Jeff Waters
Encyclopedia
Jeff Waters is the guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...

 and mastermind of the metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...

 band Annihilator
Annihilator (band)
Annihilator is a Canadian heavy metal band hailing from Ottawa, Ontario, also from Vancouver, British Columbia between 1987-2002 by founding member, vocalist, guitarist and bassist Jeff Waters. The band has been around since 1984 and is the biggest selling heavy metal artist from Canada in history,...

. He was born in and resides in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...

, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. As the main member and songwriter for Annihilator, Jeff is considered among the most influential guitarists in the world and as a top songwriter. He is also a well-known mix engineer, engineer, producer and mastering engineer. Jeff Waters has owned Watersound Studios Inc. since 1994 (where it was in Maple Ridge, BC) and recently, since 2003, in Ottawa, Canada.

Biography

Jeff's father was in the military and mother a teacher. The family lived in Ottawa and Camp Borden, Ontario as well as London, England. He took some classical and jazz guitar as a youth.

His band "Annihilator" was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada by Jeff Waters in 1984. He wrote and recorded the song "Annihilator" (different to the track of the same name released on the 1994 album, King of the Kill) with singer John Bates. This original version of "Annihilator" was released on the special edition of the 2005 album Schizo Deluxe.

Waters and Bates then recruited drummer Paul Malek and bassist Dave Scott. This lineup lasted a year and a demo titled "Welcome To Your Death" was produced during this time. Attention worldwide was given to this demo and it was a sought after/highly acclaimed cassette demo tape. After John Bates and Dave Scott left the band (before the WTYD demo was released and citing "artistic differences" and "personality conflicts"), Jeff Waters and drummer Paul Malek recorded the well-known demo titled "Phantasmagoria, in 1986. This was said to be the 3rd most-traded cassette tape in metal in the 80's, along with Metallica and Megadeth's demos. Some tracks written at this time, by Jeff Waters and John Bates, ended up on Annihilator's first 2 official studio cds (Alice In Hell and Never, Neverland). A 3rd demo was recorded by Waters/Malek in 1987 and was sent only to labels. It included songs that would end up on the first 2 Annihilator studio cds. Waters relocated to Vancouver in 1987, where he assembled a whole new line-up, including former D.O.A. bassist Randy Rampage, on vocals. The band took the metal scene by storm with their debut 1989 release "Alice in Hell", with reported sales in the hundreds of thousands upon release. Annihilator embarked on their first world tours and, after a successful tour with Testament in the USA and Canada, singer Randy Rampage quit the band to retain his seniority at a job in North Vancouver, working on the shipping docks. Without a singer, Jeff Waters found ex-Omen singer Coburn Pharr and the band surprised even their label by releasing Never, Neverland, a cd with sales that quickly surpassed the debut. After tours with Judas Priest, Pantera and headline tours around the world, the band was dealt by Roadrunner Records to Sony USA. The 3rd release from the band in 1993 "Set The World On Fire" did well in Europe and Asia but was not as well received in the USA. Roadrunner Records (and most other labels) dropped many metal acts that year and Annihilator was dropped. While most late-80’s era metal bands disappeared, Annihilator went on to forge 10 more studio CDs, DVDs and live releases, all consistently selling well in Europe/Asia and some (like "King Of The Kill 1995 and 2010's self-titled release) had very impressive sales figures.

