Alex Skolnick

Infobox musical artist
Name = Alex Skolnick

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Img_capt = Alex Skolnick with Testament on Metalmania 2007 festival
Img_size = 200px
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Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born = Birth date and age|1968|9|29|mf=y
Died =
Origin =
Instrument = Guitar
Genre = Heavy metal, thrash metal, jazz, jazz fusion
Occupation = Guitarist
Years_active = 1983 - present
Label = Roadrunner Records
Nuclear Blast Records
Associated_acts = Testament, Alex Skolnick Trio, Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Attention Deficit, The Dream Engine, Skol-Patrol, Ozzy Osbourne
URL = [http://www.alexskolnick.com Official website]
Notable_instruments = Ibanez 540 Power II
Ibanez Saber

Alex Skolnick (born September 29, 1968, grew up in Berkeley, California) is an American jazz and metal guitarist. He is a member of the thrash metal band Testament from its formation in San Francisco in 1983 until his departure in 1992. He returned briefly to re-record some old material for the band's "First Strike is Still Deadly" release as well as the "Thrash of the Titans" all-star performance in 2001. He joined the band Savatage for the recording of "Handful of Rain", as well as its follow-up live album and home video release "Japan Live '94". He has also recorded and briefly toured with the Stu Hamm band, and played with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. In 2004, Skolnick made a guest appearance on Lamb of God's "Ashes of the Wake" album. Skolnick recorded a solo for the instrumental track bearing the same name as the album.

After leaving Savatage, Skolnick fronted several projects in the Bay Area during the mid to late 1990s, such as Alex Skolnick and the Skol-tones, Exhibit-A and Skol-Patrol (a funk band exclusively dedicated to cop-show themes, both covered and original, featuring Michael Manring). He also recorded two albums with Attention Deficit, a 3-piece featuring Tim Alexander from Primus as well as Manring. Recently Skolnick relocated to New York City and began devoting all of his energies to jazz, enrolling in the jazz program at The New School. Most recently, he has been touring and recording with the Alex Skolnick Trio, a jazz group known for playing rousing bebop renditions of classic rock and heavy metal tunes.

In the spring of 2005, Skolnick and the rest of the classic Testament lineup reunited for a short European tour (10 Days of May Tour), with some American dates appended on. The tour was successful and a CD/DVD release was put together from the May 8, 2005 London show. The band has continued touring with this lineup and there are plans for a new album.

In October 2007, the Alex Skolnick Trio were support act to Rodrigo y Gabriela on the US East Coast.

Skolnick now usually plays Heritage Guitar electric and hollow-bodied models. [cite web | author=Heritage Guitars | title=Heritage Artists | publisher=heritageguitar.com | year= 2005 | url=http://www.heritageguitar.com/artists/ | accessdate=2006-08-06] In his early years with Testament he endorsed Ibanez guitars and mainly played the 540 PII model. Contrary to popular belief, the 540 PII was not his signature model. [Ibanez Register http://www.ibanezregister.com/Gallery/power/540pii.htm]

He also briefly played guitar for Ozzy Osbourne's backing band in 1995.

Skolnick currently tours with the East Coast set of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in the winter months alongside Chris Caffery.

"The Formation of Damnation", the first studio album of all new material for Testament in nine years as well as the first to feature Skolnick on guitar since 1992's The Ritual, was released on April 29, 2008. The first single "More Than Meets the Eye" can be heard on the band's official Myspace page.

References and footnotes

External links

* [http://www.alexskolnick.com Official website]
* [http://www.testamentlegions.com Testament Legions]
* [http://www.savatage.com Savatage.com]
* [http://maximumthreshold.podomatic.com/enclosure/2007-06-02T23_07_44-07_00.mp3 Interview with Alex Skolnick 1/2 hour interview with music on the MaximumThreshold.net show]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6LTN3vHUtA 10-minute interview with Alex by Robb's Metal Works on YouTube]