Nuno Bettencourt
Encyclopedia
Nuno Duarte Gil Mendes Bettencourt (born September 20, 1966) is a Portuguese guitarist
and singer-songwriter
best known for his role as the lead guitarist of the Boston
rock
band Extreme
whose hits include the acoustic ballads "More Than Words
" and "Hole Hearted". The songs reached #1 and #4, respectively, on the Billboard
Hot 100 singles chart in 1991.
He has since recorded a solo project called Schizophonic
as well as with bands he founded including Mourning Widows
, Population 1, DramaGods
, The Satellite Party
(headed by Jane's Addiction
's then-former frontman and Lollapalooza
co-founder Perry Farrell
), and then reunited with Extreme to record new music and tour.
Since 1990, Bettencourt has had his own line of custom guitars designed by Washburn Guitars
. His line is known as the N-Series, and is currently promoting the Washburn N4
.
and heavy metal
guitar despite his most popular commercial hits being acoustic songs. Bettencourt's technical guitar playing is influenced by many different guitar players who have key attributes in their playing, that have rubbed off on Nuno such as Eddie Van Halen
, Al Di Meola
and Jimmy Page
, while his solos and sense of melody are influenced by Brian May
of Queen
. He is particularly adept at arpeggios articulated via string-skipping tapping. One of the strongest elements in Nuno's playing is his sense of rhythm, often using a very loose wrist technique to execute fast triplet picking licks to create a funky sound to his rhythm playing and also his use of poly-rhythms to blur bar lines and create a unique sound.
, Terceira, Azores, Portugal
, to Ezequiel Mendes Bettencourt and wife Aureolina da Cunha Gil de Ávila. Bettencourt's family, parents and five brothers Luís, Roberto, George, Paul and John along with 4 sisters Fatima, Ivone, Teresa and Helena moved to Hudson, Massachusetts
when he was four. Bettencourt lived on Main Street in Hudson for 21 years.
Initially, Bettencourt had little interest in music, preferring to spend his time playing hockey
and soccer. His first instrument was the drums and he played them exclusively until his brother, Luis, began to teach him how to play guitar.
While Bettencourt was slow to adopt the instrument under his brother's tutelage, his skills quickly developed when he began teaching himself, and he has mentioned in many interviews that he would skip many school days to practice upwards of 7 hours a day. In his sophomore and junior years of high school, Bettencourt dropped out of sports so he could focus on playing guitar. He would eventually drop out of high school for the same reason.
As a guitarist, one of Bettencourt's earliest influences was Eddie Van Halen
. However, as he developed his craft as a guitarist and songwriter, his influences expanded to embrace The Beatles
, Led Zeppelin
, Prince
, Queen
, Pat Travers
, Paco de Lucía
, Al Di Meola
.
, Bettencourt rose to international prominence as a guitar player after he joined the Boston-area group Extreme
in 1985. Signed to A&M Records
shortly after Bettencourt joined the group, the band released its debut record, Extreme
, in 1989.
In 1990, Extreme released their most critically acclaimed album, Pornograffitti
, which included the hits "More Than Words
" and "Hole Hearted". The album also has one of the most impressive guitar solos to date, The "Flight of the Wounded Bumblebee" an interpretation of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee", which is the intro guitar solo to the Track "He-Man Woman Hater".
The band followed up with III Sides to Every Story
in 1992. Nuno composed and arranged the brass and string sections for this album and the full orchestra on III Sides to Every Story.
In 1993, Bettencourt co-wrote and produced "Where Are You Going" for the Super Mario Bros.
movie. He also joined Robert Palmer in the studio to record Palmer's album Honey.
In 1995, Extreme released the album, Waiting for the Punchline
, but the band broke up in 1996 when Bettencourt expressed his desire to follow a solo career. Shortly after, singer Gary Cherone
went on to become the lead singer of Van Halen
.
In 2007, the band reformed with the original line up (with the exception of Paul Geary
) to begin work on a new album, Saudades de Rock
, released on August 12, 2008, and subsequent tour.
, which he had been working on for five years. The album received good reviews but did not sell well.
On December 16, 1997, Bettencourt's new band - Mourning Widows
(whose name was inspired by a writing he had seen on a church wall back in Portugal), had a self-titled debut album
released in Japan on Polydor Records
. It sold 45,000 in the first month. The band featured Roberto Carlos' son Donovan Bettencourt on bass
and New York drummer Jeff Consi.
In 2000, Mourning Widow's follow-up, Furnished Souls for Rent
originally released in Japan, and then in the U.S. Both Mourning Widows releases cultivated a strong following in Japan and the New England
region of the U.S.
In 2008, Bettencourt was featured on the soundtrack for the motion picture Smart People
. Bettencourt is credited on the cover on the soundtrack as well. The soundtrack also features the Gary Cherone track, "Need I Say More", and Baby Animals selections. The album was released by Hollywood Records and is available on iTunes.
In 2009, Bettencourt was featured in a song and video called "Best Night Ever" by Marshall
, a character on How I Met Your Mother
. The video was a parody of Extreme's "More Than Words" video, in which the entire main cast of How I Met Your Mother made appearances.
.
In 2004, Population 1 released Sessions from Room Four as well as an east coast tour in the fall of that year. Due to legal issues, the name Population 1 was dropped in 2005 and the band was renamed to Near Death Experience, then again, renamed to DramaGods
.
DramaGods
released their first album in December 2005 available as an import via Victor Entertainment
(Japan). The band then made their record available as a digital download on iTunes
in early 2006.
DramaGods are currently seeking a record deal for release of their first album under the new name in the U.S. After an explosive debut on the increasingly popular The Late Late
with Craig Ferguson
, the band (still called 'Population 1' at that point), later appeared on the social networking website MySpace
, featuring videos and songs from the aforementioned Dramagods album, entitled Love.
Nuno decided to make the album available through iTunes
before procuring an American record deal.
Bettencourt frequently toured with DramaGods in Japan where they appeared at the Udo Music Festival along with KISS
, Santana
, Jeff Beck
, The Doobie Brothers
, Alice in Chains
, The Pretenders
, Ben Folds Five
, and others in July 2006 shortly after Bettencourt took part in a three date reunion tour with Extreme
in New England.
