Paganini's 5th Caprice by Jason Becker

[conversationpc]

I'm not as much into the neo-classical shredding stuff as I used to be but this piece by Jason Becker is simply astounding...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFWcv15KKyk

I've posted this before but if you're not familiar with who Jason Becker is, he was one of two guitarists in the band Cacaphony, along with Marty Friedman. Deen was also the drummer in that band for a short time. Anyway, Marty Friedman went on to join Megadeth and Becker joined David Lee Roth's band to record his album "A Lil' Ain't Enough". Just before the recording of the album, he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). He was able to finish the album but rapidly began losing the ability to move his fingers, hands, arms, etc., to the point where he lost the ability to move everything except his eyes.

He is a true inspiration. According to doctors, he should have passed away several years ago from this disease but, last I knew anyway, was still alive and composing music using a computer via eye movements.

Here's a documentary on his life...Well worth the 20 minutes if you've got a few to spare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFjQgDe_a0E

[G.I.Jim]

I'm not as much into the neo-classical shredding stuff as I used to be but this piece by Jason Becker is simply astounding...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFWcv15KKyk

I've posted this before but if you're not familiar with who Jason Becker is, he was one of two guitarists in the band Cacaphony, along with Marty Friedman. Deen was also the drummer in that band for a short time. Anyway, Marty Friedman went on to join Megadeth and Becker joined David Lee Roth's band to record his album "A Lil' Ain't Enough". Just before the recording of the album, he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). He was able to finish the album but rapidly began losing the ability to move his fingers, hands, arms, etc., to the point where he lost the ability to move everything except his eyes.

He is a true inspiration. According to doctors, he should have passed away several years ago from this disease but, last I knew anyway, was still alive and composing music using a computer via eye movements.

Here's a documentary on his life...Well worth the 20 minutes if you've got a few to spare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFjQgDe_a0E

Damn! Dude knows his scales!!! He reminds me a little of Yngwie Malmsteen. Have you heard Europe's 2nd guitarist (Key Marcello) playing flight of the bumblebee? Freakin amazing! He played it on "The Final countdown" world tour. Makes your head want to explode!!!

[7 Wishes]

Becker is Dave's Randy Rhoads. The dude would have been a household name in a few years. Thanks for the links. Outstanding.

[JH'sTXfan]

I'm not as much into the neo-classical shredding stuff as I used to be but this piece by Jason Becker is simply astounding...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFWcv15KKyk

I've posted this before but if you're not familiar with who Jason Becker is, he was one of two guitarists in the band Cacaphony, along with Marty Friedman. Deen was also the drummer in that band for a short time. Anyway, Marty Friedman went on to join Megadeth and Becker joined David Lee Roth's band to record his album "A Lil' Ain't Enough". Just before the recording of the album, he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). He was able to finish the album but rapidly began losing the ability to move his fingers, hands, arms, etc., to the point where he lost the ability to move everything except his eyes.

He is a true inspiration. According to doctors, he should have passed away several years ago from this disease but, last I knew anyway, was still alive and composing music using a computer via eye movements.

Here's a documentary on his life...Well worth the 20 minutes if you've got a few to spare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFjQgDe_a0E

Watched the whole thing. Can you imagine where he would be now if he had not been sidelined with ALS! He has so much life in his eyes. So inspirational and so sad.

[G.I.Jim]

I'm not as much into the neo-classical shredding stuff as I used to be but this piece by Jason Becker is simply astounding...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFWcv15KKyk

I've posted this before but if you're not familiar with who Jason Becker is, he was one of two guitarists in the band Cacaphony, along with Marty Friedman. Deen was also the drummer in that band for a short time. Anyway, Marty Friedman went on to join Megadeth and Becker joined David Lee Roth's band to record his album "A Lil' Ain't Enough". Just before the recording of the album, he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). He was able to finish the album but rapidly began losing the ability to move his fingers, hands, arms, etc., to the point where he lost the ability to move everything except his eyes.

He is a true inspiration. According to doctors, he should have passed away several years ago from this disease but, last I knew anyway, was still alive and composing music using a computer via eye movements.

Here's a documentary on his life...Well worth the 20 minutes if you've got a few to spare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFjQgDe_a0E

Watched the whole thing. Can you imagine where he would be now if he had not been sidelined with ALS! He has so much life in his eyes. So inspirational and so sad.

I didn't watch the second video...I knew it would be a sad one!

[JH'sTXfan]

I'm not as much into the neo-classical shredding stuff as I used to be but this piece by Jason Becker is simply astounding...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFWcv15KKyk

I've posted this before but if you're not familiar with who Jason Becker is, he was one of two guitarists in the band Cacaphony, along with Marty Friedman. Deen was also the drummer in that band for a short time. Anyway, Marty Friedman went on to join Megadeth and Becker joined David Lee Roth's band to record his album "A Lil' Ain't Enough". Just before the recording of the album, he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). He was able to finish the album but rapidly began losing the ability to move his fingers, hands, arms, etc., to the point where he lost the ability to move everything except his eyes.

He is a true inspiration. According to doctors, he should have passed away several years ago from this disease but, last I knew anyway, was still alive and composing music using a computer via eye movements.

Here's a documentary on his life...Well worth the 20 minutes if you've got a few to spare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFjQgDe_a0E

Watched the whole thing. Can you imagine where he would be now if he had not been sidelined with ALS! He has so much life in his eyes. So inspirational and so sad.

I didn't watch the second video...I knew it would be a sad one!

[larryfromnextdoor]

i watched this when dave posted it a while back,, that documentary really clears up the little problems in life..

