Marty Friedman

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Left-Marty Friedman performs on stage during his Japan Heritage Special Live concert at Haneda airport on July 17, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan; Right-Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley perform during the final show of KISS: End of the Road World Tour at Madison Square Garden on December 02, 2023 in New York City

“‘You got long hair, right?’ Right. ‘And you’re over 6 feet tall?’ I’m like, ‘I’m 5’7 but I’ll have an operation’”: Marty Friedman recalls missing out on joining Kiss because of his height

By Janelle Borg published

Yngwie Malmsteen and White Lion's Vito Bratta were also rejected due to image-related reasons

Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman performs at the Spectrum on June 29, 1991, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

“At one time, it even had a flame thrower on the headstock”: Marty Friedman's rare 1985 Jackson Kelly San Dimas has gone up for sale – and it could go for as much as $125,000

By Janelle Borg published

Friedman's Megadeth-era guitar is also reportedly one of the first 500 guitars Jackson ever built, and was used to record Rust in Peace

Marty Friedman with his cracked mirror Jackson

“I don’t have any vintage gear. I’ve always been a ‘new gear’ type of guy. But on this album, I’m seeing the light a little bit”: Marty Friedman on Drama, and how his “love letter” to his audience takes his playing – and gear – into unchartered territory

By Andrew Daly published

Friedman promises a full-fat high-calorie version of his artistic self on a new record that might have some virtuoso licks but will challenge the idea that he is a shredder

Marty Friedman

“I would prefer no solo in a song to a solo that’s just an obligation”: Marty Friedman sets the record straight on guitar solos

By Andrew Daly published

We asked the Japan-based virtuoso to elaborate on his thoughts surrounding technique, self-indulgence and the future of solos. What we got was a manifesto for the guitar solo in the 21st century

Marty Friedman

“I hope the traditional guitar solo dies a slow and painful death”: Marty Friedman explains why the guitar solo as we know it needs to be put out of its misery

By Matt Owen published

The solo needs to change for good, and the former Megadeth virtuoso has pinpointed exactly what guitarists need to be doing in order to ensure that happens

Kiko Loureiro and Marty Friedman

“I thought bringing Marty Friedman back would be amazing”: When Kiko Loureiro left Megadeth, he suggested Dave Mustaine rehire Marty Friedman to fill his spot

By Matt Owen published

Finnish metal prodigy Teemu Mäntysaari eventually got the gig, but that seemingly doesn't rule out the possibility that the former Megadeth icon could return in the future

The biggest guitar news of 2023

News of the (guitar) world: the biggest, baddest, weirdest and saddest guitar news of 2023

By Amit Sharma published

We track the year’s biggest six-string stories – from landmark gear developments to devastating departures and 2023’s most headline-grabbing players

Marty Friedman and Ozzy Osbourne

“Being in a band is so much more than the playing. Actually, the playing is down on the list”: Before Megadeth, Marty Friedman says he auditioned for Ozzy Osbourne – but “failed miserably”

By Matt Owen published

Shortly before he became Megadeth's lead guitar player, Friedman took part in an ill-fated Osbourne audition – here's why it didn't work out, according to the man himself

Megadeth and Marty Friedman rehearsing

Watch Marty Friedman, Kiko Loureiro and Dave Mustaine rehearse for one of the summer’s biggest festival sets in new Megadeth behind-the-scenes footage

By Matt Owen published

See the ensemble run through sections of their four-song setlist – complete with an up-close view of Friedman's absurd solo powers

Marty Friedman (foreground, right) performs with Megadeth at the Wacken Open Air Festival on August 4, 2023

Marty Friedman revisits his thrash heyday once again for ferocious four-song guest spot with Megadeth

By Jackson Maxwell published

The Wacken Open Air festival played host to the legendary shredder's second 2023 reunion with the metal icons

Nita Strauss

“Marty Friedman taught me to pick phrases that help tell the story. Resist the temptation to use your songs to show off your fastest licks”: Nita Strauss on how she stepped up her game for The Call of the Void

By Amit Sharma published

Nita Strauss can shred with the best of them, but her new solo album features ‘radio songs’ with guest-star vocalists – plus a showdown with mentor Marty Friedman

Nita Strauss performs onstage

Nita Strauss announces The Call of the Void – a star-studded new solo album featuring Lzzy Hale, Marty Friedman and Alice Cooper

By Matt Owen published

Listen to new single The Golden Trail, which sees Strauss team up with In Flames vocalist Anders Fridén for a full-throttle riff clinic

Marty Friedman performs live

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

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

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 playing live

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

By Matt Owen published

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

Marty Friedman and Dave Mustaine

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

By Matt Owen published

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

Dave Mustaine and Marty Friedman

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

By Matt Owen published

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

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

By Jonathan Horsley published

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

[L-R] Dave Mustaine and Marty Friedman

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

By Sam Roche published

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

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