(Genesis, GTR), Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones
and Mr. Big
/Racer X
guitarist Paul Gilbert
.
is Jane's Addiction
frontman Perry Farrell
's new project which featured Bettencourt as lead guitarist (Nuno left the band in July 2007, citing disagreements about the direction of the live show), along with DramaGods drummer Kevin Figueiredo, bassist Carl Restivo (who also played with Extreme in the Azores in 2004), and Etty Farrell on backing vocals. An earlier lineup of the band with Perry Farrell, Etty Farrell, Nuno, Kevin Figueiredo, and Steve Ferlazo (Dramagods) on keyboards performed at the 2005 Lollapalooza
festival.
Bettencourt helped produce Ultra Payloaded
, the debut album by Satellite Party released on May 29, 2007 on Columbia Records. On June 29, 2007, they performed alongside Pearl Jam
, Kings of Leon
and Incubus
in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
In late July 2007, Nuno Bettencourt and Drummer Kfigg departed Satellite Party.
contains a song on which Bettencourt appears and was released in June 2006. Sully Erna
, Vince Neil
, Shannon Larkin
and Bettencourt join Angel in the video for the track "MF 2" which was shot atop the Aladdin parking garage.
lead singer Steve Perry
, Bettencourt has teamed with him to write and arrange songs. He also has writing and recording engagements with Maverick Records
' Tantric
(Bettencourt co-wrote Tantric's hit single "Hey Now"), Hollywood recording group BB Mak, Toni Braxton
, and numerous others. Nuno announced in November 2009 that he will be touring with Pop Superstar Rihanna on her next world tour as her lead guitarist, having appeared alongside her in several TV shows and other performances. Nuno also stated that Extreme will continue.
Nuno has also collaborated with his wife Suze DeMarchi
and with all of her Baby Animals
bandmates. On Baby Animals
second release, Shaved And Dangerous (July 1996), Nuno produced a few songs and co-wrote Because I Can, which he can clearly be heard playing guitar on as well. Additionally, on Nuno's first solo release, Schizophonic (1997) all members of Baby Animals appear. Suze sings background with Nuno on the single Crave. Dave Leslie (guitar), Frank Celenza (drums) and Eddie Parise (bass) all join Nuno on the track Two Weeks In Dizneeland. Nuno also contributed greatly in writing, recording and producing Suze's solo debut from 1998, Telelove
.
Nuno also produced Dweezil Zappa
's 1991 release on Barking Pumpkin Records
, Confessions
. In this record, Nuno sings lead vocals for the first time on a semi-ballad entitled The Kiss, as well as playing guitar and singing background vocals on some other tracks. Extreme members Gary Cherone and Pat Badger also contributed.
Nuno also played guitar on a song featured on the CBS series 'How I Met Your Mother
', and it is also on the website www.itwasthebestnightever.com.
Nuno was the lead guitarist for the R&B
artist Rihanna
for her Last Girl on Earth Tour
.
Nuno is currently the lead guitarist for the R&B
artist Rihanna
for her Loud Tour.
. They have two children together: Bebe Orleans (b. February 2, 1996) and Lorenzo Aureolino (b. August 12, 2002). They have recently moved to Sydney
from Los Angeles
.
Bettencourt cites Italian food as his favorite cuisine. His guilty pleasures include Sushi and Butterfinger bars (Music Choice).
unveiled the Washburn N4
Nuno Bettencourt Signature Series - a series of Bettencourt-designed guitars which endures today.
The Nuno Bettencourt models are flagshipped by the American hand-made Washburn N4
. The Washburn N4
guitar is a small reverse headstock super-strat which features the unique Stephen's Extended Cutaway neck joint for easy access to the higher frets. It also contains Bill Lawrence
and Seymour Duncan
pickups, and a Floyd Rose
licensed tremolo. The production budget model of this guitar which is built in China is known as the N2 and features a standard bolt-on neck. The N3 was a short run Korean reproduction of the Washburn N4
using Washburn stock pickups. The original N2 and N3 guitars were prototype guitars built for Nuno. The N2 lacking the Stephen's Extended Cutaway and the N3 using a Bill Lawrence L500-R in the neck rather than the Seymour Duncan 59. Other models include The N5 and N6. Nuno has also endorsed several Washburn acoustic models. As well as a line of 'set-neck' electric guitars Including the P- Series which was released in various models with a more retro, deep cutaway style.
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 singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
best known for his role as the lead guitarist of the Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Extreme
Extreme (band)
Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen...
whose hits include the acoustic ballads "More Than Words
More Than Words
"More Than Words" is a ballad written and originally performed by the rock band Extreme. It is built around acoustic guitar work by Nuno Bettencourt and the vocals of Gary Cherone . Released in 1990 on the album Extreme II: Pornograffiti, the song marked a departure from the funk metal that had...
" and "Hole Hearted". The songs reached #1 and #4, respectively, on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100 singles chart in 1991.
He has since recorded a solo project called Schizophonic
Schizophonic (Nuno Bettencourt album)
Schizophonic is an album from guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, known for being the guitarist in the band Extreme. Bettencourt is credited on the cover simply as "Nuno"...
as well as with bands he founded including Mourning Widows
Mourning Widows
Mourning Widows was a musical project led by former Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt. The band was formed in 1997, and they released two albums during their career. Despite not being widely released in the US, both albums were successful in Japan...
, Population 1, DramaGods
DramaGods
DramaGods is a rock band led by Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt.The band originally started as a solo project from Bettencourt when he released his album Population 1 in 2002. On the album, he recorded all the instruments on most of the tracks...
, The Satellite Party
The Satellite Party
Satellite Party is an alternative rock band conceived by Perry Farrell, former frontman for Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros, following the demise of Jane's Addiction in 2004. Other members currently include Carl Restivo and Farrell's wife, Etty Lau Farrell...
(headed by Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
's then-former frontman and Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
co-founder Perry Farrell
Perry Farrell
Perry Farrell is the frontman for the alternative rock band Jane's Addiction. Farrell created the touring festival Lollapalooza as a farewell tour for Jane's Addiction in 1991; it has since evolved into an annual destination festival. Farrell continues to produce Lollapalooza with partners William...
), and then reunited with Extreme to record new music and tour.
Since 1990, Bettencourt has had his own line of custom guitars designed by Washburn Guitars
Washburn Guitars
Washburn Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer. It was established in 1883 in Chicago, Illinois. Washburn is a part of U.S. Music Corporation.- History :...
. His line is known as the N-Series, and is currently promoting the Washburn N4
Washburn N4
The Washburn N4 is an electric guitar model, developed in collaboration between Nuno Bettencourt, Washburn and the Seattle-based luthier Stephen Davies. Since its introduction in mid-late 1990, it became Nuno Bettencourt's main guitar and it is marketed by Washburn as Nuno Bettencourt's signature...
