is
- 1993 Buell Neidlinger Quartet, Big Drum
- 1993 Air Supply, Vanishing Race
- 1993 Jeff Beal, Three Graces
- 1993 Ray Charles, My World
- 1993 Yutaka, Another Sun
- 1993 Duran Duran, The Wedding Album
- 1993 Tim Weston, Providence
- 1993 Kal David, Double Tuff
- 1992 Various Artists GRP 10th Anniversary Collection
- 1992 Leonard Cohen, The Future
- 1992 Shawn Colvin, Fat City
- 1992 Allan Holdsworth, Wardenclyffe Tower
- 1992 Tom Lellis, Taken to Heart
- 1992 Brunel, Bunny Dedication
- 1992 Gloria Trevi, Me Siento Tan Sola
- 1992 Brenda Russell, Greatest Hits
- 1992 Pat Kelley, High Heels
- 1992 Jennifer Warnes, The Hunter
- 1992 Rodney Crowell, Life Is Messy
- 1992 Tony Banks, Still
- 1992 Helen Hoffner, Wild About Nothing
- 1992 Brandon Fields, Other Places
- 1992 Tom Fowler, Heartscapes
- 1992 Go West, Indian Summer
- 1991 Various Artists For The Boys: Music From The Motion Picture
- 1991 Eric Marienthal, Crossroads
- 1991 Julia Fordham, Swept
- 1991 Everything But the Girl, Worldwide
- 1991 Ricky Peterson, Smile Blue
- 1991 Windham Hill Records Sampler, Windham Hill Sampler '92
- 1991 Bob Malach, Mood Swing
- 1991 Toni Childs, House of Hope
- 1991 Ivan Lins, Awa Yi
- 1991 Doug Cameron, Journey to You
- 1991 Claus Ogerman, Claus Ogerman Featuring Michael Brecker
- 1991 Dan Siegel, Going Home
- 1991 Rick Astley, Free
- 1991 Eddie Daniels, This Is Now
- 1990 Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series, Red Hot + Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter
- 1990 Ricardo Silveira, Amazon Secrets
- 1990 David Baerwald, Bedtime Stories
- 1990 Vernell Brown, A Total Eclipse
- 1990 Ricky Peterson, Night Watch
- 1990 David Benoit, Inner Motion
- 1990 Ashley Maher, Hi
- 1990 Kimo Williams, War Stories
- 1990 Everything But the Girl, The Language of Life
- 1990 Bill Meyers, The Colour Of The Truth
- 1990 Barbara Higbie, Signs of Life
- 1990 Michael Franks, Blue Pacific
- 1990 Steve Bach, Nice Moves
- 1990 Beth Nielsen Chapman, Beth Nielsen Chapman
- 1990 Barry Manilow, Barry Because It's Christmas
- 1990 Paul Young, Other Voices
- 1990 Darlene Love, Paint Another Picture
- 1990 Monna Bell, Monna Bell Ahora
- 1990 Rippingtons, Welcome to the St. James' Club
- 1990 John Patitucci, Sketchbook
- 1989 Philip Aaberg, Upright
- 1989 Frank Gambale, Thunder from Down Under
- 1989 Dreamstreet II, No Limit
- 1989 Sadao Watanabe, Selected
- 1989 Wang Chung, The Warmer Side of Cool
- 1989 Barry Manilow, Barry Manilow
- 1989 Keiko Matsui, Drop of Water
- 1989 Nik Kershaw, The Works
- 1989 John Patitucci, On the Corner
- 1989 Indio, Big Harvest
- 1989 The Beach Boys, Still Cruisin'
- 1989 Allan Holdsworth, Secrets
- 1989 Julian Lennon, Mr. Jordan
- 1989 Victor Feldman, The Best of Feldman and the Generation Band
- 1989 Keiko Matsui, No Borders
- 1989 Keiko Matsui, Under Northern Lights
- 1989 Doug Cameron, Mil Amores
- 1989 Dan Siegel, Late One Night
- 1988 Robben Ford, Talk to Your Daughter
- 1988 David Sanborn, Close-Up
- 1988 Rippingtons, Kilimanjaro
- 1988 Peabo Bryson, Positive
- 1988 Suzanne Dean, Dreams Come True
- 1988 Jeff Richman, The Way In
- 1988 Yutaka, Yutaka
- 1988 Tori Amos's Y Kant Tori Read, Y Kant Tori Read
- 1988 Brenda Russell, Get Here
- 1988 Les McCann, Butterfly
- 1988 John Patitucci, John Patitucci
- 1988 Various Artists GRP Christmas Collection
- 1988 Kazu Matsui, Time No Longer
- 1988 Patti Austin, The Real Me
- 1988 Perri, The Flight
- 1988 Al Stewart, Last Days of the Century
- 1988 The Fowler Brothers, Breakfast for Dinosaurs
- 1988 Djavan, Bird of Paradise
- 1988 Claus Ogerman, Claus Ogerman Featuring Michael Brecker
- 1988 Sam Riney, At Last
