Marty Friedman

Marty Friedman began his career as a Shrapnel solo recording artist and later joined forces with Jason Becker to form the unrivaled dual guitar unit, “Cacophony”, who have a strong influence on today’s top guitarists. Amassing worldwide acclaim as a guitar superstar, he came to the attention of Megadeth. Racking up sales of over 10 million records with Megadeth, Friedman continued to record solo records, often embarking on adventurous musical forays far removed from his work with Megadeth, including an album with Golden Globe winner Kitaro.

In a bold move, he left the legendary Megadeth to pursue new musical goals and has succeeded tremendously. Friedman’s many accomplishments make him currently the only musician to be a fixture in the top class of the Japanese domestic as well as international music scene.
His music performance (songs from “LOUDSPEAKER”) on national TV with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and charting high with his own music and with Japan’s top artists, has spurred Friedman into new celebrity territory.

Now residing in Tokyo, Friedman has become a television celebrity appearing as a regular on 5 major networks, he can be seen on mainstream hit TV programs almost every day in Japan.
His latest offering, “LOUDSPEAKER” is exactly the kind of record that Friedman fans have been waiting for. While aggressively breaking through cutting edge uncharted musical territory still in spots it is reminiscent in style of his first solo record “Dragon's Kiss.”

Before joining Megadeth in Feb.1990, Marty was in a band called Cacophony, which released 2 albums (among their indie label's highest selling) and toured the U.S. and Japan. This band highlighted the potent guitar playing of Marty and fellow guitarist Jason Becker (who was to join David Lee Roth's band and record an album with him in 1990). Marty has received extremely high acclaim and many awards around the world for his unmistakably `Marty-esque` way of playing the guitar.

Marty is from Washington D.C. originally but has lived in many places including Hawaii, Germany and California, giving him an odd and interesting approach to making his music. He currently resides in Tokyo

CAREER POINTS


Received 27 gold and platinum records from around the world

Received 5 Grammy nominations

Headlined 'Rock in Rio' in front of 140,000 in Brazil

Sold out Madison Square Garden (along with many other venues) on the 'Clash of the Titans' Tour

Co-produced his 2nd solo album,' Scenes', with Golden Globe award winner Kitaro

Megadeth's 'Countdown to Extinction' debuts at #2 and reaches double platinum in the U.S.

Countless worldwide TV performances including Britain's "Top of the Pops", live TV on Arsenio Hall (twice), David Letterman (twice), Jon Stewart show, many MTV and VH1 specials,
Japan`s most popular daytime TV show, `Waratte Iitomo` as well as `Love Love Aishiteiru`, 'Music Fair', 'Pop Jam' and 'Yume no Ongakukan'.

Megadeth does a sold out stadium tour of Europe with Metallica

'Youthanasia' is the band's best seller worldwide and the tour was a huge success, extending to new territory like Tel Aviv and Prague

Receives first 'solo' major label deal (with EMI Japan) for his solo album,' True Obsessions'.

3 top ten radio singles for Megadeth in 1997-98. 2 more in '99

Headlined Woodstock 1999 (third night)

Forms new band in 2000, "Red Dye #2"creating a buzz at HITS magazine and selling out the Viper Room in LA

Produced Japanese pop singer Angelina Esparza`s debut demo leading to signing a contract with Columbia Records

Marty makes a yearly appearance at National Guitar Workshop in the US, and is also preparing to do an all-country tour of the campuses of MI Japan in March `03.

A 2003 tour of the US which included ex-Megadeth member Jimmy DeGrasso and guitar wiz Ron Jarzombek marked the first time ever that Marty`s solo music was played live.


Marty produced, engineered, wrote and played guitar on his most anticipated solo album yet, `Music For Speeding` which is receiving outstanding initial reviews

His latest promo of Japan featured Marty playing guitar live on a media blitzkrieg of nationwide broadcasts as well as enthralling the listeners with the unusual outlook of an American rock and roll guitarist; spoken in their mother tongue by the man himself-not by a translator.

Marty is currently in the band of Japanese mega-star Aikawa Nanase. Aikawa will continue to tour Japan throughout 2005 with Marty and you can expect something special for the new year...

FACT

Marty speaks Japanese well and when in Japan, does all of his TV and radio interviews in fluent Japanese.

In September, 2000 he hosted a documentary about the Kiss farewell tour on NHK, (a major Japanese network similar to America's PBS) .

The first major concert Marty did was with his group,' Hawaii' at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu,HI. supporting Deep Purple.

Marty has around 25 guitars in his collection, the majority of them being variations of his signature series (Jackson KE-1 Marty Friedman model) guitar.

Prior to joining Megadeth, Marty produced a handful of albums for indie labels, some of which to lead to major label releases. He has also produced or co-produced all of his solo albums.

