Advertisement
Photo Credit: TAKAAKI HENMI
____________________________________________________________________________________
MARTY FRIEDMAN released his first solo album, Dragon’s Kiss, on the influential Shrapnel Records. His tenure with Cacophony and Megadeth have created some of the most memorable music and jaw dropping guitar solos ever heard. He’s received gold and platinum awards from throughout the globe and continually pushes the boundaries of music. Fluent in Japanese, Friedman currently resides in Japan where he is a fixture on Japanese television and was recently appointed a Japanese Heritage Ambassador to promote the countries upcoming Olympic games.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
It was such an honor to chat with Marty Friedman regarding his extensive role within the music industry. In which he has garnered much attention as a rock guitarist. In fact, he is considered a legend. Yet, he still has much more music to produce. Follow Sophia Radisch as she provides much insight into the world of Marty Friedman.
INTERVIEW WITH MARTY FRIEDMAN AND GUITAR THRILLS MAGAZINE
Sophia: ICONIC, Guitar Legend, Guitar Guru, Guitar Hero. All have been used to describe your immense talent and influence in music, and you've been the inspiration for bazillions of guitarists. You've redefined the sound of not only heavy metal guitar playing, but guitar music as a genre.
Marty, your latest album Drama has been created from the heart with absolute love, freedom and conviction. There's almost a sacred, spiritual healing feeling to your guitar music. The solos, the riffs, the chords, the textures, the harmonies, the melodies!
The choices you've made composing and recording each song on your latest recordare brilliant. Your guitar music sings so incredibly soulfully. It's technically masterful and entirely unique. It tells a story. Your most recent record is packed with hyper romantic and hyper orchestral melodic motifs!
How do you write romantically? What's the difference between writing metal melodies and your ballad melodies?
Marty: Well after that intro, it's hard to come back down to earth! It's very, very nice to hear you say those things. Very, very nice to hear that! I appreciate that very much, Sophia. I think, to answer your question, basically I'm always thinking romantically with any melodies that I'm writing. It depends on the interpretation. If you break down a lot of my metal stuff, and just take away the big drums and all of that distortion, you might find a lot of the same type of romantic motifs hidden in there! They're just interpreted in a different way. A louder way.
But you know, you talk about romantic classical music, and even romantic pop music standards. Songs from the 50's, ballads, and all that stuff. It's very romantic in a melodic sense. So, that seems to appeal to me. It seems to come out in my playing. So, there's not really much of a difference between my ballads and my heavy metal stuff. It's how I decide to interpret it that's very different.
Sophia: That's a fascinating answer. Thank you! Marty, can you please share the process of writing and recording your 18th solo album, Drama? When did you begin the writing journey? How long did it take you?
Marty: It took about two years. From starting to write, to actually putting it out. The process, every single song is different. But to basically sum it up, I'm always coming up with ideas at random times. And usually, when I don't have a guitar around. I just have an idea. I'll either write it on paper or sing it into an iphone. Then, when it comes time to start writing an album, I start listening to what I have come up with. About 90% of it is absolute garbage! So, I get rid of it.
And, when I find something in there, usually it's something I didn't think much of at the time. But then when I'm listening back later, it just sounds like something worth pursuing. And then I start the long process of, well, how I'm gonna interpret it. Is it gonna be a ballad? Am I gonna have orchestra instruments? Just guitar and drums? And then I do lots and lots of demos. Then I throw out 90% of them, again. That's why it takes like, 2 years, to get something like that done.
Sophia: Definitely! At your level, it's crucial. I really respect all that introspective work! That's tough, for sure. I love the thoughtfulness and honesty of your answer, Marty. There's so much creative material that you must work through, and yet, you always find the gems! Genius!
Your drummer on the album is Gregg Bissonette. He's an extraordinary drummer! He's worked with the likes of Ringo Starr, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, to name a few of his collaborations. I can see that you attract only the top echelon of musicians! What is it about Gregg's drumming that speaks to you and your music, and how did it come to be that he worked with you on your latest album?
