Jason Becker

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
For the Canadian ice hockey player, see Jason Becker (ice hockey).
his !iographical article needs additional citations for verification. "lease help !y
adding relia!le sources. Contentious material a!out living persons that is unsourced or
poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially li!elous or
harmful. (June 2008)
Jason Becker
Background information
Birth name Jason #li Becker
Born
July $$, %&'& (age ())
*ichmond, California,
+%,
-nited .tates
Genres
/eo0classical metal, instrumental
rock, speed metal, heavy metal, hard
rock
Occupations 1usician, song2riter
Instruments 3uitar, !ass, key!oards
Years active %&4'5present
Labels .hrapnel
Associated
acts
Cacophony, 6avid 7ee *oth, 1arty
Friedman
Website 222.8ason!ecker.com
otable instruments
Carvin 3uitars, 9urricane 3uitars, "eavey 3uitars
Jason !li Becker (!orn July $$, %&'&) is an :merican neo0classical metal guitarist and
composer. :t the age of %', he !ecame part of the 1ike ;arney0produced duo Cacophony 2ith
his friend 1arty Friedman. hey released Speed Metal Symphony in %&4< and Go Off! in %&44.
Cacophony !roke up in %&4& and Becker !egan doing solo 2ork, having released his first al!um
Perpetual Burn in %&44. 9e later 8oined 6avid 7ee *oth=s !and and recorded one al!um 2ith
him. 9o2ever, Becker=s success 2as hampered !y his then0diagnosed amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (7ou 3ehrig=s 6isease) and he 2as given three to five years to live. >n %&&', Becker
eventually lost the a!ility to speak and no2 communicates 2ith his eyes via a system developed
!y his father. 6espite his disa!ility, he continues composing !y using a computer and has since
released Collection, a ?!est of? al!um of his favorite songs and three ne2 songs.
"ontents
% Biography and career
o %.% 9ometo2n, !irth place, school and early years
o %.$ Cacophony and solo career
o %.) :myotrophic 7ateral .clerosis
o %.( "erspective and the Berry Jams
o %.@ Collection
o %.' /e2 al!um
$ 1usical style
) #Auipment
o ).% "aradise 3uitar
o ).$ Carvin ri!ute 3uitar
( 6ocumentary film
@ Clinics
' 6iscography
< *eferences
4 #Bternal links
Biography and career
#ometo$n% birth place% school and early years
Becker 2as !orn and raised in the city, *ichmond, California !y his parents, 3ary and "atricia
(9effley) Becker. 9e 2as !orn on $)rd .treet in *ichmond 9ospital in %&'&. 9is maternal
grandfather 2as actor Wayne 9effley.
+$,
Becker graduated from Cennedy 9igh .chool 2here he
performed Dng2ie 1almsteen=s Black .tar 2ith his !and at a talent sho2. +%, While still in high
school, Becker 2as introduced to 1arty Friedman. 9e 2as eBposed to the guitar at an early age
!ecause !oth his father and his uncle 2ere guitar players. 9e a!sor!ed all kinds of music from
around the 2orld, and melded different aspects of each style into his playing. 9e practiced to
Bo! 6ylan, #ric Clapton, Jeff Beck, -li Jon *oth, #ddie ;an 9alen, and many others. +$,
"acophony and solo career
Becker started out playing alongside 1arty Friedman in the 1ike ;arney0produced duo,
Cacophony. ogether, they put out an al!um, and toured Japan and the -.... While they never
2ent mainstream in the -..., #uropeans em!raced their music and they sold out almost
every2here they 2ent. +), >n %&4& Becker left to pursue a solo career, having released his first
solo al!um titled ="erpetual Burn= in %&44, and has since released Perpecti!e and Collection, as
2ell as t2o al!ums of demos, entitled =he *asp!erry Jams= and =he Black!erry Jams=.
