FASTEST GUITAR SHREDDERS

Voted the world's fastest shred guitarists
'Guitar One Magazine' readers vote: 2005

VOTED No 1 OF ALL TIME
MICHAEL ANGELO BATIO

Michael invented the Dean Double-Guitar and was the first person in the world to successfully play it. AWESOME!! Michael started playing piano and composing at age 5, started playing guitar at age 10. Michael has performed over 1100 shows in 31 different countries since 1993. He tours the world performing guitar workshops, also records, tours and plays with various bands and solo. He also invented and successfully played the very first 'quad' guitar. However, the instrument was stolen during a Nitro show in El Paso, Texas, and only two of the four parts required for its assembly have ever been recovered. However, Dean Guitars recently finished production on a new quad guitar for Michael.
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voted No 2
CHRIS IMPELLITTERI

Chris Impellitteri is one of the most unique, intense, and dynamic guitarists in heavy rock today. His influences range from Al Di Meola to Uli John Roth to Edward Van Halen. Chris has been releasing some of the best progressive, neo-classical guitar work around since the mid-'80's, inspiring countless musicians.
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voted No 3
YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN

When he was young, Yngwie didn't want much to do with music. Music was soft, a thing for wimps, and Yngwie was into all things destructive. An unruly child, Yngwie took delight in anything that went against the grain. But, one night while watching television, 7-year-old Yngwie saw guitar maestro Jimi Hendrix burning his guitar. Jimi's death had spurred the birth of a new guitar hero: Yngwie J. Malmsteen. He cites Jimi Hendrix, Uli Jon Roth, Brian May, Steve Hackett and Ritchie Blackmore as his influences.
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No 4
PAUL GILBERT

Guitarist Paul Gilbert has sold over three million records in the United States stemming from his brilliant work with Racer X, Mr. Big and as a solo artist. Long known as one of the top shredders in the business, Gilbert sometimes returns to his blues rock roots as on his Raw Blues Power album
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No 5
THE LATE SHAWN LANE
SHAWN LANE
Lane began his musical interests very young, studying piano and cello from the age of four. He took up the guitar at eight, and it remained his principal instrument from then on. He quickly became a legend in Memphis' music scene as the feisty young kid, began his professional playing and recording career when he was 12. The teen wonder shocked and amazed audiences at stadium shows across the USA. Before becoming a world renown guitarist. Tragically Shawn died of a lung disease Sept 26th 2003 at the age of 40.
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No 6
JOE STUMP

Joe Stump is one of the leading guitarists of the shred genre. Having released numerous solo albums and four with his band project Reign Of Terror, Stump has a reputation of for combining guitar virtuosity with strong hooks and killer riffs. Joe is also Berklee School Of Music's head authority on shred guitar. His main influeneces in his career are Ritchie Blackmore, Jimi Hendrix, Gary Moore, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker, Uli- Jon Roth, David Chastain, classical music too - Bach, Paganini, Vivaldi, Mendelson etc.
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No 7
RUSTY COOLEY

Rusty’s early influences included: Rhoads, Malmsteen, Becker, Gilbert, Holdsworth, Paganini, Bach, Vai, Gambale, Moore, MacAlpine, Taffolla, Friedman. He was also influenced by many styles including: Jazz, Classical, Funk, Blues and even Country. There where times when Rusty was pulled in so many different directions by music, he didn’t know if he wanted to be a Classical Conductor or a Jazz guitarist. “Remember play from your heart and never be swayed by the current trends.” Rusty Cooley
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No 8
BUCKETHEAD

Buckethead is one of the most bizarre and enigmatic figures in American underground. Real name Brian Carroll says he was raised by hens in a henhouse!. He got the idea of a bucket and mask one day when he was eating fried chicken. He stands about 7 Feet tall with his bucket on. He has robotic movements. Not much is known about Buckethead, but one things for sure, this greased lightin' is finger lickin' fast. Well the Colonel hasn't caught him yet! His bands include: Deli Creeps, Cornbugs, Praxis, Cobra Strike, Buckethead (Solo), Primus (Ozzfest 1999), Guns N' Roses.
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No 9
JOHN PETRUCCI

John Petrucci grew up on Long Island, Kings Park He started playing guitar at the age of 12 (After a brief fling at age 8 when he noticed his sister got to stay up late for her organ lessons. His little plan didn’t work out being that his guitar lesson was after school, and soon lost interest.) He quickly realized his influences and was determined to reach their level of ability. Some early influences include Yngwie Malmsteen, Randy Rhoads, Iron Maiden, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Yes, Rush etc. As the rise of thrash & metal hit John expanded his influences to include bands like Metallica & Queensryche.
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No 10
THE GREAT KAT

The Great Kat was born Katherine Thomas in Swindon, England (on a U.S. Air Force Base Military Hospital), moved to USA aged 3. After touring the world as a violinist, she realised that Classical music was dead, so she began updating Classical Music with Speed Metal and transcribed intricate violin solos to the guitar. The Great Kat is the only musician taking note-for-note authentic Classical Music scores (from Vivaldi, Beethoven, Bach, Wagner, Liszt, and Rossini) and re-orchestrating the entire scores with Shred Guitar virtuosity and mixing it with Speed Metal band and Classical orchestra.
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Here is a guitarist who's actual guitar playing career was very short, so he may get passed over by the younger generations and the media; but in many peoples minds .. he should have been in that top 10 list
A VERY SPECIAL MENTION
~ to one of the greatest ~
JASON BECKER

