Eddie (DEF GAB C)

Name: Eddie
Born: Unknown

Profile: He is a Malaysian bassist, composer and musician, most notably known for his bass guitar works with his current band "DEF GAB C". He is one of the most famous Malaysian bassist who plays 6 strings bass in a heavy rock genre.

History: He started playing guitar in his teens, but got bored because many of his friends knows how to play the instrument, so Eddie went on to try bass guitar, with his early influences such as, "Metallica", "Halloween" and "Deep Purple", he never look back ever since.

After many years practicing bass guitar, Eddie joined a small local band, which played for weddings, parties and eventually ended up in night clubs. While just started to play in clubs, his friends GG and Lola, recommended Eddie to use a 5 strings bass (due to the demand for Jazz music) and he accidentally bought a 6 strings bass, and ever since that day, the bass was his main axe for more then a decade.

In 1996, legendary guitarist Joe (Wings) discovered Eddie and his bandmates' talents in a local club in Kuala Lumpur. Joe met up with them and introduced them to the late legendary rock composer JS Kevin. The composer was amazed with the band performances and offered the band a record deal. Soon after the negotiations, JS Kevin renamed the band to "DEF GAB C", which carries the important 7 notes in music (D E F G A B C).

In 1997, "DEF GAB C" debut album, 'Citarasa' was released. It was one of the best rock album of the year, which consists hit songs, such as, 'Ibu Kota Cinta' and 'Tak Sanggup Lagi'. In 1999, the released of their second album, 'Skala', also went to the top charts with hits like, 'Cinta Sakti' and 'Ranjau Kasturi'.

Until now, Eddie and "DEF GAB C", has released 6 studio albums. The band, has won various awards, such as 'Best Rock Album' for the album 'Remifasolatido' and Anugerah Industri Musik ke 9', in 2002, to name a few. Currently, Eddie and "DEF GAB C" are busy preparing new materials and their are planning to go back to studio for the recording of their new album.

Influences: Metallica, Halloween, Deep Purple, YES, Flea (Red Hot Chili Pepper), John Myung (Dream Theater), John Patitucci, Kevin Moore, Marcus Miller, Jaco Pastorius and Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big)

Axology: Warwick bass - Streamer Bolt On II

Signature song(s): Maniq Kayangan - DEF GAB C (Merah, 2002)

Link(s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI5m7mjWE7o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEsS5WZbYX0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8KYgjdSycE&feature=related

Fuzz Kmak (Disturbed)

Name: Steve Kmak
Born: 3rd September, 1970 (Covington, Kentucky, USA)

Profile: He is an American bass guitar player, best known for his work with the heavy metal band "Disturbed".

History: Fuzz started to play bass guitar when he was young and founded the band "Brawl" in 1996 with guitarist Dan Donegan and drummer Mike Wengren.

"Brawl" played small clubs in Chicago before singer David Draiman answered their ad, after which they changed the band name to "Disturbed". They then produced their first studio album 'The Sickness', released in 2000 and their second album 'Believe', released in 2002. Since the band's formation, they have sold over 11 million albums worldwide, making them one of the most successful rock bands in recent years. The band have charted on the Billboard 200.

In 2003, after finishing the 'Music as a Weapon II Tour', Fuzz left the band. He was replaced with John Moyer, who is the current bass player, and he usually use three or more amplifiers when playing in a concert.

Influences: Rush, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne and Pantera

Axology: Music Man Sting Ray basses - 5-string

Signature song(s): The Game - Disturbed (The Sickness, 2000)

Link(s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqT-WuyewMU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cOMiBy5q2w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYgkSnhJUyM

John Moyer (Soak/Disturbed)

Name: John Moyer
Born: 30th November, 1973 (El Paso, Texas, USA)

Profile: He is the current bassist and back up vocalist for the alternative metal band "Disturbed", replacing their former bassist Steve Kmak. Moyer also published "Disturbed's" albums; such as 'Ten Thousand Fists', 'Indestructible' and 'Asylum'. In addition to this, Moyer also works in partnership with Silver Tongue Management.

History: He started to play bass guitar in his teens, and Moyer was formerly part of the Texas hard rock act "The Union Underground". Prior to his stint in "The Union Underground", he was the bassist of the popular band "Soak", also hailing from Texas. He teaches at Natural Ear Music in Austin, Texas, where he works with a lot of young bands, which inspires him.

Moyer prefers picking over finger-style (he is still capable of playing finger-style) because it has a more aggressive feeling towards the style.

Moyer has a custom line with Traben bass company. He and the company produced his signature Traben Havoc. He also has custom amplifiers with Kustom featuring his own design printed on the front resembling a skull engulfed in flames.

