Marty Friedman
Latest about Marty Friedman

Jason Becker and Marty Friedman on their wild ride making Cacophony’s Go Off! – one of the Eighties’ most in-your-face shred albums
By Andrew Daly published
With dreams of being the next Poison or Whitesnake, two young shred virtuosos took their songwriting to the next level for their 1988 Shrapnel Records classic

How Jason Becker and Marty Friedman made one of shred music’s most celebrated albums with a little help from their pupils
By Matt Owen published
When the two virtuosos went into the studio to record under the Cacophony name, they brought a bunch of gear that had been lent to them by students

Marty Friedman reveals the real reason he rejected Megadeth's proposed Rust in Peace lineup reunion
By Janelle Borg published
Friedman sets the record straight on the much-rumored reunion and claims that the amount the Megadeth team offered him was “right around the first salary I got when I joined Megadeth in 1990”

“David Ellefson told me, ‘You got the gig. Oh and by the way, Dave told me to tell you that you played many of the wrong guitar parts’”: Marty Friedman tells the inside story of his auditions with Ozzy Osbourne and Madonna – and landing the Megadeth gig
By Marty Friedman published
In this exclusive excerpt from his new autobiography, Dreaming Japanese, the guitarist looks back at his early years, when he was broke and forced to choose between eating or auditioning

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

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 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

“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

“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

“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
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