Amyotrophic Lateral &clerosis
:t the age of $E, he 8oined 6avid 7ee *oth=s !and, replacing .teve ;ai, 2ho 2ent on to 8oin
Whitesnake. While recording the " #ittle "in$t %nou&h al!um in %&4& and managed to 2in the
coveted Best /e2 3uitarist a2ard from 3uitar 1agaFine in the process. +(, "reparing for the
su!seAuent tour, Becker !egan to feel 2hat he called a ?laFy limp? in his left leg. 9e 2as soon
diagnosed 2ith :myotrophic 7ateral .clerosis (:7.G 7ou 3ehrig=s 6isease) and given three to
five years to live. 9e could !arely finish the recording, using light gauge (thin) guitar strings and
other techniAues, 2hich 2ould make it easier to play 2ith his 2eakening hands. :lthough he
managed to finish the al!um, 2hich 2as released in %&&%, he did not 8oin the supporting tour due
to his ina!ility to perform on stageG former 7iFFy Borden guitarist Joe 9olmes took Becker=s
place on tour.
6ue to his illness, he eventually lost the a!ility to speak and no2 communicates 2ith his eyes via
a system developed !y his father. :lthough his :7. gradually ro!!ed him of his a!ility to play
guitar, to 2alk, and eventually even to speak, he still remains mentally sharp and, 2ith the aid of
a computer, continues composing. >n the !ack of the Perpecti!e C6 case, Becker states ?> have
:myotrophic 7ateral .clerosis. >t has crippled my !ody and speech, !ut not my mind.? 9is
medical condition has remained sta!le since %&&<. >n $EE), Becker posted on his 2e!site that he
2as feeling !etter and had gained some 2eight, 2hile the folder for his $EE4 al!um Collection
also mentions an upcoming !ook.
'erspective and the Berry Jams
>n %&&', Becker released an al!um entitled Perpecti!e, an instrumental al!um composed !y him
(2ith the eBception of Bo! 6ylan=s song ?1eet 1e in the 1orning?). he 2riting of the music
had !een started !efore :7. completely crippled his a!ilities. By using guitar, and, later, 2hen
he 2as una!le to use !oth hands, a key!oard, he continued to compose 2hile his disease
2orsened. 9o2ever, 2hen Becker could no longer physically play even a key!oard, his friend
and music producer 1ike Bemesderfer helped him 2ith a music0composing computer program
2hich could read the movements of his head and eyes, ena!ling Becker to continue to compose
after he lost control of the rest of his !ody.
.everal years later, Becker released 'ap(erry Jam (%&&&) and Blac)(erry Jam ($EE))G the
first contained various unreleased demo0tracks, and the latter contained demo0tracks and
alternate versions of songs that 2ere later re2orked and pu!lished into other al!ums.
2o tri!ute al!ums to Jason Becker have !een issued. *espectively entitled *armth in the
*ilderne + and *armth in the *ilderne ++, they feature guitarists such as .teve ;ai, "aul
3il!ert, 1arty Friedman, Joe Becker, *usty Cooley, and 1attias #klundh. he al!um profits
2ere sent to Becker to help him 2ith his medical finances.
"ollection
1ain article: Collection (Jason Becker al!um)
Hn /ovem!er (, $EE4, .hrapnel *ecords released a ne2 Jason Becker al!um entitled Collection.
he al!um includes three ne2 songs in addition to some older recordings (some never !efore
released) and features 1arty Friedman, 3reg 9o2e, Joe .atriani, 1ichael 7ee Firkins, .teve ;ai,
and .teve 9unter.
e$ album
Hn :ugust $E, $E%E, Becker declared that he is considering releasing an al!um of music he
recorded 2hen he 2as in his teenage years.