Jason Becker started playing guitar at the age of 5, by sixth grade he was playing local gigs and at 16 was in his first professional band "Cacophony", a neoclassical speed metal/shred band, which he formed with fellow guitarist Marty Friedman. Their debute album 'Speed Metal Symphony' features some of the most incredible, fast, complex and melodic guitar playing ever recorded. Some of Jason's influences have been his father, his uncle, Jimi Hendrix, Niccolò Paganini, Bob Dylan, Django Reinhart, Yngwie Malmsteen & Jeff Beck. 1988 see's his first solo album, 'Perpetual Burn'. At the age of 20 he joined David Lee Roth's legendary band. 1990, he won a readers' poll for best new guitarist in "Guitar Magazine". But tragidy struck whilst recording the album 'A Little Ain't Enough' he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and given only five years to live. This did not deter this true virtuoso, he managed to complete the album. Robbed of his speech, crippled in body, breathing via a machine, Jason has never given up his love of music. He communicates via eye movements and composes many magnificent works with his computer. His medical condition has remained stable since 1997. Jason's life as an artist and person should be inspirational not only to fellow guitarists but every musician. In his own words "If you have control over your mind, you can do anything."
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THE SHRED GUITARIST
(the foundations in a very little nutshell)
Speed has been in music for many generations, on many instruments and guitarists have been speed playing and duelling since the beginnings of guitar history . Rock guitaring, by the early 1960s, had distanced itself from its jazz and pop roots, and began to embrace a more blues-based approach. The mid 60's see notably Jimi Hendrix introducing different and extreme guitar techniques and more rock into the blues with his revolutionary fast melodic power guitaring. Towards the end of the 60's the development of rock guitar technique and speed, was pushed even further notably by Jimi Hendrix again, Alvin Lee, Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore and Jimmy Page. By the early 70's a few guitarists, mainly John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Allan Holdsworth, Robert Fripp and Carlos Santana had began experimenting with a new fusion of 3 genres ... jazz, rock and world music, but in particular, Holdworth, McLaughlin and Al Di Meola, were renowned for their super speed and their picking dexterity on the guitar. Ulirch Jon Roth, had started experimental work mixing Hendrix sounds with the classical composers. All this was paving the path for an entire new breed of guitarist, who would fuse the fast rock and power blues styles of Hendrix and Lee with the high-speed jazz phrasing of Di Meola and McLaughlin. The super fast rock guitarists were emerging, Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, and Yngwie Malmsteen, who popularized the Ulirch Jon Roth classical influences in rock guitar with his extremely fast picking speed. This was the 80's ... this fast playing style, speed or blind speed guitaring with it's many influences, combined with the heavily distorted tone of heavy metal music resulted in a new nickname, 'shred'. Shredding immediately became popular with the younger heavy metal rock fans who hadn't been exposed to this guitar style in the past. Guitar shredding techniques played usually on a 'super strat' include: Alternate picking, Economy picking, Hammer-ons, Hybrid picking, Legato, Pull-offs, String skipping, Sweep picking, Tapping, Tremolo picking, and Wide intervals. Blind speed or shred guitaring has been successful in bluegrass, jazz, rock-blues, hard rock, instrumental rock, jazz fusion, progressive rock, heavy metal, neo-classical metal & other metal genre.
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Early Influencers
& Pioneers
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JIMI HENDRIX

In the 60's the revolutionary guitarist .. Jimi Hendrix dug the path and laid the solid foundations for the rock guitarists in the 70's to pathe that the modern rock guitarist play along today. He made the biggest impact and change to rock guitaring in the history of modern music. In the 50's and early 60's Jimi started on the road gigging with the likes of the Isley Brothers, Little Richard and King Curtis, recording with each of those acts, but was unable to adapt to the discipline their performances required. Soon after he let loose with his own bands, his own music which made the whole world 'kiss the sky'.
FULLER BIOGRAPHY
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ALVIN LEE

Pioneer rock and speed guitarist, Graham Barnes aka Alvin Lee from Nottingham, England, began playing guitar at the age of 13, originally influenced by his parent's collection of jazz and blues records, it was the rock and roll of guitarists like Chuck Berry and Scotty Moore who provided his inspiration to form his band Ivan Jay and the Jaymen by the age 15. After local gigs and success in Hamburg, Germany the band moved to London and changed their name to Ten Years After. TYA had success with Europen and US tours, releasing ten albums. Alvin was very experimental and brave guitarist, enjoying new techniques. By 1973 Alvin felt held back by the band's style, so with US gospel singer Mylon LeFevre and a host of rock talents like George Harrison, Steve Winwood, Ron Wood and Mick Fleetwood, he recorded and released On the Road to Freedom, a highly acclaimed album that was at the forefront of country rock. A year later, Alvin formed Alvin Lee & Company to play a show at the Rainbow in London and released it as a double live album, In Flight, a very energetic mix of rhythm and blues and rock. He finished out the 1970s with his power trio 'Ten Years Later'. Alvin has gone on to record 20 albums, his most recent, Saguitar, released Sept 2007.
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JEFF BECK

Rock and speed pioneer guitarist Jeff Beck from Wallington, Greater London started as a guitar sessionist and played in his band Trident before joining The Yardbirds. They had most of thier hits the 18 months Jeff was in the band. 1967 sees him recording the one-off song "Beck's Bolero" with Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Nicky Hopkins, and Keith Moon, after which he formed a new band, The Jeff Beck Group, which also featured Rod Stewart, Ron Wood, Nicky and Micky Waller. The group produced two albums, Truth in 1968 and Beck-Ola in June, 1969. Both albums are highly acclaimed, and considered by many critics to have inspired the heavy metal genre. In 1973 while in US he recorded 2 albums with his power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice. He has gone on to play with countless artists as well as a huge solo career recording 15 solo albums. Jeff does not use a pick/plectrum but relies on his fingernails and thumbnail for his attack. He produces a wide variety of sounds by using his fingers and the vibrato bar on his signature Fender Stratocaster, although he frequently uses a wah-wah pedal both live and in the studio. He has been a huge influence and still is to guitar players and the music industry throughout long career.
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JOHN McLAUGHLIN

Guitar virtuoso John McLaughlin from Doncaster, Yorkshire is regarded by many as one of the most influential and technically gifted guitarists of all time, having over his long career mastered a remarkable range of styles and genres, including jazz, Indian classical music, fusion, and Flamenco. Initially inspired by blues and swing players he started on guitar when he was 11 and worked Tony Oxley and John Surman before moving to America in 1969. He played with Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Miles Davis and reputation as a session player grew, resulting in recordings as a sideman with Miroslav Vitous, Larry Coryell, Wayne Shorter, Carla Bley, The Rolling Stones and others. In 1970 he formed The Mahavishnu Orchestra which included violinist Jerry Goodman (later Jean-Luc Ponty), keyboardist Jan Hammer (later Gayle Moran and Stu Goldberg), bassist Rick Laird (later Ralphe Armstrong), and drummer Billy Cobham (later Narada Michael Walden). The band performed a technically virtuosic and complex style of music that fused eclectic jazz and rock with eastern and Indian influences. He has gone on to play and record dozens of albums with many greats of different genre as well as a busy solo career and continues writing, recording and touring.
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ALLAN HOLDSWORTH

