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'{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}} {{for|the Canadian ice hockey player|Jason Becker (ice hockey)}} {{BLP sources|date=June 2008}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Jason Becker | image = | image_size = | caption = | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | birth_name = Jason Eli Becker | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1969|7|22|44}} | birth_place = [[Richmond, California]],<ref>[http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_20242222/richmond-world-renowned-guitarist-two-decades-als?source=rss Rock on: Richmond world-renowned guitarist has lived more than two decades with ALS], Matthias Gafni, ''[[Contra Costa Times]]'', March 23, 2012, access date March 26, 2012</ref> United States | death_date = | instrument = Guitar, bass, keyboards | genre = [[Neo-classical metal]], [[instrumental rock]], [[speed metal]], [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[hard rock]] | occupation = Musician, songwriter | years_active = 1986–present | label = [[Shrapnel Records|Shrapnel]] | associated_acts = [[Cacophony (band)|Cacophony]], [[David Lee Roth]], [[Marty Friedman (musician)|Marty Friedman]] | website = {{URL|jasonbecker.com}} | notable_instruments = [[Carvin Corporation|Carvin Guitars]], [[Hurricane Guitars]], [[Peavey Guitars]] }} '''Jason Eli Becker''' (born July 22, 1969) is an American [[neo-classical metal]] guitarist and composer. At the age of 16, he became part of the [[Mike Varney]]-produced duo [[Cacophony (band)|Cacophony]] with his friend [[Marty Friedman (guitarist)|Marty Friedman]]. They released ''[[Speed Metal Symphony]]'' in 1987 and ''[[Go Off!]]'' in 1988. Cacophony broke up in 1989 and Becker began doing solo work, having released his first album ''[[Perpetual Burn]]'' in 1988. He later joined [[David Lee Roth]]'s band and recorded one album with him, ''[[A Little Ain't Enough]]''. However, Becker's success was hampered by his then-diagnosed [[amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]] also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease and he was given three to five years to live. In 1996, Becker eventually lost the ability to speak and now communicates with his eyes via a system developed by his father. Despite his disability, he continues [[Musical composition|composing]] by using a computer and has since released ''Collection'', a "best of" album of his favorite songs and three new songs. ==Biography and career== ===Hometown, birth place, school and early years=== Becker was born and raised in Richmond, California, by his parents, Gary and Patricia (Heffley) Becker. He was born in Richmond Hospital on 23rd Street in 1969. His maternal grandfather was actor [[Wayne Heffley]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0373593/bio |publisher=imdb.com |title=Biography for Wayne Heffley |accessdate=December 21, 2013}}</ref> Becker graduated from Kennedy High School where he performed [[Yngwie Malmsteen]]'s Black Star with his band at a talent show. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEAtk6moKtw] While still in high school, Becker was introduced to Marty Friedman. He was exposed to the guitar at an early age because both his father and his uncle were guitar players. He absorbed all kinds of music from around the world and melded different aspects of each style into his playing. He practiced to [[Bob Dylan]], [[Eric Clapton]], [[Jeff Beck]], [[Uli Jon Roth]], [[Eddie Van Halen]], and many others. [http://www.theguitarfiles.com/guitarfile135.html] ===Cacophony and solo career=== Becker started out playing alongside [[Marty Friedman (guitarist)|Marty Friedman]] in the Mike Varney-produced duo, Cacophony. Together, they put out an album, and toured Japan and the U.S.. While they never went mainstream in the U.S., Europeans embraced their music and they sold out almost everywhere they went. [http://www.theguitarfiles.com/guitarfile135.html] In 1989 Becker left to pursue a