Feature Photo: Marty Friedman courtesy of Marty Friedman. Photo Credit: Shoma Yasukawa.
Perhaps more so than any other six-stringer of his era, Marty Friedman’s mind is perpetually in motion, leading to a torrent of forward-thinking, utterly unencumbered, and jaw-droppingly inspired guitar-driven music.
You might know him for his late ’80s records as a solo artist and with Cacophony – which also featured fellow axe-slinger Jason Becker – or you might recall his exploits with thrash icons Megadeth – who Friedman recently reunited with at Budokan for a three-song closing set.
Regardless of how you came upon Friedman’s music, it’s no matter because if you’re able to dial into his thought patterns, you’ll find a world of wonder awaits you. If that sort of adventure sounds like your thing, then you’re in for a treat: Friedman is taking his show on the road as he embarks on his first trek on US soil since the long-ago days when COVID wasn’t a “thing.”
Indeed, American audiences are now getting their first taste of Friedman’s latest record, Tokyo Jukebox 3, a verifiable kaleidoscope of sounds that, until this point, only audiences from his adopted homeland of Japan have been treated to. Sure, it’s true overtly that Friedman’s musical muse is perpetually fixed on an ever-expanding horizon, but that doesn’t mean he’s not up for looking back now and again.
During a break from the road, Marty Friedman dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to recount the ten albums that changed his life.
# 1 – Alive! – KISS
This was the album that forced me to be a musician and the type of musician who, when performing, somehow finds this bottomless well of energy. It still gets me pumped. Before this album, nothing was nearly as exciting to me. This completely changed my outlook on what I thought concerts were and shaped what I would think concerts should be. Discovering this album in one’s early teens is probably responsible for a lot of rock star dreams.
# 2 – Leave Home – The Ramones
I bought this just because four guys in leather jackets looked cool, and I was a kid who loved ’50s stuff. These guys looked like dime store hoodlums, so I was curious about what kind of music they made. I fell instantly in love with this album. I had never heard anything as powerful as this before. I didn’t even put two and two together, just how the Beach Boys and Girl Groups pop influenced it was. I was just overwhelmed by the loud buzzsaw guitars and the darkly funny lyrics. Discovering this just as I started picking up the guitar was a stroke of luck for me, as I could play it quickly, and it gave me immense satisfaction of achievement.
# 3 – American Graffiti Soundtrack
My favorite movie of all time and my favorite soundtrack of all time. I still believe this music is the only music that ever mattered, and everything that happened after the Beatles came along was okay but comparatively unimportant. The pop music from 1955-1963 had so much that I enjoyed. Rock was born, ballads were romantic, and pop music was like simplified jazz standards made for young people who had never had music aimed at them before. It was glorious. This four-sided album is great from beginning to end, and the songs are exactly in the same order as in the movie, which I’ve seen countless times.
# 4 – Garbage – Garbage
This was the first album I heard in which amazing, clever, and interesting guitar parts were constantly used in the framework of great songs as opposed to being the main riff or the guitar solo of the song. Countless unique and exotic guitar hooks. This album made me rethink songwriting, guitar playing, and recording. So many innovative guitar parts on this and subsequent Garbage albums. The best thing about them is they completely support the vocals and the songs rather than putting the attention on the guitar player. It is an exquisite art to use guitar in that way. And such fresh, catchy songs, too.
# 5 – T.W.O. – Aya Matsuura
Aya’s drop-dead cute vocals and producer Tsunku’s overwhelmingly innovative use of supporting melodies and tricky arrangements made this J-pop idols album irresistible to me. Extremely complex arrangements and the kitchen sink of counterpoint melodies, fills, and backing vocals create a violent rollercoaster of happy pop. You never notice how intricate it all is unless you start analyzing it. I love that. I play this to non-Japanese musicians, and the first thing they say is, “Dude, this is crazy, information overload; I have no idea how to process this.” Then the second thing they say is, “This is genius.”
# 6 – The Phil Spector Christmas Album – Phil Spector
This may be the best thing ever recorded. There is so much to digest in the details of this album, but all that can be easily ignored as you just feel happy listening to this stuff. The arrangements and performances are so God-tier and unique that they give these well-known melodies more love than they ever got before or since. The album celebrates the power music can have and will immediately conjure up each listener’s unique memories of Christmas time. This is pure joy, and I don’t even celebrate Christmas…
# 7 – Elvis ’56 – Elvis Presley
I am a world-class Elvis freak. I own over 1000 different vinyl records of his from all over the world and have been collecting his stuff since I was nine years old. I love Elvis. 1956 was my favorite year of his, and this album showcases his complete output in that year, which is overwhelming. In that one year alone, he completely changed music forever, and we are still influenced by what he did in that year now. I would recommend this album to anyone who has just discovered Elvis recently from the Elvis movie. It is so well mastered, it sounds like it was recorded today, and the clarity is like you are in the control room listening to it.
# 8 – Best Of – Misora Hibari
Possibly the most famous singer in Japanese history, her vocals are so effortlessly emotional; it is like she is a conductor between some higher power and the people down on earth listening to her. These rich heavenly tones just naturally fall from her lips with so much expression. I spent a lot of time trying to emulate her voice on guitar and doing that shaped my guitar-playing style immensely. It made me play melodies and solos with a feeling of human expression as opposed to the more typical guitar phrasing that most players do because they were mainly influenced by other guitarists. Hibari’s voice can pull a tear from my eye at will.
# 9 – I Get Wet – Andrew W.K.
This blew my mind when it came out, sonically especially. It was a heavy metal sound, but musically it was as poppy and fun as the most sugary idol singers I loved. It had a wall of gargantuan guitars, and the drums were recorded and arranged in such a way that it was an immediate and very blunt assault on the ears. I had never heard such stripped-down and powerful drums that excited me that much before. There are tons of unique recording techniques that I stole from this album, and when I eventually did a bunch of collaborations with Andrew, it was really exciting. Like the Ramones, there is no fat on any part of Andrew’s recordings, no meaningless riffs, fills, effects, or delays. All lean meat. This album made a lasting impact on how I record.
# 10 – Adios Nonino – Astor Piazzolla
Piazzolla’s music is extremely violent, romantic, serene, modern, aggressive, melancholy, and complex, all at the same time. I marvel at the construction of it as well as the abilities of those who play it, but more importantly, I feel unique pleasurable emotions when I hear it. The effective use of contrasts and dissonance gets me every time. I was very influenced by the melodies and unique counter-rhythms. I was honored to play Piazzolla’s music at the Hollywood Bowl with Rodrigo y Gabriela. I also played it with Astor Piazzolla’s grandson Pipi in Buenos Aires at the Usina Del Arte. As a mammoth musical challenge, it was more of a love fest between the Argentinian people and me.
Marty Friedman Interview: 10 Albums That Changed My Life article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