Annihilator has been touring Europe and Asia constantly since 1989. Despite no touring, proper releases, virtually no press and label interest in Canada and the USA, Annihilator has become the biggest selling Canadian Metal band of all-time, yet sales in the millions are mostly due to Asia and Europe. Most of Annihilator's catalogue cannot even be found in the band's home country of Canada. Jeff Waters was quoted saying "I live a few blocks from the Ottawa Citizen newspaper. One day, a few years ago (2005) I contacted the Entertainment editor by email and introduced myself, gave him links to our web site and info, and asked if he might spare a few minutes to talk with me about the band (as I live a few minutes walking from his office). He told me to mail him a cd and he would consider reviewing it. He didn't. It actually made me a bit sad, as I have been waving the flag for Canadian metal and Canadian music for over 21 years abroad and also have sold more than any other metal band from this fine land. Yet I could not even get a review or interview with our nation's capital newspaper, when local artist's with no deal and no cd releases, were actually getting full page/front page stories. The last thing I needed was coverage in Ottawa but I thought, out of principle, I should try. Shot down in flames! ha!"

In 2007, Annihlator released the cd titled "Metal". It's ten new tracks were recorded by Jeff Waters (guitar, bass and lead vocals on one song), drum legend Mike Mangini and Dave Padden (long-time vocalist and touring guitarist/vocalist). Metal also features sensational performances by some of metal’s finest players and Annihilator’s good friends, like Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom), Danko Jones (Danko Jones), Michael Amott and Angela Gossow (Arch Enemy), Corey Beaulieu (Trivium), William Adler (Lamb Of God), Jeff Loomis (Nevermore), Jesper Strømblad (In Flames), Steve ´Lips` Kudlow (Anvil), Anders Bjørler (The Haunted), Mike Mangini (Steve Vai, Extreme, Annihilator), Jacob Lynam (Lynam) and more.

"If you pick up only one metal cd this year, pick this one up! If it wasn't for Annihilator, there wouldn't be an In Flames." - Jesper Strömblad (In Flames)

"I listen to Jeff's new Annihilator cd 'Metal' in my car while zipping my son, Justis, off to high-school each morning. He puts it in the cd player and shows me all his favorite spots; it makes me proud that he digs good metal!" - Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)

"Annihilator's ‘Metal’ is, and will live on as, a classic record." - Willie Adler (Lamb Of God)

"The whole concept of the album is definitely fun and you don't have to be a guitar player to enjoy it either. It's Annihilator, it's Metal. End of story." - Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom)

"With all the guests on the new Annihilator album, 'Metal', it's obvious how much of an influence Jeff Waters has had on musicians everywhere. Now it's time for the next generation to find out how great this band is." - Danko Jones (Danko Jones)

Jeff Waters has been cited by a vast majority of metal musicians worldwide as an influence on their own music. Artists from bands as diverse as 3 Doors Down, Slipknot, Nickleback, Megadeth, Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God, In Flames, Danko Jones, H.I.M., Children Of Bodom, Johannes "Axeman" Losbäck of WOLF Trivium and many more acknowledge either being influenced by Waters' writing or guitar playing or simply just being a fan of the band or his guitar playing. Most all agree that Annihilator and Jeff Waters have had a huge influence on the metal scene.

Music writer Joel McIver identifies Waters as the 3rd best Heavy Metal guitar player in his book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists. Jeff Waters is also commonly described on the internet as the most under-rated guitar player and metal songwriter of all time. He is also compared often Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters as being a genius multi-instrumentalist and writer.

Jeff Waters is reported to have written many "hit" songs for other artists, under an assumed name, in the country ballad and pop ballad genre.

Waters has frequently changed Annihilator's line-up throughout its run. In the early days of Annihilator, a stable line-up was a goal of Jeff Waters, however members leaving due to family issues, substance abuse and work commitments left Jeff Waters seemingly always searching for replacements. In fact, Waters had taken on the role of guitar player, bass player, engineer, producer and writer, almost from the very first years of the band. After some time, Waters decided to embrace the idea of working with as many other musicians as possible, attracting the likes of some of the world's greatest musicians (ex. Mike Mangini -drummer for Annihilator, Steve Vai, Dream Theatre, Extreme) and Waters performed all the bass guitar on all Annihilator cds as well as guitars, vocals and engineering, mixing, producing and mastering duties. Jeff Waters performed as lead vocalist for 3 cds and on the songs "Holding On" from 2004's All for You, "Too Far Gone" from the 2005 album Schizo Deluxe and "Operation Annihilation" from 2007's Metal.

