Marty Friedman

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Marty Friedman on the challenge of relearning his solos for the recent Megadeth reunion, his guitar legacy, and pushing the studio limits with Jason Becker

By Andrew Daly published 6 March 23

As he sets out on his first US tour since the pandemic, the veteran shredder reflects on what he'd change about his early Shrapnel records and why he "borrowed" the Les Paul's shape for his Jackson signature model

Marty Friedman, Dave Mustaine and Kiko Loureiro

Marty Friedman hints at next Megadeth performance – and it might be closer than you think

By Matt Owen published 2 March 23

Fans had to wait 23 years to see a reunion between Megadeth and their long-estranged guitarist. It's looking likely that the next wait will be much, much shorter

Marty Friedman recalls covering Jeff Beck for Jason Becker – in front of Eddie Van Halen

By Matt Owen published 1 March 23

The former Megadeth man bravely took on Beck's instrumental masterclass Cause We've Ended as Lovers and aimed to emulate his unique feel – all in front of a star-studded audience

Watch Marty Friedman perform with Megadeth for the first time in 23 years

By Matt Owen published 28 February 23

Dave Mustaine and co reunited with their former guitarist for a headline show at Tokyo's Budokan to perform three songs from Friedman's tenure

Megadeth to reunite with Marty Friedman for the first time in 23 years at Tokyo concert

By Matt Owen published 14 February 23

Friedman will join Dave Mustaine at the band's first-ever headline show at the Budokan later this month, and will share guitar duties for a three-song encore

Marty Friedman’s Japan Heritage Official Theme Song will make you want to visit Japan – and practice the guitar more

By Jonathan Horsley published 13 February 23

Friedman joins the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and Shonosuke Okura for track celebrating Japanese culture through the medium of electric guitar

Dave Mustaine reflects on Marty Friedman’s Megadeth departure: “What happened to Marty was definitely not okay”

By Sam Roche published 24 August 22

The Megadeth leader recalls the circumstances surrounding Friedman's exit from the band with a sense of regret in the new issue of Guitar World

"Kirk Hammett" (left) and "Marty Friedman" face off in a guitar battle for the ages

Watch "Kirk Hammett" and "Marty Friedman" shred Mötley Crüe's Dr. Feelgood in blockbuster TikTok guitar battle

By Jackson Maxwell published 29 June 22

Guitarist Kyle Norris also donned his best Mick Mars costume to officiate the fictional but impressively accurate duel

Marty Friedman on why streaming listeners are skipping guitar solos: “Solos often have an obligatory existence – they must be there for a deeper reason”

By Sam Roche published 10 May 22

The former Megadeth man says guitar solos are often included to meet a quota, rather than because the song actually requires one

Leslie West (left) and Corky Laing of Mountain, perform during Hippifest in Vienna, Virginia

Slash, Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Marty Friedman, George Lynch, Dee Snider and more to feature on all-star Leslie West tribute album

By Jackson Maxwell published 11 November 21

Hear the album's first single – Wylde's loving, tough-as-nails interpretation of Mountain's Blood Of The Sun – now

Marty Friedman enlists Mateus Asato for a soaring instrumental cover of Crowded House's Don't Dream It's Over

By Sam Roche published 5 August 21

The performance was recorded at Friedman's April show in Osaka for his Tokyo Jukebox Tour 2021

Marty Friedman: "I spend 80 percent of my time on the arrangement. If I have that beautiful frame, the notes I play inside it are going to really come through"

By Joe Bosso last updated 29 July 21

On the goosebumps-inducing Tokyo Jukebox 3, shred great Friedman tackles the Japanese pop charts

Paul Gilbert, Steve Lukather, Marty Friedman, Kirk Fletcher, Steve Morse and Michael Landau

6 guitar pros on how to prepare your playing for tour

By Jason Sidwell last updated 25 June 21

Paul Gilbert, Steve Lukather, Marty Friedman, Kirk Fletcher, Steve Morse and Michael Landau on how they get stage-ready

Marty Friedman explains why “playing slow is a thousand times more difficult than playing fast”

By Sam Roche published 21 June 21

The former Megadeth man on why he doesn't like being labeled a “shredder”

Marty Friedman: “Much of the Japanese music that is currently very popular has a melodic structure that echoes a lot of '70s Western rock and pop“

By Milton Mermikides published 15 June 21

The shred legend spills the beans on the third album in his Tokyo Jukebox series, which celebrates his love for Japan

Marty Friedman was preparing for a Madonna audition when he landed the gig with Megadeth

By Sam Roche published 8 June 21

“Luckily, I got into a gig that was more suited for what I was able to do,” the shredder explains

[L-R] Marty Friedman, Nuno Bettencourt, Alex Skolnick and Richard Shaw

Hear Marty Friedman, Nuno Bettencourt, Alex Skolnick and Richard Shaw shred over mind-bending new Lost Symphony track

By Sam Roche last updated 19 May 21

Take Another Piece is the first single from the group's equally star-studded forthcoming album, Chapter III

Marty Friedman unveils grandiose, shred-heavy new single, Kaze Ga Fuiteiru

By Sam Roche published 25 March 21

As Tokyo Jukebox's April 16 release date draws closer, the virtuoso has offered up another taster of what's to come

World's greatest guitar heroes assemble for mammoth virtual Jason Becker fundraiser

By Matt Owen published 23 March 21

The two-month-long fundraising marathon will see Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Marty Friedman, Nita Strauss and many, many more appear on Herman Li's Twitch channel to raise money for Becker

Marty Friedman says social media guitar stars saved the instrument from extinction

By Matt Owen published 17 March 21

“These guys are bringing the instrument to a whole new level. It’s a very exciting time for guitar”

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