Jason Eli Becker was born on the 22nd of July, 1969. He has gained worldwide attention over the last 25 years as an innovative musician and phenomenal, cutting-edge guitar player.


link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87Iz3RHZNDQ

However, his story is not as simple. In 1990 Jason Becker succumbed to an as-of-yet "mysterious" disease known as A.L.S. (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). This disease causes the nerves to decay over time. Other famous cases are attributed to Stephen Hawking and Lou Gehrig. This disease is also called Lou Gehrig's disease.

Prior to this event, Jason had, at an early age, developed world-recognition and shocked and awed a multitude of people, both through his recordings and his live clinics. He was considered a virtuoso if there ever was one. He participated in spectated clinics at the Atlanta Institute of Music as well as a clinic in Japan. His album releases, as an artist, include Cacophony's "Speed Metal Symphony" (1987) and "Go Off!" (1988) as well as his solo-artist releases "Perpetual Burn" (1988) and "Perspective" (1995). He later also released a couple compilation albums, "Raspberry Jams" (1999) and "Blackberry Jams" (2003), which contained mainly home-recordings. Later on he also released the album "Collection" (2008) in which some original songs as well as some re-vamps of older songs are found. In 1988 Marty Friedman (Cacophony, Megadeth) released his first solo album entitled "Dragon's Kiss" which features a track named "Jewel" in which Jason's guitar playing can be heard. Originally, they had a friendly dispute over who's album the track "Jewel" would appear in, Jason's "Perpetual Burn" or Marty's "Dragon's Kiss". They settled on a bet consisting on the outcome of a match of Gridiron between two major U.S. teams. Marty's team won.


link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg1oukoPmAM


link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKE6rsxy9Zo


link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpNIkRHbDZM



At the age of 20, Jason was asked to join David Lee Roth's band, following the departure of Steve Vai. In that band, Jason recorded the fantastic album "A Little Ain't Enough". It was shortly before the album's tour began that Jason would find out that he was suffering from A.L.S. It began with a slight pain and limp and throughout the years turned into a life-changing condition which doctors said would take his life after only three to five years. Nevertheless, Jason didn't give up. He continued to write music which would later make it into his album "Perspective"; a magnificent, orchestrated display of exquisite musicianship. He accomplished the writing and recording through means of a computer, as he had lost much of his motor skills over the years.


link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZVKFHkfTds


Jason also produced a myriad of albums and had his own Hot Licks video named "Hot Licks - The Legendary Guitar of Jason Becker." Nowadays, Jason lives in Richmond, California, where he follows a life of spirituality, humor, music and art. He is constantly surrounded by musicians and loved ones. Despite his illness, he has fought through pain and sadness and today shows an incredible perspective towards life. Tributes are never hard to find when it comes to Jason, as the internet finds itself plagued with amateur and professional covers of his work. Also, there have been benefit concerts held in his name. One is to be held on November 13, 2011, in Amsterdam. Artists consisting of Guthrie Govan, Kiko Loureiro, Mattias I A Eklundh and other famous musicians will be performing in honor of Jason. The benefit will allow Jason to improve his life-style as he is constantly on a struggle to sustain his medical necessities in the tough health-care system of the U.S.


link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtjOe5e9VFA


Jason has his own website as well as a Facebook page, and his demeanor towards friends is always none but that of pure love. If you drop a note, he will surely appreciate it very much.

I hope you have enjoyed my post!