Kiko Loureiro – Feature Photo by Istvan Bruggen Photography
Though most know him as the long-tenured lead guitarist for iconic thrash band Megadeth, a position he held from 2015 until his departure in 2022, Brazilian-born Kiko Loureiro has been a metal mainstay since the early ’90s.
With Angra, Loureiro shredded across classic records such as 1992’s Reaching Horizons, 1993’s Angels Cry, and 1996’s Holy Land, to name a few. These records and his blistering solo records, such as 2005’s No Gravity, 2009’sFullblast, and 2020’s Open Source, shouldn’t be discounted.
In fact, they handily stand up to his recent—and critically and commercially acclaimed—records with Megadeth, 2016’s Dystopia, and 2022’s The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead! Since leaving Megadeth in favor of family life, Loureiro has kept a low profile, though he’s made it clear that more music lies ahead.
Lately, he’s been rotating out his gear and is steadily working on his next solo record, which, no doubt, will be brimming with six-string mania. During a break in the action, Loureiro took the time to dig in with ClassicRockHistory.com to dig into ten records that have meant the most to him, saying, “Here are the ten most important albums to me.”
He adds: Keep in mind that this list changes from time to time, as ten is too few for a true music lover. These albums made me fall in love with music and inspired me to play and learn the guitar.”
Led Zeppelin III – Led Zeppelin (1970)
This was one of the first rock albums I listened to. I constantly played it, letting my imagination roam as I looked at posters and magazines with photos of Led Zeppelin.
Blow by Blow – Jeff Beck (1974)
This album stands out for its production and Jeff Beck’s eternally inspiring playing.
Friday Night in San Francisco – Al Di Meola, Paco de Lucía, and John McLaughlin (1981)
This album was revered by my guitar teachers. It taught me to appreciate fast, clean playing, improvisational skills, and the cultural blend of music from the US, UK, and Spain. It also features songs from Brazilian composer Egberto Gismonti, one of my favorite musicians.
Elis & Tom – Elis Regina and Antônio Carlos Jobim (1974)
This Brazilian album represents my passion for the music of my country. The best singer of all time, with the composer of “Girl from Ipanema,” with a superb band.
Live Evil – Black Sabbath (1983)
I love this album for its powerful live energy, [Ronnie James Dio’s voice, Vinny Appice’s drumming, and the mighty playing of Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler.
Van Halen – Van Halen (1978)
I remember my guitar teacher showing me “Eruption” and other solos and riffs from this album. For me, it’s the Van Halen album that changed and influenced an entire generation of guitarists.
Love at First Sting – Scorpions (1984)
Watching them on TV playing at Rock in Rio was life-changing for me. This album marks my transition into becoming a metal fan.
Powerslave – Iron Maiden (1984)
This was the first album I bought with my own money on its release day. I think that says it all, and you can imagine how many times I listened to it.
Surfing with the Alien – Joe Satriani (1987)
This album is the reason I record instrumental albums.
Passion and Warfare – Steve Vai (1990)
The production, songwriting, and performance on this album are 100% perfect. It greatly contributed to shaping my musical personality.
Kiko Loureiro, formerly of Megadeth & Angra: 10 Albums That Changed My Life article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024
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