.
Musical style
As a guitarist and songwriter, Bettencourt draws from an eclectic variety of styles and influences. However, his most prominent work has been in the realm of rockRock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and 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...
guitar despite his most popular commercial hits being acoustic songs. Bettencourt's technical guitar playing is influenced by many different guitar players who have key attributes in their playing, that have rubbed off on Nuno such as Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
, Al Di Meola
Al Di Meola
Al Di Meola is an acclaimed American jazz fusion and Latin guitarist, composer, and record producer of Italian origin. With a musical career that has spanned more than three decades, he has become respected as one of the most influential guitarists in jazz to date...
and Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
, while his solos and sense of melody are influenced by Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
of Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
. He is particularly adept at arpeggios articulated via string-skipping tapping. One of the strongest elements in Nuno's playing is his sense of rhythm, often using a very loose wrist technique to execute fast triplet picking licks to create a funky sound to his rhythm playing and also his use of poly-rhythms to blur bar lines and create a unique sound.
Early years
Nuno Bettencourt was born on September 20, 1966 in Praia da VitóriaPraia da Vitória
Praia da Vitória is a municipality in Portugal's Autonomous Region of the Azores. The second largest administrative division on the island of Terceira, Praia da Vitória occupies the northern coast of the island and extends halfway into the interior having at its frontiers Pico Alto and the shield...
, Terceira, Azores, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, to Ezequiel Mendes Bettencourt and wife Aureolina da Cunha Gil de Ávila. Bettencourt's family, parents and five brothers Luís, Roberto, George, Paul and John along with 4 sisters Fatima, Ivone, Teresa and Helena moved to Hudson, Massachusetts
Hudson, Massachusetts
Hudson is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 19,063 at the 2010 census. The town is located in central Massachusetts, about a 40-minute drive, or about , west of Boston, and about a 20-minute drive, or about , northeast of Worcester.Before its...
when he was four. Bettencourt lived on Main Street in Hudson for 21 years.
Initially, Bettencourt had little interest in music, preferring to spend his time playing hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
and soccer. His first instrument was the drums and he played them exclusively until his brother, Luis, began to teach him how to play guitar.
While Bettencourt was slow to adopt the instrument under his brother's tutelage, his skills quickly developed when he began teaching himself, and he has mentioned in many interviews that he would skip many school days to practice upwards of 7 hours a day. In his sophomore and junior years of high school, Bettencourt dropped out of sports so he could focus on playing guitar. He would eventually drop out of high school for the same reason.
As a guitarist, one of Bettencourt's earliest influences was Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
. However, as he developed his craft as a guitarist and songwriter, his influences expanded to embrace The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
, Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, Pat Travers
Pat Travers
Patrick Henry "Pat" Travers is a Canadian rock guitarist, keyboardist and singer who began his recording career with Polydor Records in the mid-1970s...
, Paco de Lucía
Paco de Lucía
Paco de Lucía, born Francisco Sánchez Gómez , is a Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist and composer. He is considered by many to be one of the finest guitarists in the world and the greatest guitarist of the flamenco genre...
, Al Di Meola
Al Di Meola
Al Di Meola is an acclaimed American jazz fusion and Latin guitarist, composer, and record producer of Italian origin. With a musical career that has spanned more than three decades, he has become respected as one of the most influential guitarists in jazz to date...
.
Extreme
Unable to make a dent in the music world with his Boston-based hair-metal act SinfulSinful
To be sinful is to have committed an act that violates a known moral rule.Sinful may also refer to:* Sinful , a 1979 hard rock album* Sinful , a 1965 Mexican film-See also:* Sin * Sinner...
, Bettencourt rose to international prominence as a guitar player after he joined the Boston-area group Extreme
Extreme (band)
Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen...
in 1985. Signed to A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
shortly after Bettencourt joined the group, the band released its debut record, Extreme
Extreme (album)
Extreme is the first studio album of Boston funk-metal band Extreme, released on March 14, 1989. Despite being released on a major label, the album did not sell very well. It produced four singles: "Little Girls", "Kid Ego", "Mutha " and the radio-only "Play with Me"...
, in 1989.
In 1990, Extreme released their most critically acclaimed album, Pornograffitti
Pornograffitti
-Personnel:* Pat Badger - Bass Guitars, Backing Vocals* Nuno Bettencourt - Guitars, Piano, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals* Gary Cherone - Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals* Paul Geary - Decadent Drums, Percussion* Barbara Glynn - Mutha's Voice, "Decadence Dance"...
, which included the hits "More Than Words
More Than Words
"More Than Words" is a ballad written and originally performed by the rock band Extreme. It is built around acoustic guitar work by Nuno Bettencourt and the vocals of Gary Cherone . Released in 1990 on the album Extreme II: Pornograffiti, the song marked a departure from the funk metal that had...
" and "Hole Hearted". The album also has one of the most impressive guitar solos to date, The "Flight of the Wounded Bumblebee" an interpretation of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee", which is the intro guitar solo to the Track "He-Man Woman Hater".
The band followed up with III Sides to Every Story
III Sides to Every Story
Footnotes:"Peacemaker Die" is not included on the Republic of Korea edition."Don't Leave Me Alone" is available exclusively on the vinyl and cassette editions of the album, as well as on the Extragraffitti compilation album , "Tragic Comic" single, "Stop The World" single, and as a separate...
in 1992. Nuno composed and arranged the brass and string sections for this album and the full orchestra on III Sides to Every Story.
In 1993, Bettencourt co-wrote and produced "Where Are You Going" for the Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. (film)
Super Mario Bros. is a 1993 American action film directed by Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel. Based on the Super Mario Bros.video game and its entire franchise, the film features Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo, Dennis Hopper and Samantha Mathis. It tells the story of the Mario brothers, Mario and...
movie. He also joined Robert Palmer in the studio to record Palmer's album Honey.
In 1995, Extreme released the album, Waiting for the Punchline
Waiting for the Punchline
Waiting for the Punchline is Extreme's fourth album, which was released in 1995. It was labeled as a "grunge" album, but despite stripped down production and frontman Gary Cherone's gruffer, less-tuneful delivery, it otherwise lacked significant deviation from Extreme's style on previous recordings...
