Alex Skolnick is an American guitarist, born on September 29, 1968, who studied under famed guitarist Joe Satriani. Alex is best known for his work in the bands Testament and Savatage. Testament was formed in 1983 by Eric Peterson and Derrick Ramirez, two guitarists in the San Francisco area. Alex happened to replace Ramirez the same year the band was formed. Testament did not release their first album until 1987, when "The Legacy" was released under Megaforce Records. This album helped them gain instant success with "metal heads", as they were often reminiscent of the band Metallica. Alex only released four more albums with the band, (their greatest achievement being "Practice What You Preach") up until 1992, when he left.
In 1994, Alex joined up with the band Savatage for the album "Handful of rain". After the album release, the band followed up with a short tour. Soon after, a live video known as "Japan Live '94" was released in support of the album. When the tour was over, Alex left the band to search for something of more interest.
During the late 90's, Alex was a frontman for many bands, some of those are, Exhibit-A and Skol-patrol. He has also recorded with Attention Deficit, a three piece band that also featured Tim Alexander from Primus. Alex has also played with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which was founded by Savatage producer Paul O'Neill.
Skolnick now lives in New York City and spends most of his time studying the art of jazz, after enrolling himself in a jazz program at "The New School". His most recent tours and recordings can be heard with his band, the Alex Skolnick Trio, a jazz band known for playing classic rock and heavy metal tunes, with a jazz sound.
In 2005, Skolnick reunited with Testament to embark upon a short European tour. The tour came out to be successful, and soon after a live CD and DVD were released from a show they played in London. In 2008, they released their first album in nine years, "The Formation of Damnation". It was the first album to feature Alex on guitar since 1992. Testament is currently in the studio recording and plan on a 2010 album release.
Alex Skolnick Gear
Guitars & Pickups
Ibanez 540 PII
DiMarzio or Seymour Duncan pickups
Seymour Duncan: 59 and JB. On Ibanez: DiMarzio PAF
Gibson L5 Hollowbody
Les Paul Classic and a PRS
Amps
ADA preamps into a JCM 900
Marshall DSL 2000 with a Keeley modded tube screamer
Marshall Mode 4 for live shows
Rivera 212 combo
Effects
Jim Dunlop volume pedal Prescription Electronics Experience pedal ADA Flange Lexicon JamMan for loops Eventide harmonizer for delay Tube Screamer
Do you know more about what gear Alex Skolnick used / uses? Please
Contact Us.
Alex Skolnick Discography
Testament
The Legacy (1987)
The New Order (1988)
Practice What You Preach (1989)
Souls of Black (1990)
First Strike Still Deadly (2001)
The Formation of Damnation (2008)
Savatage
Handful of Rain (1994)
Alex Skolnick Trio
Goodbye to Romance: Standards for a New Generation (2002)
Transformation (2004)
Last Day in Paradise (2007)
