Cacophony (band)

Last updated
Cacophony
Origin San Francisco, California, U.S.
Genres
Years active1986–1989
Labels Shrapnel
Past members

Cacophony was an American heavy metal band formed in 1986 by guitarists Marty Friedman and Jason Becker, [1] and signed to Shrapnel Records. [2] They released two studio albums and remained active until 1989, after which both guitarists forged their own solo careers and joined other bands.

Contents

History

The two albums released by Cacophony, Speed Metal Symphony (1987) and Go Off! (1988), [1] were showpieces of the kind of highly technical playing typical of the 1980s shred era, with songs featuring fast tempos, melodic solos, exotic neoclassical scales and dual guitar harmonizations. Several of the tracks were entirely instrumental, [1] which prominently demonstrated Friedman and Becker's renowned technical skills. [3] In a 2009 article by Guitar World magazine, Speed Metal Symphony was ranked ninth in a list of all-time top ten shred albums. [4]

Both Friedman and Becker released their own solo albums— Dragon's Kiss and Perpetual Burn , respectively—in 1988, before the release of Go Off! Friedman later joined the thrash metal band Megadeth in 1990, [1] remaining with them for nine years as well as releasing several more solo albums, while Becker enjoyed a short stint in David Lee Roth's solo band from 1989 to 1991. [1] Becker's time with Roth was abruptly cut short due to an onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a degenerative disease that rendered him completely unable to play and, soon afterwards, move or speak.

Band members

Discography

Related Research Articles

Instrumental rock is rock music that emphasizes instrumental performance and features very little or no singing. Examples of instrumental music in rock can be found in practically every subgenre of the style. Instrumental rock was most popular from the mid-1950s to mid-1960s, with artists such as Bill Doggett Combo, The Fireballs, The Shadows, The Ventures, Johnny and the Hurricanes and The Spotnicks. Surf music had many instrumental songs. Many instrumental hits had roots from the R&B genre. The Allman Brothers Band feature several instrumentals. Jeff Beck also recorded two instrumental albums in the 1970s. Progressive rock and art rock performers of the late 1960s and early 1970s did many virtuosic instrumental performances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marty Friedman</span> American-Japanese guitarist

Martin Adam Friedman is an American guitarist, best known for his tenure as the lead guitarist of thrash metal band Megadeth from 1990 to 2000. He is also known for playing alongside Jason Becker in Cacophony from 1986 until 1989, as well as his 13 solo albums and tours. Friedman has resided in Tokyo since 2003, where he has appeared on over 700 Japanese television programs such as Rock Fujiyama, Hebimeta-san, Kōhaku Uta Gassen and Jukebox English. He has released albums with several record labels, including Avex Trax, Universal, EMI, Prosthetic, and Shrapnel Records.

<i>Speed Metal Symphony</i> 1987 studio album by Cacophony

Speed Metal Symphony is the first studio album by the American heavy metal band Cacophony, released in 1987 through Shrapnel Records.

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Michael “Mike” Varney is an American record producer and music publisher. He is the founder of the Shrapnel Label Group, which includes Shrapnel Records, Tone Center Records, and Blues Bureau International. He also owns 50% of Magna Carta Records, a New York–based label. Varney is often credited with popularizing the mid-1980s shred guitar boom, and has continuously specialized in producing musicians within the genres of instrumental rock, hard rock, jazz, jazz fusion, blues, blues-rock, progressive metal, and speed metal.

Jason Eli Becker is an American composer and guitarist. At the age of 16, he became part of the Shrapnel Records-produced duo Cacophony with his friend Marty Friedman, and they released two albums, Speed Metal Symphony (1987) and Go Off! (1988). Since the dissolution of Cacophony in 1989, Becker has undertaken a solo career, releasing seven albums since his 1988 debut Perpetual Burn. He later joined David Lee Roth's solo band and recorded one album with him, A Little Ain't Enough.