Virtuoso Allan Holdsworth from Bradford, Yorkshire is one of a handful who pioneered the fusion of rock and jazz music with speed in the early 70's. His influences include Django Reinhardt, Jimmy Rainey, Charlie Christian, Joe Pass , Eric Clapton, and John Coltrane. Allen pioneered several techniques including using an eight-voice modulated delay to create a chorusing effect that, combined with unusual closed voiced chords, create a very piano-like sound from an ordinary electric guitar. He uses a legato phrasing technique with light picking that causes a distorted guitar amplifier to produce a reedy, clarinet-like tone. A third innovative technique is using a volume pedal to "swell" chords into a long delay/reverb effect, generating the impression of an orchestral string section. These three techniques were used by Allen to create the aural illusion of classical instruments, years before the invention of guitar synthesizers, and have been adopted by increasing numbers of guitarists such as Frank Gambale, Eddie Van Halen, Scott Henderson, Bill Connors, Steve Vai, Alex Lifeson and David Sylvian to mention a few. Allen has been a band member with Soft Works, Bruford, Gongzilla, U.K., Tempest, Soft Machine, Level 42 and Gong. He has played on 54 collaboration albums and to date recorded 18 solo albums. Sadly his work has been neglected by the media and the public as a whole, where as fellow musicians have held him in high esteem for over 35 years.
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RITCHIE BLACKMOORE

Coming Soon
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ULRICH JON ROTH

Neo-classical guitar pioneer Ulrich Jon Roth born in Düsseldorf, Germany formed his first serious band, Dawn Road, while in his mid teens. At 19, in 1973 he was asked to finished a tour off with the up and coming Scorpians, later that year, this led to a new line-up for Scorpians of 4 former Sporpians and 2 members of Dawn Road, with Uli as lead guitarist. Although he recorded 5 albums with them, establishing them as a top band, Uli's soul, his writings, composing and guitaring, were heavily influenced by Hendrix and tendings toward blending this with the classical, a very different direction to Scorpian. In 1978 he formed his own band "Electric Sun" to pursue and showcase his hendrix-classical pioneering. Elecrtic Sun released 3 albums which opened the door and influenced all the neo-classical guitarists which followed, including Yngwie Malmsteen who later popularised neo-classical more with the media. Uli invented his own unique instrument the 6-octave Sky guitar to further his 'ever' evolving creations and techniques. Uli went solo in the late 80's and has since written 4 symphonies, 2 concertos, numerous songs, released 3 albums, done many world tours, guested with too many artists to mention, inducted into the Walk of Fame by Europe's only Rock & Pop Museum, which is situated in Gronau, Germany, and is currently working on a new full-length studio album "Under A Dark Sky", which is to be released next year, also for 2008 he has another World Tour planned.
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AL Di MEOLA
Al Di Meola
To many, virtuoso Al Di Meola is one of the most important pioneers of shred guitar, his 70's work opened up a new era of rock and influenced guitarists such as Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, Jason Becker, Chris Impellitteri and many, many others. After attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, Al joined the bands Chick Corea and Return to Forever before embarking on his solo career in 1976. His first solo album Land of the Midnight Sun, is noted for his technical mastery and extremely fast speed guitaring, complex guitar solos and compositions. He gradually introduced his love for latin and flamenco into his music. Al went on to explore a variety of styles, but is now most noted for his Latin-influenced jazz fusion works. He is a four time winner as Best Jazz Guitarist in Guitar Player Magazine's Reader Poll. In addition to a prolific solo career of 25 albums, tours and world appearances , he has engaged in successful collaborations with bassist Stanley Clarke, synthesizer player Jan Hammer, violinist Jean-Luc Ponty, and guitarists John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía and guested on countless tracks.
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YOUR CHOICES
Here are some great shred guitarists from all around the world who YOU enjoy.
They are of many genre, and are in order of when you send me their name
~ the latest at the top ~

GEORGE BELLAS

American guitarist George Bellas started playing guitar at the age of 7 on a classical guitar. His influences have included J.S.Bach, L.V.Beethoven, Franz Liszt, Paganini, Debussey, Walter Piston, Ted Greene, Robin Trower, Montrose, Van Halen, Michael Schenker, Dream Theater, Magellan, Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony MacAlpine, Jason Becker among others. He began performing live very early on, and gigged extensively with his bands: Union Jack, Destiny, FreeFall and Prodigy, while continually studying music and theory. George began teaching guitar in his early teens and opened a school of music called "Prodigy's School Of Music". He released his debut album "Turn Of The Centry" in 1996. George has gone on recording albums, teaching and collaborating with musicians such as Vitalij Kuprij, Matthew D. Guarnere, Marco Ferrigno, Mistheria and many others. In 2007 George was invited by Uli Jon Roth to perform live with him in Hollywood, CA at the Musicians Institute auditorium. During the two concerts George performed with Uli Jon Roth, Joe Stump, Michael Batio, Mark Boals, Robbie Kreager, Johnny Highland, Jeff Scott Soto, Paul Gilbert and other guitarists. Also in 2007 George's new vocal band 'Palace Terrace' signed with Lion Music debuting with their album "Flying Through Infinity". George's latest instrumental album to date titled "Planetary Alignment" was released worldwide February 2008.
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DAVE MARTONE

Canadian musician Dave Martone started playing guitar when he was 6 years old. Dave is a lefty, but after months of pursuation at a young age, his father eventually made him play the regular way. He had classical guitar lessons with Gary Santucci from Spain until he was 13 and heard his first rock album. Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs' changed his life and musical conception forever, other early influences were Gary Moore and Tony Macalpine. Dave went to Berklee College of Music in Boston USA. to study music and theory. Later influences have been Patrick O’Hearn, Peter Gabriel, Strunz and Farah, Allan Holdsworth and Greg Howe. Dave has gone on to play, host clinics or perform with 3 Doors Down, Steve Morse, Jennifer Batten, Paul Gilbert, Yngwie Malmsteen, Marty Friedman, Seymour Duncan, Greg Howe, Joe Satriani and drum greats Chester Thompson, Mike Portnoy, Greg Bissionet and Gene Hoglan. Dave also works for the National Guitar Workshop as well as Berklee College of Music doing clinics/master classes for them. He has directed 3 successful School of Rock Guitar Sessions for Tom Lee Music in Vancouver, Canada. Dave’s latest solo album to date, with Nickelback's Daniel Adair on drums is "When the Aliens Come", just released by Lion Music in Europe with world wide distribution. It has already made it up the charts at Guitar9.com as their top seller.
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RANDY RHOADS