Influences: (Texas hard rock bands)

Axology: Traben bass - signature series (Traben Havoc) and Kustom amplifiers

Signature song(s): Inside the Fire - Disturbed (Indestructible, 2008)

Link(s):

http://www.disturbed1.com/ (Disturbed's Official website)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfJC25nOSqE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1K9jBL2syJ8

Dan Donegan (Vandal/Disturbed)

Name: Dan Donegan
Born: 1st August, 1968 (Oak Lawn, Illinois, USA)

Profile: He is an American musician and guitarist for heavy metal band "Disturbed". Previously, Donegan was the guitarist of 80's hair style band, "Vandal".

History: Donegan began playing guitar as a teenager and eventually formed a band called "Vandal". Most of the solo in "Vandal" where his solos were shred guitar solos, but he would incorporate other techniques, which many consider his own style of playing.

Donegan is a self-taught guitarist. He uses one handed and two handed tapping in many of his solos, with pull-offs, legatos and hammer-ons, also sometimes using the 'flick off' technique, as used in the solo for the song 'Indestructible', and in others as well. His heavy riffs and sweep picking are seen in many music videos. He uses his DigiTech Dan Donegan, "The Weapon" for many effects in and out of his solo work. He also combines arpeggios with finger tapping and many other techniques. He is known for shredding in some songs and uses finger vibrato on occasion. He uses the whammy bar in many songs to give it a certain sound effect.

Disturbed's frontman David Draiman mentions, that Donegan can rip with the best of them, and he also added; Donegan is among the best in existence, and he does not give himself enough credit.

Recently, Donegan was added to the guitar show 'Chop Shop's' list of "Top 100 Most Complete Guitar Players of All Time" at #76.

Influences: Unknown

Axology: Gibson Les Paul Standards, Gibson SGs, Paul Reed Smith guitar models, Washburn Guitars, Schecter Guitars, Mesa/Boogie Amplifiers, Randalls amplifiers, Marshall amplifiers and DigiTech effects (Dan Donegan, "The Weapon", that DigiTech made for him).

Signature song(s): Indestructible - Disturbed (Indestructible, 2008)

Link(s):

http://www.disturbed1.com/ (Disturbed's Official website)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BU7LxcaCC4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXh5j6Z_-KQ

Suzzana Owiyo

Name: Suzanna Owiyo
Born: Unknown (Kasaye village, Nyakach, Kenya)

Profile: She is a Kenyan musician. A singer-songwriter, and Owiyo has been called as "the Tracy Chapman of Africa".

History: Owiyo was introduced to music at a tender age by her grandfather who was a prolific Nyatiti player.

In high school, she helped her school to win many trophies during the provincial and national music festivals. In 1998, after high school, Owiyo joined a Nairobi based singer Sally Oyugi as a backup vocalist, and 2 years later she parted ways with Sally to team up with a local band in Nairobi; "Bora Bora sound" and later on went back to sing in Kisumu. It was here that a young business entrepreneur with a keen ear for music spotted her talent and offered her, her first guitar. She then went back to Nairobi and undertook music lessons at the Kenya Conservatoire of Music.

It was while preparations were being made for the centennial celebrations of the city of Kisumu, that Owiyo was requested to compose a theme song for the opening ceremony. In front of a capacity crowd of 60,000 people 'Kisumu 100' was born and immediate success followed; a prolonged applause and a standing ovation.

Owiyo then decided to work on an album with Kenyan music producer Tedd Josiah. The album, which received great success on the radio, won her a nomination in the Kora Awards 2002 in the 'Most Promising Female Artist category'. The same album won her a Kisima Awards for the Most Promising Female Artist of 2003. Her new single 'Sandore' and the video clip with a powerful message on child labour was also a success.

In 2003, Owiyo represented her country at the Kenyan Festival in Paris, and in August the same year she represented East Africa at the Pan-African music Festival in Brazzaville where she sang alongside Youssou N’dour, Koffi Olomide and Rebecca Malope among other African greats.

In 2004, she performed at the Festival Mundial in Tilburg, Holland, and Owiyo beat a host of African artistes to clinch the single berth reserved for a female African artiste to perform at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, where she performed with her band, and also performed the song 'Imagine' with artistes such as Cyndi Lauper, Andrea Bocelli, Chris Botti, Patti Labelle and Baba Maal.

In 2007, Owiyo was part of the Divas of The Nile supergroup, that featured four Kenyan female musicians. The others were Mercy Myra, Achieng Abura and Princess Jully. The group performed at the Festival Mundial. In 2008, she performed at the Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday concert in London and performed again at the WOMEX festival. She is among the Kenyan artistes who have been sponsored by the Alliance Française in Nairobi.

Influences: Unknown

Axology: Acoustic guitar and other traditional African instruments

Signature song(s): Sandore - Suzzana Owiyo (2002)

Link(s):

http://www.suzannaowiyo.net/ (Official website)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvwUXbp7S5g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIpvI8D_dco

Michael Franks

Name: Michael Franks
Born: 18th September, 1944 (La Jolla, California, USA)

Profile: He is an American smooth jazz singer and songwriter. Franks has recorded with a Who's Who of artists, such as Patti Austin, Brenda Russell, Art Garfunkel, and David Sanborn. His songs have been recorded by "The Manhattan Transfer", Patti Labelle, Carmen McRae, Diana Krall, Shirley Bassey and "The Carpenters".

