Ex-MEGADETH Guitarist MARTY FRIEDMAN Completes Five Songs For New Solo Album

Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman recently gave an interview to his official web site regarding his recent and upcoming activities. Several excerpts from the interview follow:

Q: First off, tell me about the new theme song for the show "Rockman" and tell us what "Rockman" is.

Marty: "'Rockman' is a major hit anime TV program in Japan. Every season they change the theme song and this coming season it will be a song I wrote and recorded called 'Ashiato' (Footsteps). Lyrics were written by Clair, who also sang on the track. She is absolutely amazing! The TV version can be heard starting in October, and the full-length version will be released as a single after that."

Q: You are in L.A. now, I know you are doing tracks for your new solo album, but why L.A. and not Tokyo?

Marty: "After going for over 2 months without a single day off, I needed a little down time, so I got to visit my folks in L.A. After that much needed break I played on 2 songs on the upcoming SUPREME BEINGS OF LEISURE album. They are one of my favorite bands. I don't know how to label their music, trip-hop, acid-lounge, space-sexrock, I don't know. I can tell you for sure that it is some of the most innovative music out there this side of GARBAGE. Highly recommended if you are wondering what to play as background music for intimate times, if you know what I mean. I also wanted to get into the studio there and have Jeremy Colson play drums on 2 or 3 songs for my new record. We got 5 done and I'm ecstatic. Mark my words, that guy is gonna be one of the top drummers in rock. As far as I'm concerned, he already is, and I am extremely strict on drummers!"

Q: You have played with some tremendous drummers now that you mention it.

Marty: "Even the drummer in my first band was exceptional for a 16-year-old! I'm totally spoiled."

Q: This summer you joined G3 in Tokyo and there has been talk on the Internet that the song you did may or may not come out on the live DVD. Can you clear that up for us?

Marty: "I don't really know anything about that. Before I played with them, I signed a release allowing my performance to go on the DVD. Whether or not they include the song, I have no idea. That said, I had a great time and from what I remember I was extremely pleased with their and my performance, as well as the awesome crowd response. I would be honored if they included the tune. Plus it would be the first blues tune I ever released, I think!"

Q: What's going on with "Hebimetasan"? Many of us, myself included, who have downloaded the show on the Internet know it looks crazy, but since we don't understand Japanese, we have no idea what is going on.

Marty: "I didn't know you could download the show. I have received emails from people have actually done that, I just don't know how they do it. I have seen the show's official site and I know you can't download it there, so I assume someone taped some of the shows off TV. Anyway it's a great show and I'm proud to be part of it. I have learned a ton, and it has opened so many new doors for me. It is a two-season show, and the final episode airs Sep. 27th. There will likely be specials and/or spin-offs of the show coming in the not too distant future, but I can't tell you any more than that right now."

Q: Still no word on releasing the shows outside of Japan?

Marty: "I don't really see it happening, since almost all the guests are Japanese and only known in Japan, and most of them are in movies and TV rather than being musicians, so even if the shows were translated, I'm not sure how it would go over outside of Japan. Then again, 'Iron Chef' did OK!"