- 1988 Sam Riney, Lay It on the Line
- 1988 Tom Scott, Flashpoint
- 1988 Brandon Fields, Traveler
- 1988 Leonard Cohen, I'm Your Man
- 1987 Eric Marienthal, Voices of the Heart
- 1987 Bryan Ferry, Bête Noire
- 1987 GRP All Stars, GRP Super Live in Concert
- 1987 Julie Brown, Trapped in Body of a White Girl
- 1987 Clare Fischer, Memento
- 1987 Tom Scott, Streamlines
- 1987 George Benson, Collaboration
- 1987 Frank Quintero, Buscando Soles
- 1987 Joyride, Joyride
- 1987 Martha Davis, Policy
- 1987 Eric Martin, I'm Only Fooling Myself
- 1987 Jack Wagner, Don't Give Up Your Day Job
- 1987 Doug Cameron, Passion Suite
- 1987 Five Star, Between The Lines
- 1987 Gregg Rolie, Gringo
- 1987 Pat Kelley, Views of the Future
- 1987 Sadao Watanabe, Birds of Passage
- 1987 Lee Ritenour, Portrait
- 1987 Dan Siegel, Northern Nights
- 1987 Jennifer Warnes, Famous Blue Raincoat
- 1987 Sadao Watanabe, Birds of Passage
- 1987 Malta, My Ballads
- 1987 Barry Manilow, Swing Street
- 1986 Billy Joel, The Bridge
- 1986 Jakob Magnusson, Time Zone
- 1986 Indra Lesmana, For Earth and Heaven
- 1986 Barnaby Finch, Digital Madness
- 1986 Bill Meyers, Images
- 1986 Temptations, To Be Continued...
- 1986 Stone Fury, Let Them Talk
- 1985 Olivia Newton-John, Soul Kiss
- 1985 Doug Cameron, Freeway Mentality
- 1985 The Commodores, Night Shift
- 1985 Jeff Richman, Himalaya
- 1985 Barry Finnerty, Lights On Broadway
- 1985 Michael Sembello, Without Walls
- 1985 Maurice White, Maurice White
- 1985 Joe Lamont, Secret You Keep
- 1984 Kenny Pore, Inner City Dreams
- 1984 Kazu Matsui Project, Standing in the Wings
- 1984 Kazu Matsui Project, Is That The Way To Your Heart?
- 1984 Pastiche, That's R & B-Bop
- 1984 Victor Feldman, Fiesta
- 1984 Matthew Wilder, Bouncin' off the Walls
- 1984 Poco, Inamorata
- 1984 Barbra Streisand, Emotion
- 1983 Sergio Mendes, Sergio Mendes
- 1983 Helen Reddy, Imagination
- 1983 Kazu Matsui Project, Standing On The Outside
- 1983 Paul Anka, Walk A Fine Line
- 1983 Peter Allen, Not The Boy Next Door
- 1983 Nielson/Pearson Band, Blind Luck
- 1983 Juice Newton, Dirty Looks
- 1983 Michael Sembello, Bossa Nova Hotel
- 1982 Tom Scott, Desire
- 1982 Andre Heller, Verwunschen
- 1982 Barry Manilow, I Wanna Do It With You
- 1982 Tiger Okoshi, Mudd Cake
- 1982 Logic System, Venus
- 1982 Barry Finnerty, New York City
- 1982 Patrick Williams, Dreams And Themes
- 1982 Kazu Matsui Project, The Direction West
- 1982 Clare Fischer, Blues Trilogy
- 1982 Judy Collins, Time Of Our Lives
- 1982 Juice Newton, Juice/Quiet Lies
- 1982 Bill Medley, Right Here And Now
- 1982 Al Kooper, Championship Wrestling
- 1981 Pages, Pages
- 1981 Richard Perry, Swing
- 1981 Tiger Okoshi, Tiger's Baku
- 1980 Gino Vannelli, Nightwalker
- 1979 Lee Ritenour, Collection
- 1977 Christopher Morris Band, Christopher Morris Band
Jimmie Lee Sloas grew up in Fairborn, Ohio & Isonville, Kentucky. He is an American session musician, producer and songwriter who plays bass guitar. Formerly a member of a famous Christian band called The Imperials (bassist/lead vocals/BGVs) in the 1980s and 1990s, Sloas holds several session musician and production credits, primarily in country & contemporary Christian music with artists such as Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes, Kellie Pickler, Reba McEntire, PFR, Switchfoot, and Jessica Simpson. In 1996, Jimmie also co-founded the group Dogs of Peace with former Whiteheart guitarist Gordon Kennedy. Sloas also recorded with the heavy metal outfit Megadeth on their album The System Has Failed. He was nominated for Top Bass Player of the Year in the 2006, 2008 & 2009[1] Academy of Country Music awards.
