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MARTY FRIEDMAN CO-WRITES SONG ON #1 ALBUM IN JAPAN; FELLOW MUSICIANS SHOW SUPPORT FOR U.S. REISSUES

Today (August 14) is the North American release date for three solo albums by iconic guitarist Marty Friedman (ex-Megadeth, ex-Cacophony), two of which—2010’s “Bad D.N.A.” and 2008’s “Future Addict”—have never before been available Stateside. (2006’s “Loudspeaker” was previously released via seminal shred-guitar label Shrapnel Records.) A bundle of all three albums can be purchased at the PROSTHETIC webshop now by clicking HERE!

For the past several years, Friedman has lived in Japan, where this week the pop band SMAP (Sports Music Assemble People) has the #1 album with their just-released “Gift of SMAP.” That recording contains “La + LOVE and PEACE,” a song for which Friedman wrote the music. “I have played guitar on a few number ones before,” he says, “but this is my first songwriting #1 anywhere!”

While he continues to gain notoriety in the Japanese music industry, Friedman’s impact on American heavy metal—from his revolutionary performances in Cacophony, to his rise to hall-of-fame status with the legandary band Megadeth, to his revered solo albums—cannot be understated, as he has influenced a generation of guitarists who have made a name for themselves in today’s music scene. In lieu of the new reissues, several of these artists—including Gus G, Alex Skolnick, John 5 and John Petrucci—have spoken out about Friedman’s influence and the impact he has had on their playing and musicianship.

ON PLAYING ALONGSIDE MARTY:

“Marty Friedman has always been an influence and is the guy I always look to when I feel everything I play sounds the same. Marty is such an innovative and unique player and has a million ways to play ‘out of the box’ and inspire you to do so. I first met Marty when Firewind toured Japan back in 2004. He played a solo on a Firewind track and years later he even joined us on stage in Tokyo, and then I jammed with him and his band when he rolled through my hometown in Greece. He’s always been one of my guitar heroes, and I’m privileged to have played with him!” - Gus G

“Marty Friedman is one of the most unique, original and inventive guitar players I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to and working with. Every one of his songs is a musical journey and he’s never played the same thing twice. His talent and tone makes Marty one of my all-time favorite players in any genre!” - Chris Jericho (Fozzy) (Friedman guests on their 2008 album “All That Remains”)

“I always liked Marty’s playing. He has this yin and yang balance of feel and technique that eludes a lot of players—metal or otherwise.”  -Chris Poland (OHM, ex-Megadeth) (Friedman toured the U.S. with Poland in 2003)

“Marty Friedman is a great guitar player who stands out among the pack. It’s an honor to frequently be mentioned with him as one of the two guys who really helped raise the bar in thrash metal lead guitar.” - Alex Skolnick (TESTAMENT) (Friedman toured the U.S. with Skolnick in 2003)

“I really had a great time working with Marty on (‘Loudspeaker’ track) ‘Black Orchid.’ We got together at a studio in Japan while I was on tour over there and just had a blast! I was not only impressed by the great setup in the studio and how quickly the engineers were able to get a killer guitar tone, but equally by Marty’s professionalism, insight and generosity as a producer. I’ve always absolutely loved his playing so it was a thrill to hang out together and to participate on ‘Loudspeaker.’” - John Petrucci (Dream Theater)

 

ON MARTY’S INFLUENCE:

“Marty Friedman is a remarkably influential guitarist. His distinctive sense for phrasing and outstanding melodies put him well above the rest. He is a modern virtuoso and has left his mark on rock guitar playing history.” - Francesco Artusato (All Shall Perish)

“I have been a fan of Marty’s ever since Cacophony. His instrumental albums are amazing and his work with Megadeth so incredible. He has been a great inspiration.” - John 5 (Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, David Lee Roth)

“I’m a HUGE Marty Friedman fan. I had his instructional video tape and he shaped my playing. And what an awesome guy, it was great having him on Metalocalypse too!” - Brendan Small (Dethklok, Galaktikon)

“Marty Friedman is and has always been my guitar hero. The first time I heard his playing was on my 15th birthday when I picked up a copy of ‘Rust In Peace.’ That album changed my outlook on playing guitar, and it lit a fire under my ass that made me want to push my playing further. The things Marty is able to do with a guitar are pure genius. Marty’s style of playing was different than the other metal guitar players out there. He brought an exotic, fresh feel that really made his playing stand out amongst others, and the way he crafted his solos around Mustaine’s frenzied riffing is something of pure magic. To this day I always go to Marty’s playing to challenge myself, learn new licks or inspiration for when I have to record. If you’re a guitar player and haven’t experienced Marty Friedman’s brilliant playing, you must pick up any record he has played on and you’ll hear in my book some of the best guitar playing there is.” - Corey Beaulieu (Trivium)

“I was introduced to Marty Friedman in 1990 with the release of Megadeth’s ‘Rust in Peace’ album. I can vividly remember seeing the video for ‘Holy Wars’ on MTV’s ‘Headbangers Ball’ with eager anticipation towards Dave’s new axeman. I was instantly taken aback at the sudden clean guitar break after the chorus, and it was definitely a foreshadowing of his delightful unpredictability. I purchased ‘Rust in Peace’ the day it was released and I can honestly say that Marty’s lead work pushed me into a new aural realm. I was accustomed to metal guitarists shredding scales and sweep arpeggios, but it was usually a very patternistic approach. Marty displayed a melodic ownership of each solo in that he made every note of critical importance. His use of exotic scales, odd meter phrasing, and penchant for bending dissonance into consonance were extremely influential to my approach to the guitar.

