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Jeff Young | |
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 Young in 2023 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1962-03-31)March 31, 1962 (age 63) Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | Thrash metal,heavy metal,speed metal,blues,classical |
| Occupation | Guitarist |
| Years active | 1986–present |
Jeffrey "Jeff"Young (born March 31, 1962) is an American guitarist. He graduated fromMusicians Institute in 1985, and is best known for his time with thethrash metal bandMegadeth, appearing on the 1988 albumSo Far, So Good... So What! (Capitol Records). In 1998, Young co-wrote, produced and played on the world-fusion albumChameleon byBadi Assad. In addition to his subsequent music projects, he served as a writer forGuitar for the Practicing Musician.
Young was born inAnn Arbor, Michigan. In 1980, he graduated fromFairmont High School in Kettering, Ohio, and moved toHollywood to attendThe Guitar Institute of Technology in 1984. He graduated from the Institute in 1985 and began his career as a guitar teacher.
Newly hired Megadeth's guitarist Jay Reynolds (ofMalice) had commissioned guitar teacher Young to play all of his solos on the new album, transcribe the previous Megadeth releases, and teach him everything in time for the pending tours. Reynolds was one of Young's guitar students. However, after witnessing Young decipher previous guitaristChris Poland's solos fromPeace Sells... but Who's Buying? note-for-note in less than 30 minutes, frontmanDave Mustaine decided instead to hire Young. Young joined the band with only two weeks left in the recording schedule and contributed half of the guitar solos and multiple electric and acoustic rhythm parts to the album.[citation needed]
Young's career with Megadeth was spent recording and touring in support of their 1988 platinum selling album,So Far, So Good... So What! His first performance with the band appeared inThe Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years as a member of Megadeth.[citation needed]
In 1989, Young was fired from Megadeth due to reportedly "contemplating putting the moves on Diana" (Mustaine's fiancé)[1] Young said he told Mustaine that this was untrue but Mustaine fired him anyway.
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Following his time in Megadeth, Young wrote the cult-classic Fingerprints column inGuitar for the Practicing Musician magazine. He also began intensive study of the blues with guitarist,Steve Hunter (Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper,Jason Becker).
For a portion of the 1990s, Young stepped away from his career to deal with the untimely deaths of first his father and later his mother while immersing himself in the further study of classical, flamenco, gypsy jazz and other world music varieties.
In 1998, he resurfaced with newBrazilian musical partner and wife,Badi Assad. Together, the duo crafted exotic soundscapes for Verve/PolyGram records collaboration entitled,Badi Assad'sChameleon. The album (co-written, arranged, and produced by Young), climbed to the top of the world music charts in Germany & Holland also topping JAZZIZ magazine's Readers Poll: "Best Brazilian Albums of the Year."
Opening concerts for renowned artists includingJoe Cocker andCassandra Wilson, as well as performances on 1999'sLilith Fair andFarm Aid 2000, Young's association with the Assad family also spawned songwriting collaborations with guitar luminarySérgio Assad and two pieces on Badi'sVerde album.
In 2003, the track "Waves" fromChameleon was featured in the Michael and Kirk Douglas filmIt Runs in the Family, as well as on the movie's soundtrack.
In late-October 2009, his debut solo album,Equilibrium, was released on CD worldwide, as well as cdbaby. Young began working on the album in 2000. Stylistically, the album featuresflamenco,classic, 6 & 12 steel-string guitar styles as well as theelectric guitar.Equilibrium features guest performances by Debby Holiday, Twinkle,Gilli Moon,Lenine,Matt Chamberlain, Hilary Jones,Tony Franklin andViviana Guzman.[2]
Young is the host of the Internet radio show Music Without Boundaries on the Spreaker broadcast network.[3]
Young is currently writing, producing & releasing solo, instrumental music on the High-Tone Eleven Records label. His first, all instrumental album,Revolutions, is being released track by track with the singles, "Monsoon" – "In the Flesh" & "Slow Burn" available now via his official website & most digital distribution sources.Revolutions features performances from some of the world's top players:Tina Guo,Ric Fierrabracci,James LoMenzo,Brian Tichy, Jeff Bowders &Shane Gaalaas.
In 2022 Young reunited with former Megadeth bassistDavid Ellefson to form Kings of Thrash in order to perform old Megadeth songs live. The band have so far completed tours in North America, Australia, the UK and Europe, with one live album released. Some shows have featured fellow former Megadeth guitaristChris Poland on a few songs.
Young overcametesticular cancer in 2006; he was treated byDr. Lawrence Einhorn, the same physician who treatedLance Armstrong.[4]
Jeff Young, former guitarist for the Megadeth, was apparently contemplating putting the moves on Diana, much to the dismay of Mustaine, which was part of the reason that he was fired from the band. Happy New Year mates!
| Preceded by | Megadethlead guitarist 1987–1989 | Succeeded by |
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