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

Jeff Loomis (Nevermore)

Name: Jeff Loomis
Born: 14th September, 1971 (Appleton, Wisconsin, USA)

Profile: He is an American musician and guitarist, most notably known as the lead guitarist for the Seattle progressive metal band, "Nevermore".

History: Loomis started making music with drums, but soon he was bored and he started playing guitar. He got his first instrument at 9 or 10 years old, but did not start practicing seriously until around the age of 15. As a teenager in he played in a handful of cover bands and three death metal bands before joining more established bands. At the age of 16, Loomis won Wisconsin's 'Guitar Wars' contest.

After he won the contest, he auditioned for "Megadeth", after their lead guitarist Jeff Young left. After they played a few songs together, Dave Mustaine, the band's frontman, thanked Loomis and told him that one day he would become a great guitar player, but because of his age he was not right for the position.

Not long after the audition, Loomis join the band "Sanctuary" after guitarist Sean Blosl had left, however, because of a dispute caused by guitarist Lenny Rutledge wanting to make grunge oriented music, "Sanctuary" broke up 4 months afterwards. After the break-up, Loomis and former "Sanctuary" members vocalist Warrel Dane and bassist Jim Sheppard made plans to form "Nevermore", and in late 1994, Loomis became the lead guitarist of "Nevermore" after the brief period being in "Sanctuary".

Now, he is the main songwriter of the band, adding to the unique sound that fans are familiar with. Currently, Loomis plays an important role in portraying the sound that "Nevermore" has today, using a 7 string guitars and techniques such as sweep-picking. One of his more important musical showcases is in the critically acclaimed album 'Dead Heart in a Dead World', in which he wrote most of the songs before forming "Nevermore".

In 2005, Loomis reported that he would take some time as a break and then begin recording a solo album. In 2008, he announced that the album will be called 'Zero Order Phase', and was released on September via Century Media Records.

Influences: Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony MacAlpine, Jason Becker and Marty Friedman

Axology: Schecter seven string guitars - Jeff Loomis C7 FR signature model, Schecter C-7 Hellraiser, Ibanez guitars, Gibson guitars, Jackson guitars, ESP guitars - Horizon 7 and Warmoth guitars, Peavey amplifiers and Krank amplifiers

Signature song(s): Timothy Leary - Nevermore (Nevermore, 1994) and Omega's Influence - Jeff Loomis (Zero Order Phase, 2008)

Link(s):

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvfg0iLnzsw

Robert DeLeo (STP/Army of Anyone)

Name: Robert Emile DeLeo
Born: 2nd February, 1966 (Glen Ridge, New Jersey, USA)

Profile: He is an American bass player and harmony vocalist for the rock band "Stone Temple Pilots" (STP). He has also played in "Talk Show" and "Army of Anyone". He is the younger brother of Dean DeLeo, who plays lead guitar for "STP".

History: Robert started to play guitar in his teens, but his interest are more in playing bass because his brother Dean already played guitar. DeLeo met Scott Weiland (who would eventually become vocalist of "STP") at a "Black Flag" concert in 1987. The both of them wanted to form a band and eventually hooked up with drummer Eric Kretz, and DeLeo managed to convince his brother to play guitar in their new band "Mighty Joe Young" which later changed to "Stone Temple Pilots".

During their years, "STP" came to be one of the most successful bands of the 90's. Robert is credited with much of the band's music, including the famous intros for the songs 'Plush' and 'Interstate Love Song'.

While "STP's" hiatus in 1997, he and his brother Dean, Kretz, Dave Coutts (Ten Inch Men) formed a new band "Talk Show", their debut album was released in 1997 and peaked at #131 on the 'Billboard 200' and was considered a commercial flop.

In 2003, the DeLeo brothers formed another group "Army of Anyone". The group met after Richard Patrick (Filter) contacted the DeLeo brothers on writing material for "Filter's" fourth album. The band eventually called in drummer Ray Luzier in for an audition, found the formula worked, and the band was formed. The band's self titled album was released in 2006. The album became a critical success; some went as far to label the album as one of the bests of the year.

In 2008, "STP" reunited and are planning on releasing their sixth album on 25th May, 2010. DeLeo is a former employee of Schecter Guitar Research and built the prototype of what later became his signature model while working there. The Schecter Model T was his primary live instrument during his years with "STP".

DeLeo is known for his smooth style of playing, with infusions of Jazz, 1960's rhythm and blues, and hard rock creating a rather distinctive tone. He is also known for being a master riff maker; he created most of the riffs for "STP" which was the band's trademark style, and wrote and arranged most of the band's songs. He also uses a bass Wah-wah pedal to change his tone accordingly.

Influences: James Jamerson, John Entwistle (The Who), Rocco Prestia (Tower of Power), Chris Squire (Yes) and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin).

Axology: Schecter Model T signature basses, 1966 Fender Precision bass, 1976 Rickenbacker 4001, 50's Danelectro Longhorn, Fender Musicmaster, Marshall and Ampeg amplifiers

Signature song(s): Interstate Love Song - STP (Purple, 1994) and Goodbye - Army of Anyone (Army of Anyone, 2006)

Link(s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RwD4Q33CQ4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtEdwwe_41c

Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)

Name: Mark Knopfler
Born: 12th August, 1949 (Glasgow, Scotland)

Profile: He is a British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the British rock band "Dire Straits".

History: At the age of 7, he and his younger brother David attended 'Gosforth Grammar School', where he was inspired by his uncle Kingsley's harmonica and boogie-woogie piano playing. Later, in his teens, he wanted to buy an expensive Fiesta Red Fender Stratocaster just like Hank Marvin's, but had to settle for a £50 twin-pick-up Höfner Super Solid.

During the 60's, he formed and joined anonymous schoolboy bands. At age 16, he made a local TV appearance as half of a harmony duo along with a friend from school named Sue Hercombe. In 1969, he worked as a part-time lecturer at 'Loughton College' and played with mates in a band called the "Café Racers", during this period. He also played in a few bands such as the "Silver Heels" and "Brewers Droop".

One night while spending some time with friends, the only guitar available was an old acoustic with a badly warped neck that had been strung with extra-light strings to make it playable. Even so, he found it impossible to play unless he finger-picked it. He said, 'That was where I found my "voice" on guitar.'

Knopfler then joined brother David in a band and also found himself another musical partner, John Illsley (initially a guitarist who changed over to bass) and became the only other member of "Dire Straits" to figure throughout the band's career.

Influences: Elvis Presley, Hank Marvin, Chet Atkins, Scotty Moore, B.B King, Django Reinhardt and James Burton

Axology: Fender Stratocasters 1954 sunburst (named 'Jurassic Strat'), Fender 1952 Telecaster, Melancon Pro Artist, Gibson Les Pauls, Danelectro 59 DC, Pensa custom-built solid body guitars, Schecter Telecaster and Stratocaster models, Watkins guitars - Rapier 33, Ramirez Spanish Guitar, Martin Acoustics

Signature song(s): Wild West End and Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits (Dire Straits, 1978)

Link(s):

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK7q2RI2zzg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEnDJmJEk94

"He is one of the most respected fingerstyle guitarists of the modern rock era" - Rolling Stone magazine