Jimmie's father (Dave), was a member of the popular Bluegrass group, The Sloas Brothers. David (Jimmie's older brother), served as Tammy Wynette lead guitarist from the early 80's until her death and currently plays lead guitar for Country star, Aaron Tippin.
Jimmie is currently co-producing the artist Christian Kane with Bob Ezrin for Bigger Picture Group at Anarchy Studios in Nashville.
Jimmie's father (Dave), was a member of the popular Bluegrass group, The Sloas Brothers. David (Jimmie's older brother), served as Tammy Wynette lead guitarist from the early 80's until her death and currently plays lead guitar for Country star, Aaron Tippin.
Jimmie is currently co-producing the artist Christian Kane with Bob Ezrin for Bigger Picture Group at Anarchy Studios in Nashville.
James MacDonough born on April 3, 1970 in Jacksonville, Florida U.S.A. is a professional bass guitarist. He has played with Iced Earth, Nevermore, and most recently, Megadeth.
MacDonough was part of Iced Earth's line up from 1996–2000 and again from 2001-2004. With Iced Earth he recorded: 3 full length albums, an EP, a live album, and a single. In late 2004, he was recruited into Megadeth. James toured with Dave Mustaine and the band for almost 2 years, appearing with Megadeth on the first ever Gigantour festival, the brainchild of Mustaine. He appears in Megadeth's music video for the song "Of Mice and Men", the Arsenal of Megadeth DVD, and (in cartoon form) the band's cameo in an episode of Duck Dodgers. He never recorded a studio album with Megadeth.
On February 10, 2006 James posted a message on the Megadeth forums saying he was parting ways with Megadeth. The forum post MacDonough made was entitled "Hello Droogs" and contained the following:
"I just wanted to say thank you all so much for making me feel so welcome and thank you for all the awesome memories along the road. I will not be playing with Megadeth any longer. I'm sure Dave will post about it soon. Thanks again my Metal brothers and sisters, James."
The next day Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine posted in the forums saying he had nothing bad to say about James and that he hopes they remain friends.
On April 25, 2006, Blabbermouth.net reported that James would fill in for Nevermore bass player Jim Sheppard as he underwent treatment forCrohn's Disease. James is a long-time fan and friend of the band (on his Megadeth.com bio, he stated Nevermore's Enemies of Reality as one of his favorite albums [1]) and performed with them on their tour with In Flames in the mid part of 2006.
It was then announced on July 25 that James would fill in for Strapping Young Lad bassist, Byron Stroud on the end of the Ozzfest tour, as Byron had to return to Fear Factory for European festival dates.
Bands
MacDonough was part of Iced Earth's line up from 1996–2000 and again from 2001-2004. With Iced Earth he recorded: 3 full length albums, an EP, a live album, and a single. In late 2004, he was recruited into Megadeth. James toured with Dave Mustaine and the band for almost 2 years, appearing with Megadeth on the first ever Gigantour festival, the brainchild of Mustaine. He appears in Megadeth's music video for the song "Of Mice and Men", the Arsenal of Megadeth DVD, and (in cartoon form) the band's cameo in an episode of Duck Dodgers. He never recorded a studio album with Megadeth.
