Lee Altus is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 heavy metal

Heavy metal music

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...

 guitarist. Altus first came to public attention in the mid-80s with his original band, Heathen

Heathen (band)

Heathen is an American thrash metal band originating from the Bay Area San Francisco, founded in 1984 by guitarist Lee Altus and drummer Carl Sacco...

, where Altus displayed his highly technical neoclassical

Neo-classical metal

Neo-classical metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that is heavily influenced by classical music. It refers to a very technical performanceExact quote from the french text: "L'arrivée du néoclassique remet au goût du jour la virtuosité et le travail de l'instrument", « Les secrets du metal-...

 guitar playing style. He was a principal songwriter and founding member of Heathen as well, playing on all three of their LP's, Breaking The Silence

Breaking the silence

Breaking The Silence is an Israeli Non-Governmental Organization established by Israel Defense Forces soldiers and veterans who collect and provide testimonies about their military service in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem during the Second Intifada, giving serving and discharged...

, Victims of Deception

Victims of Deception

Victims of Deception is the second album by the US thrash metal band Heathen released in 1991 by Roadrunner Records.It was re-issued by Metal Mind Productions in 2006 as a digipak in a limited amount of 2000 numbered copies....

and The Evolution of Chaos

The Evolution of Chaos

The Evolution of Chaos is the third studio album by American thrash metal band Heathen. It is their first album in 19 years since 1991's Victims of Deception...

. During this time he was considered for the vacant position in Megadeth

Megadeth

Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...

 filled by Jeff Young

Jeff Young

Jeff Young is an American guitarist. He graduated from Musicians Institute in 1985, and is best known for his time with the thrash metal band Megadeth, appearing on the 1988 album So Far, So Good... So What!...

, but declined due to Megadeth's potentially dangerous drug heavy life style, and the job was given instead to Marty Friedman

Marty Friedman (guitarist)

Marty Friedman is a guitarist, well known for his tenure as the lead/rhythm guitarist for thrash metal band Megadeth, which lasted almost a decade...

.

After Heathen broke up in 1992 Altus moved to Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 along with his fellow ex-Heathen members Doug Piercy

Doug Piercy

Doug Piercy is an American heavy metal guitarist. He played in the cult classic San Francisco heavy metal band Anvil Chorus in the early 80's. Playing in Control briefly, he eventually moved on to his best known project, Heathen in 1985...

 and Darren Minter.