, but the band broke up in 1996 when Bettencourt expressed his desire to follow a solo career. Shortly after, singer Gary Cherone
Gary Cherone
Gary Francis Caine Cherone is an American rock singer-songwriter. He is best known for his work with the rock group Extreme, as well as his short stint as the lead singer for Van Halen on their 11th album Van Halen III and subsequent tour. In recent years he has released solo recordings. In 2007,...
went on to become the lead singer of Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
.
In 2007, the band reformed with the original line up (with the exception of Paul Geary
Paul Geary
Paul Geary is an American rock and roll drummer and manager. He was once the drummer for the Funk metal band, Extreme...
) to begin work on a new album, Saudades de Rock
Saudades de Rock
* Track 14 appears only on the European version released by Frontiers Records.* Japanese edition includes bonus track "Mr. Bates " instead of "Americocaine ".- Chart information :-Credits:*Gary Cherone - lead vocals...
, released on August 12, 2008, and subsequent tour.
Extreme hiatus period
In 1997, Bettencourt released his first solo effort, SchizophonicSchizophonic (Nuno Bettencourt album)
Schizophonic is an album from guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, known for being the guitarist in the band Extreme. Bettencourt is credited on the cover simply as "Nuno"...
, which he had been working on for five years. The album received good reviews but did not sell well.
On December 16, 1997, Bettencourt's new band - Mourning Widows
Mourning Widows
Mourning Widows was a musical project led by former Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt. The band was formed in 1997, and they released two albums during their career. Despite not being widely released in the US, both albums were successful in Japan...
(whose name was inspired by a writing he had seen on a church wall back in Portugal), had a self-titled debut album
Mourning Widows (album)
Mourning Widows is an album by Mourning Widows, a project led by former Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt. The album was first released by Polydor Records in Japan and later in the United States.-Track listing:...
released in Japan on Polydor Records
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
. It sold 45,000 in the first month. The band featured Roberto Carlos' son Donovan Bettencourt on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and New York drummer Jeff Consi.
In 2000, Mourning Widow's follow-up, Furnished Souls for Rent
Furnished Souls for Rent
Furnished Souls for Rent is the second album released by Mourning Widows, a band led by former Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt.-Track listing:All songs written by Nuno Bettencourt, except where noted.# "Furnished Souls for Rent" - 5:04...
originally released in Japan, and then in the U.S. Both Mourning Widows releases cultivated a strong following in Japan and the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
region of the U.S.
In 2008, Bettencourt was featured on the soundtrack for the motion picture Smart People
Smart People
Smart People is a 2008 American comedy-drama film starring Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page and Thomas Haden Church. The film was directed by Noam Murro, written by Mark Poirier and produced by Michael London, with Omar Amanat serving as executive producer.Smart People was filmed on...
. Bettencourt is credited on the cover on the soundtrack as well. The soundtrack also features the Gary Cherone track, "Need I Say More", and Baby Animals selections. The album was released by Hollywood Records and is available on iTunes.
In 2009, Bettencourt was featured in a song and video called "Best Night Ever" by Marshall
Marshall Eriksen
Marshall Eriksen is a fictional character in the American sitcom How I Met Your Mother, created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas and portrayed by Jason Segel.-Character profile:Marshall is an easy-going, naive optimist from St. Cloud, Minnesota...
, a character on How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
. The video was a parody of Extreme's "More Than Words" video, in which the entire main cast of How I Met Your Mother made appearances.
Population 1 & DramaGods
Bettencourt formed the recording entity Population 1 and released the self-titled and self-produced 2002 release, Population 1, on Universal/Japan and YBM/Korea. In support of the Population 1 (which featured him playing all instruments on most tracks), release in Japan and Korea, Bettencourt assembled a band with Joe Pessia on bass, Steve Ferlazzo on keyboards and back-up vocals, and Kevin Figueiredo on drums and back-up vocals. Steve Ferlazzo was also featured in Cherone’s next band carnation effort after Van Halen’s breakup,(Along with Pat Badger and Mike Mangini from Extreme)Tribe of JudahTribe of Judah (band)
Tribe of Judah is Gary Cherone's post-Van Halen band featuring several former members of Extreme. An eponymous EP was released in 2001 and a full-length album was released in late 2002. Tribe of Judah is different from Cherone's other work as it features a more industrial/electronic sound...
.
In 2004, Population 1 released Sessions from Room Four as well as an east coast tour in the fall of that year. Due to legal issues, the name Population 1 was dropped in 2005 and the band was renamed to Near Death Experience, then again, renamed to DramaGods
DramaGods
DramaGods is a rock band led by Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt.The band originally started as a solo project from Bettencourt when he released his album Population 1 in 2002. On the album, he recorded all the instruments on most of the tracks...
.
DramaGods
DramaGods
DramaGods is a rock band led by Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt.The band originally started as a solo project from Bettencourt when he released his album Population 1 in 2002. On the album, he recorded all the instruments on most of the tracks...
released their first album in December 2005 available as an import via Victor Entertainment
Victor Entertainment
is a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as...
(Japan). The band then made their record available as a digital download on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
in early 2006.
DramaGods are currently seeking a record deal for release of their first album under the new name in the U.S. After an explosive debut on the increasingly popular The Late Late
The Late Late Show (CBS TV series)
The Late Late Show is an American late-night television talk and variety show on CBS hosted by Craig Ferguson since 2005. It immediately follows Late Show with David Letterman and is produced by Letterman's Worldwide Pants Incorporated...
with Craig Ferguson
Craig Ferguson
Craig Ferguson is a Scottish American television host, stand-up comedian, writer, actor, director, author, and producer. He is the host of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, an Emmy Award-nominated, Peabody Award-winning late-night talk show that airs on CBS...
, the band (still called 'Population 1' at that point), later appeared on the social networking website MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
, featuring videos and songs from the aforementioned Dramagods album, entitled Love.
Nuno decided to make the album available through iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
before procuring an American record deal.
Bettencourt frequently toured with DramaGods in Japan where they appeared at the Udo Music Festival along with KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
, Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
, The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
, Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains
Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
, The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
, Ben Folds Five
Ben Folds Five
Ben Folds Five is an alternative rock trio formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The group comprises Ben Folds , Robert Sledge , and Darren Jessee . The group achieved mainstream success in the alternative, indie and pop music scenes...
, and others in July 2006 shortly after Bettencourt took part in a three date reunion tour with Extreme
Extreme (band)
Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen...
in New England.
