Ex-MEGADETH Guitarist MARTY FRIEDMAN: More Japanese TV Appearances Announced

Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman's official web site has been updated with the following message:

"[On] January 17th at 10:00 p.m. Marty faces off with variety duo 'Ori-Raji' on Fuji Television. On another program, 'Takeyama Sensei?!', Marty finds himself at Japan's top 'Maid Café' in Akihabara. Marty created the theme song for the 'Death Panda' character that made its debut on the 'Takeyama Sensei?!' program late last year. The song is a blistering death metal track with lead vocals by the teenage girls of AKB 48, Japan's newest idol group sensation. This extremely unlikely combination is a high point of the show each week. The song will be released as a single in early 2007.

"Those of you with access to NHK or TV Tokyo, be sure not to miss Marty's other weekly programs.

"Marty just finished up recording 'Kirei na Senritsu', a song he wrote with KOTOKO. KOTOKO's most recent single blasted up to #4 on the Japanese charts. Due to time restraints the song was not done in time to make its debut at KOTOKO's sold-out Yokohama Arena show last month, but the song is now done and will be the ending theme on the upcoming DVD of the smash series, 'Maria Sama Ga Mieru'.

"Songs from the new 'Rock Fujiyama Band' were heard nationwide when Marty did a live broadcast on NHK radio last month and now with just under two weeks prior to release (on Avex in Japan) excitement is building as the mainstream media is all over the record. Marty and the others in the cast are planning a very special autograph session/talk show at the Shinjuku Tower Records in downtown Tokyo. More details to come!"

As previously reported, Marty Friedman will embark on a European solo tour in April 2007. Joining Marty in his touring band will be guitarist Ron Jarzombek (WATCHTOWER),drummer Jeremy Colson and an as-yet-undetermined bassist. Confirmed dates so far are as follows:

Apr. 01 - De Lantaarn - Hellendoorn, NETH
Apr. 02 - Underworld - London, UK
Apr. 03 - Le Trabendo - Paris, FRA
Apr. 04 - Colos-Saal - Aschaffenburg, GER
Apr. 05 - Turock - Essen, GER
Apr. 06 - De Boerderij - Zoetermeer, NETH
Apr. 08 - Rock Cafe - Prague, CZR
Apr. 10 - Stazione Birra - Morena (Roma),ITA

Friedman will be touring in support of new solo album, "Loudspeaker", which entered the Japanese national chart at position No. 33. This marks the first Top 40 chart position for any of of Marty's solo albums.

The special first edition of "Loudspeaker" contained one bonus track, a vocal version of "Static Rain", the ending theme of the Japanese TV show "Rock Fujiyama". This edition was limited to the first 10,000 copies, which sold out on the first day of release. After those went, the standard version of "Loudspeaker", which has an instrumental version of "Static Rain", was put on sale.

"Loudspeaker" features guest appearances by Steve Vai, John Petrucci (DREAM THEATER),and Billy Sheehan (DAVID LEE ROTH, MR. BIG, TALAS) and is described as "by far [Marty's] most aggressive album yet."