Former MEGADETH Guitarist MARTY FRIEDMAN Performs With RAVEN In Tokyo

June 13, 2009

Japanese hardcore metal fans got a huge surprise when former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman took the stage with legendary NWOBHM band RAVEN in Tokyo on June 11. He joined them during the encore for RAVEN staples "Don't Need Your Money" and "For The Future".

RAVEN has been cited several times by Marty as a major influence, especially during his teenage years.

In other news, due to popular demand, a sequel to Friedman's 2007 Japanese best-seller hardcover book, "Ii Jyan J-Pop" (English translation: Awesome J-Pop),has finally been completed and will be released this August. Plans for an English release of both of these unique books are slowly but surely in the works.

On June 12, Marty gave a lecture at Kyoto Seika University. Marty spent much of the time discussing the concept behind his new album, "Tokyo Jukebox", as well as sharing motivational stories with the audience. Previous lecturers at this prestigious school include Yoko Ono, Olympic athletes as well as big names in the art world.

Video footage of Friedman talking about the making of his ninth album, "Tokyo Jukebox", can be viewed below.

Released in Japan on May 20 via AVEX, "Tokyo Jukebox" was produced and arranged by Marty and it reflects the chaotic lifestyle of Tokyo, its unique music and Marty's futuristic interpretation of it. According to a posting on Marty's web site, "Sonically, it goes from his 'Loudspeaker' lineup all the way to a 70-piece symphony orchestra. Marty covers the most unlikely artists to get his guitar heavy treatment, including PERFUME, MAXIMUM THE HORMONE, AI, NAKASHIMA MIKA, IKIMONO GAKARI and seven other staples in the world of current Japanese music."

"The songs were chosen in part by the readers of Nikkei Entertainment!, Japan's all-time number one entertainment magazine, which features a popular page on Marty each month for over three years and still going strong.

"All the songs go through Marty's extravagant, epic, and quite often brutally twisted treatment. 'Tokyo Jukebox' is the new definitive display of Marty's current state of mind as well as the deepest evolution of his guitar playing and overall musicality ever."

Check out "Tokyo Jukebox" audio samples at this location.

Friedman commemorated "Tokyo Jukebox"'s release by taking part in a "secret live event" atop Tokyo Tower on May 19. There were two shows, both filled to capacity, and all who attended were treated to Marty's first time performing these new songs in public, high above Tokyo's night skyline. Autograph sessions were held after each show.

Find more on

Prev More News Next

Comments Disclaimer And Information

BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends).