Dave Meniketti

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Dave Meniketti
Birth name	Dave Meniketti
Born	December 12, 1953 (1953-12-12) (age 54) Oakland, California, USA
Genre(s)	Hard rock, Heavy metal, Blues
Occupation(s)	Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals, Guitar
Years active	1973 - present
Label(s)	London Records(1976-1978), A&M(1981-1985), Geffen(1987-1990), Metal Blade(1991)
Associated acts	Y&T
Website	http://www.meniketti.com/
Notable instrument(s)
Gibson Les Paul

Dave Meniketti (born December 12, 1953) is a lead guitarist and singer/ songwriter for 70's/80's Hard Rock/Blues/Heavy Metal band Y&T. Dave Meniketti has also done two individual solo efforts, which are more blues-oriented, but is touring with Y&T on an off and on basis.

[edit] History

Dave Meniketti was born and raised in Oakland, California where he has been an icon for guitar players worldwide and a San Francisco Bay Area vocal and guitar legend for over two decades. Perhaps it is the diversity of the artists that influenced him as a kid (Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane, James Brown, Led Zeppelin) that is responsible for his varied expressions in both his singing and guitar playing.

As the lead singer/lead guitarist with Bay Area Rockers Y&T, Meniketti has sold over 4 million records worldwide, recorded 17 albums and toured across the United States and around the world. His style has influenced some of the major stars in rock and over the years he’s been asked to join many top bands including Ozzy Osbourne and Whitesnake. Secret Chiefs 3 and former Mr. Bungle guitarist Trey Spruance said in an interview with Kerrang! Magazine, 1991, that "... of course, I owe it [his guitar playing speed] all to Y&T. Dave Meniketti is my god."

While Y&T took a break from recording and performing, Meniketti built his own recording studio in his home, and proceeded to record his first solo album titled ON THE BLUE SIDE which represented his passion for the blues. He would later release a follow up album simply titled, MENIKETTI.

[edit] Equipments

Dave plays Gibson Les Paul models and Yamaha SG models. It is remarkable that he has been using Gibson Les Paul since early 1980’s. Unlike many other rock guitarists, he plays red coloured sunburst Les Paul model WITHOUT the tiger-stripe figure.