George Lynch is a Hard rock guitarist best known as a member of the band Dokken and his own band Lynch Mob. Lynch was born in Spokane, Washington and raised in the small town of Auburn, California. Great White guitarist Mark Kendall claims George started two hand tapping before Eddie Van Halen did.
George Lynch (born September 28, 1954) is a hard rock guitarist best known as a member of the band Dokken, his own bands Lynch Mob and Souls Of We.
Pre Dokken
Lynch was born in Spokane, Washington and raised in the small town of Auburn, California. Great White guitarist Mark Kendall claims George started two hand tapping before Eddie Van Halen did.[1] Actually, although George might have been seen to tap before Eddie, they both picked up tapping at the same time from Harvey Mandel after seeing him at the Starwood Club in the 1970s.[2]Twice Lynch auditioned for the position of Ozzy Osbourne's lead guitarist, once in 1979 – losing to Randy Rhoads – and another time in 1982 to replace Brad Gillis. According to Lynch, he was hired for three days before Ozzy changed his mind and decided to go with Jake E. Lee. Lee, however claims that Lynch "got the gig, but only went on the road for two weeks to watch the show, and never actually played with Ozzy." Lynch looks back on the situation positively though; he has said "I won the consolation prize. Randy got to tour with Ozzy...and I got to teach at his mom's school."
Dokken
Main article: Dokken
Lynch came to fame in the 1980s through his work as the lead guitarist in the band Dokken (of which he had been a member since 1980). Dokken had a string of successful platinum albums such as Under Lock And Key and Back For The Attack, that prominently featured Lynch's inventive lead guitar work and cemented his reputation as a bonafide guitar hero. The instrumental track "Mr. Scary" on Back For The Attack contributed to his popularity among guitar players. The band earned a Grammy nomination for the Best Rock Instrumental in 1989.
Lynch Mob and Post-Dokken
In spite of the band's popularity, the group parted ways in March 1989 due to internal tensions with lead vocalist Don Dokken. Lynch formed his own hard rock band Lynch Mob which differed from Dokken in lyrical and guitar complexity, subject matter, song structure, and tuning. Lynch then took time off and his wife had a baby girl, Mariah Lynch. After spending a few years with his family he got back to work. In 1993, Lynch released his first solo album, Sacred Groove.
Reunion with Dokken
By 1994, after Don Dokken, Jeff Pilson and Mick Brown reunited, they decided to try and bring Lynch back into the fold as well for a true reunion of Dokken. Lynch agreed to put all differences aside to give it a go once more. The reunited version of Dokken was signed to the Columbia/Sony label and after extensive writing, released Dysfunctional. Unfortunately the album did not do as well as expected and the band was dropped from the label. Dokken then signed on with CMC International and released an unplugged show the band performed in late 1994 titled One Live Night. By 1996 the band entered the studio and hired producer Kelly Gray. Gray along with Lynch, Pilson and Brown wanted to take Dokken in a new direction to the dismay of vocalist and founder Don Dokken and released Shadowlife which was a complete switch from melodic rock to a more alternative sound. Lynch still found time to appear at guitar clinics for ESP guitars and attend the annual NAMM Show. By 1997, tensions had again flared between Don and Lynch which led to Lynch being let go from Dokken and replaced by former Europe guitarist John Norum, who had played on Don Dokken's solo efforts.
Reuniting Lynch Mob and after
This prompted Lynch to call his former Lynch Mob members Oni Logan, Anthony Esposito and Mick Brown for a reunion of Lynch Mob. The group entered the studio and demo-ed 3 songs (later released as an EP titled SYZYGY). However Logan decided to leave the band to pursue other projects before a full album could be completed. Mick Brown decided to stay with Dokken. George organized a short 13 show U.S. tour for Lynch Mob in 1998 with ex-Badlands front man John West (singer) from N.Y., Anthony Esposito and others.
George himself then decided he wanted to take Lynch Mob in a totally new direction influenced by contemporary bands. The Lynch Mob's radical new look and interesting new musical approach attracted a younger audience. In 1999 they released the album "Smoke This". After touring in support of "Smoke This" Lynch decided to put Lynch Mob on hold for a couple years, but not until he toured with Lynch Mob's original singer Oni Logan, L.A. Guns' bassist Chuck Garric, and Bulletboys' drummer Jimmy D'Anda in late 2001. In early 2002 George began working with a producer/engineer named Sean Fodor on the ill fated Microdot project which featured then unknown vocalist London LeGrand. Only a few songs from that "lost" project have ever seen the light of day. "Bulldog Tyranny" on "The Lost Anthology" and 3 other songs George later released as "The Lynch That Stole Riffness" with Robert Mason taking the helm on vocals. Then in late 2002, George Lynch decided to reform Lynch Mob with original bassist Anthony Esposito and the singer from their 2nd album Robert Mason. Lynch Mob then recorded an album of re-recorded classic Lynch songs from Dokken and Lynch Mob albums, updated to a more contemporary (post-2000) approach and sound.