solo career, having released his first solo album titled '[[Perpetual Burn]]' in 1988, and has since released ''[[Perspective (Jason Becker album)|Perspective]]'' and ''[[Collection (Jason Becker album)|Collection]]'', as well as two albums of demos, entitled '[[The Raspberry Jams]]' and '[[The Blackberry Jams]]'. ===Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis=== At the age of 20, he joined [[David Lee Roth]]'s band, replacing [[Steve Vai]], who had joined [[Whitesnake]]. In 1989 Jason won the coveted Best New Guitarist award from Guitar Magazine for his work on Roth's ''[[A Little Ain't Enough]]''. [http://www.theguitarfiles.com/guitarfile135.html] While preparing for the subsequent tour, Becker began to feel what he called a "lazy limp" in his left leg. He was soon diagnosed with [[Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis]] (ALS; [[Lou Gehrig's Disease]]) and was given three to five years to live. He finished the recording using light gauge (thin) guitar strings and other techniques, which made it easier for him to play with his weakening hands. Although he managed to finish the album, which was released in 1991, he did not join the supporting tour due to his inability to perform on stage; former [[Lizzy Borden (band)|Lizzy Borden]] guitarist [[Joe Holmes]] took Becker's place on tour. Due to his illness, he eventually lost the ability to speak and now communicates with his eyes via a system developed by his father. Although his ALS gradually robbed him of his ability to play guitar, to walk, and eventually even to speak, he still remains mentally sharp and, with the aid of a computer, continues [[Musical composition|composing]]. In the back of the ''Perspective'' CD case, Becker states "I have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. It has crippled my body and speech, but not my mind." His medical condition has remained stable since 1997. In 2003, Becker posted on his website that he was feeling better and had gained some weight, while the folder for his 2008 album ''[[Collection (Jason Becker album)|Collection]]'' also mentions an upcoming book. ===Perspective and the Berry Jams=== In 1996, Becker released an album entitled ''[[Perspective (Jason Becker album)|Perspective]]'', an instrumental album composed by him (with the exception of [[Bob Dylan]]'s song "[[Meet Me in the Morning]]"). The writing of the music had been started before ALS completely crippled his abilities. By using guitar, and, later, when he was unable to use both hands, a keyboard, he continued to compose while his disease worsened. However, when Becker could no longer physically play even a keyboard, his friend and music producer [[Mike Bemesderfer]]<ref>{{cite web|last=Gold|first=Jude|title=GuitarPlayer: Jason Becker|url=http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/jason-becker/9073|work=GuitarPlayer.com}}</ref> helped him with a music-composing computer program that reads movements of his head and eyes, enabling Becker to continue to compose after he lost control of the rest of his body. Several years later, Becker released ''Raspberry Jams'' (1999) and ''Blackberry Jams'' (2003); the first contained various unreleased demo-tracks, and the latter contained demo-tracks and alternate versions of songs that were later reworked and published into other albums. Two tribute albums to Jason Becker have been issued. Respectively entitled ''Warmth in the Wilderness I'' and ''Warmth in the Wilderness II,'' they feature guitarists such as [[Steve Vai]], [[Paul Gilbert]], [[Marty Friedman (guitarist)|Marty Friedman]], [[Joe Becker (musician)|Joe Becker]], [[Rusty Cooley]], and [[Mattias Eklundh]]. The album profits were sent to Becker to help him with his medical finances. ===Collection=== {{Main|Collection (Jason Becker album)}} On November 4, 2008, [[Shrapnel Records]] released a new Jason Becker album entitled ''Collection''. The album includes three new songs in addition to some older recordings (some never before released) and features [[Marty Friedman (guitarist)|Marty Friedman]], [[Greg Howe]], [[Joe Satriani]], [[Michael Lee Firkins]], [[Steve Vai]], and [[Steve Hunter]]. <!