Mick Mars (Mötley Crüe)

Name: Robert Alan Deal
Born: 4th May, 1951 (Terre Haute, Indiana, USA)

Profile: He is the lead guitarist and songwriter for American hard rock band "Mötley Crüe". In his career with "Mötley Crüe", Mars has created the aura of being a somewhat mysterious figure, letting the other members of the band speak for him in public and in print, despite being the eldest and most articulate member of the band. In what public interviews he has conducted, Mars often comes off as a very reserved and somewhat quiet individual.

History: After his family relocated from Indiana to California, Deal dropped out of high school and began playing guitar in a series of unsuccessful blues based rock bands throughout the 70's. After nearly a decade of frustration with the California music scene, Deal reinvented himself, changing his stage name to Mick Mars and dyeing his hair jet black, hoping for a fresh start.

In 1981, he put in a want ad in the LA newspaper 'The Recycler', describing himself as 'a loud, rude, and aggressive guitar player'. Bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee contacted him and after hearing him play decided he would be their guitarist. Upon Lee's prodding, they persuaded a former high school friend of Lee's and local rock & roll singer Vince Neil to join. It was Mars' suggestion that the band be called "Mötley Crüe", a name that had stuck in his head from his days as a member of a band called "White Horse".

Unlike many of the hard rock/heavy metal guitarists of his era, Mars' guitar style is steeped in the blues tradition. He employs frequent use of a metal slide in his soloing and takes on both the rhythm and lead guitar duties of the band. In the studio and live, Mars frequently tunes his guitar down a whole step to get a stronger and crunchier rhythm sound. The altered tuning also increases string slack to enable his characteristic hammer-on trills, pitch bending, and pinch harmonics during soloing. Mars also introduced the pedal steel guitar to many of "Mötley Crüe's" later recordings and live sets, and also taken a critical role in songwriting for the band, coming up with many of "Mötley Crüe's" best known riffs.

Recently, he contributed his songwriting skills to John LeCompt (Evanescence), "Machina" and to the Swedish band "CRASHDÏET". Mars also played lead guitar for "Hinder's" 2008 album 'Take It to the Limit' and "Papa Roach's" 2009 album 'Metamorphosis'. Currently, Mars is on tour with the three other original members of "Mötley Crüe", supporting their newest album, 'Saints of Los Angeles', which has revived a strong public interest in the band more than 25 years after its formation.

Influences: Unknown

Axology: Gibson Les Paul customs guitars, BC Rich Warlock guitar, Hamer Blitz guitar, Gibson Flying V, Guild Flying Star, Kramer guitars, Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters and Marshall amplifiers

Signature song(s): Too Young To Fall in Love - Mötley Crüe (Shout at the Devil, 1983)

Link(s):

http://www.mickmars.tv/ (Official website)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfU502fvO2Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNMuzKc_0Mg

Ian Antono (God Bless/Gong 2000)

Name: Jusuf Antono Djojo
Born: 29th October, 1950 (Malang, Indonesia)

Profile: He is an Indonesian guitarist and songwriter, best known as "God Bless" lead guitarist since 1974,and "Gong 2000" in 1991 - 1996. Ian also recognized as one of the very first rock guitarists in Indonesia.

History: Originally, Ian was interested in playing drums, where he began to learn since his earlier years. However, when he started to listen to "The Shadows" music, he changed his mind and began to learn guitar.

In 1970, Ian Antono went to Jakarta and joined a band called "Bentoel" which was a session band for famous singer Emilia Contessa and "Trio The King". Later, his popularity increased while he gained many experiences - which made him join the legendary Indonesian Rock band "God Bless".

By joining "God Bless", Ian had started his first professional music career with Achmad Albar (vocalist), and released 'Huma Di Atas Bukit' in 1975, 'Cermin' in 1980 and 'Semut Hitam' in 1989. With these albums, Ian's popularity jumped through the roof due of rock music at that time had not become an atmosphere in Indonesian music scene. So while "God Bless" pioneered rock music in Indonesia, Ian Antono lead the way into a new rock guitarist world.

In 1989, Ian decided to form a band called "Gong 2000" with vocalist Achmad Albar and released three more albums, 'Timur' in 1991, 'Laskar' in 1994 and 'Prahara' in 1996. His style of playing in "Gong 2000" was different compared to when he was with "God Bless". With this new band, Ian tried to include Balinese music into most of his songs. This was followed by including at least 20 Balinese dancers in his performances.

In 1997, he work together with his former bandmates "God Bless" adding a well-known local guitarist, Eet Sjahranie. This concept of duo guitarists grabbed media and listeners attention although the album 'Apa Kabar?' was not a commercial success.