Marty: I've known Gregg forever and have worked with him forever! Not only is he a super, super person, but he is the be all, and the end all of ballad drumming. For every hit ballad song, he's the guy playing drums on it! There's a definite art to playing ballads and most of us rock guys, especially rock drummers, don't have that chromosome inside us. You know, there's a lot of rock drummers that can sort of play a ballad, but Gregg Bissonette's ballad playing is just so natural and so perfect. And, he takes literally no time. You know? He understands the shorthand. We have the shorthand together. We work together a lot. But he just understands the tides, the valleys and mountains of a ballad. And, that's something that you can't really teach people. So, I just go straight to the top for him. He's the guy.
Sophia: That's so insightful and so very appreciative! He's the guy! Love the magic that you've created with him. And, Chargee, is an absolute beast on the drums! What were you looking for in a drummer for your Marty Friedman Band? How important is the drummer to your overall sound? Marty: The drummer is the most important guy. I've been very lucky over my career, to play with a lot of the best drummers. Even when I was a young teen, for some reason, I wound up playing with really good drummers. Right from the beginning. So, my standard for drummers is very high. And, most of them do not meet my standards. It's very, very hard to find guys that can do what I want on the drums. And Chargee's an entertainer! When I first met him, and I wrote all
about this in my autobiography, he was just a great entertainer! He could play straight ahead rock beats but he couldn't really play my ballads or a lot of my really technical stuff that well. He couldn't really do it. But, he was such a great showman and such a powerhouse, that I wanted to give him a chance. I knew that if he just had a little time, he would blossom into all these things. I could see that potential in him. And he did, like, tenfold. He blew my mind. He worked so hard, and he's been in my band for 13 years now. He steals the show every night. I like it that way! I like it that way!
Sophia: Incredible. Incredible! Blessed. Love your band's live show energy. It's captivating and mesmerizing for sure! And, you produced a dazzling instrumental album. Congratulations Marty! It's a sonic masterpiece.
Marty: Thank you Sophia!
Sophia: Of course! A brilliant sound fusion! Each piece fits into the whole of the record, creating an exotic mosaic of exceptional and sublime rock ballads. I absolutely love it!
Marty: Thanks so much!
Sophia: You're most welcome, Marty.
It's been said that Drama is reminiscent of your 1992 album Scenes, but has so much more to say! So, I think your fans would love to know, where did you record and what guitars did you use on this record?
Marty: The Drama recording was different from any of my other albums. In the way that I recorded all of the guitars in Italy! I have a very dear friend named Franco Piona, who lives in Italy. He has one of the best world class vintage guitars collections in the world! He's an expert pro maintainer of guitars. So, he's kept all of these magical instruments in completely top working professional condition for decades.
He's always said "Dude! Come to Italy and you can use all of my guitars. I'll tech for you!" That just sounded like such a wonderful thing. And, I thought that this material for Drama was the perfect opportunity to take him up on the offer. So, having him in the studio with me, you know, tweaking sounds and suggesting guitars and amps and all that, was a lovely, lovely experience. I can't go back to normal recording after this. So, I will be recording my next album with him for sure!
Sophia: As you should!
Marty: I will!
Sophia: Another masterpiece in the works! Powerful story. Imagine! Being with those incredible, epic vintage guitars! And, in Italy at that! So very fortunate! You've earned it, rock star!
Marty: Aww, thanks!
Sophia: Of course! I mean it! How do you feel that this album defines the unique story, sound and place that it has in your life, and in your catalogue of solo albums?
Marty: I think this one represents me better than anything I've done before. I hope that I say that after every album, because when I finish an album, I've exhausted everything I've got. So, any album that you've heard of mine, at that period of time, was the best I could do. I was happy with it, so I let it go. But, I do think this one has jumped leaps and bounds ahead of everything I've ever done. Really, if I were to define my life's work, it's on this record. I really love it! I'm very happy with it. Making it was a joy and I think you can hear a lot of stuff that represents what's going on in my body and mind. It's all on the record. It's very personal.
For lots of people, the melodies might feel "guilty-pleasure" like. What I mean is, the melodies evoke emotions. Maybe goosebumps. Maybe tears. You know? Things like that. Emotional things. So, it's like showing my inner self, or whatever kind of cosmic words you have to say about that. It definitely represents my musicality very well. I'm pleased with that!
Sophia: Yes. It's very passionate.
It truly does evoke a range of emotions in me, and I truly feel your strong and passionate musical energy when I listen to the record. It's a gift to the music world. Thank you for creating it!
