Jason Becker: higher altitudes



News:
06-03-2008:
New Jason Becker T-shirts now available!



U.S. Orders: http://www.triplecrownclothing.com/becker.html
Canada and International orders: http://www.triplecrownclothing.com/becker_int.html


10-01-2008:
A new video of Jason playing a classical track.

From his video. Jason playing classic music



16-12-2007:
A super track that reminds of what Christmas is really about. Jason Becker's "Higher" from his 1995 album Perspective. This beautiful composition is set to images from the IMAX films Coral Reef Adventure and Into the Deep... don't forget the t-shirts. US orders: http://www.triplecrownclothing.com/becker.html
The rest of the world: http://www.triplecrownclothing.com/becker_int.html

Jason Becker - Higher



11-12-2007:
Jason Becker T-Shirts make great holiday gifts. All orders placed before midnight FRIDAY night will ship the following Monday... Just in time for Christmas.

US orders: http://www.triplecrownclothing.com/becker.html
The rest of the world: http://www.triplecrownclothing.com/becker_int.html



28-10-2007:
Some very interesting news and one I think all guitar fans will be interested in. Greg Howe confirmed meeting Jason in his recent blog and also has confirmed that he has contributed to the effort by doing a solo for the new Jason Becker album. The CD is hopefully due for release at the beginning of 2008 on Shrapnel Records. According to Greg
"The song that Greg played on is a beautiful song that Jason wrote many years ago and the current version of it came out awesome."




14-09-2007:
Interview on Japanese TV show, Marty Friedman and Jason Becker...plus live footage.

interview and desert island


06-05-2007:
Join Jason on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/72303306 and you'll get to read about cool things like Jason is working on a new CD and has got cool solos from Greg Howe, Michael Lee Firkins, Joe Satriani and Marty Friedman. Plus the coolest Jason Becker met Stephen Hawking!!

Jason says:
Hey Folks,

Last night I went to see Stephen Hawking, the genius quantum physicist who has ALS. My friend Bob got tickets even though it was sold out long ago. Bob, Rebecca, my pops, Serrana, Dave D. and Dan saw the lecture with me. It was at Zellarbach Auditorium on the Cal Berkeley Campus. About seven years ago the Diablo Ballet did a performance with an orchestra playing "End of the Beginning" at that same place.

Before the lecture a writer from the SF Chronicle asked me some questions. He was really sweet even though he hadn't known who I was.

Hawking was great. He had pre-written his speech and had it spoken from his computer. I may not necessarily agree with all of his theories (Hell, I don't even understand many of them), but it is so beautiful when a genius speaks. His words and his presence get people thinking and talking about deep stuff. He was also making hilarious jokes.

After the show Dave got us all to the back of the place where they were expecting to meet me later. I wanted to give Hawking my CD's Perspective, and Perpetual Burn, plus a letter I wrote to him. Among other things I told him I loved him in the Simpsons, Futurama and Star Trek.

Actually the main reason I wanted to meet him was I wanted to show him how I communicate. He has a great system with his computer for lectures and stuff like that, but it is so cumbersome and slow for regular conversation. His friends ask him questions and a few minutes later he answers them, but by then, they forgot what he is answering. It must be so frustrating for the modern day Einstein. Also, what if the power goes off for a long period of time?

When Dave told Stephen's caregiver about my communication system, he was intrigued by the speed of it. It might not work for him though because Stephen's eyes might not be strong enough. Man, I hope they are. Of all people, Hawking needs to communicate faster than most people on earth. His words are precious.

We waited outside for him while he ate dinner. When he came out I said, "it is such an honor to meet you." Almost a minute later he said, "nice to meet you too." He took my little package and I got out of his hair. What a thrill. I was hoping he wouldn't test me on physics. I would have challenged him to a thumb wrestle but I heard he had lost a lot of hand movement. Sad. He has had ALS for 45 years, give or take. Awesome. Thank you, everyone who made that happen.

I am really sorry about all the spam. That crap is hell of annoying. This space is about the love, baby, not bullshit ads. I usually don't mind a little band stuff but it is mainly for my brothers and sisters. Let's just have fun, thoughts, feelings, stories, insights; you know, love, man.

Sorry about the last blog about the ashram. It was mistakenly put there by a caregiver. It happened back in November.

Peace and love,

Jason

P.S. Oh yeah, here is an interview that I did with "Metal Blast".


28-04-2007:
Hot Licks released Jason Becker "The Legendary Guitar Of…" DVD on April 10.



