MARTY FRIEDMAN Auctioning Classic MEGADETH Guitar To Benefit JASON BECKER

Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman is auctioning a Jackson guitar he used in the studio and on the road with the band in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with all proceeds going to the Jason Becker Special Needs Trust and ALS Therapy Development Institute.

Commented Friedman: "This guitar was the first Jackson I ever owned. It was the first really good guitar I ever had. I bought it in Hawaii while I was in the band HAWAII. It was tiger-striped black and white at the time. I did several HAWAII recordings and concerts with it. At one time it had a flamethrower on the headstock. I recorded most of CACOPHONY's 'Speed Metal Symphony' [1987] with this guitar if not the entire album, as I don't remember playing any other guitar while recording that album. I did ALL of 'Dragon's Kiss' [Friedman's 1988 solo album] with this guitar. When I joined MEGADETH, I had it painted black and recorded 'Rust in Peace' [1990] with it. On 'Rust In Peace' I used only two guitars, this one and one other Jackson. I also used this to record 'Countdown To Extinction'. This was my #2 touring guitar for most of my MEGADETH years, so in MEGADETH alone this axe must have at least 1000 shows under its belt. The guitar has been maintained by the top luthiers in the world. When I quit MEGADETH, I retired this guitar so it has been in its case in a climate-controlled lockup since then. I look forward to the new history you will create with this cool guitar."

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.

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."

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.

For more on Jason Becker and his fight with ALS, go to www.jasonbeckerguitar.com.