Watersound Studios Inc. has been Waters' studio since 1994, recently (2003) relocated from Maple Ridge, BC to Ottawa, ON. A well-known and sought-after mixing engineer, engineer, producer and mastering engineer, Jeff Waters continues to thrive with Annihilator in Europe. The latest Annihilator cd, 13th studio release and self-titled, has been the band's biggest selling cd in a decade. Touring and audience attendance has grown dramatically for Annihilator in the last 4 years, bringing the band in front of massive crowds at summer festivals and headlining tours.

Annihilator has "returned" to Canada for 2 live shows; the first time the band has played live in North America since 1993. On July 10, 2011, Annihilator headlined the Quebec City Imperial Theatre to a sold-out crowd and there was close to 700 people that could not get in the packed venue. Annihilator are scheduled to play the main stage (along with KISS and Motorhead) on July 24, 2011 at Montreal's Heavy MTL Festival.

Equipment

In the early stages of his career Waters used a Hamer
Hamer Guitars
Hamer Guitars is an American manufacturer of electric guitars. Founded in 1973 by vintage guitar shop owners, Jol Dantzig and his business partner Paul Hamer. Early instruments featured guitar designs based on the Gibson Explorer and Flying V...

 Flying V. Around 1994, he began to experiment with other guitars and over the next few years used classic models such as a Gibson SG
Gibson SG
At the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior , the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom. However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special...

 and Gibson Les Paul
Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...

 to achieve the diversity of sounds in Annihilator's music during this time period. He would also use a Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...

 from time to time in the studio and a Gibson Flying V Gothic in live stage. Jeff has been known to use an ESP
ESP Guitars
, located in North Hollywood, California, is an American-based, Japanese-owned manufacturer of electric guitars and basses.- History :In 1975, Hisatake Shibuya opened a shop called Electric Sound Products in Tokyo. It provided custom replacement parts for guitars. In 1976, ESP gained a reputation...

 Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...

 signature Flying V that he owns and it was this guitar that he used to record Schizo Deluxe
Schizo Deluxe
Schizo Deluxe is the eleventh studio album by the band Annihilator. It was released in 2005.-Track listing:-Credits:*Jeff Waters - Guitars, Bass, Lead Vocals on "Too Far Gone"*Dave Padden - Vocals*Tony Chappelle - Drums...

 as mentioned in the video section of annihilatormetal.com. Jeff currently plays Epiphone
Epiphone
The Epiphone Company is a musical instrument manufacturer founded in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulos. Epiphone was bought by Chicago Musical Instrument Company, which also owned Gibson Guitar Corporation, in 1957. Epiphone was Gibson's main rival in the archtop market...

 Annihilation-V Guitars (his own model, available in Red or Black, with custom pickups, kill switch and other modifications), previously endorsing Ran Guitars. On a tour in Europe in November 2009, Jeff used a prototype of the Epiphone Annihilation-V Flying V, which is now for sale. The new Annihilation-V shape is very similar to the original flying V, but has a smaller body and four cosmetic lines cut into the center of the V. It comes in "Annihilator Red" and Pitch black. For amplification, he currently uses the Hughes and Kettner Coreblade head.

Guest appearances

Year Artist Album Song/s
1989 Defiance
Defiance
- Film and theatre :* Defiance , a film starring Jan-Michael Vincent* Defiance , a film starring Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber* Defiance , a play by John Patrick Shanley- Games :...

Product of Society
Product of Society
Product of Society was the debut album by thrash metal band Defiance. It was released in 1989 on Roadracer Records. It was the only album by Defiance to feature Ken Elkington on vocals and had cover art by Ed Repka...