+),
(usical style
Considered a virtuoso guitarist and one of the top players of his time, Jason Becker studied the
2orks of violinist /iccolI "aganini and 2as a playing partner 2ith 1arty Friedman. 9e later
arranged "aganini=s @th Caprice, performing it during an instructional guitar video. Becker=s
compositions often include high speed scalar and arpeggio passages, !oth of 2hich are
trademarks of his =shred= style of guitar playing. Hften incorporating advanced techniAues such as
s2eep picking, alternate picking, artificial harmonic accenting, and tappingG 9e 2as among the
leaders of the field during the technical =shred= guitar and /eo0Classical 1etal trend of the mid to
late eighties and is still respected and honored !y his musician peers today. he song Serrana
appearing in the al!um Perpecti!e, is an eBample of his s2eep0picking skills. +@, 9e
demonstrated the arpeggio seAuence during a clinic at the :tlanta >nstitute of 1usic. : video of
this performance first appeared on his -ot #ic) guitar instructional video.
+(,
!)uipment
Becker=s first guitar 2as a Franciscan acoustic. "rior to 8oining Cacophony in %&4<, Becker
2orked his 2ay through the Franciscan, a akamine acoustic, a Fender 1usicmaster, and finally,
a !lack Fender .tratocaster ?6an .mith? model (likely a %&4$ or %&4) model) 2ith a 6i1arFio
.teve 1orse hum!ucker in the !ridge (seen in the Black .tar video, circa %&4'). Hn his message
!oard, Jason said ?> recorded .1. +.peed 1etal .ymphony, 2ith my .trat.?
For his neBt guitar, Jason says on his message !oard ?1ike ;arney got 9urricane to endorse us
after 2e recorded .peed 1etal .ymphony. > liked ho2 they 2ere like .trats, only !eefier.?
Hn "erpetual Burn, Jason says on his message !oard: ?> used my 2hite and !lack 9urricane
guitar for everything. For clean tone > 2ent direct. For dirty tone > used a %EE Watt 1arshall 2ith
a Boss .uper Hverdrive pedal.?
he 1oridira 9urricane guitar he used is called a 7imited #dition 76.$ model, !elieved to !e
made in Japan. (>t is not a 9urricane #J series, 2hich appears to !e lo2er Auality.) 9is 76.$
2as a ?strat copy? as Jason says, !ut 2ith a 9.. pickup setup, a $$0fret rose2ood finger!oard,
and uniAue Floyd *ose 2here you don=t have to cut the strings. For pickups, Jason said on his
message !oard: ?> 8ust used the stock pickups it came 2ith.? he pickups 2ere Japanese0made
pickups.
Hn the cover of "erpetual Burn he is pictured 2ith a !lue 9urricane guitar. 9e did not use this
!lue guitar on "erpetual Burn. 6ifferences on this guitar from his first 9urricane include
6i1arFio pickups, a maple fret!oard, and $( frets. (>nterestingly 1arty Friedman recorded the
2hammy parts of his song ?6ragon 1istress? using this !lue 9urricane, one of the rare times
1arty has recorded 2hammy 2ork.)
For the $nd Cacophony al!um, Becker s2itched over to Carvin gear, utiliFing $ 6C .eries
models, one in a trans !lue finish 2ith flamed maple top, and another one in a solid !urgundy
finish (his is the guitar seen in the famous ?Do Do? video from the %&4& Japan tour 2ith
Cacophony). Both have dou!le cuta2ay !odies, Cahler locking tremolo systems, ' in line
machine heads and $ Carvin hum!ucker pickups. 9e used these up until he 2as diagnosed 2ith
:7. in %&4&.
6uring the sessions for " #ittle "in$t %nou&h, Becker used various Carvin, >!aneF, #." and
;alley :rts guitars, as 2ell as a 7es "aul on some tracks and a 3i!son acoustic for select things.
Jason has also !een pictured 2ith a fe2 9amer superstrats as 2ell. From %&4&0%&&%, Becker
used various guitars, most nota!ly a "eavey custom model 2ith the num!ered fret!oard markers.
here are a fe2 of these around. :lso used 2ere an >!aneF Custom .hop guitar (pro!a!ly !ased
on an *3), a custom from "erformance 3uitars, a couple of various unkno2n .trat style guitars
and a !lack 9urricane 2ith ) single coil pickups.
