Jeff Loomis
Real Name: Jeff Loomis
AKA: N/A Birthday: September 14, 1971 Origin: Wisconsin, USA Music: Thrash Metal
Progressive Metal
Bands: Sanctuary
Nevermore
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Jeff Loomis (born in Appleton, Wisconsin, September 14, 1971) is the lead guitarist for the Seattle progressive metal band, Nevermore. He has listed guitarists such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony MacAlpine, Jason Becker and Marty Friedman as his influences.
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Loomis took up guitar at an early age, self-taught to this day. He played in a handful of cover bands and three Wisconsin death metal bands before he would get signed to more established bands. At the age of 16, his guitar entry won Wisconsin's Guitar Wars contest.He was auditioned for Megadeth (during the So Far, So Good...So What! era) at the age of 16, when their lead guitarist Jeff Young left the band. After they played a few songs together, Dave Mustaine, the band's frontman and other lead guitarist, thanked Loomis and told him that one day he would become a great guitar player, but because of his age and inexperience he was not right for the position. Jeff Loomis saw Cacophony on tour, and told Marty Friedman, who became very interested, about the audition. Marty tried out for the position and joined the band in 1989. In 2005, Loomis would then share the stage with Megadeth, as the lead guitarist for Nevermore as part of Mustaine's Gigantour festival. |
Not too long after being auditioned for the lead part in Megadeth, Loomis was able to join the band Sanctuary after guitarist Sean Blosl had left. He was able to take his place at this time; however, because of a dispute caused by guitarist Lenny Rutledge wanting to make grunge oriented music, Sanctuary broke apart 4 months afterwards.
After the break-up, Loomis and former Sanctuary members Warrel Dane (vocalist) and Jim Sheppard (bassist) made plans to form Nevermore, and in late 1994, Loomis became the lead guitarist of Nevermore after the brief period being in Sanctuary. Now, he is the main songwriter of Nevermore, adding to the unique sound that fans are familiar with. His contributions can be found in albums such as The Politics of Ecstasy, Dreaming Neon Black and their latest album This Godless Endeavor (including Steve Smyth, who previously featured in the band Testament). Currently, Loomis plays an important role in portraying the sound that Nevermore has today, using guitar techniques like sweep-picking. One of his more important musical showcases is in the album Dead Heart in a Dead World, in which he wrote most of the songs before Nevermore. |
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Loomis has recently been given a monthly column in Guitar World magazine entitled "Merchant of Menace" where he explains how to play the riffs and solos of Nevermore. In more recent columns, Jeff's co-guitarist in Nevermore, Steve Smyth has co-written the column, which is now dubbed "The Merchants of Menace." Loomis has mentioned at various times that he's been planning for a long time to record a solo album, but it is not yet known if or when that album may be released.