Marty Friedman first gained fame as the solo guitarist of the band VIXEN, known for their speed metal sound. He also played in the bands DEUCE and HAWAII. Later, Marty teamed up with his fellow six-string guitar enthusiast, Jason Becker, forming the band CACOPHONY. Their albums "Speed Metal Symphony" and "Go Off" earned Marty and Jason recognition as great guitarists, although it took some time for their talents to be fully recognized.

 

 

During his time in CACOPHONY, Marty Friedman released his first solo record, "Dragon's Kiss," and a video guitar school called "Exotic Metal Guitar with Marty Friedman," which sold well. He considers "Dragon's Kiss" to be 90% satisfactory, as he believes his playing has significantly improved since then.

 

Throughout his career, Marty Friedman continued to write music, capturing ideas on tape and saving them for future use. Some ideas were written when he was just 15 years old, others eight years prior, and some were created the day before he began recording an album. In 1994, MEGADETH released their album "Youthanasia," which was softer and simpler than their previous works but unmatched in terms of melody and emotion.

 

 

 

Marty Friedman's musical journey showcases his ability to go beyond speed and prioritize expression of feelings. His solo work, as well as his contributions to MEGADETH, have solidified his place as a talented and versatile guitarist.

 

Selected Discography
Megadeth – Rust in Peace (1990); Countdown to Extinction (1992); Youthanasia (1994); Cryptic Writings (1997); Risk (1999);
Marty Friedman – Dragon’s Kiss (1988); Introduction (1994); Music for Speeding (2003); Inferno (2014)