:s of very recently, Becker has allo2ed "aradise 3uitars -.: to release a Jason Becker
signature guitar. >t is similar in appearance to the num!ered "eavey !ut 2ith a different
headstock shape.
Becker used various types of amplifiers in his music. Before 8oining Cacophony, he used a small
"eavey .tudio "ro (E 2ith the older style "eavey vertical silver stripes on the grille cloth. 6uring
his early days Jason 2as also seen 2ith a red 1arshall JC14EE head and (B%$ ca!inet.
For the first Cacophony al!um, Becker used an :6:1"% preamp. "erpetual Burn 2as a
!orro2ed =<Es 1arshall half stack and a BH.. .uper Hverdrive and Cacophony second al!um
2as a Carvin J%EEB stack.
For the 6avid 7ee *oth al!um " #ittle "in$t %nou&h, Becker used ?eight different 1arshall
amps.? 9e also used the .J)EE9 head at some point during that era. :fter Cacophony Becker
used various amps, including a ?Fender 14E?, an unkno2n 1arshall amp, an :6: "reamp and
possi!ly the aforementioned "eavey com!o.
Becker typically used 6ean 1arkley and .> strings +',
'aradise Guitar
>n $EE4 "aradise 3uitars 2orked 2ith Becker to design a Jason Becker signature guitar. he
design is !ased on the "eavey 2ith colored num!er fret inlays. Features include an alder !ody,
maple neck 2ith steel $02ay truss rod, maple %'? radius finger!oard, $( 8um!o thin frets 2ith
colored num!er fret marker inlays, !lack Floyd *ose "ro .tyle floating remolo 2ith Floyd *ose
remolo stop, .perFel red satin tuners, %( degree tilt0!ack headstock 2ith !lack "aradise logo
and matching tremolo and electronics plates. he pickups are 6i1arFio pickupsG a ".:.F. "ro0
Custom in the neck colored yello2 and red, a 6"%%' 9.0$ in the middle colored green, and a
one Kone0Custom in the !ridge colored pink and !lue. hese colored pickups complement the
colored inlays and seem to give the guitar a rain!o2 effect. here is also a red @02ay s2itch and
purple %0%% volume kno!.
+@,
"arvin *ribute Guitar
>n $E%$ Carvin 2orked 2ith Becker to design a Jason Becker ri!ute guitar that is modeled after
the original 6C0series guitar he used to2ard the latter part of his career. he guitar features an
:lder !ody 2ith flamed maple top, maple neck 2ith a flamed maple finger!oard, a Floyd *ose
tremolo, 8um!o frets, $ hum!uckers, active electronics, and comes standard in a transparent !lue
finish.
+ocumentary film
Hn 1arch ), $E%$, a documentary film Jaon Bec)er. /ot 0ead 1et premiered in cinemas across
the 2orld. he film includes intervie2s 2ith Becker, his family and friends, and the various
2orld0class musicians he has 2orked 2ith.
+',
he film 2on t2o a2ards at the $E%$ CineAuest
Film Festival in .an Jose, C: : "udience "2ard for Bet 0ocumentary and Special Jury Pri3e
for 0ocumentary.
"linics
Atlanta Institute of (usic
Year, %&4&
Gear, Carvin 6C%$<, 1arshall :mp, :lesis Auadraver!