Randy Rhoads, born in Santa Monica, California, started playing guitar at the age of 7 on his grandfather's old Gibson "Army-Navy" classical acoustic guitar, he learnt by playing folk guitar, but was always evolving toward a hard rock/metal lead guitar style and he was heavily influenced by classical music as well. At 14 he formed a band called Violet Fox, after which he played in a rock band called The Whore. At 17, in 1973, Randy taught his best friend Kelly Garni to play bass, and together they formed Quiet Riot. Eventually, the band landed a record deal with Japanese label CBS/Sony Records and Quiet Riot and Quiet Riot II were released in Japan. Then in 1979, ex-Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne was forming a new band, then known as the Blizzard of Ozz, offered Randy the job of lead guitarist, recording their debut self titled album in the UK in March 1980. The band toured extensively in the UK and USA and recorded their follow up album Diary of a Madman in 1981. Despite his short career, (dying in a freak air crash while on tour in March 1982), he is cited as a main influence by many heavy metal guitarists. A devoted student of classical guitar, Randy combined his classical music influences with his own heavy metal style.
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ROBERT FLYNN
Robert Flynn
Robert "Robb" Flynn, born Lawrence Matthew Cardine born in Oakland, California is best known as the lead guitarist and vocalist for the thrash metal/groove metal band Machine Head. Robert formed the band along with Adam Duce, Logan Mader and Tony Costanza after leaving Bay Area thrash titans Vio-Lence in 1992. Before this he also spent two years in the thrash metal band Forbidden from 1985 to 1987. In August 2004 he was selected as one of the 4 "team captains" of Roadrunner United, an act to celebrate Roadrunner's 25 year anniversary. On 11 June 2007, Robb Flynn received the Metal Hammer 2007 Golden God Award. Robert was also temporarily the 5th member of the thrash band, Octavian's Plague. He played alongside Lyes Hassaine, Jonathan Hancock and bassist Saad Siddique for a few weeks. He continues his work with Machine Head who have recorded 6 albums, the last to date being The Blackening in 2007, and they were awarded the 2008 Grammy for Best Metal Performance for the track "Aesthetics of Hate".
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PHIL DEMMEL

Phil Demmel is one of the two lead guitarists for the American thrash metal band Machine Head. He was formerly a member of Technocracy, Torque, and Vio-Lence, where he played guitar along with Robb Flynn, co-founder of Machine Head. He joined Machine Head in 2003, the band replaced Bullet For My Valentine supporting Metallica's Wembley Stadium show on Sunday July 8, 2007, Machine Head have recently completed a world tour where they hit even Tel Aviv, Israel in March of 2008. The band will be touring Europe with Slipknot and Children of Bodom in November and December 2008.
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MARK MORTON

Guitarist Mark Morton grew up in Williamsburg, Virginia. His first group was a local band, Axis which, in 1988 won the local battle of the bands competition, better known as the famed "Stockwood" annual event to locals. Mark formed Lamb of God in 1990 with fellow students Chris Adler and John Campbell while at Virginia Commonwealth University. As Mark frequently uses pentatonic scales and harmonic minor scale, it has been noted that he has a blues style to his music. He composes and plays almost all of Lamb of God's guitar solos and forms most of the heavy groove rhythms. Co-guitarist, Willie Adler, composes most of the fast picking staccato riffs. He is known for writing some of Lamb of God's more unconventional songs including "Descending", "Vigil", and "Remorse is For the Dead". He has recently worked with underground emcee/producer Necro for his upcoming album entitled Death Rap.
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WILLIE ADLER

Self-taught, US musician Willie Adler is one of the two guitarists in the heavy metal band Lamb of God. Willie joined Lamb of God after the first guitarist, Abe Spear, left the band. Willie is well-known for his unconventional style of playing, which includes odd chord shapes, unique timing patterns, odd rhythms, and high usage of his fretting hand's pinky finger. He plays mostly the jagged staccato riffs in Lamb of God's songs, while Mark Morton plays more of the groove-oriented rhythms and solos. Willie is a primary songwriter in Lamb of God. His songs include "Black Label," "11th Hour," "Blood Junkie," "Hourglass," "Blood of the Scribe," "Beating on Death's Door," "Ashes of the Wake," and "Again We Rise.". Willie has recently worked in the studio with metal band Vehement from Houston, Texas to produce their six-track demo.
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LORI LINSTRUST

Swedish melodic metal guitar virtuoso Lori Linstruth's main influences are Rammstein, Uli Jon Roth, Zeno Roth, Michael Schenker, Arjen Lucassen, Brian May, Yngwie Malmsteen, Marty Friedman, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Wolf Hoffmann. In the late 80s she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of an all-female metal band, it was here she formed Warbride, recording a demo in 1989. After many band changes the band broke up in the early 2000s. In 2004 Lori released a solo demo CD of darkly melodic instrumental guitar music. The demo captured the attention of Arjen Lucassen, who recruited her for his band project Stream of Passion. The band released their debut album "Embrace the Storm" on October 24, 2005 which included their hit single "Out in the Real World " . She has also contributed some guest solos to Janne Stark's "Mountain of Power", "Revenge of the Ayreonauts", Joost Maglev's "Voluntary" and in 2008 Ayreon's "01011001". In 2007 she moved Holland and presently manages composer-musician Arjen Anthony Lucassen.
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KARL SANDERS
Karl Sanders
Born in California, American guitarist Karl Sanders started his career in the late 1980s as a member of the power metal band Moriah playing local shows with the young Morbid Angel and other US death metal bands. In 1993 he formed the Egyptian-themed technical death metal band Nile. Their music and lyrics are inspired by Ancient Egyptian mysticism, history, religion, art, and the writings of H. P. Lovecraft, of which he has a strong knowledge of. Karl is known for his extremely fast and technical guitar work, he and his band have released 5 albums to date the last being Ithyphallic in 2007. Karl has guested on Behemoth's 2004 CD release, Demigod, playing a guitar solo on the track "XUL". He also performed solo at the end of the track "God of Our Own Divinity" by Morbid Angel, on their 2003 album "Heretic". He has recorded one solo album, "Saurian Meditation", released in 2004. As well as his band work he is currently also working on tracks for a new solo album which is expected to be released somewhere by mid 2008.
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KIRK HAMMETT