-- '''Track listing:''' # Rain # River of Longing # Images # Opus Pocus # Higher # It's Showtime! # Altitudes # End of the Beginning # River of Longing (Reprise) # Meet Me in the Morning # Air # Electric Prayer for Peace # Mandy's Throbbing Little Heart '''Enhanced CD features:''' # End of the Beginning Demos (5 Tracks) # Go Off! Intro # Noodling For Rob and Tony --> ===New album=== On August 20, 2010, Becker declared that he is considering releasing an album of music he recorded when he was in his teenage years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.JasonBeckerGuitar.com/board/read.php?25,2300 |title=Becker confirming album project |publisher=Jasonbeckerguitar.com |date= |accessdate=2012-02-28}}</ref> ==Musical style== Considered a virtuoso guitarist and one of the top players of his time, Jason Becker studied the works of violinist [[Niccolò Paganini]] and was a playing partner with Marty Friedman. He later arranged [[Niccolò Paganini#Works inspired by Paganini|Paganini's 5th Caprice]], performing it during an instructional guitar video. Becker's compositions often include high speed scalar and arpeggio passages—trademarks of his '[[Shred guitar|shred]]' style of guitar playing. Often incorporating advanced techniques such as sweep picking, alternate picking, artificial harmonic accenting, and tapping; he was among the leaders of the field during the technical 'shred' guitar and Neo-Classical Metal trend of the mid to late eighties and is still respected and honored by his musician peers today. The song ''[[Serrana (song)|Serrana]]'' appearing in the album ''Perspective'', is an example of his sweep-picking skills. [http://www.jasonbecker.com/] He demonstrated the arpeggio sequence during a clinic at the Atlanta Institute of Music. A video of this performance first appeared on his ''Hot Licks'' guitar instructional video.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/v/87Iz3RHZNDQ |title=Jason Becker playing Serrana arpeggio section (from YouTube.com) |date= |accessdate=2012-02-28}}</ref> ==Equipment== Becker's first guitar was a Franciscan acoustic. Prior to joining [[Cacophony (band) |Cacophony]] in 1987, Becker worked his way through the Franciscan, a Takamine acoustic, a Fender Musicmaster, and finally, a black [[Fender Stratocaster]] "Dan Smith" model (likely a 1982 or 1983 model) with a DiMarzio Steve Morse humbucker in the bridge (seen in the Black Star video, circa 1986). On his message board, Jason said "I recorded SMS [Speed Metal Symphony] with my Strat." For his next guitar, Jason says on his message board "Mike Varney got Hurricane to endorse us after we recorded Speed Metal Symphony. I liked how they were like Strats, only beefier." On Perpetual Burn, Jason says on his message board: "I used my white and black Hurricane guitar for everything. For clean tone I went direct. For dirty tone I used a 100 Watt Marshall with a Boss Super Overdrive pedal." The Moridira Hurricane guitar he used is called a Limited Edition LTD.2 model, believed to be made in Japan. (It is not a Hurricane EX series, which appears to be lower quality.) His LTD.2 was a "strat copy" as Jason says, but with a HSS pickup setup, a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard, and unique Floyd Rose where you don't have to cut the strings. For pickups, Jason said on his message board: "I just used the stock pickups it came with." The pickups were Japanese-made pickups. On the cover of Perpetual Burn he is pictured with a blue Hurricane guitar. He did not use this blue guitar on Perpetual Burn. Differences on this guitar from his first Hurricane include DiMarzio pickups, a maple fretboard, and 24 frets. (Interestingly Marty Friedman recorded the whammy parts of his song "Dragon Mistress" using this blue Hurricane, one of the rare times Marty has recorded whammy work.) For the 2nd [[Cacophony (band)|Cacophony]] album, Becker switched over