Japan "linic
Year, %&4&
Gear, Carvin 6C%$<
+iscography
"acophony
Speed Metal Symphony (%&4<)
Go Off! (%&44)
(arty -riedman
0ra&on$ 4i (%&44)
&olo
Perpetual Burn (%&44)
Perpecti!e (%&&@)
5he 'ap(erry Jam (%&&&)
5he Blac)(erry Jam ($EE))
Collection ($EE4)
Boy Meet Guitar, 6ol7 8 of the 1oun&ter 5ape ($E%$)
+avid Lee .oth
" #ittle "in$t %nou&h (%&&%)
Joe Becker
Short Storie ($EE@)
Other $orks
'ichie 4ot3en (%&4&, producer)
"ompilations
Guitar Mater, %&4&, *oadrunner *ecords
Metal Guitar 9 -i&h 6olta&e +ntrumental,%&&4, 6isky Communications
Shrapnel$ Super Shredder. /eoclaical,$EE&, .hrapnel
5hi i Shreddin&, ;ol. %, $EE&, .hrapnel
5hi i Shreddin&, ;ol. $, $EE&, .hrapnel
*ribute
Warmth in the Wilderness: : ri!ute to Jason Becker, $EE%, 7ion 1usic
*armth in *ilderne 2. 5ri(ute Jaon Bec)er, $EE$, 7ion 1usic
Jaon Bec)er$ /ot 0ead 1et! (#i!e in -aarlem), $E%$, "rimal #vents
Instructional
-ot #ic) 9 5he #e&endary Guitar of Jaon Bec)er
eo "lassical (etal
"osted !y de!!y ;*J L "osted in 3enre L "osted on %%M%$M$E%% E&:@(:EE :1

/eo Classical 1etal adalah se!uah su!genre dari musik heavy metal yang sangat
dipengaruhi oleh musik klasik. 9al ini mengacu pada kiner8a yang sangat teknis yang
terdiri dari unsur0unsur yang dipin8am dari kedua musik metal klasik dan heavy. Dng2ie
1almsteen, musisi paling terkenal di su!0genre, mem!erikan kontri!usi !esar !agi
perkem!angan gaya pada era %&4E0an. #mpat lainnya dari pemain paling terkenal dalam
genre ini adalah Jason Becker, ony 1ac:lpine dan ;innie 1oore N .ha2n 7an.
/eo classical metal mengam!il namanya dari se!uah konsepsi yang luas dari musik
klasik. 6alam hal ini adalah se!uah konsep yang !er!eda dari !agaimana neoklasisisme
dipahami dalam tradisi musik klasik. 1usik neoklasik !iasanya mengacu pada gerakan
dalam modernisme musik di mana komposer mendapatkan pengaruh dari periode Clasik.
"eriode ini mencakup kira0kira tahun %<@E0%4%E dengan komposer musik yang paling
terkenal ketat klasik 1oFart dan 9aydn termasuk dan 8uga Beethoven selama !agian a2al
karirnya se!elum ia meletakkan dasar0dasar musik dari gerakan romantis di musik.
"eriode klasik adalah 2aktu di mana !entuk0!entuk musik kaku terstruktur seperti kuartet
sonata, simfoni dan string dikem!angkan. 1usik /eoclassicism dikem!angkan sekitar
a!ad setelah !erakhirnya periode klasik dan memuncak pada tahun0tahun antara "erang
6unia dunia. >tu adalah reaksi terhadap ke0%& dan a2al a!ad ke0$E romantisisme yang
me2u8ud dalam karya0karya komponis seperti *ichard Wagner dan 3ustav 1ahler yang
mem!entang !aik !ahasa musik dan !entuk musik untuk menghasilkan karya !esar di
mana !atas0!atas tonalitas patah. /eoklasik komposer >gor .travinsky dan "aul
9indemith yang menyatu unsur0unsur dari periode klasik, seperti harmoni dan kepatuhan
yang ketat untuk mem!entuk, dengan sendiri yang unik kosakata harmonis dan !er!agai
!erirama.
6i sisi lain, neo0klasik musik metal tidak mem!atasi diri untuk kem!ali ke cita0cita
estetika klasik, seperti keseim!angan dan formalisme. "engaruhnya mencakup periode
musik *omantis dan periode BaroAue !a!ak ketu8uh !elas dan pertama a!ad kedelapan
!elas. 1usik Barok komposer akhir seperti ;ivaldi, 9andel dan Bach sering sangat
meriah. 1usisi neo classical metal seperti Dng2ie 1almsteen terinspirasi oleh aspek
musik Barok dan 8uga oleh komposer kemudian virtuoso seperti /iccolI "aganini pemain
!iola dalam menggunakan !er8alan dan teknik dekoratif dan mencolok lain dalam
penampilan mereka . 1emang !e!erapa musisi neo classical metal telah melakukan versi
mereka sendiri caprice terkenal "aganini $(.
