MARTY FRIEDMAN Pays Tribute To Renowned Spanish Flamenco Guitarist PACO DE LUCIA

Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman has posted the following message on his Facebook page:

"I'm sad about the loss of master [influential Spanish guitarist] Paco de Lucia. I met him once in Buenos Aires. I went to this massive disco with 3 gorgeous girls. That was cool enough of a night for me, but at about 3 a.m., they told me, 'This is the real reason we brought you here,' and took me to this tiny room in the back of the disco. In the room were about 40 people at tables watching the most incredible young flamenco guitarist I have ever seen. He was playing with a violence and passion that I still remember today. He was just so great...

"When we walked in the room, the owner of the place said, 'I want you to sit here,' and he sat me down next to master Paco. I was so excited to meet him, but what I remember most was Paco and I looking at each other and smiling in semi-disbelief whenever the guy would do these truly amazing things. I also remember being thankful that no one asked me to pick up the guitar and play after this phenomenal guy! I wish I knew his name.

"Real flamenco playing is a different animal from any other type of guitar playing, and I'm sure Paco influenced the guy we both watched that night, as well as countless musicians around the world. He will be sorely missed."

Paco de Lucia died suddenly of a heart attack late last month in Mexico. The 66-year-old musician was widely credited for expanding the international audience for flamenco and merging it with other musical styles.

Friedman will release "Inferno", his first solo album of original material in four years, in late May via Prosthetic Records (except in Japan, where the album will be released by Universal Music). The CD was recorded primarily in Los Angeles with engineer Chris Rakestraw (DANZIG, CHILDREN OF BODOM) and mixed by Jens Bogren (OPETH, AMON AMARTH) — features what Friedman recently told Guitar World is "the most intense writing and playing I can do." The album also includes notable guest appearances by several artists influenced by Friedman, including flamenco/metal acoustic guitar duo RODRIGO Y GABRIELA, CHILDREN OF BODOM frontman Alexi Laiho, SKYHARBOR mastermind Keshav Dhar and REVOCATION guitar whiz David Davidson, as well as Friedman's first songwriting collaboration with Jason Becker since the pair played together in CACOPHONY, the pioneering duo of guitar mayhem.