As the ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ grips social media, many well known people including metal musicians, have been taking part in order to raise awareness and money about ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Motor Neurone Disease).
American neo-classical metal guitarist and composer Jason Becker became part of the Mike Varney-produced duo Cacophony at the age of 16, with his friend Marty Friedman. They released Speed Metal Symphony in 1987 and Go Off! in 1988. Cacophony broke up in 1989 and Becker began doing solo work, having released his first album Perpetual Burn in 1988. He later joined David Lee Roth‘s band and recorded one album with him. In 1996, Becker eventually lost the ability to speak and now communicates with his eyes via a system developed by his father. Despite his disability, he continues composing by using a computer and has released Collection.
To this day, he´s still regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitar players in all of music history.
Jason has posted his thoughts about the challenge via his official Facebook page:
I can’t thank you all enough for donating and for getting in on this ice-bucket thing! It has raised so much awareness and millions of dollars, so even if it sometimes might seem silly, I think it is absolutely awesome! Tomorrow I hope to do my own version of the ice-bucket thing. I also hope to put a little of the new music I am working on in it.
The documentary, Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet, shows what ALS is like. Thank you again, everyone! www.jasonbecker.com
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