He also formed a project with former Dokken bassist Jeff Pilson called 'Lynch/Pilson'- Wicked Underground. In 2003 Lynch formed 'The George Lynch Group' in which he has continued to record and regularly tour. The George Lynch Group performed a marathon, 26 shows in 30 days, including a much talked about feature on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The line-up is: George Lynch - Guitars, Andrew Freeman - Vocals, Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath/Dio) - Drums, Marten Andersson (Lizzy Borden/Starwood/Legacy) - Bass. The 2005's "Furious George" album is a cover album, including classic rock tunes from ZZ Top, Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, AC/DC, and Led Zeppelin.
On May 13, 2008, Let the Truth Be Known was released under the band name Souls of We . It features London LeGrand (vocals), Johnny Chow (bass), and Yael (drums).[3] Despite this new band and new album, in the early fall of 2008 Lynch embarked on a tour with a reformed Lynch Mob featuring original singer Oni Logan, bassist Marco Mendoza and drummer Tommy Aldridge. A new Lynch Mob album, called "Smoke And Mirrors," was released in October 2009 with Logan handling lead vocals.
Lynch toured the spring of 2010 with Sould Of We and will spend the summer and winter touring Lynch Mob.
George currently lives near Los Angeles where created an instructional guitar website named the Dojo. Lynch also started making in his own hand made "art" guitars [1] which he makes himself at the ESP Guitars USA custom shop facility.
Second Dokken reunion in 2011
On November 29, 2009, during an encore at a Dokken show at The House Of Blues in Anaheim, George Lynch and Jeff Pilson joined Mick Brown and Don Dokken for two songs. The "glory days" line-up being on stage together for the first time in 12 years. In early 2010, Lynch announced a reunion of Dokken's glory days line-up. The announcement was followed by a retraction on February 24th. A 2011 Reunion was not ruled out.
Equipment
Lynch has been an endorser of ESP guitars since 1986. His "Skull and Bones," affectionately named "Mom," was designed and hand-crafted by a friend (the neck was given by ESP). "Mom" is actually a J Frog guitar but since George was endorsing ESP guitars, an ESP decal was applied to the headstock. Several George Lynch signature guitars have been produced by ESP Japan since then:
- The Kamikaze model, based on his first ESP guitar
- The Tiger model, a replica of a home made Strat George released in 1980
- The Skull & Snakes, a design that was later used as the Lynch Mob "Wicked Sensation" album artwork
- The Flame Boy is based on an ESP Forest design
- The New Super V includes distressed hardware and features and a new "Super V" pickup
- Featured in the "Breaking the Chains" music video, he had custom made chain like strings on his tiger guitar.
- 1995 – The Ultra Tone was the first ESP guitar that George designed himself, It's an off set double cutaway body shape is similar to an SG guitar, with bolt on maple neck with 22XJ frets white neck binding, a Brazilian rosewood neck, pearl dot inlay. It has a Les Paul 1960s-type slim-taper neck feel, three per side vintage style tuners with keystone buttons, screened logo/Ultra Tone/graphic on headstock, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, chrome hardware, maple body with three Seymour Duncan covered mini-humbuckers, a Strat-fiveway switch, one volume, two tone knobs, the volume has a pull switch that can turn all the pickups to single coil. It also has a black pearloid pickguard. The GL Ultra only came In black color. There were a similar LTD's and ESP's, but it had different pickups combination, but the body's were made of alder, In color white, sunburst,and black. The George Lynch Ultra Tone Model is one of the most hard to find ESP's and the most missunderstood guitars of the ages it's an absolute dream to play one, whith it's killer tones and glorious sound, this guitar is like a little secret, that those who own it would never depart away from them. They're that good.
All information was acquired through a number of publications such as of, 1996 ESP catalog only (pg.12), Dec.1996 Guitar Player Giveaway on page 48 (just add drums '96), DrumcityGuitarland's (Jason Kae) ESP guitar expert, The Blue Book Of Electric Guitars 11th edition (it has the description somewhat wrong the 1,499. The actual MSR price is 1,795.00. mfg. 1996-1998. There was a Korean-made LTD Ultra Tone model with 2 humbuckers alder body. In the ESP 2005 (page 29) catalog an LTD JP-600 mahogany set neck came out as Jadel Paisante of 111Nino. As of 2010, it is making a comeback as a 7-string.
- The Serpent, an ESP model released and used in the 1990s. An LTD signature series model was released in 2008.
These guitars are still available from ESP Japan. The Flame Boy and Super V also exist in less expensive LTD versions. , Seymour Duncan created for George Lynch the Screaming Demon guitar pickup (SH-12 and TB-12), featured on all the ESP Lynch signature guitar series. This pickup is one of their best sellers. They also recently designed the new Super V pickup to be featured in the Super V model. This pickup can be ordered from the Seymour Duncan custom shop.
His immoderate use of Marshall, Soldano, Bogner & Diezel amps and effects units to achieve his famous tone is well known in rock guitar circles. His rig changes on every tour. Lynch currently endorses Randall amplification and participated in the design of a new George Lynch Box for their modular amp system.
