James Byrd (guitarist)
Encyclopedia
James Byrd is a guitarist from Kirkland, WA who came to prominence in the metal scene in the mid-1980s with the band Fifth Angel
, considered a pioneer of the early Power Metal movement. Since this time he has released numerous solo albums on the labels Shrapnel Records, Mascot, JVC Victor and Lion Music
as well as starting his own guitar company Byrd Guitars who market the original design Super Avianti instrument.
James Byrd plays a hybrid of classic rock, metal and blues with classical influences and possesses an extremely musical vibrato along with perfect relative pitch. He is the only artist to ever receive an official (uncompensated) endorsement from renowned virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen and 'Guitar For The Practising Musician' magazine listed him as one of the "top 10 guitarists you have never heard of" in April 1996.
James Byrd has a strong following in Europe and Asia, where he as appeared numerous times in leading Japanese rock press Young Guitar and Burnn. Fifth Angel saw a free flexi disc appear on the front cover of Kerrang! magazine (Feb 28, 1988 edition), and Byrd has appeared in adverts for Ibanez guitars in Guitar World and GFTPM magazine as well as having a gear spotlight in the Feb 1995 edition of Guitar Shop magazine. Two James Byrd albums (James Byrd's Atlantis Rising and The Apocalypse Chime) were included as recommended titles in the book "The Collector's Guide To Heavy Metal – Volume 3: The Nineties" by leading rock biographer/author Martin Popoff
.
His 2001 and 2002 releases "Flying Beyond The 9" and "Anthem" (both released on Lion Music
) saw Byrd take his music to a more classically structured level with heavy orchestration's working alongside the rock elements.
Since this time Byrd has mainly spent time building up his guitar company as well as several guest appearances on tribute albums.
A new album is expected at some point in 2009/2010.
pickups. He uses Marshall amplifiers and 8x10" Marshall cabs, and for guitar effects
, a Dunlop Cry Baby
and DOD Electronics
250 overdrive pre-amp and FX35 Octoplus.
Fifth Angel
Fifth Angel is an American heavy metal/ power metal band from Bellevue, Washington.-Biography:Fifth Angel was formed in the suburbs of Seattle in late 1983, specifically, in the Bellevue area...
, considered a pioneer of the early Power Metal movement. Since this time he has released numerous solo albums on the labels Shrapnel Records, Mascot, JVC Victor and Lion Music
Lion Music
Lion Music is a production company and record label founded in 1989 by composer and artist Lars Eric Mattsson.-History:Lion Music was founded in 1989 by Lars Eric Mattsson as a production company to handle production and licensing for his records in Europe, the United States, and Asia, where a...
as well as starting his own guitar company Byrd Guitars who market the original design Super Avianti instrument.
James Byrd plays a hybrid of classic rock, metal and blues with classical influences and possesses an extremely musical vibrato along with perfect relative pitch. He is the only artist to ever receive an official (uncompensated) endorsement from renowned virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen and 'Guitar For The Practising Musician' magazine listed him as one of the "top 10 guitarists you have never heard of" in April 1996.
James Byrd has a strong following in Europe and Asia, where he as appeared numerous times in leading Japanese rock press Young Guitar and Burnn. Fifth Angel saw a free flexi disc appear on the front cover of Kerrang! magazine (Feb 28, 1988 edition), and Byrd has appeared in adverts for Ibanez guitars in Guitar World and GFTPM magazine as well as having a gear spotlight in the Feb 1995 edition of Guitar Shop magazine. Two James Byrd albums (James Byrd's Atlantis Rising and The Apocalypse Chime) were included as recommended titles in the book "The Collector's Guide To Heavy Metal – Volume 3: The Nineties" by leading rock biographer/author Martin Popoff
Martin Popoff
Martin Popoff is a Canadian-born music journalist and critic who covers the genre of heavy metal music. The senior editor and co-founder of Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles magazine, he has additionally written over twenty books that both critically evaluate heavy metal and document its history...
.
His 2001 and 2002 releases "Flying Beyond The 9" and "Anthem" (both released on Lion Music
Lion Music
Lion Music is a production company and record label founded in 1989 by composer and artist Lars Eric Mattsson.-History:Lion Music was founded in 1989 by Lars Eric Mattsson as a production company to handle production and licensing for his records in Europe, the United States, and Asia, where a...
) saw Byrd take his music to a more classically structured level with heavy orchestration's working alongside the rock elements.
Since this time Byrd has mainly spent time building up his guitar company as well as several guest appearances on tribute albums.
A new album is expected at some point in 2009/2010.
Solo
- James Byrd's Atlantis Rising - S/T (1990)
- James Byrd - Octoglomerate (1993)
- James Byrd - Son Of Man (1995)
- The James Byrd Group - The Apocalypse Chime (1996)
- James Byrd's Atlantis Rising - Crimes Of Virtuosity (1998)
- Byrd - Flying Beyond The 9 (2001)
- Byrd - Anthem (2002)
with Fifth Angel
- Fifth Angel (Shrapnel RecordsShrapnel RecordsShrapnel Records is a guitar-oriented record label started in 1980 by record producer Mike Varney. Guitarist Marty Friedman , one of the label's most successful artists, first appeared on the album Unsung Guitar Heroes II in 1980 with the band Vixen. Vixen would later change their name to Hawaii...
, 1986; re-released on Epic RecordsEpic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
, 1988) US #117
Guest Performances
- Warmth In The Wilderness Vol.1- A Tribute To Jason Becker (2001)
- Beyond Inspiration - A Tribute To Uli Jon Roth (2003)
- The Spirit Lives On Vol.2 - A Tribute To Jimi Hendrix (2004)
- Secondhand Smoke - A Tribute To Frank Marino (2005)
Gear
Since 1998 Byrd has used his own design Byrd Guitar's Super Avianti guitar exclusively, which feature scalloped fretboards and DiMarzioDiMarzio
DiMarzio, Inc. is an United States manufacturer best known for its revolutionary direct-replacement guitar pickups. The company also produces miscellaneous guitar accessories, such as cables, straps and hardware.DiMarzio became known for its Super Distortion model, which was the first after...
pickups. He uses Marshall amplifiers and 8x10" Marshall cabs, and for guitar effects
Effects unit
Effects units are electronic devices that alter how a musical instrument or other audio source sounds. Some effects subtly "color" a sound, while others transform it dramatically. Effects are used during live performances or in the studio, typically with electric guitar, keyboard and bass...
, a Dunlop Cry Baby
Dunlop Cry Baby
The Dunlop Cry Baby is a popular wah-wah pedal, manufactured by Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc. It is the best selling guitar pedal of all time. The name Cry Baby was from the original pedal from which it was copied, the Thomas Organ/Vox Cry Baby wah-wah. Thomas Organ/Vox failed to register the name as...
and DOD Electronics
DOD Electronics
DOD Electronics or simply DOD is a Harman International company specializing in making guitar effects pedals, most of which are now discontinued. Additionally, the company has made active crossover gear....
250 overdrive pre-amp and FX35 Octoplus.