On February 10, 2006 James posted a message on the Megadeth forums saying he was parting ways with Megadeth. The forum post MacDonough made was entitled "Hello Droogs" and contained the following:
"I just wanted to say thank you all so much for making me feel so welcome and thank you for all the awesome memories along the road. I will not be playing with Megadeth any longer. I'm sure Dave will post about it soon. Thanks again my Metal brothers and sisters, James."
The next day Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine posted in the forums saying he had nothing bad to say about James and that he hopes they remain friends.
On April 25, 2006, Blabbermouth.net reported that James would fill in for Nevermore bass player Jim Sheppard as he underwent treatment forCrohn's Disease. James is a long-time fan and friend of the band (on his Megadeth.com bio, he stated Nevermore's Enemies of Reality as one of his favorite albums [1]) and performed with them on their tour with In Flames in the mid part of 2006.
It was then announced on July 25 that James would fill in for Strapping Young Lad bassist, Byron Stroud on the end of the Ozzfest tour, as Byron had to return to Fear Factory for European festival dates.
Bands
- Iced Earth 1996–2000, 2001–2004
- Megadeth 2004–2006
- Days of Purgatory – 1997
- Something Wicked This Way Comes – 1998
- The Melancholy E.P. (Limited Edition) – 1999
- Alive in Athens – 1999
- The Melancholy E.P. – 2001
- Dark Genesis – 2001
- Tribute to the Gods – 2002
- The Reckoning – 2003
- The Glorious Burden – 2004
- Arsenal of Megadeth (DVD) - 2006
- Gigantour (CD & DVD) - 2006
- That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires (CD & DVD) - 2007
Glen Drover (born May 25, 1969) is a heavy metal guitarist from Missisauga, Ontario, Canada. He currently resides in Mississauga Ontario. Drover is best known as the former lead guitarist in Megadeth and King Diamond, as well as his own band Eidolon, along with his brother Shawn Drover.
HistoryGlen Drover began playing guitar as a child, and was joined at age 10 by his brother Shawn on drums.[1] Influenced by Tony MacAlpine, Al Di Meola, Randy Rhoads, Greg Howe, Michael Romeo,George Lynch, Warren DeMartini and David Gilmour, the Drover brothers formed the thrash/power metal band Eidolon in 1996, releasing seven albums to date. Glen is currently teaching guitar lessons at Musicians Choice.
[edit]King Diamond (1998-2000)In 1998, Drover joined King Diamond, and appeared on the House of God album.
[edit]Megadeth (2004-2008)In October 2004, Drover joined thrash metal band Megadeth, bringing along his brother Shawn. Following an extensive world tour, Drover contributed to Megadeth's 2007 release, United Abominations as the lead guitarist and with co-writing credits for one song. [2] Drover recorded his solo at home in Canada, and sent the music file to the band.[2]
In January 2008 Glen Drover left Megadeth to focus on family life; the constant touring was starting to have a negative effect on him. His last show with Megadeth was on November 18, 2007 inBrisbane, Australia. Commenting on leaving the band, Drover said "I am aware of the rumors that I left Megadeth to focus on family life and my family life has always been my priority. In the end, I was unhappy with the situation, which magnified me wanting to spend more time with my family and realizing that it's time for me to move on to the next chapter in my musical career, I have a lot of great memories and met a ton of great people along the way, both fans and people in the industry."[3][4]
[edit]Solo/Geoff Tate's Queensryche (2008-present)Glen is now collaborating with Stéphan Forté of the band Adagio on a 10 track instrumental CD.[citation needed] Recently he finished working on the album entitled Metalusion and was recorded sporadically over a 2-plus-year period, It will be released on April 5, 2011.[5][6] On September 1, 2012 Geoff Tate announced a new Queensrÿche lineup featuring Drover.[7] Glen left the band in November 2012.
[edit]Testament (2008, 2010)On the 22 Oct 2008 Testament announced that they had recruited guitarist Glen Drover to fill in on their upcoming Mexican tour dates with Judas Priest, due to Alex Skolnick's prior commitment to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.[8] Also in March 2010, during the time of him trying to finally finish his album, Glen Drover will be playing with Testament on the upcoming Megadeth, Testament, Exodus tour In the US and Canada, due to Alex Skolnick being away again during this time.