With a running time of 91 minutes, the disc's contents is described as follows:
"Jason Becker is one of the world's most moving, innovative, and awe-inspiring guitarists and musicians. At 17, he recorded the first of two Cacophony CDs with Marty Friedman, followed by two amazing solo albums: 'Perpetual Burn' and 'The Raspberry Jams'. In 1990, he was voted Best New Guitarist by the readers of Guitar magazine. While recording David Lee Roth's 'A Little Aint Enough', Jason contracted Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, a.k.a. Lou Gehrig's Disease). Twelve years later, he released his groundbreaking third solo album. Included on this DVD: Archival footage of Jason from 1986 to 1999; Jason's guitar clinic at the Atlanta Institute of Music; Solo performances; Archival footage of CACOPHONY."


10-04-2007:
This is the music video that Jason Becker made for his Hot Licks video (The Legendary Guitar of Jason Becker) featuring the songs "Higher" and "Primal". I don't think anyone on youtube has uploaded this yet so when my copy of the DVD arrived I had to put this up. It's got some very cool footage of his live performances as well as some very trippy artwork by Jason's dad, Gary Becker. Hope you enjoy Jason's vision.

Primal


28-02-2007:
The full unedited version of the Guitar World has been posted by Jason Becker:

Then when I couldn’t play at all, I got inspired by world and classical music. Now I am sparked by Indian and Funk music, which is evident in my new stuff. Not being able to play makes one be able to listen and receive better. The constant noodling on guitar can be great, but also distracting to the universal music inside you.



21-02-2007:
Jason Becker releases 'The Legendary Guitar Of…' DVD by Hot Licks on April 10th 2007. The DVD is 91 minutes described as:
"Jason Becker is one of the world's most moving, innovative, and awe-inspiring guitarists and musicians. At 17, he recorded the first of two CACOPHONY CDs with Marty Friedman, followed by two amazing solo albums: 'Perpetual Burn' and 'The Raspberry Jams'.


26-01-2007:
One I missed...26 plus minutes of Jason Becker mastery...
Guitar Clinic

20-12-2006:
A very good interview with Jason Becker from dinosaurrockguitar.com

13-09-2006:
This is the music video for "End of the Beginning" by the amazing Jason Becker.
Jason wrote this music, but because he cannot play guitar anymore as a result of ALS he got Michael Lee Firkins to play the guitar solo.

Please support Jason by visiting his website http://www.jasonbecker.com/ and buying one of his T-Shirts, CD's with the proceeds going to help Jason.

"End of the Beginning"


23-03-2006:
Marty Friedman and Jason Becker,Carvin Guitar presentation part 1


Marty Friedman and Jason Becker,Carvin Guitar presentation part 2


Marty Friedman and Jason Becker,Carvin Guitar presentation part 3


18-03-2006:
Cacophony - Marty Friedman and Jason Becker - Speed Metal Symphony


26-01-2006:
Google Video:

Cacophony interview:



Jason's live guitar solo with Cacophony:


Cacophony - desert island and black cat


Paganini 5th caprice




You Tube:

Black Star:


Serrana arpeggios:


22-12-2005:
Another fund raiser for Jason, "All profits from the cd go to guitar legend Jason Becker and Jason's battle with Lou Gehrig's disease (A.L.S)." some nice music check it out "Collective - Caught in the web"

Background:
Jason Becker really needs no introduction to fans of guitar. He has been one of my favourite players since i first heard Perpetual Burn. I have no hesitation in recommending that you get a copy of at least Perpetual Burn and Perspectives in your collection.

This brief bio is culled from Jasons web site, http://www.jasonbecker.com/, which I urge you to visit to see and read of how strength can come from adversity.

Jason Becker began guitar form the age of five and visualised that one day he would be like one of his heroes. He absorbed every kind of music from classical, Indian, Japanese, Native American, jazz, blues to rock. He got so good that he even gave guitar lessons to his music teacher!

He met Marty Friedman at the age of sixteen and this was where he got picked up by Mike Varney and shrapnel records. He made four albums with Cacophony and as a solo artist. He also played in Japan and across America. In 1989 he got the call to join David Lee Roth band.

From this high, he came to a crashing halt with the discovery that he was suffering from ALS. To find out more see the google video Jason Becker Documentary. Also read the amazing full bio on Jason web site or an account of life with Jason by his mother

Some of his recommended guitarists include: Eddie Van Halen, Marty Friedman, Uli Roth, Steve Morse, Roy Buchanan, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, Diego del Gastor, Django Reinhart, Albert King, Michael Lee Firkins, Greg Howe, Steve Hunter, Richie Kotzen, Paul Gilbert, Alan Holdsworth, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Vai, Clapton, Robert Johnson, Brian Setzer, Trevor Rabin.

Check out his web site for more:
or see some other excerpts of Jason playing live on google video

or buy his CD's online at guitar9

Comments