Kirk Hammett was raised in the East Bay town of El Sobrante, influenced by his brothers guitar collection, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Status Quo, The Rolling Stones, UFO, and his biggest inspiration Jimi Hendrix started playing guitar at the age of 15. His was gradually drawn to the thrash metal genre, and in 1980 he co-founded 'Exodus' with Paul Baloff, a band crucial in the early Bay Area thrash movement. In 1983 while taking private guitar lessons from Joe Satriani, he was invited to join Metallica replacing Dave Mustaine. Kirk has written and contributed riffs for Metallica songs since the mid-1980s, particularly in the 1990s during the Load era. One of these riffs, used in "Enter Sandman", was written in a hotel room at 3:00 am, and became one of Metallica's most popular songs. Metallica has won to date, 15 music awards, including seven Grammy Awards. Kirk has also played guitar on the track "Satan" with Orbital for The Spawn in July 1997, in 2005, he played guitar on the Carlos Santana track "Trinity" and in 2006, he voiced himself on The Simpsons, "The Mook, the Chef, the Wife and Her Homer". Kirk contineus his busy career with Metallica, working on their ninth studio album, which is expected to be released in September 2008.
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KIKO LOUREIRO
Pedro "Kiko" Loureiro
Pedro "Kiko" Loureiro, born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, inspired by the likes of Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, and Randy Rhoads began studying music and playing acoustic guitar at age 1, changing to electric guitar two years later. By the time Kiko was 16 he was playing the clubs São Paulo with the bands Legalyze and A Chave, before he joined up with the newly formed power metal band Angra, with whom he still plays. The band has recorded 6 albums to date from their debut album 'Angels Cry' in 1993 to 'Aurora Consurgens' in 2006. Kiko has also released 2 solo albums, No Gravity in 2005 and Universo Inverso in 2006 and he has written columns for and appeared on the cover of magazines Cover Guitarra, Guitar & Bass, and Young Guitar and in March 2007 he was voted “Best Guitarist” by respected Japanese music publication BURRN.In addition to his rock/metal achievements, Kiko has also played guitars on several eurobeat songs in collaboration with Dave Rodgers, including "Fevernova", "Ring of Fire" and "The Road is on Fire"
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ROBERT MARCELLO
Robert Marcello
Swedish Robert Marcello is a master of guitar, excelling in neoclassical shred, he now lives in the USA. His influences in music have included Def Leppard, Kiss, Eddie Money, Van Halen, Early Yngwie, Lynch, Randy Rhoads. Robert's skill and stylistic range have made him a much sought after tour and studio player for such artists as John Corabi, Bobby Blotzer, Mike Vescera, Tony Montana, Fergie Fredricksen, George Lynch, Twisted Sister, Sebastian Bach, Stet Howland and many others, he has also played in the bands Ironhorse, Obsession, and Twenty 4 Seven. In 2003 he replaced Andy Timmons as the lead guitarist in the band Danger Danger and has regularly toured with them, including European tours and performances at the famous Sweden Rock Festival before audiences of 25,000. Rob features on their last album to date "Live and Nude" in 2005. He is a highly regarded teacher and clinician, and currently travels the US training guitarists and amazing his audiences. Rob has a new project almost ready for release - Marcello/Vestry. The classic styled melodic rock album is due out in Europe this year (2008). He continues his teaching, composing, side projects and his work with the band Danger Danger who are releasing their 10th album later this year ~ 2008.
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JAMES BYRD

James Byrd has played guitar since he was 9, but like other musicians it took the death of Hendrix to make him take it seriously, after which he spent 5 years learning the blues and rock-blues guitar, influenced by Hendrix, BB King, Johnny Winter and Frank Marino. He then became influenced Ritchie Blackmore, Django Reinhardt, Uli Roth, Al DiMeola, Jan Akkerman, Jeff Beck, Paco DeLucia, all sorts of guitar greats of different styles and genre. At 18 he formed a heavy metal cover band and went on the road. His band won the "Northwest Battle Of The Bands". In 1980 James started putting together his first original band, by 1983 'Fifth Angel' had evolved, they recorded a self titled album the following year. James went solo for his second album, 'James Byrd's Atlantis Rising' released in Europe & Japan in 1990. He has gone on to release 8 more albums under his own name and he has appeared on tribute albums to Jimi Hendrix, Frank Marino, Uli Jon Roth and Jason Becker. Highly under-rated, a musician's musician, what ever the reason .. sadly like many great musicians he seems to get very little media attention. Guitar One Magazine named him one of “The 10 Best Guitarists You’ve Never Heard.” but I am sure you will look him up, he's well worth it, and although I have him on the shred page, by request, he certainly shreds, but he is far more than that.
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AKIRA TAKASAKI

Akira Takasaki from Osaka, Japan, started his career in the mid 70's with a pop-rock band called Lazy, where he went under the stage name of "Suzy". He became heavily influences by the hard rock and evolving heavy metal bands, so in 1981, Akira and drummer Munetaka Higuchi formed their own heavy metal band "Loudness", debuting with a Japanese language album 'Birthday Eve' the same year. Akira and his band toured the USA and Europe in 1983 to support their 3rd album 'The Law of the Devil's Land'. It was their 5th album in 1985 that got global recognition, and bought about tours with the likes of AC/DC, Mötley Crüe, Stryper and Poison. They were the first Japanese heavy metal band to be signed in the United States, releasing five albums by 1997 and reaching the Billboard top 100. As well as many singles and EPs, they have releseased 5 DVDs, 7 live albums and 24 studio albums the last being 'Metal Mad' released this year 2008. Akira has had a very succesful solo career too, from 1982, he has relaesed 10 solo albums, the last to date 'Black Brown' in 2007. Thought by many as one of the best metal guitarist in Asia, Akira has influenced guitarists around the world, he continues his solo work and his work with his band "Loudness".
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SYNYSTER GATES

Synyster Gates, born Brian Elwin Haner, Jr. in Huntington Beach, California, US, cites as his main influences Django Reinhardt, Adam Aparicio and Dimebag Darrell. After studying jazz guitar at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, at 18 he joined hard rock/heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold as lead guitarist. He was featured on their EP, 'Warmness on the Soul' and on the reissue of their first album "Sounding the Seventh Trumpet" released in 2001. Synyster was also a member of the side-project Pinkly Smooth, with The Rev, Avenged Sevenfold's drummer and former bassist of Avenged Sevenfold, Justin Meacham. Pinkly Smooth was shelved so Synyster and The Rev could focus full-time on Avenged Sevenfold. The band has released 4 studio albums which have produced 9 singles. The last album to date 2007's self-titled "Avenged Sevenfold" has produced 3 hit singles "Critical Acclaim" and "Almost Easy" and The third single, "Afterlife" and its video was released in January 2008. Synyster has won numerous awards, including the "Young Shredder" award of the year in the Metal Hammer awards in 2006 and the "Guitarist of the Year" Award for Total Guitar Magazine in 2006. Synyster continues his work with Avenged Sevenfold and for the moment, Pinkly Smooth is still shelved.
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ZACKY VENGEANCE

