Marty Friedman – The Man Behind the Myth
Interview by Chinhee & Sunhee Park
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 has 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.
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.
- 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.
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