Jason Becker American neoclassical metal guitarist and composer. Date of Birth: 22.07.1969 Country: USA

1. American Neoclassical Metal Guitarist and Composer
2. Early Years and Musical Influences
3. Cacophony and the Influence of Marty Friedman
4. Solo Career

American Neoclassical Metal Guitarist and Composer

Jason Becker was born into an American family where music played a significant role. His father, Harry Becker, played classical guitar, and his uncle, Ron, played blues. It was inevitable that the young Becker would aspire to become a guitar hero.

Early Years and Musical Influences

By age 5, Jason abandoned soccer for the guitar. With his uncle Ron, he delved into blues and improvisation, while his father introduced him to classical music and Bob Dylan. Becker's phenomenal musical abilities became evident as he effortlessly mastered Eric Clapton's riffs. "He wanted to play electric guitar right away," Harry recalled. "I said 'no' because at that point I had no idea how good he was going to become."

By the sixth grade, Becker had acquired his first electric guitar, his father finally succumbing to his son's pleas. At school, he was captivated by the works of Andrés Segovia, Fernando Sor, Paul Simon, and other classical guitarists. As he grew older, his musical interests expanded to include Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, SRV, and Steve Morse's band. Becker performed this music in local venues while studying the works of Bach, Mozart, and Antonio Vivaldi.

Cacophony and the Influence of Marty Friedman

At age sixteen, Becker encountered the person who would fundamentally alter his musical trajectory: Marty Friedman. Having already recorded several albums, Friedman was completing his work on "Speed Metal Symphony," a groundbreaking fusion of neoclassical shred with exotic sounds. Astonished by Becker's abilities, Friedman invited him to join his project, which became known as Cacophony. Becker credited his time with Friedman as transforming his playing and imagination "two hundred percent." He later acknowledged, "If it hadn't been for Marty, I would have been just another Yngwie copy at best."

"Speed Metal Symphony" was released on Shrapnel Records, a renowned label for virtuoso guitarists. This was followed by "Go Off!," on which much of the music was composed by Becker. The album continued the neoclassical virtuosity of their debut, but with even deeper explorations of experimental and Eastern sounds. Cacophony embarked on extensive tours of Japan and the United States under the label's management.

Solo Career

Alongside their work with Cacophony, Marty and Jason pursued solo projects. In 1988, Becker released "Perpetual Burn," a masterpiece of virtuoso playing featuring blistering compositions and exquisite harmonies. The album showcased his potential with standout tracks like "Air" and "Mabel's Fatal Fable," both heavily influenced by classical music. Some of the solos on "Perpetual Burn" were contributed by Marty Friedman. Becker returned the favor by participating in the recording of Friedman's solo debut, "Dragon Kiss."

In 1989, Cacophony disbanded as Marty and Jason embarked on their respective musical paths.