to [[Carvin Corporation|Carvin]] gear, utilizing 2 DC Series models, one in a trans blue finish with flamed maple top, and another one in a solid burgundy finish (This is the guitar seen in the famous "Yo Yo" video from the 1989 Japan tour with Cacophony). Both have double cutaway bodies, [[Kahler Tremolo System|Kahler]] locking tremolo systems, 6 in line machine heads and 2 Carvin humbucker pickups. He used these up until he was diagnosed with [[ALS]] in 1989. During the sessions for ''[[A Little Ain't Enough]]'', Becker used various Carvin, Ibanez, ESP and Valley Arts guitars, as well as a Les Paul on some tracks and a Gibson acoustic for select things. Jason has also been pictured with a few Hamer superstrats as well. From 1989–1991, Becker used various guitars, most notably a [[Peavey Electronics|Peavey]] custom model with the numbered fretboard markers. Also used were an [[Ibanez]] Custom Shop guitar (probably based on an RG), a custom from Performance Guitars, a couple of various unknown Strat style guitars and a black [[Hurricane]] with 3 single coil pickups. As of very recently, Becker has allowed Paradise Guitars USA to release a Jason Becker signature guitar. It is similar in appearance to the numbered Peavey but with a different headstock shape. Becker used various types of amplifiers in his music. Before joining [[Cacophony (band)|Cacophony]], he used a small [[Peavey Electronics|Peavey]] Studio Pro 40 with the older style Peavey vertical silver stripes on the grille cloth. During his early days Jason was also seen with a red Marshall JCM800 head and 4x12 cabinet. For the first [[Cacophony (band)|Cacophony]] album, Becker used an [[Analog-to-digital converter|ADA]]MP1 preamp. [[Perpetual Burn]] was a borrowed '70s Marshall half stack and a BOSS Super Overdrive and [[Cacophony (band)|Cacophony]] second album was a [[Carvin]] X100B stack. For the [[David Lee Roth]] album ''[[A Little Ain't Enough]]'', Becker used "eight different Marshall amps." He also used the SX300H head at some point during that era. After [[Cacophony]] Becker used various amps, including a "Fender M80", an unknown Marshall amp, an ADA Preamp and possibly the aforementioned Peavey combo. Becker typically used [[Dean Markley]] and SIT strings [http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/SIT-S1046-Power-Nickel-Electric-Guitar-Strings?sku=100813] ===Paradise Guitar=== In 2008 Paradise Guitars worked with Becker to design a Jason Becker signature guitar. The design is based on the [[Peavey Electronics|Peavey]] with colored number [[fret]] [[Inlay (guitar)|inlays]]. Features include an [[alder]] body, [[maple]] [[Neck (music)|neck]] with steel 2-way [[truss rod]], maple 16" radius [[fingerboard]], 24 jumbo thin frets with colored number fret marker inlays, black [[Floyd Rose]] Pro Style floating [[Tremolo arm|Tremolo]] with Floyd Rose Tremolo stop, Sperzel red satin [[machine head|tuners]], 14-degree tilt-back [[headstock]] with black Paradise logo and matching tremolo and electronics plates. The pickups are [[DiMarzio]] pickups; a [[PAF (pickup)|PAF]] Pro-Custom in the neck colored yellow and red, a DP116 HS-2 in the middle colored green, and a Tone Zone-Custom in the [[Bridge (instrument)|bridge]] colored pink and blue. These colored pickups complement the colored inlays and seem to give the guitar a [[rainbow]] effect. There is also a red 5-way switch and purple 1–11 volume knob.<ref>[http://paradiseguitarsusa.com/jason_becker.html Paradise Guitars USA]{{dead link|date=February 2012}}</ref> ===Carvin Tribute Guitar=== In 2012 [[Carvin Corporation|Carvin]] worked with Becker to design a Jason Becker Tribute guitar that is modeled after the original DC-series guitar he used toward the latter part of his career. The guitar features an Alder body with flamed maple top, maple neck with a flamed maple fingerboard, a [[Floyd Rose]] tremolo, jumbo frets, 2 humbuckers, active electronics, and comes standard in a transparent blue finish. Also in 2015, under design of Becker and Jeff Kiesel, [[Carvin