George Lynch (musician)

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George Lynch (b. September 28, 1954) is a Hard rock guitarist best known as a member of the band Dokken.

George Lynch

George Lynch at Dallas Guitar Show 2004
Born September 28, 1954
in Spokane, Washington
Genre(s) Hard rock
Rock
Metal
Affiliation(s) Dokken

Lynch Mob
Notable guitars ESP George Lynch Signature Model
Years active 1979 - present
Official site Official website

Contents

[edit] Biography

Lynch was born in Spokane, Washington and raised near Sacramento, California. He is a highly respected modern guitarist often compared with other guitar heroes such as Randy Rhoads, Steve Vai, Andy Timmons, Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, and Yngwie J. Malmsteen. Lynch is well known for his famous legato technique and common use of the scale he calls the 'Gothic Octave'. Twice Lynch auditioned for the position of Ozzy Osbourne's lead guitarist, once in 1979 – losing to Randy Rhoads – and another time in 1982 to replace Brad Gillis. According to Lynch, he was hired for three days before Ozzy changed his mind and decided to go with Jake E. Lee. Lee, however claims that Lynch "got the gig, but only went on the road for two weeks to watch the show, and never actually played with Ozzy."

Lynch came to fame in the 1980s through his work as the lead guitarist in the band Dokken (whom he had been a member of since 1980). Dokken had a string of successful platinum albums such as "Under Lock And Key" and "Back For The Attack", that prominently featured Lynch's inventive lead guitar work and cemented his reputation as a bonafide guitar hero. The instrumental track "Mr. Scary" on Back For The Attack contributed to his popularity among guitar players. The band earned a grammy nomination for the "best rock instrumental" in 1989.

In spite of the band's popularity, the group parted ways in March of 1989 due to internal tensions with lead vocalist Don Dokken. Lynch formed his own hard rock band Lynch Mob which differed from Dokken in lyrical complexity, subject matter, song structure, guitar complexity and tuning, and a notably different approach to vocal harmony than Dokken's soaring harmonies. In 1993, Lynch released his first solo album, Sacred Groove.

By 1994, after Don Dokken, Jeff Pilson and Mick Brown reunited, they decided to try and bring Lynch back into the fold as well for a true reunion of Dokken. Lynch would cave and agreed to put all differences aside to give it a go once more. After releasing a few albums on an independant label, the band was signed to a mainstream company. Dokken released two albums and a video during this period but Lynch still found time appear at guitar clinics for ESP guitars and attend the annual NAMM Show. By 1997, tensions had again flared between Don and Lynch that the band agreed to "take a break" from one another and do their own side projects then return to the studio together. The following year, after Lynch released an EP, Dokken returned to the studio, but Lynch was not present. After failed communications, Lynch was fired from Dokken, giving him the freedom to continue to pursue other projects. Lynch was replaced by Reb Beach and Dokken continued.

Lynch reformed Lynch Mob, and released an album with a radically new style, influenced by modern souding bands, with an interesting and new approach. The tour attracted a younger audience. Lynch Mob then recorded an album of re-recorded classic lynch songs from Dokken or Lynch Mob albums, updated to a more contemporary (post-2000) approach and sound.

He also formed a project with former Dokken bassist Jeff Pilson called 'Lynch/Pilson'- Wicked Underground. In 2003 Lynch formed the 'The George Lynch Group' in which he has continued to record and regularly tour. The George Lynch Group performed a marathon, 26 shows in 30 days, including a much talked about feature on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The line-up is: George Lynch - Guitars, Andrew Freeman - Vocals, Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath/Dio) - Drums, Marten Andersson (Lizzy Borden/Starwood/Legacy) - Bass. The 2005's "Furious George" album is a cover album, including classic rock tunes from ZZ top, Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, Ac/DC or Led Zeppelin. A new, long awaited, all-instrumental album is currently in progress.

George currently lives near Los Angeles, and aside from embracing body building, created an instructional guitar website named the "Guitar Dojo".

[edit] Equipment

Lynch has been an endorser of ESP guitars since 1986. His famed Skull and Bones guitar affectionately named "Mom" is one of the most famous in modern rock, and was designed and handcrafted by a friend (the neck was given by ESP). Several George Lynch signature guitars have been produced by ESP Japan since then:

- The Kamikaze model, based on his first ESP guitar
- The Tiger model, a replica of a home made strat george realised in 1980
- The Skull and snakes, a design that was later used as the Lynch Mob "wicked sesation" album artwork
- The Flame Boy is based on a ESP Forest Design
- The New Super V includes distressed hardware and features and a new "super V" pickup

These guitars are still avalaible from ESP Japan. The Flame Boy and Super V also exists in a less expensive LTD version.

Seymour Duncan created for George Lynch the Screaming Demon guitar pickup(SH-12 sand TB-12), featured on all the ESP Lynch signature guitars series. This pickup is one of their best sellers. They also recently designed the new Super V pickup to be featured in the Super V model. This pickup can be ordered form the Seymour Duncan custom shop.

His immoderate use of Marshall, Soldano, Bogner & Diezel amps and effects units to achieve his famous tone is well known in rock guitar circles. His rig changes on every tour. Lynch currently endorses Randall amplification and participated in the design of a new George Lynch Box for their modular amp system.

While on tour in 2005 he has used the Randall Dragon (non master volume) tube head for the majority of his sound. The design is very similar to the older marshall plexi heads that he used early on in Dokken.

A Morley A/B box called the tripler is also avalaible. It includes a Boost.

Lynch is endorsing the handcrafted Yamaha L-Series Acoustic Guitars and is on a Asian 'Unplugged' except for a Marshall stack, Clinic tour May/June 2006.

Lynch has also designed a new high-nickel content string through the Dean Markley company to be on the market soon but his name will not be on the package.

[edit] Discography

Dokken

Lynch Mob

Solo

  • Sacred Groove (1993)
  • Will Play for Food (2000)
  • Stone House (2001)
  • The Lynch That Stole Riffness! (2002)
  • Furious George (2004)
  • The Lost Anthology (2005)

Lynch/Pilson

  • Wicked Underground (2003)

Tony MacAlpine

[edit] External links

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