US speed guitarist Zacky Vengeance, born Zachary James Baker, who is a 'lefty' has played guitar since he was thirteen years old, and is self taught learning on his dad's right-handed guitar, which he played up-side-down. Zacky was influenced by heavy music such as Danny Elfman and Elvis Costello, which he still enjoys. He played in several punk bands as a teenager including the punk band called MPA, which stood for "Mad Porno Action. In 1999 aged 18, he and M. Shadows aka Matthew Sanders co-founded the hard rock band Avenged Sevenfold. The band has released 4 studio albums which have produced 9 singles. The last album to date 2007's self-titled "Avenged Sevenfold" has produced 3 hit singles "Critical Acclaim" and "Almost Easy" and The third single, "Afterlife" and its video was released in January 2008. Zacky who has been sponsored by Schecter Guitar Research since 2004, and has custom S-1 models out, started out as rhythm guitarist with his band Avenged Sevenfold, but is now a featured guitarist along side of Synyster Gates.
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WALTER GIARDINO
Walter Giardino
Argentinian guitarist Walter Giardino joined the Judas Priest, Motörhead, Black Sabbath influenced metal band, "V8" in 1985. The band bought out the first ever Argentinian metal album, full of the raw style of their idols. Walter left the band later that year to form his own band 'Rata Blanca' more influenced by Rainbow, Deep Purple, Whitesnake and Yngwie Malmsteen. They released their first album, self titled "Rata Blanca" in 1987. Their second album "Magos, Espadas & Rosas" was promoted by support slots with Ian Gillan, the album sold over a million world wide. The bands third album "Guerrero del Arco Iris", titled in honour of the Greenpeace 'Rainbow Warrior' ship, was debuted live in front of over 30,000 fans at a single concert in Velez Sarsfield Stadium, still holding the record today as the biggest ever gig for a local band. In 1994 they were invited to play in "Festival Monsters of Rock" in São Paulo, Brazil, along with Ozzy Osbourne, Therapy?, and Alice Cooper. The band has released 13 albums in all and toured heavily in South America, North America and Europe. Walter has guested with many rock icons and been a huge influence to guitarists in Argentina who he has paved the way for. He continues his work with his band, Rata Blanca.
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SYU
SYU
Japanese guitarist, Syu, is a founder member of the power metal/neoclassical metal band Galneryus from Osaka, Japan, which he formed in 2001. They have released to date, 6 albums, the latest to date being 'One For All - All For One' in August, 2007, and have released 5 music videos. Although he played guitar, at a young age, Syu started on the drums, but he was highly influenced by the band X-Japan and longed to be like Yoshiki, so he practised hours on his guitar techniques playing songs of X-Japan, Metallica and other heavy metal bands. Syu's first professional recording was with a band Animetal in 2003, on their 'Animetal V' album and has been on their last 4 albums from Animetal V to Decade of Bravehearts in 2006. Animetal is a Japanese novelty heavy metal band who specialize in metal covers of the theme songs of classic and modern Japanese anime and tokusatsu television series. Syu has played with several other bands including Valkyr and Masaki Project. He is currently playing in his metal band Galneryus & the metal band Aushvitz.
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CLAUDIO MARCIELO

Argentinian guitarist Claudio "El Tano" Marcielo formed the heavy metal band Almafuerte with bassist Ricardo Iorio and drummer Claudio Cardacc in 1995. Later that year they released their first studio album, Mundo Guanaco. The band had several line-ups, but Claudio has been with the band throughout to this present day. He has recorded 11 albums with Almafuerte, the last to date being Toro y Pampa in 2006. In 1997 embarked on a side project with, Ricardo Iorio and Flavio Cianciarulo, they made one album "Peso argento". Claudio has also forged a solo career, releasing 2 albums "Puesto en marcha" in 2001 and "De pie" in 2004. He continues his solo work and recording and touring with his band Almafuerte.
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MIKE SIFRINGER

German speed guitarist Mike Sifringer was late taking up his guitar at the age of 17. As a young boy he enjoyed Status Quo but was soon to be knocked out by the excitement of the heavy metal bands such as Metallica and Motorhead, still loving the intencity of metal, he now also appreciates the old classics like Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple and also enjoys the new bands, such as Transport League, Galatic Cowboys and Gurd. In 1982 Mike formed his first serious band 'Knight of Demon' in Lörrach, Germany, with vocalist/bassist Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer and drummer Tommy Sandmann, soon changing their name to Destruction and released two demos, which got them signed to Steamhammer Records. The band released their debut album in 1985 'Infernal Overkill'. During the grunge explosion of early to mid 1990s, 'Destruction' lost their record label support and had to self-release and produce their own albums, until they were signed by Nuclear Blast. .The band has had a few member changes, the line up now being Mike & Marcel with drummer Marc Reign who joined them in 2001. Mike, who has been with the band throughout it's history, has recorded on all 12 albums, the last to date being 'Thrash Anthems', released in 2007.
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RANDY THURMAN

Randy Thurman was born in Rockwood, Tennessee. He started reading at the age of 4 and was writing poetry by the age of 8. Randy was 12 years old when he first heard Jimi Hendrix, an event which inspired him to become a vocalist and performer, rather than immediately inspiring him to play guitar. "Hendrix will always be the king of rock-n-roll to me" says Randy "but he is much more than that. What he is cannot be described in words. It must be experienced." About the same time Randy was also exposed, quite accidentally, to classical music which had the same compelling effect on him.
READ MORE ~ FULL BIOGRAPHY
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FARAZ ANWAR

Faraz Anwar, born in Karachi, Pakistan was so highly influenced while in St. Paul and St. Andrew 6th grade by a Yngwie Malmsteen video, he took up playing the guitar. Starting in the studios as a session player in 1990, he worked hard on his techniques, covering many genre from acoustic classical guitar to jazz to Eastern Neo Classical and from classic rock right through to the shred of metal. This has made him the most sort after session guitarist, ever, in Pakistan; to date has recorded with over 50 different musicians. In 1996 Faraz got a Scholarship from Berklee after he won the Berklee Outstanding Musical Achievement Award, but due to finances he could not take up on this. In 2001 the legendary guitar player Allan Holdsworth heard Faraz calling him "King of Guitars in Pakistan" and Faraz recorded his debut solo album "Abstract Point of View" on Allan's label Gnarly Geezer Records, an album in which Faraz wrote all the music & sequenced all the tracks himself. This album gave him international recognition and also made him the first ever Pakistani guitar player and second Pakistani musician to release an album internationally. As well as all this Faraz, now Pakistan's leading guitar player, has had many projects ... the black metal band "Dusk"; ... playing Eastern Neo Classical with fellow musician as " Yasir & Faraz"; ... classic rock under "Imran Raza & Faraz Anwar" and his band "Mizraab", all great musicians playing an assortment of genre with influences of jazz to rock to progressive metal, showcasing Faraz's many supurb guitar abilities from haunting classical acoutic to his exciting, clean, melodic shed... if you haven't yet heard Faraz, you are missing out.
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PATRICK RONDAT

Parisian guitarist Patrick Rondat started to play guitar at the age of 17, his influences ranged from Ronnie Montrose to the likes of Ritchie Blackmore, Eddie van Halen, Steve Morse and then he discovered the great Al di Meola. Apart from a few starting lessons Patrick is self taught, spending hours a day over the years to perfect his musical techniques. His professional debut was on the album "Time" with a German rock band 'The Element'. He left The Element to follow his own tastes in music and further his techniques. Patrick toured with Blue Öyster Cult prior to the release of his strong debut solo album "Just For Fun" in 1989. He has recorded 7 solo albums the latest to date being "Hervé N'Kaoua" be released March 17th 2008. 1998 saw Patrick touring with Joe Satriani on the great G3 tour, as one of the 3 featured guitarists. In 2000 he replaced Henk van de Laars in the Dutch power metal band 'Elegy' in time to record the album "Forbidden Fruit". Patrick continues his composing, his solo work and his work with Elegy.
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THEODORE ZIRAS

