Rich Ward
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Richard Park Ward is an American guitarist, more known by his stage name, The Duke. Rich is best known as the mastermind behind Stuck Mojo, a popular rap-metal band of the 90s, but he is also well-known as the lead guitarist of the heavy metal band, Fozzy.
[edit] Early life
Born in Atlanta, Rich grew up listening to many Indie style soundtracks as that was all that was available to him. After his parents' divorce, Rich's mother's work schedule would usually become rather hectic and subsequently, she hired a college student to look after him and his sister. According to Rich himself, the student would often bring over heavy metal and hard rock albums from bands such as AC/DC, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden to name a few. Rich from this point had his views on music completely altered as for the first time, he had found music that clicked with him. Rich's first guitar was a Fender Mustang that his father bought for him at a pawn shop. Although it was in very bad condition, Rich had vested great interest in this instrument, and hence began to learn it. From here on, Rich began to experiment by auditioning for bands, which often led to him being rejected as he could scarcely play guitar. Rich had never learned how to read music. He played strictly from ear and was a complete natural. In high school, Rich performed at the school's talent show and blew everyone away with his style, musical ability and was also very electrifying as an air-guitarist and amused his friends with his heavy metal style. One band had asked him if he knew the lyrics to one of Ozzy Osbourne's songs, which he did and subsequently became the lead singer and earned his first gig.
[edit] Later Years
Rich would then play in a number of bands doing a fare amount of gigs before escalating it. In 1989, he formed Stuck Mojo along with its original bassist Dwane Fowler and lead singer, Bonz. Rich would later test different types of music and would eventually have an idea of a spoof heavy metal band (Later to be known as Fozzy) and also with alternative style music, which would become a major focus for him in later years. After a Stuck Mojo concert, he met Chris Jericho backstage. Ironically, both Rich and Chris discovered that they were fans of each other, and a bond between them took place. This would eventually put Chris in the position of Fozzy's lead singer when Rich really put the idea to thought. Rich and the rest of Stuck Mojo disbanded in 2001 but he continued to write and play with Fozzy. In 2003-2004, Rich formed is own band, more or less a side-project, Sick Speed, which focused on the alternative to grudge direction. It was from here that Rich truly came to be known as The Duke. In 2005, Rich released his debut solo album, My Kung-Fu is Good, which features many different styles of music, a basic reflection on Rich wanting to show people that he can write all these styles and play them all equally as good. Rich re-formed Stuck Mojo along with Bonz and is about to release a new album with them, Southern Born Killers. Rich currently plays with Fozzy, Stuck Mojo and also performs under The Duke. Rich is considered by many to be a pioneer in the nu-metal genre and that he helped to refine it. Many believe the same in regards to heavy metal. Rich's favourite guitarist include:
- Neal Schon
- Eddie Van Halen
- Angus and Malcolm Young
- David Gilmore
- Billy Gibbons
- Mike Martin
- John Sykes
- Zakk Wylde
- Yngwie Malmsteen
- Jimi Hendrix
- Randy Rhoads