Guitar Wars
Nuno Bettencourt's playing has been featured at 2004 on the Universal/Japan CD and DVD release of Guitar Wars featuring solo and collective performances of Bettencourt with many others, including Steve HackettSteve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
(Genesis, GTR), Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones (musician)
John Paul Jones is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer. Best known as the bassist, mandolinist, and keyboardist for English rock band Led Zeppelin, Jones has since developed a solo career and has gained even more respect as both a musician and a...
and Mr. Big
Mr. Big (band)
Mr. Big is an American rock supergroup, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1988. The band is a quartet composed of Eric Martin , Paul Gilbert , Billy Sheehan , and Pat Torpey ; Mr. Big also included Richie Kotzen, a reputable blues-based guitarist who replaced Gilbert in 1999...
/Racer X
Racer X
Racer X is an American heavy metal band formed in 1985 in Los Angeles, California. The group has gone through numerous lineup changes, including a hiatus, with founders guitarist Paul Gilbert and bassist Juan Alderete being the sole constant members.- 1980s :...
guitarist Paul Gilbert
Paul Gilbert
Paul Brandon Gilbert is an American guitarist. He is well known for his technical guitar work with Racer X and Mr...
.
The Satellite Party
The Satellite PartyThe Satellite Party
Satellite Party is an alternative rock band conceived by Perry Farrell, former frontman for Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros, following the demise of Jane's Addiction in 2004. Other members currently include Carl Restivo and Farrell's wife, Etty Lau Farrell...
is Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
frontman Perry Farrell
Perry Farrell
Perry Farrell is the frontman for the alternative rock band Jane's Addiction. Farrell created the touring festival Lollapalooza as a farewell tour for Jane's Addiction in 1991; it has since evolved into an annual destination festival. Farrell continues to produce Lollapalooza with partners William...
's new project which featured Bettencourt as lead guitarist (Nuno left the band in July 2007, citing disagreements about the direction of the live show), along with DramaGods drummer Kevin Figueiredo, bassist Carl Restivo (who also played with Extreme in the Azores in 2004), and Etty Farrell on backing vocals. An earlier lineup of the band with Perry Farrell, Etty Farrell, Nuno, Kevin Figueiredo, and Steve Ferlazo (Dramagods) on keyboards performed at the 2005 Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
festival.
Bettencourt helped produce Ultra Payloaded
Ultra Payloaded
Ultra Payloaded is the first album from Perry Farrell's latest group Satellite Party released by Columbia Records on May 29, 2007. It was preceded by a single, "Wish Upon a Dog Star"....
, the debut album by Satellite Party released on May 29, 2007 on Columbia Records. On June 29, 2007, they performed alongside Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
, Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon
Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion, Oklahoma but formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 1999. The band is composed of brothers Anthony Caleb Followill , Ivan Nathan Followill and Michael Jared Followill Kings of Leon is an American rock band that originated in Albion,...
and Incubus
Incubus (band)
Incubus is an American rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer Jose Pasillas while enrolled in high school and later expanded to include bassist Alex "Dirk Lance" Katunich, and Gavin "DJ Lyfe" Koppell;...
in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
In late July 2007, Nuno Bettencourt and Drummer Kfigg departed Satellite Party.
Criss Angel Mindfreak
The latest CD from magician Criss AngelCriss Angel
Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos , better known by the stage name Criss Angel, is an American illusionist, writer, director, musician, and actor...
contains a song on which Bettencourt appears and was released in June 2006. Sully Erna
Sully Erna
Salvatore Paul "Sully" Erna , is an American vocalist and primary songwriter for the American heavy metal band, Godsmack. Erna is also a guitarist and drummer, performing these both on albums and during live shows. He has a daughter named Skylar Brooke Erna and an older sister named Maria.-Early...
, Vince Neil
Vince Neil
Vincent Neil Wharton is an American vocalist and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.-Early life:Neil was born in Hollywood, California to Odie and Shirley Wharton...
, Shannon Larkin
Shannon Larkin
Shannon Larkin, born James Shannon Larkin on April 24, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois, is a musician best known for being the drummer of the heavy metal band Godsmack. He replaced the previous drummer Tommy Stewart in June 2002...
and Bettencourt join Angel in the video for the track "MF 2" which was shot atop the Aladdin parking garage.
Other Artists
Bettencourt is still active in the music industry. According to former JourneyJourney (band)
Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
lead singer Steve Perry
Steve Perry (musician)
Stephen Ray "Steve" Perry is an American singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Journey from 1977–1987 and 1995–1998. Perry had a successful solo career throughout the late 1980s and early '90s.Perry's voice has garnered acclaim from musical peers and music...
, Bettencourt has teamed with him to write and arrange songs. He also has writing and recording engagements with Maverick Records
Maverick Records
Maverick Recording Company is an American record label owned and operated by Warner Music Group, and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:...
' Tantric
Tantric (band)
Tantric is a rock band from Louisville, Kentucky. The group has released four studio albums since 2001; although, their last two albums only retain Tantric's original singer, Hugo Ferreira...
(Bettencourt co-wrote Tantric's hit single "Hey Now"), Hollywood recording group BB Mak, Toni Braxton
Toni Braxton
Toni Michelle Braxton is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Braxton has won six Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and five Billboard Music Awards and has sold over 60 million records worldwide...
, and numerous others. Nuno announced in November 2009 that he will be touring with Pop Superstar Rihanna on her next world tour as her lead guitarist, having appeared alongside her in several TV shows and other performances. Nuno also stated that Extreme will continue.
Nuno has also collaborated with his wife Suze DeMarchi
Suze DeMarchi
Suze DeMarchi is an Australian singer/songwriter best known for fronting the band Baby Animals .-Biography:...
and with all of her Baby Animals
Baby Animals
Baby Animals are a 1990s hard rock band from Australia.-Early history:The Baby Animals were formed in Sydney in 1989 by singer Suze DeMarchi, drummer Frank Celenza, guitarist Dave Leslie, and bassist Eddie Parise...
bandmates. On Baby Animals
Baby Animals
Baby Animals are a 1990s hard rock band from Australia.-Early history:The Baby Animals were formed in Sydney in 1989 by singer Suze DeMarchi, drummer Frank Celenza, guitarist Dave Leslie, and bassist Eddie Parise...
second release, Shaved And Dangerous (July 1996), Nuno produced a few songs and co-wrote Because I Can, which he can clearly be heard playing guitar on as well. Additionally, on Nuno's first solo release, Schizophonic (1997) all members of Baby Animals appear. Suze sings background with Nuno on the single Crave. Dave Leslie (guitar), Frank Celenza (drums) and Eddie Parise (bass) all join Nuno on the track Two Weeks In Dizneeland. Nuno also contributed greatly in writing, recording and producing Suze's solo debut from 1998, Telelove
Telelove
Telelove is the debut album by Suze DeMarchi former lead singer of Australian band the Baby Animals, released in March, 1999. The album's original title was to be Messages Delayed but was changed prior to release.- Track listing :...