Guitarist, Theodore Ziras was born in Poros, Greece; he started playing piano at 13 enjoying Liszt, Bach, Paggani. Totally fascinated by the skills of Becker, Holdsworth, Malmsteen, Vai, Petrucci and Howe, he took up guitar aged 15 making it his first instrument. At 18, he moved to Athens where he continued his studies in Music and also joined the Greece progressive power metal band 'Ice Divine' as their lead guitarist. In 1997, Ice Divine was voted Metal Hammer's magazine polls Best Newcoming and Best Live Greek band. The band split and Theo joined Guardian Angel, before leaving Greece to registered at the Guitar Institute of London in the UK. He graduated 3 years later getting his degree, Bachelor, with Honours, in Music Performance & Composition. Returning to Greece, he signed a record deal with Steel Gallery Records. His debut instrumental solo CD called "Trained To Play" was a mix of Orchestral Neoclassical & Power Metal & mind-blowing lead guitar parts. With two solo albums and an album with Euroforce, Theo released his third solo instrumental album, with ex-Dream Theater's Derek Sherinian and Ozzy's Brian Tichy, "HyperpyrexiA" in 2007.
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RANA HASAN

Rana Hasan, an up and coming, totally self taught young guitarist from Lahore City, Pakistan, started playing guitar at 18, influenced by the great rock/bluesmen Jimi Hendrix and Carlos Santana. By the turn of the century he had new influences Yngwie Malmsteen, Todd "T.J." Helmerich, Rusty Cooley, Greg Howe and he went heavily into learning the shred techneques. In 2005, Rana won Best Talent Award Scholarship from Berklee College of Music, Boston, but could not take up the offer. Rana has gone on to work as a freelance session guitarist, music producer by artists of many different genre and teaches guitar at his home studio. He also composes, tours and records with his new rock fusion/shred band The Rana Hasan Project playing lead guitar on his 7 string Schecters. He and his band have released their debut album "Rana Hasan Project". Rana is now also known as "The Fastest Guitarist in Pakistan", and he has applied for the Guinness world record.. hoping to become the official fastest guitarist! Certainly a shred guitarist to watch out for.
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DAVE MUSTAINE

Californian self taught speed/thrash metal guitarist Dave Mustaine was highly influenced by Iron Maiden, Saxon, Motörhead, Venom. He left his first band Panic when he was offered the lead guitar position with the newly forming Metallica band. Dave toured with the band, wrote some of their material and lent a major hand in creating Metallica's groundbreaking thrash metal sound. Due to many personally clashes, drugs and heavy drinking he was thrown out of the band befor any recordings. This made Dave determind to have his own band, as good as Metallica. He formed a short lived band Fallen Angels, before forming Megadeth with himself as lead singer as well as lead guitar. Their debut, 1985's Killing Is My Business, created a buzz in the metal underground, but the buzz turned to a roar by the time of their major-label debut for Capitol a year later, 'Peace Sells...But Who's Buying', considered one of the greatest metal releases of all time, eventually reaching gold status. With over 20 million albums sold worldwide, nine top 40 albums,including 4 top 10 albums, 18 top 40 Mainstream Rock singles, and seven Grammy nominations, Megadeth remains one of the most successful heavy metal bands of all time. Of the "Big Four" thrash metal bands: Megadeth, Metallica, Anthrax, and Slayer, Megadeth is second only to Metallica in sales and commercial success.
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FRANK MARINO

To say that Frank Marino excels in a live environment is a total understatement! The power of Frank "live" is the stuff of legend as everyone who has seen him will agree and he certainly lives up to his reputation on his latest album. Quote: “When I was a kid and I first heard Frank Marino, I was stunned. His technique and tone was smooth yet aggressive. He is a very powerful performer and was an inspiration to me at a critical time in my musical evolution.”~ Steve Vai
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RON JARZOMBEK

Texan guitarist, Ron Jarzombek, has been playing guitar since a child and building his own guitars since he was 10. The band Rush had a huge influence on him and by his teens he was talented enough to join the top local band S.A.Slayer, recording an album with them in 1987, 'Go For The Throat' (released '88). Later in 1987, Ron joined the Austin based fusion metal band WatchTower. His first album with them in '89, 'Control And Resistance' was announced as one of "The Top Ten Shred Albums of the 80's" by Guitar World Magazine who reported "Guitarist Ron Jarzombek, with his complex harmony solos, strange scales and furious staccato lead bursts, performs tricks on his guitar that will leave you more than sufficiently breathless" Since his 2 years off and 4 ops for a hand injury, Ron has started the solo project 'Spastic Ink' in 1993, collaborated with many other musicians, teaches guitar in San Antonio, Texas and in 2005 he also launched Blotted Science, a new all-instrumental extreme metal project. Ron has recorded 8 albums in his own right, the last to date, being Blotted Science's "Machinations of Dementia" in 2007. He spends much time on his music composing, perfection in that area is as important to him as his playing it.
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SIMONE FIORLETTA

Critically acclaimed, up and coming Italian guitarist Simone Fiorletta, started learning the piano at the age of 7 years, taught by master pianist Gianluca Spalvieri. He was 12, when he bought his first guitar, self taught until he studied with Percento Musica in Rome, at this same time he also studied Spanish guitar for 2 years with Roberto Valle. In 1998 he co-founded the progressive metal band 'Moonlight Comedy' with a debut album 'The Life Inside' followed by a second album ”Dorothy”, the album is about the girl from ”Wizard of Oz”. The band regularly tour and have appeared at many European festivals. Simone has been following a solo career along side his band work, debuting with "The Beginning". Then in 2004 his second album "Parallel Worlds" was reviewed highly by American Guitar9 magazine and was a top 10 hit in the album charts in both Germany and Norway. His latest album to date "My Secret Diary" released worldwide in 2007 showcases his various styles. Simone is busy composing a new album, continues working with his band and solo career, as well as session work at studios in Rome and Frosinone, collaborations with Andrea De Paoli for TV and movies soundtracks and teaching guitar at the Music Station, a music centre he co-founded.
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STEPHAN FORTE

