Guthrie Govan

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Guthrie Govan bigraphy, stories - Monarchs

Guthrie Govan : biography

27 December 1971 –

Guthrie Govan (born 27 December 1971 in Chelmsford, Essex, England) is an English guitarist and teacher, known for his work with the bands The Aristocrats, Asia (2001–2006), Docker’s Guild, GPS, The Young Punx and The Fellowship as well as Erotic Cakes (a vehicle for his own music). He is a noted guitar teacher through his work with the UK magazine Guitar Techniques, Guildford’s Academy of Contemporary Music and currently the Brighton Institute of Modern Music. He is the 1993 winner of Guitarist magazine’s "Guitarist of the Year" competition.

Despite his magazine success and achievements with Asia and other bands, it was his exposure on YouTube through clips of his playing which has led him to being considered one of the world’s best contemporary electric guitar players, and one of the most flexible players in musical scope, although he is primarily considered a jazz fusion player and shred guitarist. As a result, Govan now regularly travels internationally, teaching at various clinics around the world.

Playing career in the 2010s

Docker’s Guild

Govan performed on all tracks on Docker’s Guild’s debut album The Mystic Technocracy – Season 1: The Age of Ignorance, released in June 2012 on Lion Music. The project also features some other Asia artists, notably John Payne on vocals and Simon Hanhart, who mixed the album. Other special guests include Gregg Bissonette (drums), Tony Franklin (bass), Jeff Watson (guitars), Douglas R. Docker (keyboards), Goran Edman, Tony Mills and Amanda Somerville (vocals)., Accessed 11 March 2011

Other

In late 2011, Govan announced a new tour with new band The Aristocrats, featuring Bryan Beller on bass and Marco Minnemann on the drums. Their self-titled album was released worldwide in September 2011.

In 2012, TBS began running a TV ad for the popular show "House of Payne" that features part of his solo from his jam track "Les is More."

In June 2012, Govan was featured with a guest solo on the song, "Have a Blast" on progressive metal band Periphery’s, second album Periphery II: This Time It’s Personal.

In September 2012, it was announced that Govan will be playing guitar on Steven Wilson’s upcoming third solo album.

Playing career in the 2000s

Asia, GPS and The Young Punx

Govan began his involvement with Asia playing on the album Aura. With his work on the album complete, Govan was added to the Asia line-up for the tour to support the new album. Bad Asteroid, an instrumental in the live shows, was a Govan original composition; it dates back to his early 1990s demo. He went on to play on the band’s 2004 album Silent Nation.

In 2006, Asia keyboardist Geoff Downes left to reform an earlier Asia line-up; Govan and the other two band members, John Payne and Jay Schellen, along with and Erik Norlander continued as Asia featuring John Payne. Govan left in mid-2009 and was replaced by Mitch Perry. Payne, Govan and Schellen also formed GPS (named after the members’ initials) and after the addition of Ryo Okumoto on keyboards the band released the album Window to the Soul (2006).

Govan performs on a number of tracks on Your Music Is Killing Me, the debut album of UK electronic dance music act The Young Punx and is part of their live act. He also appears in the music video for their track Rockall.

Govan has played live guitar for Dizzee Rascal, including a performance on Later With Jools Holland., Guitar Techniques, 24 Sept 2009, Accessed 25 Oct 2009

Erotic Cakes and The Fellowship

Govan’s debut solo album, Erotic Cakes, was released through Cornford Records in August 2006. In the album’s sleeve notes, Govan states the album is a Simpsons reference; he also explains that when playing live, the band is billed as Erotic Cakes rather than simply Guthrie Govan.Erotic Cakes, Cornford Records, 2006 In addition to bass by Govan’s brother Seth and drumming by Pete Riley, the album features guitar solos by Richie Kotzen (whose Los Angeles studio was used to record the guitar tracks on the album) on Ner Ner and Bumblefoot on Rhode Island Shred respectively. Seth Govan and Pete Riley also complete the Erotic Cakes live band. Previous versions of Waves and Rhode Island Shred appeared on the compilation Guitar on the Edge, Vol 1. no.4 (Legato Records, 1993). A version of his Guitarist of the Year winning piece, Wonderful Slippery Thing appears on the album. While this is his first album, Govan had been collaborating with drummer Pete Riley on the music since the mid-1990s. Govan faced a set back after the albums were produced when several thousand copies of Erotic Cakes were stolen during a warehouse robbery and were never recovered, but the record company said that "if the thieves can sell all of the records they have a job here with us". The album has also become one of the most illegally downloaded records.