Alex's Bio:

Alex Skolnick, born in 1968, grew up in Berkeley, California. At age nine, a fascination with the rock group Kiss led to a desire to learn guitar. At age sixteen, Alex tried out for a local band called Legacy. Shortly after graduating from high school, he found himself recording his first album with the group, who by this time had changed their name to Testament. What followed were five albums and countless tours with, among others, Megadeth, Slayer, Judas Priest, and White Zombie. Alex received critical acclaim for his lead guitar work, which had been inspired by heroes such Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads. In the meantime, however, Alex’s tastes were changing. An exposure to Miles Davis’ electric bands inspired him to push harder to be a serious musician. No longer content to be just a metal player, he began an intense study of many types of music including jazz, funk and world music.

In 1990, twenty-one year old Alex was tapped by Guitar World magazine to become a monthly instruction columnist. He has since written for Guitar World, Guitar Player, and Guitar magazines, the latter of which has featured him for over five years. It was around this time that Alex did his first guitar clinic. He has gone on to give guitar clinics across the U.S. and in Europe. In 1991, bassist extraordinaire Stu Hamm chose Alex to handle guitar duties on his national tour, opening the door beyond metal. Since leaving Testament in 1992, he has blossomed into an artist of profound diversity, going on to perform and/or record with Primus bassist Les Claypool and drummer Brain (currently of Guns’n Roses), Wyndham Hill recording artist Michael Manring, Attention Deficit (w/Michael Manring and Primus drummer Tim Alexander), Savatage, Ozzy Osbourne, keyboardist Adam Holzman (of Miles Davis), Broadway star Rob Evan (Les Miserables and Jeckyl And Hyde) and more. Alex continues to be a featured member of the smash hit holiday show Trans-Siberian Orchestra, performing to sold out crowds across the U.S. as well as appearing in local and national radio and television appearances. He has also become active as a composer; with credits including pieces for the EA video game "Hot Wheels Turbo Racing", the USA Network’s broadcast of the 2002 Westminster Dog Show (a big band jazz piece), and the MTV series "Makin’ The Band."

Alex has been based in New York City since1998. Believing that the learning process never ends, he has intertwined all his activities with intensive studies. This has included earning a BFA in jazz performance from New School University, where he studied with master musicians such as Richie Beirach, George Garzone, Hal Galper and Cecil McBee. His playing combines elements of all the styles he enjoys, and his current vision is to continue to record and tour in collaboration with other musicians and as a leader of his own projects.

Discography:

Solo Projects:
Transformation 2004
Goodbye To Romance: Standards For A New Generation 2004
Skol Patrol

Appears on:
Dina Fanai 2005
Metallic Attack 2004
Debbie Friedman 2003
Attention Deficit the idiot king 2001
Attention Deficit 1998
Michael Manring 1994
Savatage Live In Japan 1995
Savatage Handful Of Rain 1994
Guitar's Practicing Musicians Volume III 1994
Guitars That Rule The World 1991

With Testament
First Strike Still Deadly 2001
The Ritual 1992
Souls Of Black 1992
Practice What You Preach 1989
The New Order 1988
Live At Eindhoven 1988
The Legacy 1987



Official Site: http://www.alexskolnick.com