[conversationpc]

i watched this when dave posted it a while back,, that documentary really clears up the little problems in life..

I remembered posting it a while back but couldn't remember how long ago. Anyway, it's well worth revisiting.

[JH'sTXfan]

i watched this when dave posted it a while back,, that documentary really clears up the little problems in life..

I remembered posting it a while back but couldn't remember how long ago. Anyway, it's well worth revisiting.

Yeah, but we didn't mean to make Jim cry...

[G.I.Jim]

i watched this when dave posted it a while back,, that documentary really clears up the little problems in life..

I remembered posting it a while back but couldn't remember how long ago. Anyway, it's well worth revisiting.

Yeah, but we didn't mean to make Jim cry...

I don't cry...Sometimes it just gets really dusty in here!

[JH'sTXfan]

i watched this when dave posted it a while back,, that documentary really clears up the little problems in life..

I remembered posting it a while back but couldn't remember how long ago. Anyway, it's well worth revisiting.

Yeah, but we didn't mean to make Jim cry...

I don't cry...Sometimes it just gets really dusty in here!

Me neither. Could use a little rain to settle it.

[Socratic Methodist]

Yeah, Becker could play. Although 'playing scales' never really impressed me. That's why I never thought Yngwie was anything special.

Dave, now Criss Oliva - that was a talented dude.

[G.I.Jim]

Yeah, Becker could play. Although 'playing scales' never really impressed me. That's why I never thought Yngwie was anything special.

Dave, now Criss Oliva - that was a talented dude.

Never heard of him. Who'd he play with?

[Socratic Methodist]

Yeah, Becker could play. Although 'playing scales' never really impressed me. That's why I never thought Yngwie was anything special.

Dave, now Criss Oliva - that was a talented dude.

Never heard of him. Who'd he play with?

He played with SAVATAGE, but died at a young age. I'll defer to Dave on this one...He's the resident 'Tage expert....

[conversationpc]

Yeah, Becker could play. Although 'playing scales' never really impressed me. That's why I never thought Yngwie was anything special.

Dave, now Criss Oliva - that was a talented dude.

Sorry, but as good as Criss was, Becker was better and I'm sure that Oliva would have admitted as much.

Anyway, Becker is not just 'playing scales'. Just like any guitarist, your solos are going to be built out of scales, modes, or arpeggios or a mixture of them. Becker learned how to mix in odd notes and experiment with them from Marty Friedman, his bandmate in Cacaphony. I actually prefer Friedman's playing, due to his more extensive use of odd notes and unique phrasing but Becker is anything but just a "scales" player.

[conversationpc]

Yeah, Becker could play. Although 'playing scales' never really impressed me. That's why I never thought Yngwie was anything special.

Dave, now Criss Oliva - that was a talented dude.

Never heard of him. Who'd he play with?

He played with SAVATAGE, but died at a young age. I'll defer to Dave on this one...He's the resident 'Tage expert....

Yes, he played in Savatage. The band was originally formed by he and his brother Jon in '78 under the name of Avatar but they eventually changed the name to Savatage. Their early music was power metal, similar to Metallica. They released several albums throughout the 80s, including a hair rock album, which bombed and most Savatage fans cite as their worst album. Right after that album, they released "Hall of the Mountain King", their breakthrough album. Over the next few years, their music morphed into straight ahead heavy metal and eventually to progressive metal.

In 1993, shortly after recording "Edge of Thorns", Criss and his wife, Dawn, were in an auto accident caused by a drunk driver. Criss was killed at the age of 30. His wife Dawn survived but she ended up passing away in 2005 due to health problems stemming from that crash.

They released "Dead Winter Dead" in 1995, my favorite Savatage album. That album featured "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo)", which would go on to achieve mega-popularity with the top Christmas act, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which is the brainchild of long-time Savatage producer, Paul O'Neill. The main musicians in TSO are the members of Savatage.

Anyway, they haven't released a new album since 2001 and there have been rumors that they are working on new material but it has yet to materialize.

[G.I.Jim]

Yeah, Becker could play. Although 'playing scales' never really impressed me. That's why I never thought Yngwie was anything special.

Dave, now Criss Oliva - that was a talented dude.

Never heard of him. Who'd he play with?

He played with SAVATAGE, but died at a young age. I'll defer to Dave on this one...He's the resident 'Tage expert....

Yes, he played in Savatage. The band was originally formed by he and his brother Jon in '78 under the name of Avatar but they eventually changed the name to Savatage. Their early music was power metal, similar to Metallica. They released several albums throughout the 80s, including a hair rock album, which bombed and most Savatage fans cite as their worst album. Right after that album, they released "Hall of the Mountain King", their breakthrough album. Over the next few years, their music morphed into straight ahead heavy metal and eventually to progressive metal.

In 1993, shortly after recording "Edge of Thorns", Criss and his wife, Dawn, were in an auto accident caused by a drunk driver. Criss was killed at the age of 30. His wife Dawn survived but she ended up passing away in 2005 due to health problems stemming from that crash.

They released "Dead Winter Dead" in 1995, my favorite Savatage album. That album featured "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo)", which would go on to achieve mega-popularity with the top Christmas act, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which is the brainchild of long-time Savatage producer, Paul O'Neill. The main musicians in TSO are the members of Savatage.

Anyway, they haven't released a new album since 2001 and there have been rumors that they are working on new material but it has yet to materialize.

That was a great post man! I love the Trans-Siberian orchestra, but had never heard that before! It's a shame so many musicians fall to that fate!!!