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<i>Dragons Kiss</i> 1988 studio album by Marty Friedman

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<i>Scenes</i> (album) 1992 studio album by Marty Friedman

Scenes is the second studio album by guitarist Marty Friedman, released on November 17, 1992 through Shrapnel Records and Roadrunner Records (Europe). It is a notable stylistic departure from Friedman's first album, Dragon's Kiss (1988), as well as his heavier work with Cacophony and Megadeth, in that it predominantly features mellow, clean-tone playing instead of his usual distortion. The final track, "Triumph", is a remake of "Thunder March" from Dragon's Kiss. The album also features then-Megadeth bandmate Nick Menza on drums.

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<i>Perpetual Burn</i> 1988 studio album by Jason Becker

Perpetual Burn is the first studio album by the American guitarist Jason Becker, released in 1988 through Shrapnel Records and Roadrunner Records (Europe). The album was released at around the same time as Dragon's Kiss, the first album by his fellow Cacophony guitarist Marty Friedman, who also co-produced and performed on Perpetual Burn. This is the only solo album Becker released before his diagnosis with ALS in 1989.

<i>Go Off!</i> 1988 studio album by Cacophony

Go Off! is the second and final studio album by heavy metal band Cacophony, released in 1988 through Shrapnel Records. About two years after the album's release, guitarist Jason Becker was diagnosed with ALS, which eventually led to his near-total paralysis. Also two years later, guitarist Marty Friedman joined the band Megadeth. The album was re-released on CD in 1991.

Hawaii was an American heavy metal band formed in 1981 by former Deuce guitarist Marty Friedman, originally called Vixen. Vixen recorded several demos and appeared on the U.S. Metal Vol. II (1982) compilation album, before releasing the Made In Hawaii EP in 1983. Another early recording appeared on Metal Massacre II (1982) under the name Aloha, with Lisa Ruiz taking over lead vocals from Kim La Chance.

<i>One Nation Underground</i> (Hawaii album) 1983 studio album by Hawaii

One Nation Underground is the title of the first studio album released by Hawaii, a speed metal band from the United States.

<i>The Natives Are Restless</i> 1985 studio album by Hawaii

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<i>Phantom Blue</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Phantom Blue

Phantom Blue is the self-titled first studio album by all-female heavy metal band Phantom Blue, released in 1989 through Shrapnel Records and Roadrunner Records. Guitarist Marty Friedman, at the time a member of the band Cacophony, and later of Megadeth, is credited as a co-producer. According to drummer Linda McDonald, the music video for "Why Call It Love?" was filmed within a maximum security prison in Carson City, Nevada.

<i>Collection</i> (Jason Becker album) 2008 studio album by Jason Becker

Collection is an album by Jason Becker released by Shrapnel Records on November 4, 2008. The album includes three new songs in addition to some older recordings. It includes many musicians and features guitarists such as Marty Friedman, Greg Howe, Joe Satriani, Michael Lee Firkins, Steve Vai, and Steve Hunter.

<i>The Manhattan Blues Project</i> 2013 studio album by Steve Hunter

The Manhattan Blues Project is the fifth studio album by guitarist Steve Hunter. Released in 2013, the blues guitar album features instrumental interpretations of New York City. It is particularly notable for its all-star lineup of guest musicians: Phil Aaberg, 2Cellos, actor/musician Johnny Depp, Marty Friedman, Michael Lee Firkins, Tommy Henriksen, Tony Levin, Joe Perry, and Joe Satriani. The album also includes a composition by Jason Becker, co-founder of Cacophony.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Colin Larkin, ed. (1999). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 88. ISBN   0-7535-0257-7.
  2. Hale, Mark (1993). "0481 Cacophony". Headbangers (First edition, second printing ed.). Ann Arbor, Michigan: Popular Culture, Ink. p. 59. ISBN   1-56075-029-4.
  3. Hinds, Andy. "Speed Metal Symphony - Cacophony" Archived 2017-08-18 at the Wayback Machine . AllMusic . All Media Network. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
  4. Guitar World Staff (2009-07-09). "Top 10 Shred Albums of All Time". Guitar World . Future US. Archived from the original on 2011-05-28. Retrieved 2015-08-03.