James
Byrd
James
Byrd was playing guitar before then, but he became serious about his
music the day that Jimi Hendrix died. Byrd began working hard at his
craft, first mastering the art of blues, then moving into more metallic
guitar styles. In 1980, he assembled his first non-cover band. By
the next year, Byrd had relocated from his native Seattle to Los Angeles
and began playing that circuit. He did not stay there long, though,
moving back home in 1982. There he met up with Ken Mary and Ted Pilot
and the beginnings of Fifth Angel were in place. By 1983, that group
had assembled a demo and begun shopping it to the labels. The demo
approach paid off by landing them a contract with Shrapnel Records
and an album. By 1987 they hooked up with Epic Records. That year
saw a reissue of the first album. However, Byrd parted company with
the group shortly after that.
1988
saw Byrd back in the Shrapnel camp, this time under his own name.
He released Atlantis Rising. In 1993, he followed that disc up with
Octoglomerate. The disc wound up in the hands of Yngwie Malmsteen
and the two met. When Byrd released his next CD in 1995, Malmsteen
did an unprecedented act by endorsing the album on an attachment to
the cover. This album was Son of Man. The following year, Byrd released
The Apocalypse Chime under the banner of the James Byrd Group. The
first album in the last three to feature vocals (by Robert Mason of
Lynch Mob), this was his final record on Shrapnel. By 1997, Byrd had
hooked up with JVC Japan. This release was under the name of James
Byrd's Atlantis Rising and was entitled Crimes of Virtuosity. 2001
saw the release of Byrd-Flying Beyond the 9. ~ Gary Hill, All Music
Guide
Fifth
Angel
James
Byrd Links:
James
Byrd Official WebSite
James
Byrd Official UK Website
Discography:
Flying
Beyond the 9 released 2001
Atlantis
Rising Crimes of Virtuosity released 1997
The
Apocalypse Chime released 1996
Son
of Man released 1995
Octoglomerate
released 1993
Atlantis
Rising released 1990
Fifth
Angel released 1984 rereleased 1989
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