Jeff Loomis

Infobox musical artist
Name = Jeff Loomis

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Img_capt = Jeff Loomis playing with Nevermore in Dinkelsbühl, August 16, 2007
Img_size =
Landscape = Yes
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1971|9|14
Appleton, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died =
Instrument = Guitar
Genre = Progressive metal, thrash metal, power metal, death metal
Occupation = Musician
Years_active = 1991 - presentEncyclopaedia Metallum, "Experiment Fear - Choir Invisible" at [http://www.metal-archives.com/release.php?id=36448 Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives] ; last accessed April 28, 2007.]
Label =
Associated_acts = Sanctuary
Nevermore
URL = [http://www.jeffloomis.com/ www.jeffloomis.com]
Notable_instruments = Schecter Jeff Loomis 7-String Signature Models
EMG 707 Pickups
ENGL Special Edition E 670

Jeff Loomis (born 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.Metal-Rules.com, "Nevermore Interview with Jeff Loomis" at [http://metal-rules.com/interviews/Nevermore-July2003.htm Metal-Rules.com] ; last accessed April 28, 2007.] Jeffloomis.com, "Bio" at [http://www.jeffloomis.com/bio2.htm Jeffloomis.com] ; last accessed May 26, 2007.]

Biography

Early days

Loomis is a self taught guitarist. He got his first instrument at nine or ten years old, but didn't start practicing seriously until around the age of 15. As a teenager in Wisconsin he played in a handful of cover bands and three death metal bands before joining more established bands.Jeffloomis.com, "Discography" at [http://www.jeffloomis.com/disc2.htm Jeffloomis.com] ; last accessed May 26, 2007.] At the age of 16, Loomis won Wisconsin's "Guitar Wars" contest.Fact|date=January 2008

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 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.

anctuary

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 up 4 months afterwards.

Nevermore

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 7 string guitars and techniques such as 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.

olo

In 2005, Jeff reported that he would take some time as a break and then begin recording a solo album. He said, "It's something I've been wanting to do for sometime... It will be like a Jason Becker/Marty Friedman kind of thing." On April 1, 2008, Jeff said that all 10 songs which have been written have had the drumming recorded (which was done by Mark Arrington pretty much overnight) and they will soon begin tracking the rhythm guitar. On 3rd July 2008, it was announced that the album will be called Zero Order Phase [http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=100222] . It was released 30th September via Century Media Records.

Other

Loomis had a monthly columnFact|date=October 2007 in Guitar World magazine entitled "Merchant of Menace" where he explained how to play the riffs and solos of Nevermore. In more recent columns, His former co-guitarist in Nevermore, Steve Smyth has co-written the column, which is dubbed "The Merchants of Menace."

Equipment

Loomis plays various Schecter seven string guitars, including the Jeff Loomis C7 FR Signature Model with EMG 707 pickups and a Floyd Rose tremolo. He also plays a Schecter C-7 Hellraiser with EMG 707 active humbucker pickups, and the C-7 Blackjack with the Seymour Duncan JB and 59' pickups. Prior to Schecter he played a wide variety of guitars including Ibanez, Gibson, Jackson and ESP. He endorsed Peavey amplifiers and after that he endorsed Krank amplifiers. Early in 2007, Schecter guitars brought out the Jeff Loomis Signature Schecter 7 string, based on the C-7 Hellraiser model. It features the EMG 707 active pickups, original Floyd rose, ash body and three piece maple neck. It is the same as his other one but it has a fixed bridge instead of a Floyd Rose.Blabbermouth.net, "NEVERMORE: JEFF LOOMIS Signature Model Guitar To Debut At NAMM" at [http://www.roadrun.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=65085 Blabbermouth.net] ; last accessed January 13, 2007.] At NAMM 08 a new signature model was released. He is also a player of SIT .10 gauge strings. As of 2008 Jeff is now endorsing ENGL Amplification.

Discography

Nevermore

*"Nevermore" (1995)
*"In Memory" (EP, 1996)
*"The Politics of Ecstasy" (1996)
*"Dreaming Neon Black" (1999)
*"Dead Heart in a Dead World" (2000)
*"Enemies of Reality" (2003, remixed in 2004)
*"This Godless Endeavor" (2005)

olo

* "Zero Order Phase" (2008)

Guest appearances

*God Forbid - "Gone Forever" (2004)

*Pamela Moore - "Stories from a Blue Room" (2006)

*Annihilator - "Metal (2007)
*Warrel Dane - "Praises to the War Machine (2008)
*Marty Friedman - "Future Addict (2008)

References

External links

* [http://www.jeffloomis.com/ Jeff Loomis's website]
* [http://www.nevermore.tv/ Official Nevermore website]