While on tour in 2005 he has used the Randall Dragon (non master volume) tube head for the majority of his sound. The design is very similar to the older Marshall Plexi heads that he used early on in Dokken.
A Morley A/B box called the Tripler is also available. It includes a Boost.
A limited edition Robert Keeley GL Time Machine boost was made available in 2004.
Lynch is endorsing the hand-crafted Yamaha L-Series Acoustic Guitars and is on an Asian 'Unplugged' except for a Marshall stack, Clinic tour May/June 2006.
Lynch has also designed a new high-nickel content string through the Dean Markley company to be on the market with his name on the packaging. [4] In 2008 Zoom released the G2g George Lynch Pedal
Lynch is now signed with Washburn Guitars who have created his own signature model, the Lynch Jumbo acoustic with graphics designed by Stephen Jensen.
Influences
George has cited Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck and Michael Schenker, along with Eddie Van Halen and Yngwie Malmsteen as being part of his musical influences.
Discography
Dokken
- Breaking the Chains (1983)
- Tooth and Nail (1984)
- Under Lock and Key (1985)
- Back for the Attack (1987)
- Beast from the East (1988)
- The Best of Dokken (1994) - Japanese release
- One Live Night (1995) - Japanese release, re-released worldwide months later
- Dysfunctional (1995)
- Shadowlife (1997)
- The Definitive Rock Collection (2006)
- From Conception: Live 1981 (2007)
Lynch Mob
- Wicked Sensation (1990)
- Lynch Mob (1992)
- Syzygy (1998)
- Smoke This (1999)
- Evil: Live (2003)
- REvolution (2003)
- REvolution LIVE! (2005)
- Smoke and Mirrors (2009)
Solo
- Sacred Groove (1993)
- Live In Florida (1999)[2]
- Will Play for Food (2000)
- Stone House (2001)
- The Lynch That Stole Riffness! (2002)
- Furious George (2004)
- The Lost Anthology (2005)
- Scorpion Tales (2007)
- Guitar Slinger (2007)
- Orchestral Mayhem (2010)
Lynch/Pilson
- Wicked Underground (2003)
- Maximum Security (1987)
Xciter
- Xciter (2006)
- Gemini (2006)
- Let the Truth Be Known (2008)
George Lynch & The Stahlwersfonie Orchestra
- Christmas / Sarajevo (2009)
Hear 'n Aid
Stars (1986)
PRESS NEWS
FIRST DRAFT DO NOT DISTRIBUTE 2nD REVISION
Monster Fest Returns Saturday October 2nd, 2010 for its 5th year! - Merced, California - Merced County Fairgrounds
September 5th 2010 for immediate release
APJG and 92.5 The Bear presents MONSTER FEST 2010. Monster Fest is the biggest one-day annual Rock & Metal Festival to hit Merced County and it is growing every year with 1500 in attendance expected. For the First time since the Monster Fest journey began, we have added an international artist featuring legendary guitar player ”George Lynch” (Dokken) and the “Lynch Mob”. Along with “George Lynch” are Damage Inc. (tribute to early Metallica), Izzy Ozborne (salute to Ozzy) plus 30 other bands on 6 stages indoor and outdoor presenting some of the best original cover, tribute, rock and metal bands this side of the Sierra’s. Plus, this year new rock genres have been added such as Punk Rock and Christian Rock. Sponsored by Merced Honda, Budweiser, Clear, Bad Boys Audio, Sfarzo Guitar Strings, Quality Inn and Garza Tire in Winton presents Monster Fest
About George Lynch: George Lynch is a hard rock guitarist best known as a member of the band Dokken and his own band Lynch Mob. Lynch was born in Spokane, Washington and raised in the small town of Auburn, California. Great White guitarist Mark Kendall claims George started two-hand tapping before Eddie Van Halen did. George Lynch (born September 28, 1954) is a hard rock guitarist best known as a member of the band Dokken, his own bands Lynch Mob and Souls Of We
This all age event brings great music, retail and display booths, good food and beverages for all, including those 21 and older plus some fun activities as well. It all begins Saturday October 2nd, 2010 at the Merced County Fairgrounds in Merced Ca.
Gates open at 3:00pm - Show starts at 3:30pm till 12:00am.
For more information please contact:
Merced County Fairgrounds
900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Merced, California 95341
mercedcountyfair.com
$20 pre-sale $25 Door
Ticket Sales:www.monsterfestrocks.com | More Info:myspace.com/monsterfestrocks
About George Lynch: www.sfarzo.us/monsterfest
OCTOBER 2nd
GEORGE LYNCH
DOORS OPEN 3:00pm
6 Stages - 30 Bands
Merced County Fairgrounds
900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Merced, California 95341
(209) 722-1506
mercedcountyfair.com
20 pre-sale/25 Door
Help promote this event. Stick this image below on your website and link it to our URL at http://www.sfarzo.us/monsterfest
