80's Metal Guitarists
This is my dedication to metal Guitarists of the 1980's. The metal guitarists of the 80's were one's that took pride in their: practicing, playing and showman ship. Below are some of the guitarists that I believe paved the way for guitarists from now and into the future.
Guitarists and their Styles
Thrash
Dave Mustain:(Megadeth)In 1982 Dave leaves the band PANIC to pursue the bandMETALLICA.In march of 1982 the band has its first gig in Anaheim. That same year Metallica opens for SAXON on their DENIM AND LEATHER tour. One year later Dave is fired from Metallica when they were in New York City doing their KILL 'EM All album(you know the whole story). Shortly after the firing, Dave met up with Dave Ellefson to form Megadeth. After many member changes and many gold and platinum albums Dave calls it quits in 2002.
Alex Scolnick(Testament):Alex tried out for the band LEGACY(TESTAMENT) in 1984, which he got the job. Soon after he graduated high school he and Testament recorded their first album, Legacy(1987). He left TESTAMENT in 1992 after recording the RITUAL album and part of RETURN TO THE APOCALYPTIC CITY album.
Gary Holt/Rick Hunolt(Exodus):Exodus was formed in 1982 by Kirk Hammet, Tom Hunting and soon after Gary Holt. Once the band was established and touring around California, METALLICA was so impressed with Kirks playing that recruited him in 1983. After many guitarists they bring on Rick Hunolt to replace Kirk.
Bobby Gustafson(Overkill):Bobby was the original guitar player when OVERKILL formed in the 80'. In 1990-1991 he left to pursue other interests. Other interests that included: Cycle Sluts from Hell, I4NI, Grip Inc., Skrew, and his latest band Response Negative.
Kerry King/Jeff Hanneman(Slayer):Kerry and Jeff started the band in 1981. They called the band DRAGON SLAYER in the beginning then to be changed to, of course, SLAYER. After 12 albums and numerous tours, SLAYER is still at the forefront off metal today.
Speed
Vinnie Moore:Vinnie Moore started
playing when he was 12 years old. After years of playing around, his playing
caught the ear of Mike Varney(Shrapnel Records). In 1987 Vinnie released Mind's
Eye on Shrapnel Records which led him as the "Best New Talent"
in Guitar
Player magazine. After numerous albums and guest spots on ALICE
COOPERtours and album, Vinnie continues to break the boundaries in
speed, talent and his virtuoso playing.
Chris Impellitteri:
Paul Gilbert:- (Racer
X):Paul started RACER X in 1986. After 4 albums, tons of shredding he decides
to go a different way with Billy Sheehan in a band called MR.
BIG(1989). From there on Paul ventured into many avenues of music, later
to reform RACER X.
Steve Vai:Steve started out with numerous
bands in the seventies that had limited success. Then from1980-1982 he played
with one of the most influential guitar players of the 70's
Frank Zappa. Then in 1984 he was part of 777 with
Stu Hamm and Chris Frazier. 1985, in my ears, was the year people really
got a taste of Steve. That is when after firingYngwie
Malmsteen ALKATRAZZ recruited Mr. Vai. After that came DAVID
LEE ROTH BAND(1985-89),WHITESNAKE(1990)
and the rest is guitar history.
Joe Satriani:Satch arrived on the music
scene in 1984 with an EP releases. From there, and with the help of a credit
card, he released "Not Of This Earth "
in 1986 which would open the eyes
of many a guitar player. From there brought a masterful piece called Satch Boogie
on his "Surfing with the Alien"
album which brought him to guitar stardom.
After that brought numerous shredding(albums) as he continues to astound the
world with he playing.
Progressive
John Petrucci:(Dream
Theater): John started out in Dream Theater in the late 80's when the
band was called Majesty. After 6 releases he and band mate
Mike Portnoy formed LTE(LIQUID
TENSION EXPERIMENT) with fellow musicians
Jordan Rudess(later to become DT's keyboardist) and Tony
Levin who released 2 albums to date. As of 2003, with 10 US releases,
Dream Theater will be releasing their 11th album"TRAIN OF THOUGHT"
.
David T Chastain:
Neo-Classical
Jason Becker:(Cacophony)Jason learned the guitar at a young age by watching his father and his uncle who were both guitarists. By age five he knew he wanted to become a guitaists so began practicing for hours on end. Learning from influences such as Bob Dylan,Eric Clapton ,Jeff Beck , and Eddie Van Halen he began to mold his own style. In 1986 he and fellow musician Marty Friedman formed Cacophony. After 4 albums they went their separate ways and Jason, in 1988, began to record his own material. After a limited solo career, he joined the David Lee Roth bandand toured with him until he found out that he had Lou Gehrigs disease. After many years of living with the disease, he keeps astounding the world with his will to live.
Marty Friedman:(Cacophony)
Yngwie Malmsteen:
Metal
Kirk Hammet-(Metallica). Kirk started out jamming with John Marshall,( who later formed Metal Church),and they used to figure out cover tunes to play to. Years later he and Tom Hunting formed Exodus and they used to play tunes from such bands as: Thin Lizzy,UFO, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden before getting their record deal. When Exodus got the chance to warm up for Metallica a couple of time they jumped at it. Then when Dave Mustain: quit, left, got fired, or whatever the reason was, Kirk took his place. From there I think you all now the rest.
George Lynch(Dokken)
Jake E Lee
K.K. Downing/Glen TiptonJudas Priest):
John Marshall/Kurdt VanDerhoof/Craig Wells(Metal Church):
Warren DeMartini(Ratt):
Criss Olivia(Savatage):
Ronnie Le Tekro(TNT):
Vito Bratta(White Lion):
Brad Gillis/Jeff Watson(Night Ranger):
Reb Beach(Winger):
Frank Hannon/Tommy Skeoch: (Tesla)
Euro-Metal
Dave Murray/ Adrian Smith-(Iron Maiden):
Andy LaRocque: KING DIAMOND
Metal Guitarists never slow down, they just burn!!