Young French guitarist Stephan Forté took up his instrument at the age of 5 practicing and learning Alice Cooper numbers. His next influence was Yngwie Malmsteen, he practiced his guitar 10 hours a day to learn all his mentors tracks. At 18 he moved to Nancy to study at CMCN, France's top music academy where he not only discoverded Baroque music and Mozart, but Shawn Lane and Allan Holdsworth too. At this time he made his first demo "Visions" which led him to opening a concert for Yngwie Malmsteen in 1998. In September 1999, he started collaborating with Ukranian keyboard virtuoso, Vitalij Kulprij on a series of vocal tunes. Kuprij was later replaced by Swedish keyboard wizard, Richard Andersson. From this the band Adagio was born , with vocalist, David Readman, bassist Franck Hermany and Dick Bruinenberg on drums. Stephan is the creative force behind Adagio. They have toured extensively and to date have recorded five albums, the latest "Archangels in Black" to be released in 2008. In 2004 Stephan also published a DVD "Underworld - Solos and Licks" and in 2006 recorded an album "Trance State" with Red Circuit.
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GUTHRIE GOVAN

Versitile guitarist Guthrie Govan from Chelmsford, England, recent winner of Guitarist Magazine's "Guitarist of the Year" award, came to media attention when he became a member of Asia in 2001. Before this he was teaching guitar at the Academy of Contemporary Music. Guthrie toured extensively and recorded 2 albums with Asia, a remake of Aura in 2001 and Silent Nation in 2004. In February of 2006 Guthrie, John Payne and Jay Schellen left Asia to form a powerful progressive rock group, called "One", but now called GPS, with Ryo Okumoto on keys. They have to date, recorded one album' Window to the Soul' and done some international touring and festivals. As well as his band commitment, composing and clinics work, Guthrie teams up with The Young Punx (DJ duo) who have started performing as a live band this year (2007), they performed live at the Glastonbury Festival, the Summer Sonic Festival in Tokyo and Osaka, and he performs on a number of tracks on their debut album "Your Music Is Killing Me". This very busy, exciting young guitar virtuoso, who over the years has played many genre of music from jazz to techno and melodic rock also plays with the jazz-fusion band 'The Fellowship'. 2007 has seen his long awaited, highly acclaimed by fellow guitarists and fans, Guthrie's debut solo album "Erotic Cake".
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FRANCESCO FARERI
Francesco Fareri
Italian composer and guitarist Francesco Fareri, is now considered by many as one of the world's fastest shred guitarists. His main influences on his musical journey have been musicians Jason Becker, Yngwie Malsteen, Rusty Cooley, Greg Howe, George Bellas, Jon Doman, Deen Castronovo and bands like Dream Theater, Symphony X , but the greatest influence has been Ukrainian Vitalij Kuprij, the master keyboardist in the neo-classical progressive metal band Artension, who changed Francesco's concept of music. He has made 3 instructoinal DVD's, (different levels), recorded 3 solo albums, guested on several albums, and has more projects in the offing that you can read about further on his interview page. He also plays a mean keyboard and into graphic design, having designed his own and other musician's websites and album covers.
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FREDRIK THORDENDAL

Fredrik Thordendal is the lead guitarist and a founding member of the Swedish metal band Meshuggah. Fredrik uses a selection of custom 8-string and 7-string guitars made by Nevborn and Ibanez, although on occasions he plays Gibson Les Pauls, Ibanez Universe 777s, Schecter Diamond series guitars, Coral Electric sitars and various Paul Reed Smith guitars. He draws attention with his clean, jazz-influenced lead-playing and complex rhythm-playing, augmented by his use of low-tuned eight-string guitars. Most notable is the similarity between his solos and those of renowned jazz guitarist Allan Holdsworth. In 1997 Fredrik released a solo album "Sol Niger Within" and from 1987 to date, he has recorded 7 albums and 3 EPs with his band Meshuggah, the latest being "Catch Thirty-Three" in 2005, although the album "Nothing" was re-issued in 2007. He continues his work with Meshuggah
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ZAKK WYLDE

Zakk Wylde, was born Jeffrey Phillip Wiedlandt in Jackson, New Jersey, now famous for his liberal use of pinch harmonics and the pentatonic scale, started playing the guitar at the age of 15, influenced by Ted Nugent, Led Zeppelin, Motörhead, Jake E. Lee, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Randy Rhoads, Allman Brothers, Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd. He practised 12 hours daily and formed his first band "Stone Henge", after which he started his solo career. At 19 years old, after just one audition, he was hired by Ozzy Osborne as lead guitarist and went on to record 7 albums with the band .. No Rest For The Wicked, Just Say Ozzy, No More Tears, Ozzmosis, Down to Earth, Live At Budokan and Black Rain in 2007. Zakk continued to work on his own solo material while with Ozzy. In 1994 he formed the short lived Pride & Glory, and in 1998 he formed heavy metal band Black Label Society which he continues with today. His band so far have released nine albums the latest being Shot to Hell in 2006.
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ILAN ASHKENAZI

Israeli, guitarist Ilan Ashkenazi was born and raised in USA, he started playing the violin at only 4 years, piano at 7 and the guitar when he was 10. Ilan is a totally self taught guitarist influenced by Paganini, Handel, Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Vinnie Moore and Tony MacAlpine, spending long hours of daily practice sessions learning the modern advanced guitar techniques of speed picking, swept lines etc. and fusing his classical learning's with his jazz and rock influences when composing. Ilan is an amazing up and coming shred guitarist who has been awarded many "fastest guitar" titles, recorded several demo and instructional CDs and videos. Ilan continues to do his session work, teach, and compose guitar music.
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VINNIE MOORE

US guitarist Vinnie Moore started playing guitar at the age of 12, and took lessons at 14, before joining a variety of local bands. His early influences included Jeff Beck, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Queen. He quit the bands and started composing and experimental guitar techneques. His first pro job was playing the music for a national Pepsi TV commercial. In 1987, he released his debut album, Mind's Eye. Vinnie was quickly heralded "best new talent" in Guitar Player, Guitar, and Guitar World magazines, and Mind's Eye sold more than 100,000 copies. He has gone on to record on many arists albums, such as Vicious Rumors - Soldiers Of The Night; Guitar's Practicing Musicians - Free; Alice Cooper - Hey Stoopid ; Sega - "Burning Rangers" Game soundtrack for the 'Saturn' video game; Jordan Rudess - Rhythm of Time, and he has brought out 2 instructional videos and released 8 solo albums to date. Vinnie has done hundreds of guitar clinics all over the world in such places as, Japan, Scandanavia, Italy, Poland, Mexico, New Zealand, Canada, England, Germany and Australia. He continues to teach, compose, record and tour and since 2003 he has played lead guitar for the British hard rock band UFO, with whom he has recorded 3 albums with.
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TREY AZAGTHOTH

George Emmanuel III aka Trey Azagthoth was born