“Marty Friedman’s ‘Scenes’ is one of the most visually inspired instrumental albums ever recorded. ‘Scenes’ transcends the traditional guitar ‘shredfest’ approach of displaying one’s entire technical arsenal in every song (sort of like a guitar players resume). The focus is instead on imagery, and tracks such as ‘Night’ and ‘Realm of the Senses’ transport the listener to various places or states of being. Marty excels at outlining the chord changes instead of just picking a key and going with it. His usage of scales is akin to an artist’s use of colors, in that he uses a smattering of many, but is always focused on the big picture. That picture is, of course, the melody. He is unparalleled at making melodic statements and then developing them to a thrilling climax. The epic closing track, ‘Triumph,’ is a perfect example of thematic development, and is in itself a variation of ‘Thunder March’  from his previous solo album ‘Dragons Kiss.’ His inspiration is primarily drawn from the music of the worlds various cultures, rather than specific guitarists. There is a tremendous amount of Eastern aesthetic that permeates his playing (and it’s not surprising that he currently resides in Japan). Overall, I would describe Marty Friedman’s music as poignant, and cinematic. As a guitarist, his phrasing, tone, and articulation are what continue to make him one of my favorite players.” - Oli Herbert (All That Remains)

“Marty Friedman is one of the most influential guitarists ever. His technique and use of odd note groupings and exotic scales was extremely innovative, and still has most guitarists scratching their heads to this day. Even in this age of teenage YouTube bedroom shredders you’d still be hard pressed to find someone that can play a Friedman solo with the proper feel and fluidity. In my opinion, (he’s) just as an important of a player as Allan Holdsworth, Eddie Van Halen and Shawn Lane.” - Charles Elliott (Abysmal Dawn, Bereft)

“Marty Friedman has influenced me immensely as a soloist over the years. His ability to combine virtuosity, exotic scales and immaculate phrasing never ceases to amaze and inspire me. To say Marty is a shredder doesn’t do him justice as he adds just as much feeling into his playing as he does jaw dropping technical prowess.” - David Davidson (Revocation)

“Marty Friedman’s unique blend of exotic scales and bends is so identifiable that a friend of mine who knew nothing about metal saw Marty at a clinic and described him to me by simply saying, ‘There was this metal shredder guy who was kind of jazzy but mixed an Asian style with it.’ Before she could finish her sentence, I blurted out, ‘Was it Marty Friedman?’ Marty Friedman is one of a handful of guitar players in the history of music who could play one note and have listeners know who they are immediately. I’m not sure Megadeth would’ve ever ascended to the level of my favorite band without Marty’s lead playing. He has such ability for making shred the ultimate pay-off by meticulously placing it into his perfectly phrased solos. ‘Tornado of Souls’ and ‘Symphony of Destruction’ might be the most perfect solos of all time.

Reaching the point where Megadeth wasn’t enough Marty for me, I bought his solo album ‘Introduction,’ which I tried to figure out in its entirety. I went to sleep listening to that album every night for like three months straight. I soon got ‘Dragon’s Kiss’ and ‘Scenes,’ which solidified Marty’s place as one of the best ever in my opinion. My endless quest for more Marty eventually led me to Cacophony, which was one of the biggest game changers of my life. The dual guitar mastery steeped in neo-classical, exotic scales, counterpoint and some of the greatest guitar acrobatics I’ve ever heard served as a clear path to a band I needed to create. This would serve as the template to what Holy Grail would be.

“Marty’s playing is such a prominent influence on me that I’m constantly checking myself to make sure I’m not completely ripping him off. And quite honestly, I’ve had varying degrees of success with said endeavor. Because of his undeniable stamp on the metal and rock world, Marty Friedman might be copied by thousands of guitarists the world over but he will never be duplicated. I feel honored to be on the same record label as one the greatest guitar heroes of all time and I can’t wait to hear what Marty will give us in the future.” - Eli Santana (Holy Grail)

“‘One of a kind’ is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Marty Friedman. When I was a young teenager and Megadeth’s ‘Rust In Peace’ cassette (yes, cassette) was purchased, my ears were changed forever. Marty’s playing put that record on a pedestal above the rest (by) adding so many elements to metal music that I never heard before. Not only did he shred the hell out of a guitar, it was tasteful, and very unique. From there was the quest to hear everything he has done… must say I was never disappointed. Stoked he is still doing it, and hope to keep hearing inspiring music.” - Tommy Rogers (Between The Buried And Me)

“I first heard Marty Friedman’s guitar playing on the Cacophony ‘Speed Metal Symphony’ album and it blew me away. I followed his career as he joined Megadeth and took his playing to a whole new level. I studied his leads on the ‘Rust In Peace’ album and took a lot from his unique playing style and phrasing. His solo in ‘Tornado of Souls’ is still one of my all time favorite solos. He’s done everything from the mellow stuff on the ‘Scenes’ album all the way to the super heavy tracks on the ‘Loudspeaker’ album, always coming up with killer, memorable melodies. I’m stoked to hear that Prosthetic will be re-releasing three Marty Friedman albums, including two previously released only in Japan. I can’t wait to hear them!” - Kragen Lum (Heathen)

 

For more information, please visit: http://martyfriedman.com/

 

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