History: Although no one in Franks family played music, his parents loved swing music and his early influences included Nat King Cole and Johnny Mercer. At age 14, he bought his first guitar (a Japanese Marco Polo for $29.95 with six private lessons included - the only music education that he received).

At University High in Irvine, Franks discovered the poetry of Theodore Roethke with his off-rhymes and hidden meter. In high school, he began singing folk-rock, accompanying himself on guitar. Studying English at UCLA he discovered Dave Brubeck, Patti Page, Stan Getz, João Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Miles Davis, and he never studied music in college.

During this time he started writing songs, starting with the anti-war musical Anthems in E-flat starring Mark Hamill. He also composed music for the films 'Count Your Bullets', 'Cockfighter', and 'Zandy's Bride'. Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee recorded 3 of Franks' songs, including 'White Boy Lost in the Blues', on their album 'Sonny & Brownie'. Michael played guitar, banjo and mandolin on the album and joined them in touring.

In 1973, Franks recorded an eponymous album (later reissued as 'Previously Unavailable'), which included the minor hit 'Can't Seem to Shake this Rock 'n Roll'. In 1976, he released his second album 'The Art of Tea', beginning a long relationship with WB Music, the album featured Joe Sample, Larry Carlton and Wilton Felder (The Crusaders) and included the hit song 'Popsicle Toes'.

Franks' third album, 'Sleeping Gypsy', which includes the song 'The Lady Wants to Know', was partially recorded in Brazil. Around this time, percussionist Ray Armando first gave Franks what would become a signature instrument - a cabasa - to play on stage for songs he didn't play guitar on. His 1978 album, 'Burchfield Nines', which includes the song 'When the Cookie Jar is Empty', reflects Franks move to New York City and features more of an East Coast sound. Since then, he has recorded more than 15 albums.

His best known works include 'When I Give My Love To You', 'Popsicle Toes', 'Monkey See', 'Monkey Do', 'Tiger in the Rain', 'Rainy Night in Tokyo', and 'Tell Me All About It'. His biggest hit came in 1983 with 'When Sly Calls (Don't Touch That Phone)', from the album 'Passionfruit'. Radio hits include 'Your Secret's Safe With Me' from the 1985 album 'Skin Dive', and 'Island Life' from 1987's 'The Camera Never Lies'.

Influences: Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Johnny Mercer

Axology: Unknown

Signature song(s): Can't Seem to Shake this Rock 'n Roll - Michael Franks (Previously Unavailable, 1973)

Link(s):

http://www.michaelfranks.com/ (Official website)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPWA9N10tRQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDb6X7-Y6RY

Sony (J-Rocks)

Name: Sony Ismail Robbayani
Born: Unknown

Profile: He is an Indonesian musician, better known for his guitar works in his current band, "J-Rocks" as a lead guitarist. He was known in the local guitar community since his band "J-RockStar" won a TV talent show - Nescafe Get Started in 2004.

History: Sony started to play guitar in his teens, mostly self-taught. Ever since he learned how to pick a guitar, he wanted to be a professional musician/guitarist as his idol; guitarist virtuoso Steve Vai and the legendary Jimi Hendrix.

In 2001, Sony went for an audition as a guitarist for a local band named, "Funky Kopral" (now known as "Funkop"), this is where he met up with future vocalist Iman, who gave Sony an idea to formed a Japanese genre band with him. Wima (bass) and Anton (drum) joined soon after, and "J-RockStar" was officially formed in 2003.

In 2004, "J-RockStar" (JRS) entered a TV musical talent show called 'Nescafe Get Started'. The band won at first place followed with two other great bands; "B-Five" and "Cool Khas". On the grand final concert of the talent show, "JRS" performed an adaptation music from Japanese rock band, "L'Arc~en~Ciel".

Soon after the talent show, "JRS" was offered a contract for a studio album under Aquarius Musik label, and their name was shortened from "J-RockStar" to "J-Rocks". Their debut, 'Topeng Sahabat' was released in 2005 and was sold for 450,000 copies only in Indonesia. The debut album was followed with two more albums, 'Spirit' (2007) and 'Road To Abbey' (2009). Though, Sony is still new in the music industry, he has impressively gain a lots of fans.

Influences: L'Arc~en~Ciel, Muse, Alicia Keys, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Red Hot Chili Pepper, Siti Nurhaliza and Steve Vai

Axology: Marlique Deluxe series guitar, PRS guitar - SE Camouflage, Fender Telecaster, Radix guitars and Carvin Amplifiers

Signature song(s): Kau Curi Lagi - J-Rocks featuring Prisa (Spirit, 2007)

Link(s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_C05v1nYY0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T-4d2ihp1Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWzpnYc9ib0&feature=related