Zoltan Bathory
| Zoltán Báthory | |
|---|---|
 Zoltán Báthory from Five Finger Death Punch | |
| Background information | |
| Born |
May 15, 1978 Hungary |
| Genres | Heavy metal, groove metal, hard rock, post-grunge |
| Occupations | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, bass |
| Labels | Firm Music/EMI |
| Associated acts | Five Finger Death Punch, U.P.O. |
Zoltán Báthory is a Hungarian musician, producer, and martial artist. He is the founder, and one of the main songwriters, for the California-based heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch.
Career
Zoltan Báthory is from Szentendre, Hungary, temporarily joined the post-grunge band U.P.O. in 2004 replacing Ben Shirley (on Bass). He left the band in 2005, switched back to guitar, and went on to form the heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch.
Five Finger Death Punch recorded their debut album in 2006 with engineers Steve Bruno and Mike Sarkisyan. It was mixed by Soulfly/Machine Head guitarist Logan Mader. Soon after finishing the album, 5FDP was signed by a major management company The Firm and The Way of the Fist was released on July 31, 2007. This self produced record sold over 600,000 copies in the US alone and spawned 3 top-10 singles.[1] Their even more successful follow-up album, War Is the Answer was released on September 22, 2009 through Prospect Park Records. The record debuted #7 on the Billboard 200 and all 4 singles (off of the album) made it to the top 10 mainstream rock charts making 5FDP one of the breakthrough rock bands of the decade. War is the Answer proved itself to be a rock solid album staying on Billboards Top 100 for over a record breaking 92 weeks and selling over 700,000 copies.[1] Their 3rd record "American Capitalist" surpassed the success of both their previous RIAA certified gold records. American Capitalist debuted #3 on the Billboard 200, spawned another 3 top 10 singles and it achieved gold status within a year of its release. The band 4th studio album "The Wrong Side Of Heaven and The Righteous side of hell is a double album. Volume 1 was released on July 30th 2013, and debuted as the #1 Hard Rock album globally. With 112,000 copies sold the album grabbed the #2 position on Billboard 200 making it the band's most successful debut to date. The lead single "Lift Me Up" a collaboration with legendary Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford marked the band's 3rd #1 mainstream rock single and the consecutive 13th top 10 hits.
Báthory was nominated, and won the "Best Shredder" award at the 2010 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards The award was the 3rd Golden God trophy the band collected (2009 Best New Artist) - (2010 Breakthrough Artist).
Equipment
In 2009 B.C. Rich launched 3 Zoltan Bathory Artist Signature Guitars: Bathory ASM (Artist Signature Model). Báthory runs this through TC Electronic G-System and Diamond Amplifiers which he endorses. Báthory is known for his heavy string gauge of .13 to .66 custom made by Dunlop.
In 2013 it was announced that Báthory has joined Dean Guitars, and a new signature guitar code named AR-6 appeared at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards. This guitar was Ferrari Red with caliper yellow pickup bobbins and carbon fiber inlays - distinguished from Dean's ML model with more aggressive lines. It also sported an AR-15 Rifle handle. The guitar's aesthetics are a cross between a race car and an assault rifle. Later in 2013 a second signature model appeared at Download Festival which seem to be a Signature Superstrat, no specs. were announced yet.
Personal life
In his private life Báthory is an entrepreneur, pilot, and a martial artist, judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner often appearing in martial art magazines. He is on the Gracie Humaita Competition Team, affiliated with Professor Don Charley (2nd degree), Professor Amilcar Cipili (3rd Degree) [2] and 7th Degree Black Belt Royler Gracie [2] According to the band's Facebook page Báthory won the silver medal at the Abu-Dhabi Pro Jiu-Jitsu World Trials, and The North American Grappling Championship, Placed 3rd at the 2012 Masters World Championship in his division. He is one of the few civilians certified by the Pentagon and The US Army as an L1 Modern Army Combatives Instructor - Close Quarter Combat. Báthory also practices Wing Chun Kung-Fu under World Renowned Sifu Randy Williams C.R.C. Academy and Guerilla Jiu-Jitsu under professor John Simons III.
Business Associations
Báthory is a co-owner of Alphadog Combat Gear, a high end fight gear manufacturer working closely with star athletes, UFC fighters and MMA fight leagues.
References
External links
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