Marty: Thank you, Sophia! I'm glad it's translating from me to you in that way. Because when I finish these types of things, I'm like, maybe I'm the only one who feels anything from this. Haha! Which is fine. But, to hear it come from you, it makes me feel really good. If nothing else, I want people to have a tangible uplifted feeling. Sometimes when I listen to people's music, I literally feel better after listening to that music. You know, sometimes you don't feel so great, and you put something on, and it makes you feel better. That's the magic and power of music. If I can get that across, that's what I want my music to be.
Sophia: Exactly! That's the extraordinary gift of music. Thanks, Marty. I'm wondering, would you like to give a shout-out to your exceptional musicians on this jewel of an album?
Marty: On the album? Sure! You mentioned Gregg Bisonette before. Like I said, Gregg Bissonette's ballad playing is just so natural and so perfect! He's always the guy. On bass is the bassist in my band, Wakazaemon. Great to have a female bassist. She's a lefty, and she's just absolutely stunning on the bass. A great live performer!
And, a lot of her parts were done under big pressure because I would be recording in the studio with my own crappy scratch bass. I'd call her up, and the time difference might be 3:00am in the morning in Japan. And I'm like, "I need a bass part right now! Can you go into the studio and record it?" And, she'd nail it! Big future for her in my band, and for lots of fans too. She has her own music as well, so she's really, very cool.
And, I have a fantastic keyboardist, Mika Maruki. She's also playing in my live band. We just did a show yesterday! She has a very, very tender touch on the piano. Extremely accomplished! She's a concert pianist. Award winning and all of that. She goes very deep in classical. But If you listen to my music, the piano parts are very soothing, intelligent and well thought out. So, that's the core band of this record. Me, Wakazaemon on bass, Mika on piano and Gregg on drums.
Sophia: Amazing! Fabulous energy! So, I'm curious. Do you have a trusted guitar technician, and how critical are they to the sound of your guitar music?
Marty: The guitar tech is the most important member on the crew, as far as I'm concerned. With no disrespect to anyone else! But for me as the guitar player, that's a must. And, I'm so fortunate that I have a wonderful guitar tech in Japan and a wonderful guitar tech outside of Japan. I'll shout out to both these guys. Tok in Japan and Alan Sosa in the rest of the world. These guys are fantastic. Alan's a stud! He knows what I'm doing probably better than I do. And, he can read my mind and adjust the equipment accordingly. So, having a talented and trusted guitar tech is so important to me!
Sophia: And, how did you select your production team?
Marty: On the album and in concert is very different. I've produced all of my solo albums. I wouldn't mind an outside producer, to be honest with you. However, I've produced all of my solo records. I have management in Japan and I have management in America. They do separate things. I put together a team for whatever the project is. So, if it's a concert tour, then the appropriate manager will do all the casting and hire the crew and all that stuff. It's kind of a pretty well oiled machine at this point. Everybody's very important. Every single person plays an important role.
Sophia: I'm completely fascinated by your musical journey! Your intuition is a prized possession for sure! You've been so incredibly blessed, Marty! You're on a crazy rigourous DRAMA LIVE touring schedule in 2025. You've just recently completed an American tour, you're now playing shows and festivals in Japan, and soon to go out on a sold out Latin American tour, starting June 2025. Congratulations! Your work ethic is staggering. You must love touring and performing!
So, you're in the best possible position to answer the following question. In your opinion, what makes a live performance epic and legendary?
Marty: Well, it's taken a lot of time to kind of get good at this, with my own band. In my other bands, I was just the guitar player and I had that part covered pretty well. But when it's the Marty Friedman Band, I now have to be the frontman and we've gotta do something where it's not just "look at Marty play guitar for 95 mins". You know? So, over the years, me and my band have worked hard to put on a great show. We've become "entertainers". And to me, there's lots of things that are equally important, if not more important than the guitar playing. I mean the guitar playing, let's face it, I've been playing forever. So, I've had the guitar playing pretty much taken care of since I was a teenager. You gotta entertain people! People leave their houses. Maybe they get a babysitter, drive, pay for parking, and even get a hotel if they come from out of town. So, It's a very big deal to come out and see a show! I appreciate and respect that! For that reason, for those 90 minutes or 120 minutes, we're totally conscious of entertaining!
Catch up with Marty Friedman in the conclusion of the interview between him and Sophia Radisch. Part II, coming soon......
A RECAP OF WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