Corporation|Carvin]] released another tribute guitar. The JB24 Jason Becker Tribute Numbers, described by manufacturer's site as "a modern take on the "Numbers" guitar Jason designed but was never fully produced". Features an Swamp Ash one piece body with a hardrock maple neck, both tung-oiled, colored [[Seymour Duncan]]'s pickups, [[Floyd Rose]] tremolo, 24 stainless jumbo frets and the unique numbered maple fretboard. == Documentary film == A feature-length documentary film about the life of Jason Becker entitled ''[[Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet]]'', was released in 2012. The film includes interviews with Becker, his family and friends, and the various musicians he's worked with, including [[Marty Friedman]], [[Steve Vai]], [[Joe Satriani]], [[Richie Kotzen]], and [[Steve Hunter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.JasonBeckerMovie.com |title=Website for the movie |publisher=Jasonbeckermovie.com |date=July 22, 1969 |accessdate=2012-02-28}}</ref> The film was generally well received by fans and critics and won many awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2120779/ |publisher=imdb.com |title=Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet |accessdate=October 4, 2013}}</ref> ==Clinics== '''Atlanta Institute of Music''' *'''Year:''' 1989 *'''Gear:''' Carvin DC200, Marshall Amp, Alesis quadraverb '''Japan Clinic''' *'''Year:''' 1989 *'''Gear:''' Carvin DC200 ==Discography== '''Cacophony''' * ''[[Speed Metal Symphony]]'' (1987) * ''[[Go Off!]]'' (1988) '''Marty Friedman''' * ''[[Dragon's Kiss]]'' (1988) '''Solo''' * ''[[Perpetual Burn]]'' (1988) * ''[[Perspective (Jason Becker album)|Perspective]]'' (1996) * ''[[The Raspberry Jams]]'' (1999) * ''[[The Blackberry Jams]]'' (2003) * ''[[Collection (Jason Becker album)|Collection]]'' (2008) * ''Boy Meets Guitar, Vol. 1 of the Youngster Tapes'' (2012) '''David Lee Roth''' * ''[[A Little Ain't Enough]]'' (1991) * ''[[The Best (2013 TV series)|The Best]]'' (1997; songs 3, 7, and 17 only) '''Joe Becker''' * ''[[Short Stories (Jason Becker album)|Short Stories]]'' (2005) '''Other works''' * ''[[Richie Kotzen (album)|Richie Kotzen]]'' (1989, producer) * ''Daydream by the Hudson'' on [[Steve Hunter]]'s 2013 [[The Manhattan Blues Project]] '''Compilations''' * ''Guitar Masters'', 1989, Roadrunner Records * ''Metal Guitars – High Voltage Instrumentals'',1998, Disky Communications * ''Shrapnel's Super Shredders: Neoclassical'',2009, Shrapnel * ''This is Shredding'', Vol. 1, 2009, Shrapnel * ''This is Shredding'', Vol. 2, 2009, Shrapnel '''Tribute''' * [[Warmth in the Wilderness: A Tribute to Jason Becker]], 2001, Lion Music * ''Warmth in Wilderness 2: Tribute Jason Becker'', 2002, Lion Music * ''Jason Becker's Not Dead Yet! (Live in Haarlem)'', 2012, Primal Events '''Instructional''' * ''Hot Licks – The Legendary Guitar of Jason Becker'' '''Films''' * ''[[Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet]]'' (2012) * ''[[One Track Heart: The Story of Krishna Das]]'' (2012) ==References== {{reflist}} http://www.carvinguitars.com/catalog/guitars/jb24 ==External links== * [http://www.jasonbecker.com/ Jason Becker's official website] * [http://www.myspace.com/jasonelibecker Becker's MySpace page] * [http://www.JasonBeckerMovie.com/ Documentary film website] * http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/assignment_7&id=6528617 {{Marty Friedman}} {{Jason Becker}} {{Authority control}} {{Persondata | NAME =Becker, Jason | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION =Heavy metal guitarist | DATE OF BIRTH =July 22, 1969 | PLACE OF BIRTH =Richmond, California, United States | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Becker, Jason}} [[Category:American rock guitarists]] [[Category:American heavy metal guitarists]] [[Category:People with motor neurone disease]] [[Category:American people of German descent]] [[Category:1969 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Lead guitarists]] [[Category:Musicians from Richmond, California]]'