[edit]Bands
[edit]Partial discography[edit]Eidolon
HistoryGlen Drover began playing guitar as a child, and was joined at age 10 by his brother Shawn on drums.[1] Influenced by Tony MacAlpine, Al Di Meola, Randy Rhoads, Greg Howe, Michael Romeo,George Lynch, Warren DeMartini and David Gilmour, the Drover brothers formed the thrash/power metal band Eidolon in 1996, releasing seven albums to date. Glen is currently teaching guitar lessons at Musicians Choice.
[edit]King Diamond (1998-2000)In 1998, Drover joined King Diamond, and appeared on the House of God album.
[edit]Megadeth (2004-2008)In October 2004, Drover joined thrash metal band Megadeth, bringing along his brother Shawn. Following an extensive world tour, Drover contributed to Megadeth's 2007 release, United Abominations as the lead guitarist and with co-writing credits for one song. [2] Drover recorded his solo at home in Canada, and sent the music file to the band.[2]
In January 2008 Glen Drover left Megadeth to focus on family life; the constant touring was starting to have a negative effect on him. His last show with Megadeth was on November 18, 2007 inBrisbane, Australia. Commenting on leaving the band, Drover said "I am aware of the rumors that I left Megadeth to focus on family life and my family life has always been my priority. In the end, I was unhappy with the situation, which magnified me wanting to spend more time with my family and realizing that it's time for me to move on to the next chapter in my musical career, I have a lot of great memories and met a ton of great people along the way, both fans and people in the industry."[3][4]
[edit]Solo/Geoff Tate's Queensryche (2008-present)Glen is now collaborating with Stéphan Forté of the band Adagio on a 10 track instrumental CD.[citation needed] Recently he finished working on the album entitled Metalusion and was recorded sporadically over a 2-plus-year period, It will be released on April 5, 2011.[5][6] On September 1, 2012 Geoff Tate announced a new Queensrÿche lineup featuring Drover.[7] Glen left the band in November 2012.
[edit]Testament (2008, 2010)On the 22 Oct 2008 Testament announced that they had recruited guitarist Glen Drover to fill in on their upcoming Mexican tour dates with Judas Priest, due to Alex Skolnick's prior commitment to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.[8] Also in March 2010, during the time of him trying to finally finish his album, Glen Drover will be playing with Testament on the upcoming Megadeth, Testament, Exodus tour In the US and Canada, due to Alex Skolnick being away again during this time.
[edit]Bands
- Eidolon 1993 - 2007
- King Diamond 1998 - 2000
- Megadeth 2004 - 2008
- Testament 10/27/2008 - 10/31/2008, 3/1/10 - 3/31/10 (touring)
[edit]Partial discography[edit]Eidolon
- Sacred Shrine (1993)
- Zero Hour (1996)
- Seven Spirits (1997)
- Nightmare World (2000)
- Hallowed Apparition (2001)
- Coma Nation (2002)
- Apostles Of Defiance (2003)
- The Parallel Otherworld (2006)
- Northern Light Orchestra (2010)
- House of God (2000)
- Arsenal of Megadeth (2006)
- That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires (2007)
- United Abominations (2007)
- Metalusion (2011)
James "JLo" LoMenzo (born January 13, 1959 in Brooklyn, New York) is a metal bassist known for his roles as a former member of White Lion[1]and Megadeth. He is also known for his work in Black Label Society .
Early days, White Lion, Zakk Wylde and other projects (1977-2005)In the late 1970s, he started in a band called "Empty Sky," a rock band with hints of jazz. The band was based out of Brooklyn and was one of the biggest up-and-coming young bands. James was the lead singer and bass guitarist. The band consisted of Robert Littera at lead guitar, Julie Pontecorvo on Trumpet, Marco Lagana on trombone, Frank Bonanno on tenor saxophone, Oscar Olivera on drums, Vincent Chirico on rhythm guitar and John Buccellato on electric piano. The band broke up as the members began to mature and take their separate career paths.
He played bass with Clockwork, his first original hard rock band in 1980 to 1983. He then went on to play in the band Rondinelli with Ray Gillen before joining White Lion in 1984.