.
Nuno also produced Dweezil Zappa
Dweezil Zappa
Dweezil Zappa is an American rock guitarist and occasional actor.-Early life:Zappa was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of musician Frank Zappa and Adelaide Gail Sloatman, who worked in business. He is the second of four siblings: his older sister, Moon, younger sister Diva and younger...
's 1991 release on Barking Pumpkin Records
Barking Pumpkin Records
Barking Pumpkin Records was a record label created by Frank Zappa in 1981. The label was initially distributed by CBS Records from 1981–1984 and Capitol Records from 1984 - 1993. Records sold outside of the US and Canada were distributed by the Music for Nations label. In 1993, after Zappa's death,...
, Confessions
Confessions (Dweezil Zappa album)
Confessions is an album by Dweezil Zappa. His third album, it was released in 1991 by Barking Pumpkin Records.-Track listing:All songs written by Dweezil Zappa, except as noted.#"Earth"#"Bad Girl"...
. In this record, Nuno sings lead vocals for the first time on a semi-ballad entitled The Kiss, as well as playing guitar and singing background vocals on some other tracks. Extreme members Gary Cherone and Pat Badger also contributed.
Nuno also played guitar on a song featured on the CBS series 'How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is an American sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 19, 2005, created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays.As a framing device, the main character, Ted Mosby with narration by Bob Saget, in the year 2030 recounts to his son and daughter the events that led to his meeting...
', and it is also on the website www.itwasthebestnightever.com.
Nuno was the lead guitarist for the R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
artist Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
for her Last Girl on Earth Tour
Last Girl on Earth Tour
The Last Girl on Earth Tour was the third concert tour by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna. Visiting Europe, Asia, North America and Australia, the tour supported her fourth studio album, Rated R . The tour was announced through MTV News in December 2009...
.
Nuno is currently the lead guitarist for the R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
artist Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
for her Loud Tour.
Personal life
On August 27, 1994, Bettencourt married singer Suze DeMarchiSuze DeMarchi
Suze DeMarchi is an Australian singer/songwriter best known for fronting the band Baby Animals .-Biography:...
. They have two children together: Bebe Orleans (b. February 2, 1996) and Lorenzo Aureolino (b. August 12, 2002). They have recently moved to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
from Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Bettencourt cites Italian food as his favorite cuisine. His guilty pleasures include Sushi and Butterfinger bars (Music Choice).
Washburn Guitars
In December 1990, Washburn GuitarsWashburn Guitars
Washburn Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer. It was established in 1883 in Chicago, Illinois. Washburn is a part of U.S. Music Corporation.- History :...
unveiled the Washburn N4
Washburn N4
The Washburn N4 is an electric guitar model, developed in collaboration between Nuno Bettencourt, Washburn and the Seattle-based luthier Stephen Davies. Since its introduction in mid-late 1990, it became Nuno Bettencourt's main guitar and it is marketed by Washburn as Nuno Bettencourt's signature...
Nuno Bettencourt Signature Series - a series of Bettencourt-designed guitars which endures today.
The Nuno Bettencourt models are flagshipped by the American hand-made Washburn N4
Washburn N4
The Washburn N4 is an electric guitar model, developed in collaboration between Nuno Bettencourt, Washburn and the Seattle-based luthier Stephen Davies. Since its introduction in mid-late 1990, it became Nuno Bettencourt's main guitar and it is marketed by Washburn as Nuno Bettencourt's signature...
. The Washburn N4
Washburn N4
The Washburn N4 is an electric guitar model, developed in collaboration between Nuno Bettencourt, Washburn and the Seattle-based luthier Stephen Davies. Since its introduction in mid-late 1990, it became Nuno Bettencourt's main guitar and it is marketed by Washburn as Nuno Bettencourt's signature...
guitar is a small reverse headstock super-strat which features the unique Stephen's Extended Cutaway neck joint for easy access to the higher frets. It also contains Bill Lawrence
Bill Lawrence (guitar maker)
Bill Lawrence is a recording musician and an electric guitar pickup designer/maker and guitar designer/maker in the musical instrument industry, designing pickups and guitars for Fender, Gibson, Peavey and other companies from the 1950s to the present.MusicianThe Bill Lawrence story began...
and Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan is a company that is best known for manufacturing of guitar pickups, and currently has a line of effects pedals. The company was founded in 1976 by guitarist and luthier Seymour W. Duncan and his then-wife Cathy Carter Duncan in Goleta, California, USA...
pickups, and a Floyd Rose
Floyd Rose
The Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo, or simply Floyd Rose, is a type of locking vibrato arm for a guitar. The first of its kind, Floyd D. Rose invented the locking vibrato in 1977, and it is now manufactured by a company of the same name...
licensed tremolo. The production budget model of this guitar which is built in China is known as the N2 and features a standard bolt-on neck. The N3 was a short run Korean reproduction of the Washburn N4
Washburn N4
The Washburn N4 is an electric guitar model, developed in collaboration between Nuno Bettencourt, Washburn and the Seattle-based luthier Stephen Davies. Since its introduction in mid-late 1990, it became Nuno Bettencourt's main guitar and it is marketed by Washburn as Nuno Bettencourt's signature...
using Washburn stock pickups. The original N2 and N3 guitars were prototype guitars built for Nuno. The N2 lacking the Stephen's Extended Cutaway and the N3 using a Bill Lawrence L500-R in the neck rather than the Seymour Duncan 59. Other models include The N5 and N6. Nuno has also endorsed several Washburn acoustic models. As well as a line of 'set-neck' electric guitars Including the P- Series which was released in various models with a more retro, deep cutaway style.