ahun %&4E0an melihat kelahiran dan ke!angkitan neo classical metal se!agai su!genre
yang !er!eda, meskipun pengaruh klasik !isa didengar dalam komposisi dan improvisasi
dari musisi terkemuka dari a2al a2al heavy metal. "engaruh klasik a2al dalam hard rock
dan heavy metal yang paling terutama ditemukan dalam memainkan *itchie Blackmore,
-li Jon *oth dan *andy *hoads. .tyling ada terutama dengan gitaris tapi 8uga hadir
dengan instrumentalis lainnya, seperti key!oardist Da *ick Wakeman.
7ogam teknik gitar 9eavy !erkem!ang pesat dari akhir0a2al 'E0an nya untuk yang akhir
=4E0an puncak, tetapi se!elum tahun %&4E0an, gitaris metal ditampilkan !e!erapa
kemampuan teknis canggih yang merupakan ciri dari gaya neo0klasik logam.
1empopulerkan dan pertum!uhan neo0klasik metal erat terkait dengan kenaikan gerakan
?mero!ek0ro!ek? gitar, karena !anyak gitaris neo0klasik metal mengam!il inspirasi dari
musisi klasik seperti virtuoso /iccolo "aganini dan Frederic Chopin.
?1asa keemasan? neo0klasik logam di tengah untuk akhir %&4E0an !erkisar sekitar daftar
yang cukup !esar mencolok0gitar listrik yang mencatat se!agian !esar solois al!um
instrumental untuk la!el .hrapnel *ecord 1ike ;arney. .2edia gitaris Dng2ie
1almsteen, secara luas dianggap se!agai originator dan masih memerintah ra8a0neo0
klasik logam, di!a2a ke :merika .erikat oleh ;arney untuk sign dengan .hrapnel
*ecord pada tahun %&4$. 1almsteen menarik pengaruh dari kedua rock dan idiom klasik
dari usia muda dalam mengem!angkan hiper0nya diperkuat, hiper0cepat teknik pada gitar
listrikG gaya 1almsteen pada gilirannya peniru yang tak terhitung terinspirasi dari saat
rekaman paling a2al .hrapnel muncul.
6alam !e!erapa tahun terakhir, apresiasi oeuvre logam neo0klasik se!agian !esar telah
ter!atas pada gitaris di le!ih dari se!uah pengaturan !a2ah tanah, se!agai gaya yang
tidak dikenal di luar !idang gitaris. .aat ini, ada !anyak !and le!ih yang !erkontri!usi
secara keseluruhan se!agai la2an para musisi ?solo? di masa lalu. Be!erapa terkenal saat
ini neo0klasik !erkiner8a metal adalah 1ichael :ngelo Batio,
;itali8 Cupri8, rans0.i!eria Hrchestra, 1ark
Wood, Joe .tump, Cacophony, .ymphony J,
.tratovarius, *ata Blanca, /arnia, *hapsody of
Fire, ime *eAuiem, "ada ;ance, 3alneryus,
1astercastle, ;ersailles, .ound 9oriFon,
/ecrophagist, 9eavenly, Concerto 1oon,
:pocalypse Fleshgod, :dagio, 1oor 3elap,
Warmen, dan :rtension. Bahkan !aru0!aru ini telah ter8adi ledakan
ti!a0ti!a sedikit pengaruh neo0klasik dalam logam utama tindakan seperti "hildren of
Bodom, 'rotes #ero dan *he #uman Abstrak . "ada disk dua al!um instrumental nya
dicampur M -nlaced, pemain !iola klasik #milie :utumn melakukan0terinspirasi ?shred?
solo dengan distorsi !erat pada !iola listrik, mengingatkan neo classical metal solo gitar.
de!!yvrB.!logspot.com
!er!agai sum!er.MM