He played bass with White Lion from 1984 to 1991, and then went on with White Lion drummer Greg D'Angelo to play with former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley, and then later with Zakk Wylde's side-project Lynyrd Skynhead who evolved into Pride & Glory and released one album in 1994. Although he left the band during their 1994 tour, he returned to play on Zakk Wylde's 1996 solo album Book of Shadows. He had a brief stint in the recording studio with Ozzy Osbourne in 1994 but the sessions were not used, and Ozzmosis was re-recorded by different musicians the next year. In 1995, James, along with Pride & Glory drummer Brian Tichy joined Slash's Snakepit as touring musicians.He was a member of David Lee Roth's band in the late 1990s and early 2000s and performed on his album Diamond Dave.
In 2004, LoMenzo rejoined Zakk Wylde in his band Black Label Society until October 2005 when he was replaced by Black Label Society's original bassist John DeServio.
[edit]Megadeth (2006-2010)From February 10, 2006 up until February 8, 2010, LoMenzo was the bassist of thrash metal band Megadeth. The first Megadeth record he performed on was 2007's United Abominations. LoMenzo also performed on the band's next album, Endgame from 2009. On February 8, 2010, it was announced that original Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson replaced LoMenzo.[2]
[edit]2010-presentIn 2010 he played bass for Lynch Mob. James is also part of the band "Hideous Sun Demons."[citation needed]
[edit]OtherLoMenzo is also a graphic artist and did the art work for Gilby Clarke's solo album Rubber in 1998. LoMenzo is also a member of a tribute band called "HAIL!". HAIL!'s rotating cast of members include Andreas Kisser, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Paul Bostaph, David Ellefson, Mike Portnoy, Jimmy DeGrasso and Roy Mayorga. Ripper, DeGrasso, Ellefson and Kisser formed the band in late 2008.[3] The band, toured Europe in 2009 and in June 2010 HAIL! is on their second European tour with the following line-up: Andreas Kisser, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Paul Bostaph and James LoMenzo.[4][5] Due to the death of previously announced Slipknot bassist Paul Gray, LoMenzo agreed on only one day’s notice to fly to Portugal and play the Rock In Rio Festival where HAIL! was scheduled to perform on May 30, 2010. Lomenzo also joined Lynch Mob in late July 2010, replacing Marco Mendoza. James previously jammed with Lynch Mob drummer Brian Tichy in both Pride & Glory and Slash's Snakepit.
On August 29, 2012, LoMenzo was announced as a cast member of The Amazing Race 21 along with his partner Mark "Abba" Abbattista. They ended up in 6th place out of 11 teams and were the sixth team eliminated at Sokolniki Park in Moscow, Russia due to an unsuccessful search for Abba's stolen passport.
[edit]GearJames LoMenzo is best known for his frequent use of the Warwick Buzzard bass and Warwick Stryker bass. His amplification section is dominated by Ashdown amps and cabinets. His effects pedals include Dunlop Crybaby, MXR Chorus, MXR Distortion, and Aphex Punch as well as other pedals. He has his own signature pedal, the Ashdown Lomenzo Hyperdrive. Interestingly, his rig bears a strong resemblance to that of John Entwistle, who also used Ashdown amps and Buzzard basses (which he designed himself). LoMenzo's live rig can be seen here.[6] He is an endorser ofRotoSound bass strings. He is also known to play Alembic bass guitar, or more specifically the spyder model. He was also seen playing a Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass for the entirety of the 2007 Megadeth Tour of Duty. As of September 2008, James has been seen playing a Yamaha BB Custom Shop model; which in itself, has a slightly smaller body than a standard BB, two pairs of P bass pick-ups (one reversed), a neck pick-up based on a Gibson Model One, a maple neck and a Hipshot D-Tuner.
[edit]Discography[edit]With Rondinelli
Early days, White Lion, Zakk Wylde and other projects (1977-2005)In the late 1970s, he started in a band called "Empty Sky," a rock band with hints of jazz. The band was based out of Brooklyn and was one of the biggest up-and-coming young bands. James was the lead singer and bass guitarist. The band consisted of Robert Littera at lead guitar, Julie Pontecorvo on Trumpet, Marco Lagana on trombone, Frank Bonanno on tenor saxophone, Oscar Olivera on drums, Vincent Chirico on rhythm guitar and John Buccellato on electric piano. The band broke up as the members began to mature and take their separate career paths.
He played bass with Clockwork, his first original hard rock band in 1980 to 1983. He then went on to play in the band Rondinelli with Ray Gillen before joining White Lion in 1984.
