Alex Skolnick
Latest about Alex Skolnick

All the guitarists – and nearly guitarists – in the Ozzy Osbourne saga
By Jenna Scaramanga published
Among the ranks of Ozzy's six-string sidekicks are some of the most admired and imitated rock guitarists of all time. Some have lasted for years, others a single gig, and some on both ends are part of the elite group of musicians to have been fired over the phone by Sharon Osbourne

Alex Skolnick looks back on his brief tenure as Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist – and why it only lasted one show
By Phil Weller published
The Testament guitarist blames a “management decision” on his short-lived spell, but looks back at the experience positively

America’s Got Talent viral metal star and 11-year-old shredder Maya Neelakantan joins Testament onstage
By Janelle Borg published
Neelakantan performed Curse of the Legions of Death at the band's show in Las Vegas, where she showcased her lightning speed alternate picking technique

Alex Skolnick on Criss Oliva's favorite guitar, “the Gargoyle” – the ESP Superstrat he likens to Billy Gibbons’ Pearly Gates Les Paul Standard
By Clay Marshall published
Skolnick got up close and personal with this one-of-one Mirage when he stepped up to replace the late Oliva in Savatage. Like the ZZ Top man's Burst, it has a tone that's all its own

When Alex Skolnick quit Testament and was recruited to replace the late Criss Oliva in Tampa metallers Savatage
By Clay Marshall published
In 1994, following the death of the brilliant Criss Oliva, reeling Tampa metallers Savatage enlisted then-ex-Testament man Alex Skolnick. The experience left a lasting impression on both

This lesson in Alex Skolnick of Testament’s virtuoso lead style is a true trial by fire
By Charlie Griffiths published
Mixing alternate picking with smooth legato runs, book smart theory with the instincts of a berserker, Skolnick took Testament to a new level

“The crowd was starting to chant and boo”: Alex Skolnick reveals his most embarrassing onstage moment
By Joe Matera published
The genre-hopping Testament guitarist on his first gigs, favorite guitar, and why solidbodies feel more replaceable than hollowbodies

“It’s nothing crazy, but I have some weird, oddball sounds if needed”: Alex Skolnick reveals what’s on his pedalboard
By Andrew Daly published
Come take a look and see what the jazz phenom and Testament lead guitarist has on his 'board, and find out which pedal gives him “Tommy Bolin and Eddie Van Halen” vibes

“Playing scales up and down is dumb… this isn’t a f**king recital!” We meet the outspoken cartoon shredder who teamed up with Gary Holt, Alex Skolnick and George Lynch for one of this year’s biggest shred guitar albums
By Amit Sharma published
Led by a guitarist who claims to be the Bay Area lovechild of James Hetfield, The Shredderz just put out an all-star thrash metal album like no other. We get the lowdown on how a fictional band recruited some of today’s finest soloists for an orgy of sweep picking and searing shred

“Everybody was going crazy about Yngwie Malmsteen... Joe Satriani told me, ‘That’s fine, but don’t get too into him’”: Alex Skolnick explains why he was warned off sounding like the neoclassical maestro
By Matt Parker published
The Testament guitarist says he learned more than just techniques from his A-list teacher
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