James Murphy (guitarist)

James Murphy
Background information
Birth name James Franklin Murphy
Born July 30, 1967 (1967-07-30) (age 44)
Origin United States of America
Genres Heavy metal, death metal, thrash metal, progressive metal
Occupations Musician, songwriter, producer, recording & mixing engineer
Instruments Guitar, bass, keyboards
Associated acts Death, Testament, Obituary, Lazarus A.D., Cancer

James Franklin Murphy (July 30, 1967, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA) is an American guitarist. He is best known for his work in metal bands Death[1] and Testament.[2] He founded Disincarnate,[3] an early death metal band.

He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2001 but recovered. In October 2011, Murphy stated that the tumor had returned but that it was non-cancerous and that it was being treated pharmacologically.[4] He is working on a tribute album to Death founder Chuck Schuldiner who died from pneumonia, caused by complications of his treatment for a brain tumor. He is also producing Deron Miller's band World Under Blood. He also completed production of the industrial death metal band Dååth's second album, The Hinderers, which was released on Roadrunner Records, and Lazarus A.D.'s debut album The Onslaught released on Metal Blade Records. He has also performed as a touring guitarist for Agent Steel, and in Hallows Eve in 1988.

In addition to playing guitar, Murphy operates a recording studio, SafeHouse Production, where he has mixed and produced albums for other bands. He has also contributed lessons to Guitar Player magazine.

Contents

Equipment

Murphy has used Caparison guitars since he was able to play guitar again after his cancer treatment. During his years with Death, Obituary, and Testament he played Ibanez guitars, primarily the S series models, and B.C. Rich guitars during the Obituary period, especially Warlock models. With Disincaranate, he used a Gibson Flying V, loaded with EMG's 81 and 85, through a Marshall 8100. He is also a longtime endorsee of EMG pickups, and mainly uses the 85 and 89 models, although on Testament's The Gathering his Ibanez's were fitted with Dimarzio Steve's Special and Air Norton. For amplification he is currently using Framus Cobra series amplifiers, although previously he used Mesa Rectifiers through a Marshall 4x10 with Testament.

Discography

Cancer
Death
Disincarnate
James Murphy
Konkhra
Obituary
Testament

Guest appearances

References

External links