Discography
| Release Year | Artist | Album/Song Title | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Extreme Extreme (band) Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen... |
Extreme Extreme (album) Extreme is the first studio album of Boston funk-metal band Extreme, released on March 14, 1989. Despite being released on a major label, the album did not sell very well. It produced four singles: "Little Girls", "Kid Ego", "Mutha " and the radio-only "Play with Me"... |
A&M Records A&M Records A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:... |
| 1990 | Extreme Extreme (band) Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen... |
Pornograffitti Pornograffitti -Personnel:* Pat Badger - Bass Guitars, Backing Vocals* Nuno Bettencourt - Guitars, Piano, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals* Gary Cherone - Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals* Paul Geary - Decadent Drums, Percussion* Barbara Glynn - Mutha's Voice, "Decadence Dance"... |
A&M Records A&M Records A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:... |
| 1990 | Janet Jackson Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years... |
"Black Cat Black Cat (song) "Black Cat" is the sixth single from American recording artist Janet Jackson's fourth studio album, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 . The song was written by Jackson herself... " |
A&M Records A&M Records A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:... |
| 1990 | Jim Gilmore | Putting Back The Rock | |
| 1991 | Dweezil Zappa Dweezil Zappa Dweezil Zappa is an American rock guitarist and occasional actor.-Early life:Zappa was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of musician Frank Zappa and Adelaide Gail Sloatman, who worked in business. He is the second of four siblings: his older sister, Moon, younger sister Diva and younger... |
Confessions Confessions (Dweezil Zappa album) Confessions is an album by Dweezil Zappa. His third album, it was released in 1991 by Barking Pumpkin Records.-Track listing:All songs written by Dweezil Zappa, except as noted.#"Earth"#"Bad Girl"... |
Barking Pumpkin Records Barking Pumpkin Records Barking Pumpkin Records was a record label created by Frank Zappa in 1981. The label was initially distributed by CBS Records from 1981–1984 and Capitol Records from 1984 - 1993. Records sold outside of the US and Canada were distributed by the Music for Nations label. In 1993, after Zappa's death,... |
| 1991 | Various | Guitar's Practicing Musicians Vol. 2 | Red Distribution RED Distribution RED - An Artist Development Company is a Sony Music Entertainment-owned sales and marketing division that handles releases for over sixty independent record labels.... |
| 1992 | Extreme Extreme (band) Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen... |
III Sides to Every Story III Sides to Every Story Footnotes:"Peacemaker Die" is not included on the Republic of Korea edition."Don't Leave Me Alone" is available exclusively on the vinyl and cassette editions of the album, as well as on the Extragraffitti compilation album , "Tragic Comic" single, "Stop The World" single, and as a separate... |
A&M Records A&M Records A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:... |
| 1992 | Various | Guitars That Rule The World, Vol. 1 | Metal Blade Records Metal Blade Records Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music... |
| 1993 | Dan Reed Network Dan Reed Network The Dan Reed Network is a funk rock band formed by Dan Reed in Portland, Oregon, United States, in 1984. Dan Reed lended his vocals to a 1990 rap rock collaboration with the Portland Trail Blazers, "Bust a Bucket".-Breathless beginnings:... |
Mixin' It Up: The Best of the Dan Reed Network | Phonogram Records Phonogram Records Phonogram Records was started in 1962 as a joint venture between Philips Records and Deutsche Grammophon. In 1972, Phonogram was merged with Polydor Records into PolyGram.... |
| 1993 | Baby Animals Baby Animals Baby Animals are a 1990s hard rock band from Australia.-Early history:The Baby Animals were formed in Sydney in 1989 by singer Suze DeMarchi, drummer Frank Celenza, guitarist Dave Leslie, and bassist Eddie Parise... |
Shaved and Dangerous Shaved and Dangerous Shaved and Dangerous is the second studio album by Australian band the Baby Animals, released in 1993- Track listing :All tracks written by Suze DeMarchi, Dave Leslie and Eddie Parise unless otherwise noted.# "Backbone" - 5:18... |
BMG Arista/Ariola Limited |
| 1993 | Various | Super Mario Bros. Original Motion Picture Soundtrak / "Where Are You Going?" | Capitol Records Capitol Records Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine... |
| 1994 | Various | Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved KISS My Ass: Classic KISS Regrooved -Charts:Album - Billboard Singles - Billboard -External links:*... / "Strutter Strutter "Strutter" is a song by the American hard rock band Kiss, released on their eponymous debut album in 1974. The song was released as the third single from their album and failed to chart.... " |
Mercury Records Mercury Records Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal... |
| 1994 | Robert Palmer | Honey Honey (Robert Palmer album) Honey was an album by the British musician Robert Palmer. It was released in 1994 and reached number 25 in the UK charts, where it stayed in the top 100 for four weeks... |
EMI Records EMI Records EMI Records is the flagship record label founded by the EMI company in 1972 and launched in January 1973 as the successor to its Columbia label. The EMI label was launched worldwide... |
| 1995 | Extreme Extreme (band) Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen... |
Waiting for the Punchline Waiting for the Punchline Waiting for the Punchline is Extreme's fourth album, which was released in 1995. It was labeled as a "grunge" album, but despite stripped down production and frontman Gary Cherone's gruffer, less-tuneful delivery, it otherwise lacked significant deviation from Extreme's style on previous recordings... |
A&M Records A&M Records A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:... |
| 1997 | Nuno | Schizophonic Schizophonic (Nuno Bettencourt album) Schizophonic is an album from guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, known for being the guitarist in the band Extreme. Bettencourt is credited on the cover simply as "Nuno"... |
A&M Records A&M Records A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:... |
| 1998 | Mourning Widows Mourning Widows Mourning Widows was a musical project led by former Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt. The band was formed in 1997, and they released two albums during their career. Despite not being widely released in the US, both albums were successful in Japan... |
Mourning Widows Mourning Widows (album) Mourning Widows is an album by Mourning Widows, a project led by former Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt. The album was first released by Polydor Records in Japan and later in the United States.-Track listing:... |
Bruno Graffiti Records/Polydor Records Polydor Records Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone... |
| 1999 | Suze DeMarchi Suze DeMarchi Suze DeMarchi is an Australian singer/songwriter best known for fronting the band Baby Animals .-Biography:... |
Telelove Telelove Telelove is the debut album by Suze DeMarchi former lead singer of Australian band the Baby Animals, released in March, 1999. The album's original title was to be Messages Delayed but was changed prior to release.- Track listing :... |
Mushroom Records Mushroom Records Mushroom Records is an Australian recoJrd company formed by Michael Gudinski and Ray Evans in Melbourne in 1972. After its sale in 1998, it merged into Festival Mushroom Records. From 2005 to 2009, it is one of the record labels operated by Warner Bros... |