Lead Guitar on "Deadly Intentions"
2003 Merendine Atomiche Walk Across Fire Game Over
Soulscar
Soulscar
Soulscar is a heavy metal band from North Vancouver, Canada. Their music has been described as a cross between thrash and melodic death metal.- Biography :...

Python Anti-Faith
2005 Roadrunner United
Roadrunner United
Roadrunner United was a project organized by the heavy metal record label Roadrunner Records to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It culminated in an album released worldwide on October 11, 2005, entitled The All-Star Sessions...

The All-Star Sessions The Dagger and Independent (Voice of the Voiceless)
2005 Reckless Tide Repent Or Seal Your Fate Self Destruct and Misery
2006 Legen Beltza Dimension of Pain War of Wars
Memorain
Memorain
Memorain is a speed/thrash metal band from Greece, formed by guitarist/vocalist Ilias Papadakis in 1999. After a few line up changes in 2001 the band recorded their first demo CD titled "Until You Die"...

Reduced to Ashes TV War
2007 After Forever
After Forever
After Forever was a Dutch symphonic metal band with strong progressive metal influences. The band relied on the use of both soprano vocals and death grunts. In February 2009, it was announced that After Forever had disbanded.-Biography:...

After Forever
After Forever (album)
After Forever is the eponymous fifth and final album by Dutch symphonic metal band, After Forever. It was released in the United States on September 28, 2007. The bonus track "Lonely" appears on the digipack edition. The album reached position No. 6 on the Dutch album charts.-Track listing:All...

De-Energized
Reckless Tide Helleraser Vicious Circle
2007 Dew-Scented
Dew-Scented
Dew-Scented is a German thrash metal, death metal band. They have released eight studio albums and are currently signed to Metal Blade Records and Prosthetic Records . Their name is inspired by the writings of Edgar Allan Poe...

Incinerate
Incinerate (album)
Incinerate is the seventh full-length album by the German thrash metal band Dew-Scented. This was Uwe Werning's last album with the band.-Track listing:# "Exordium " – 00:56 # "Vanish Away" – 03:41# "Final Warning" – 03:08...

Perdition for All
2008 Destruction
Destruction (band)
Destruction is a German thrash metal band. They are considered one of the "three kings" of the Teutonic thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator and Sodom...

D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.
D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.
D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. is the tenth studio album by German thrash metal band Destruction. The album was released on August 29, 2008 by AFM Records worldwide and Candlelight Records in the United States....

Urge (The Greed of Gain)
Heavenwood Redemption Bridge to Neverland
Outcast Self-Injected Reality Autonomy In Progress
2009 Winters Dawn The Winter Is Dawning Raptors
2010 Fozzy Chasing the Grail
Chasing the Grail
Chasing the Grail is the fourth album from the Heavy Metal band Fozzy. It is their first album since the release of All That Remains and was released on January 26, 2010.- Background :...

Martyr No More and God Pounds His Nails
2010 Lord Volture Beast of Thunder Pure Evil (Hides in the Dark)
2010 Rhemorha I Сжигая Дни
2011 Hell:on TBA My Doll
2011 Boarders R-Existence 4th Reich


Jeff Waters will guest in the third cd of Firewind
Firewind
Firewind is a Greek power metal band. Formed in 1998, the group is currently signed to Century Media Records and was originally a small project created by guitarist, Gus G. to showcase his demo, Nocturnal Symphony in 1998. Firewind later became a full band over three years later when they recorded...

's keyboardist Bob Katsionis
Bob Katsionis
Babis "Bob" Katsionis , born on February 17, 1977 in Athens, Greece, is the rhythm guitarist and keyboard player for the heavy metal/power metal bands Firewind, Revolution Renaissance and Outloud.-Appearances:...

. Jeff also revealed to French fans after a show that Alexi Laiho asked him to play a guitar solo on Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993, the group currently consists of Alexi Laiho , Roope Latvala , Janne Wirman , Henkka Seppälä , and Jaska Raatikainen...

's next album.

External links

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