He played bass with White Lion from 1984 to 1991, and then went on with White Lion drummer Greg D'Angelo to play with former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley, and then later with Zakk Wylde's side-project Lynyrd Skynhead who evolved into Pride & Glory and released one album in 1994. Although he left the band during their 1994 tour, he returned to play on Zakk Wylde's 1996 solo album Book of Shadows. He had a brief stint in the recording studio with Ozzy Osbourne in 1994 but the sessions were not used, and Ozzmosis was re-recorded by different musicians the next year. In 1995, James, along with Pride & Glory drummer Brian Tichy joined Slash's Snakepit as touring musicians.He was a member of David Lee Roth's band in the late 1990s and early 2000s and performed on his album Diamond Dave.
In 2004, LoMenzo rejoined Zakk Wylde in his band Black Label Society until October 2005 when he was replaced by Black Label Society's original bassist John DeServio.
[edit]Megadeth (2006-2010)From February 10, 2006 up until February 8, 2010, LoMenzo was the bassist of thrash metal band Megadeth. The first Megadeth record he performed on was 2007's United Abominations. LoMenzo also performed on the band's next album, Endgame from 2009. On February 8, 2010, it was announced that original Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson replaced LoMenzo.[2]
[edit]2010-presentIn 2010 he played bass for Lynch Mob. James is also part of the band "Hideous Sun Demons."[citation needed]
[edit]OtherLoMenzo is also a graphic artist and did the art work for Gilby Clarke's solo album Rubber in 1998. LoMenzo is also a member of a tribute band called "HAIL!". HAIL!'s rotating cast of members include Andreas Kisser, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Paul Bostaph, David Ellefson, Mike Portnoy, Jimmy DeGrasso and Roy Mayorga. Ripper, DeGrasso, Ellefson and Kisser formed the band in late 2008.[3] The band, toured Europe in 2009 and in June 2010 HAIL! is on their second European tour with the following line-up: Andreas Kisser, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Paul Bostaph and James LoMenzo.[4][5] Due to the death of previously announced Slipknot bassist Paul Gray, LoMenzo agreed on only one day’s notice to fly to Portugal and play the Rock In Rio Festival where HAIL! was scheduled to perform on May 30, 2010. Lomenzo also joined Lynch Mob in late July 2010, replacing Marco Mendoza. James previously jammed with Lynch Mob drummer Brian Tichy in both Pride & Glory and Slash's Snakepit.
On August 29, 2012, LoMenzo was announced as a cast member of The Amazing Race 21 along with his partner Mark "Abba" Abbattista. They ended up in 6th place out of 11 teams and were the sixth team eliminated at Sokolniki Park in Moscow, Russia due to an unsuccessful search for Abba's stolen passport.
[edit]GearJames LoMenzo is best known for his frequent use of the Warwick Buzzard bass and Warwick Stryker bass. His amplification section is dominated by Ashdown amps and cabinets. His effects pedals include Dunlop Crybaby, MXR Chorus, MXR Distortion, and Aphex Punch as well as other pedals. He has his own signature pedal, the Ashdown Lomenzo Hyperdrive. Interestingly, his rig bears a strong resemblance to that of John Entwistle, who also used Ashdown amps and Buzzard basses (which he designed himself). LoMenzo's live rig can be seen here.[6] He is an endorser ofRotoSound bass strings. He is also known to play Alembic bass guitar, or more specifically the spyder model. He was also seen playing a Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass for the entirety of the 2007 Megadeth Tour of Duty. As of September 2008, James has been seen playing a Yamaha BB Custom Shop model; which in itself, has a slightly smaller body than a standard BB, two pairs of P bass pick-ups (one reversed), a neck pick-up based on a Gibson Model One, a maple neck and a Hipshot D-Tuner.
[edit]Discography[edit]With Rondinelli
- Wardance (Recorded circa 1985, released 1996)
- Pride (1987)
- Big Game (1989)
- Mane Attraction (1991)
- The Best of White Lion (1992)
- Pride & Glory (1994)
- Book of Shadows (1996)
- Diamond Dave (2003)
- Hideous Sun Demons (2004)
- Hangover Music Vol. VI (2004)
- Mafia (2005)
- United Abominations (2007)
- Endgame (2009)
- Play My Game (2009)