| 2000 | Mourning Widows Mourning Widows Mourning Widows was a musical project led by former Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt. The band was formed in 1997, and they released two albums during their career. Despite not being widely released in the US, both albums were successful in Japan... |
Furnished Souls For Rent Furnished Souls for Rent Furnished Souls for Rent is the second album released by Mourning Widows, a band led by former Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt.-Track listing:All songs written by Nuno Bettencourt, except where noted.# "Furnished Souls for Rent" - 5:04... |
PolyGram PolyGram PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:... |
| 2002 | Population 1 | Population 1 Population 1 (album) Population 1 is the debut album of the project of the same name. The project is led by Nuno Bettencourt, formerly of Extreme. Bettencourt recorded all the instruments in the album.... |
Bruno Graffiti Records |
| 2003 | Nuno Bettencourt | Best of Nuno | Universal Japan Universal Music Group Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations... |
| 2004 | Population 1 | Sessions from Room 4 Sessions from Room 4 Sessions From Room 4 is an EP released by the band Population 1, led by ex-Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt.-Tracks:All songs written by Bettencourt.# "What U Leave Behind" - 5:53# "Exit" - 4:05# "Nothing But Trouble" - 4:46# "Tragedy" - 3:15... EP |
Bruno Graffiti Records |
| 2005 | Various | Numbers from the Beast / "Aces High Aces High (song) "Aces High" is a song by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, written by bassist Steve Harris. It is Iron Maiden's eleventh single and the second from the 1984 studio album Powerslave... " |
Rykodisc Rykodisc Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:... |
| 2005 | DramaGods DramaGods DramaGods is a rock band led by Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt.The band originally started as a solo project from Bettencourt when he released his album Population 1 in 2002. On the album, he recorded all the instruments on most of the tracks... |
Love Love (DramaGods album) Love is an album from DramaGods, a project led by guitarist Nuno Bettencourt. Bettencourt is most remembered for being the guitarist in the band Extreme.... |
JVC Victor Victor Entertainment is a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as... |
| 2005 | Toni Braxton Toni Braxton Toni Michelle Braxton is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Braxton has won six Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and five Billboard Music Awards and has sold over 60 million records worldwide... |
Libra / "Shadowless" | Blackground Records Blackground Records Blackground Records is an American record label owned by entertainment attorney and artist manager Barry Hankerson and his son Jomo Hankerson.-History:... |
| 2007 | Satellite Party | Ultra Payloaded Ultra Payloaded Ultra Payloaded is the first album from Perry Farrell's latest group Satellite Party released by Columbia Records on May 29, 2007. It was preceded by a single, "Wish Upon a Dog Star".... |
Columbia Records Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... |
| 2007 | T. M. Stevens T. M. Stevens TM Stevens is an American bass guitarist born in the 1950s. He lives in the USA.-Life:Stevens records with his band Shocka Zooloo, a power trio that features Michael Barnes "Master Blaster" on guitar and Garry "G-Man" Sullivan on drums... |
Africans In The Snow / "Gotta Get Me Move On" | Steamhammer Records SPV GmbH SPV GmbH is an independent German record label.Founded on January 1, 1984, it has slowly grown to be one of the largest independent distributors and record labels worldwide.... |
| 2007 | Various | Music from the Mound / "Gyro Ball" | EMI America Records EMI The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major... |
| 2008 | Nuno Bettencourt | Smart People (Original Soundtrack) | Hollywood Records Hollywood Records Hollywood Records is an American record label owned by Disney Music Group, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.-History:Hollywood Records was founded in 1989 by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner with the idea of expanding the music operations of the company and to develop and promote... |
| 2008 | Extreme Extreme (band) Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen... |
Saudades de Rock Saudades de Rock * Track 14 appears only on the European version released by Frontiers Records.* Japanese edition includes bonus track "Mr. Bates " instead of "Americocaine ".- Chart information :-Credits:*Gary Cherone - lead vocals... |
Fontana Records Fontana Records Fontana Records is a record label which was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records; when Philips restructured its music operations it dropped Fontana in favor of Vertigo Records. In the seventies PolyGram acquired the dormant label.... , Frontiers Records Frontiers Records Frontiers Records is an Italian record label, predominantly producing melodic rock. It was formed in 1996 by Serafino Perugino and is based in Naples, Italy.-History:... |
| 2010 | Extreme Extreme (band) Extreme is an American rock band, headed by frontmen Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, that reached the height of their popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Among some of Extreme's musical influences are Queen and Van Halen... |
Take Us Alive Take Us Alive Take Us Alive is a live album by the American rock band Extreme, first released in May 2010. The set features the final concert on the East Meets West Tour recorded at House of Blues in Boston on 8 August 2009... |
Frontiers Records Frontiers Records Frontiers Records is an Italian record label, predominantly producing melodic rock. It was formed in 1996 by Serafino Perugino and is based in Naples, Italy.-History:... |
| 2010 | Rihanna Rihanna Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers... |
Loud Loud (Rihanna album) Loud is the fifth studio album by Barbadian recording artist Rihanna, first released on November 12, 2010 by Def Jam Recordings. The album was recorded between February and August 2010, predominantly during Rihanna's Last Girl on Earth Tour and filming for her first feature film Battleship... |
Def Jam Recordings Def Jam Recordings Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused primarily on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group... |
| 2011 | Pushking | The World As We Love It / "It'll Be OK" | Fontana Records Fontana Records Fontana Records is a record label which was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records; when Philips restructured its music operations it dropped Fontana in favor of Vertigo Records. In the seventies PolyGram acquired the dormant label.... |
| 2011 | Joe Jonas Joe Jonas Joseph Adam "Joe" Jonas is a Pop American singer, musician, actor, and dancer. He is a member of the Jonas Brothers, a pop-rock band made up of him and his two brothers, Nick and Kevin... |
Fastlife / "Sorry" | Hollywood Records Hollywood Records Hollywood Records is an American record label owned by Disney Music Group, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.-History:Hollywood Records was founded in 1989 by then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner with the idea of expanding the music operations of the company and to develop and promote... |
| 2011 | Steel Panther Steel Panther Steel Panther is a glam metal band from Los Angeles, California mostly known for their profane and humorous lyrics as well as their exaggerated on-stage personas... |
Balls Out Balls Out -Musicians:*Michael Starr - lead vocals, backing vocals*Satchel - lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars, backing vocals*Lexxi Foxxx - bass guitar, backing vocals*Stix Zadinia - drums, percussion, piano , backing vocals-Additional Musicians:... / "It Won't Suck Itself" |
Universal Records Universal Records Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:... |
External links
- Official site
- [ Nuno Bettencourt] at Allmusic
- Nuno Bettencourt at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...