As previously reported, guitar virtuoso and ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) sufferer Jason Becker posted his thoughts about the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, which you can see at this location.
A couple of days ago, Jason accepted the challenge. You can watch Jason‘s unique and moving response below along with his nominations:
Musician John Mayer‘s response can be seen below. Jason‘s reaction to this was posted on his official Facebook page:
“John Mayer accepts my #alsicebucketchallenge, and he plays “Air” beautifully! Holy Cow! #johnmayer, I am such a huge fan of your music and guitar playing! I can’t tell you how much this meant to me! Your version of “Air” melted me, brother. My parents and I are so moved. Thank you big time!”
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
In the 28-minute clip below, Equal Time reporter Anthony Bonanno interviewed guitarist Jason Becker, who was a child prodigy at age 15, but later diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Also featured is former San Jose State football player Neil Parry who lost a leg after an injury on the field. Interviewees include musicians Gus G. and Michael Lee Firkins; CEO of Shrapnel Records, Mike Varney; former NFL players Hank Fraley and Greg Lewis; as well as motivational speaker Dan Millman.
The DVD version of the documentary film “Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet” was released last December in North America via Kino Lorber.
The world premiere of “Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet”, took place on March 3, 2012 at the Cinequest film festival in San Jose, California at the San Jose Repertory Theatre.
“Not Dead Yet” won two awards at at the Cinequest: Audience Award for Best Documentary and the Special Jury Prize for Documentary.
Jason Becker was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease) at age 20, shortly after joining David Lee Roth‘s band for the gold-selling 1991 album “A Little Ain’t Enough”. Although the disease robbed him of his ability to play guitar — and eventually left him both paralyzed and unable to speak — Becker continues to compose music with the help of computers, collaborators, and a system of communication using eye movements that was devised by his father Gary.
Even after his once prodigious axe skills left him, Jason‘s music continued to earn the respect of his peers. Joe Satriani called 2001’s “Perspectives” — Jason‘s first recorded work after losing his motor functions (originally self-released in 1996) — “a triumphantly powerful and beautiful album.” Fellow virtuosos joined the chorus of praise, including Steve Vai, who said, “Jason has discovered a brilliant source of inspiration within himself. His deep soul searching has resulted in a body of music that reveals courage and insight and is deeply moving.”
Jason‘s original partner in CACOPHONY, Marty Friedman added, “To call Jason a genius is an understatement. He doesn’t cater to trend, target audiences, marketing gimmicks or anything like that. He plays out the emotions from his heart and makes real music that is a salute to the human spirit. Jason is a prodigy and on ‘Perspectives’ he realizes his miraculous potential.”
Jason‘s most recent album, 2008’s “Collection”, is a mix of old recordings and new compositions, with guest guitar work from Satriani, Vai, Friedman, Michael Lee Firkins, and Greg Howe.
Video footage of former NEVERMORE guitarist Jeff Loomis performing a cover version of Jason Becker‘s “Perpetual Burn” can be seen below. Loomis is using a signature Schecter Loomis 7 guitar, Kemper profiling amp (5150) and Pro Tools in the clip.
Loomis last year released a brand-new song, “A Liar’s Chain”, recorded with his touring band consisting of Joe Nurre (guitar and vocals), Anup Sastry (drums) and Greg Macklin (bass).
Loomis‘s second solo album, “Plains Of Oblivion”, sold 2,900 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 179 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort landed at No. 2 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.
“Plains Of Oblivion” was released on April 10, 2012 in North America (one day earlier in Europe) via Century Media Records. The CD was produced by Aaron Smith (7 HORNS 7 EYES) and features cover artwork by Colin Marks of Rain Song Design, who has previously worked with ALL SHALL PERISH, THE END and XERATH.
Jason Becker, a onetime guitar prodigy first known as part of the metal duo CACOPHONY, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease) at age 20, shortly after joining David Lee Roth‘s band for the gold-selling 1991 album “A Little Ain’t Enough”. Although the disease robbed him of his ability to play guitar — and eventually left him both paralyzed and unable to speak — Becker continues to compose music with the help of computers, collaborators, and a system of communication using eye movements that was devised by his father Gary.
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