Merritt Gant

'Merritt Gant on stage with Overkill in the early 1990s.

Merritt Gant (born February 18, 1971) is a guitarist originally from Millville, New Jersey.^[1] Gant is most recognized for his association with the band Overkill.

In the late 1980s, Gant entered the local music scene with hard rock band Drastic Measures. During Gant's tenure with Drastic Measures, one full length album and one demo were released. In 1989, Gant was recruited by Chris Bombeke to play guitar with Faith or Fear.^[2] However, shortly after doing a series of shows and recording several songs with Faith or Fear, Gant auditioned and was hired to play for the thrash metal band Overkill.

In 1990, Overkill held auditions to replace departing guitarist Bobby Gustafson. Gustafson was replaced by two guitarists, Rob Cannavino and Merritt Gant. From 1990 to 1995, Gant toured and recorded on the albums Horrorscope, I Hear Black, W.F.O., and the live album Wrecking Your Neck. Gant appeared in several music videos featured on MTV, including the thrash metal anthem "Horrorscope." In 1995, Gant and Cannavino both left Overkill.

After leaving Overkill, Gant's involvement in the music industry evolved beyond being just a guitar player. Gant currently plays, engineers, and produces music in several bands, including his experimental music project Blood Audio.^[3] In 2001, Blood Audio released Bludgeoning Timbre^[4] and in 2003, Null Evil.^[5] In 2009, Gant also laid down several guitar tracks for New Jersey band, Dearly Beloved.^[6] In addition to being a recording artist, Gant is also a guitar instructor, producer and sound engineer, and an accomplished repairman and restorer of vintage and modern electric and acoustic guitars and other stringed instruments.^[7][8] In June 2009, "Faith or Fear" released a new album, Instruments of Death, featuring Gant on four previously unreleased tracks recorded in 1990.^[9]

Gant currently lives in southern New Jersey with his two children.^[10] Also Gant and his brother own a music store named "Merritt's Music".

References

1. ^ Laday, Jason. "Merritt's Music is opening on High Street in Millville", The News of Cumberland County, July 10, 2009. Accessed March 29, 2011. "Guitarist and Millville native son Merritt Gant, best known for his work with thrash-metal band Overkill in the early 1990s, is poised to open his own guitar shop on High Street."
2. ^ http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=977
3. ^ http://www.ballbusterhardmusic.com/votu/05-2002/bloodaudio.html
4. ^ http://www.musicdish.com/mag/index.php3?id=5533
5. ^ Blood Audio - Null Evil - BandToBand.com
6. ^ http://www.myspace.com/dearlybelovednj
7. ^ http://www.merrittsmusicservice.com
8. ^ http://www.myspace.com/merrittsmusicservice
9. ^ http://www.bravewords.com/news/115549
10. ^ http://www.nj.com/bridgeton/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1247199018203100.xml&coll=10

• http://www.musicmight.com/artist/united+states/new+jersey/richland/faith+or+fear
• http://www.metallyrica.com/f/faith_or_fear.html
• http://www.tartareandesire.com/bands/Faith_Or_Fear/7450/

Persondata
Name	Gant, Merritt
Alternative names
Short description	Guitarist
Date of birth	February 18, 1971
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death