In his spare time on the road, Marty likes to give music seminars or sit in and jam with the local bands at clubs around the country.

When at home off the road, he often plays the national anthem at Phoenix hockey games.

A major Elvis fan, Marty has collected Elvis stuff since elementary school.

In 2001 Marty played all the lead guitar on "Explorers Club 2" with Terry Bozzio

Marty played lead guitar as a guest on the major label debut (indie debut sold double platinum) of "Mr. Orange", a wildly popular band in Japan.

Besides the arduous task of creating `Music For Speeding` Marty has laid down tracks for ESPN, a NYC charity album, as well as 2 tribute albums to his pal Jason Becker.

2003-

Marty put together a stellar band for his US tour to promote his solo album, "Music For Speeding".

Arranged 3 songs and played guitar for Sera Masanori's "Twist Songs" album released on Columbia Records on 9/25.
Marty also performed with Sera at the Festival Hall in Osaka as well as the legendary Budokan in Tokyo on 10/8.

Marty appeared on NHK with Sera and Ayumi Hamasaki's guitarist Yoshio Nomura.

Fuji Television will broadcast Marty and Sera on 10/12 on the prime time program "Mina ga utaeru super hit" "Super Hits everyone can sing"

Performed 2 songs from his solo album live for nationwide broadcast on Sky Perfect TV's "Party Dude!" program.

2 page spread and interview in Sony UV magazine. (issue 94 released 9/25)

Constant coverage in Young Guitar, Player and Guitar from Japan as well as Guitar World and Guitar Player from the US.

Marty recorded with Aikawa Nanase on her upcoming single, "Ai no Uta"

A popular Nissan Commercial for the new X-trail was recorded by Marty in Tokyo.

Marty also did guest guitar work on a track for Avex band "03" for an album saluting the legendary Gedo which will be released on Sony.

After over 1000 shows worldwide Marty finally played at Budokan on Oct. 8th!

Marty has inked an endorsement deal with Ibanez guitars who in turn are sending him around the world to play their guitars and promote his album, "Music for Speeding". Ibanez is launching an ad campaign in the US featuring Marty and his new "SZ" guitar.

An attendance record breaking guitar clinic/mini-live promotional tour of China, Taiwan and Hong Kong took place in October. Winter '03/'04 had similar events in Thailand, Peru, Argentina, Chile and Brazil bringing in bigger attendance than during his tenure in Megadeth.

Marty apprears on Fuji TV's "Music Fair" on 11/22.

Aikawa Nanase's New Year's concert at Nagashima brings in 30,000 in attendance.

Marty records Aikawa Nanase's single "Ai No Uta" which charted on Japan's Oricon chart. It was Marty's first recording on a J-pop single.

Intent on making his mark on the Japanese music world, Marty has spent much of 2003 being involved in extensive music work in Japan, from guitar playing to producing, songwriting, arranging and live concerts, all leading towards some very special music from Marty in 2004.

In 2004 Marty did Aikawa Nanase's two major tours, "THE GIG '04" (which featured guest superstar Yumi from "Puffy" and the "LIVE EMOTION '04" tour which spawned a hit live DVD filmed in Kobe, Japan.

Marty also inked an endorsement deal with Ovation Acoustic Guitars. He debuted these guitars at the Aikawa Nanase unplugged concert in November. (to be released on dvd in '05)

Marty also released "99 Secret Lead Guitar Phrases", which critics have called 'possibly the most useful instructional DVD ever made'.

Along with lots of radio, TV and magazine work, Marty did many solo concerts as well as more shows with Japanese household name singer/actor Sera Masanori.

2005 has Marty's new song "Street Demon" to be released on Avex in March, music for Sony Playstation's hit game Formula One 2005, lots of TV appearances, radio, live concerts and a long awaited new solo album and tour.

Marty currently appears every week on the hit TV show `Hebimetasan`, every Tuesday on Tokyo Television. The show is ranked #7 in the top 100 rankings.

After one year of starring on the weekly "Rock Fujiyama" and accompanying "Gyao Fujiyama" Marty is a constant guest on several top rated TV programs in Japan.

Marty has been featured in all major newspapers, Playboy, and there are full features on Marty in 4 major mainstream magazines magazines every month. His extremely popular features can be seen every single day at any newsstand in Japan.

His successful European trek for “LOUDSPEAKER” was recorded and was released on the CD "Exhibit A-Live in Europe". The show in Tokyo was filmed as well and was released as "Exhibit B-Live in Japan"on DVD.

Along with his several high rated TV programs, Marty`s recent appearance at the 2008/2009 Kouhaku New Years special and his appearance at Budokan has started 09 off with a bang.