Other than becoming a lead guitaris, he also written songs for numerous other singers. Some of them are notable Indonesian artistes, such as Iwan Fals, Anggun, Nicky Astria, Doel Sumbang, Gito Rollies, and Ikang Fawzi. Moreover, many songs that he has arranged for other musicians have become some of the most popular songs of their time, like 'Zakia' and 'Panggung Sandiwara'.

In 1999, Ian Antono was invited in a Formula-1 event, which was also a collaboration with G3 (Joe Satriani and Steve Vai) and rock legends, "Jethro Tull". It was at this time, Ian studied most of Vai's equipments which he will not gain in Indonesia. Apparently, because of this reason, Ian has owned an Ibanez JEM77, a Steve Vai signature series.

Influences: The Shadows

Axology: Hamer, Kramer, Fender Stratocaster, Ibanez JEM 77, Washburn N-4, Gibson Les Paul Deluxe, Ovation Elite, Gibson Chat Atkins signature series, Martin CMF, Martin EST 12 strings and Seagull, Marshall JCM 900 and Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 amplifiers.

Signature song(s): Rumah Kita - Indonesian Voices and Panggung Sandiwara - Nike Ardilla

Link(s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6I75d1HxiY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBf7WBShXRE

Sam Totman (DragonForce)

Name: Ian Samuel Totman
Born: 26th April, 1974 (London, UK)

Profile: He is a guitarist and main songwriter for the power metal band "DragonForce". A great guitar player with plenty of feelings in both rhythm and leads.

History: He began playing classical guitar at the age of 9 with formal musical training for many years. When he was 15, he started to have interest in Rock & Metal music, soon he got his first electric guitar.

In 1993, he was part of the blackened power metal band "Demoniac" in New Zealand, during this time, the band struggled to achieve real fame at all despite albums and re-locating to London. Due to this departure, the band split sometime in late 1999, shortly after the album 'The Fire and the Wind' was released.

Totman and some of the former "Demoniac" members went on to form power metal band "DragonHeart", which later became known as "DragonForce". Keyboardist Steve Williams and bassist Steve Scott left "DragonHeart" to form "Power Quest" with whom Totman recorded on their demo and first album, 'Wings of Forever'. Sam also provided guest instrumentation on the band's following album, 'Neverworld'.

Totman is the primary songwriter of "DragonForce", writing both music and lyrics for a majority of their discography. He is also known for his energetic live performances, as he usually pulls off several stunts, such as 'Tornado Split Jump'

Influences: Bon Jovi, Metallica, Slayer and Iron Maiden

Axology: Ibanez STM - Sam Totman Signature Model, Ibanez VBT700 Custom V, Jackson Custom Flying V and Kramer Vanguard

Signature song(s): Through the Fire and Flames - DragonForce (Inhuman Rampage, 2006) and Heroes of Our Time - DragonForce (Ultra Beatdown, 2008)

Link(s):

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o84xSkPWncM

Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi)

Name: Richard Stephen Sambora
Born: 11th July, 1959 (Perth Amboy, New Jersey)

Profile: He is an American rock guitarist, producer, musician, singer and songwriter who is the longtime lead guitarist of the popular rock band "Bon Jovi". He is also a solo artist.

History: He began playing guitar at the age of 12 following the death of guitar legend Jimi Hendrix in 1970. From his early days Richie was strongly influenced by blues and 60's rock 'n' roll, and he even auditioned for "Kiss". He was a guitarist for the band called "Message" before joining "Bon Jovi".

In the 80's Richie went to a show and after being impressed by Jon Bon Jovi, approached him (Richie) and informed that they should work together. They immediately hit it off as friends, and Richie was invited to a rehearsal. By the time Jon arrived, the band was sounding better than ever and Richie was hired on the spot. He has occasionally taken over as lead vocalist on some "Bon Jovi" songs, most notably "I'll Be There for You" and "These Days" when played live.

His first solo outing was Stranger in This Town in 1991 (a blues-influenced album), Eric Clapton even played the lead guitar track on the song "Mr. Bluesman", backed by Richie on acoustic guitars. "Undiscovered Soul" was Richie's second solo album, released in 1998.

Influences: Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Jimmy Page, Joe Perry and "The Answer".

Axology: Fender HSS Stratocaster, Fender Black Paisley Stratocaster, Kramer guitars, Jackson guitars, Hamer guitars, Martin acoustic guitars, LTD SA-2 Richie Sambora and Marshall JCM800 2203 amplifiers.

Link(s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCQt7FQWFSo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUV8NZ3FliE