Kelly SIMONZ (ケリー・サイモン)
Japanese Neoclassical Shred Pioneer, "Hyper-Technician" & Master Clinician
Biography & Career Overview
Born on July 1, 1970, in Osaka, Japan, Kelly SIMONZ (born Kazuyoshi Shimazu / 島津和芳) is an electric guitar virtuoso, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, author, and educator. Picking up the guitar in his early teens, he immersed himself in the classical works of Bach, Vivaldi, and Paganini alongside the neoclassical metal revolution spearheaded by Yngwie Malmsteen, Ritchie Blackmore, and Uli Jon Roth.
In the early 1990s, Simonz moved to Los Angeles to study at the Musicians Institute (GIT), honing his technical mastery, stagecraft, and English-language songwriting. Returning to Japan, he established himself as a premier shred pioneer with his self-produced solo debut Sign of the Times (1998) and follow-up Silent Scream (1999). Renowned in the Japanese guitar press as a preeminent "Hyper-Technician" (超絶ギタリスト), Simonz formed his flagship power trio project, Kelly SIMONZ's Blind Faith, while publishing Japan's best-selling "Chozetsu" (Super-Transcendental) guitar instructional book series with Rittor Music and conducting clinics worldwide for ESP Guitars and Marshall Amplification.
Musical Instrumentation & Technical Signature
- Neoclassical Alternate Picking & Sweep Arpeggios
- Celebrated for immaculate picking hand mechanics, executing high-speed pedal-point sequences, harmonic minor runs, and multi-octave sweep-picked arpeggios with zero friction and absolute note clarity.
- Dynamic Touch, String Bending & Classical Vibrato
- Possesses a wide, operatic finger vibrato and pinpoint microtonal bending accuracy, channeling the expressive touch and sustain of traditional European classical violin and vintage heavy rock.
- Lead Vocals & Multi-Instrumental Command
- In addition to his guitar virtuosity, Simonz handles lead rock vocals across his band projects, delivering soulful clean melodies and gritty hard-rock belts, while also tracking keyboards, bass, and orchestrations in the studio.
- Signature Gear & Amplification
- Longtime premier clinician and signature artist for ESP Guitars, famously known for his custom scallop-fretboard ESP Snapper models equipped with Seymour Duncan YJM Fury / single-coil pickups, paired directly with vintage-voiced Marshall tube stacks and custom boost pedals.
Band Formations & Projects
- Kelly SIMONZ's Blind Faith (KSBF)
- His primary touring and recording power trio / quartet, featuring high-caliber Japanese rhythm section veterans (including bassist Kaz Nakamura and powerhouse drummer Yosuke Yamada), blending high-velocity neoclassical metal with symphonic rock and melodic ballads.
- Kelly SIMONZ's Bad Tribe
- A hard rock and heavy metal unit exploring aggressive modern grooves, blues-rock foundations, and twin-guitar arrangements.
- Solo & Educational Catalog ("Chozetsu Guitarist" Series)
- Author of the definitive "Chozetsu" instructional book and DVD catalog published by Rittor Music, training successive generations of Asian shred and neoclassical guitarists.
Selected Discography & Releases
Full-Length Studio Albums (Solo & KSBF)
- Sign of the Times (1998)
- His breakthrough independent debut album that stunned the Japanese guitar scene, featuring neoclassical speed staples like "Future World" and "Now Your Turn."
- Silent Scream (1999)
- Sophomore solo effort further establishing his balance of furious shred technique, vocal melodicism, and classical counterpoint.
- The Rule of Right (2002)
- A mature, heavier studio outing exploring progressive themes and blistering instrumental trades.
- Blind Faith (2014)
- The major-label return under King Records (Nexus) with Kelly SIMONZ's Blind Faith, featuring anthems like "I Am Your Judgement Day" and "N.Y. Take-off."
- At The Gates of a New World (2015)
- A symphonic neoclassical power metal showcase highlighting intricate twin-lead overdubs and aggressive double-kick rhythms.
- Overture of Destruction (2017)
- A hard-driving studio collection celebrating high-speed neoclassical arrangements and dynamic guitar solos.
- Holy Mother (2019) / Tales of the Messiah (2023)
- Later conceptual releases showcasing refined acoustic-electric dynamics, orchestral arrangements, and virtuosic fretboard endurance.
Instructional Works & Soundtracks
- Chozetsu Guitarist Series (Books & Audio, Rittor Music)
- Landmark pedagogical literature including Chozetsu Guitarist Yōsei Gips (超絶ギタリスト養成ギプス), establishing standardized technical exercises for sweep picking, economy picking, and neoclassical phrasing.
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