Guthrie Govan

Guthrie Govan (born December 27, 1971 in Chelmsford, Essex, England) is a guitarist known for his work with the bands Asia (2001-2006), 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 U.K. magazine Guitar Techniques, Guildford’s Academy of Contemporary Music and currently the Brighton Institute of Modern Music. He is also a former winner of Guitarist Magazine's "Guitarist of the Year" competition. Image File history File linksMetadata Guthrie_govan. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Guthrie_govan. ... December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (362nd in leap years). ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar, known as the year of cyclohexanol. ... Chelmsford Borough Council Coat Of Arms , Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England. ... For other meanings of Essex, see Essex (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... For the UK magazine, see Guitarist (magazine). ... Asia is an arena rock/progressive rock group. ... The Young Punx are a UK based electronic dance music act whose eclectic and energetic style encompasses french house, nuskool breaks and drum and bass, mashed up with elements as diverse as 1980s pop music, hard rock, disco and glam rock. ...

Biography and Early Playing Career

Govan began playing guitar aged three, encouraged by his father but initially learning mainly by ear. At the age of nine he and his brother Seth played guitar on a Thames Television programme called 'Ace Reports'^[1]. He then attended King Edward VI Grammar School (Chelmsford) where he was exposed, via older classmates, to ‘shred’ guitarists of the time. King Edward VI Grammar School, or KEGS, is a British grammar school located in the town of Chelmsford, roughly in the middle of the county of Essex. ...

After leaving school, Govan read English at the University of Oxford, though he left after a year to pursue a career in music. Around this time (by Govan’s own estimation, 1991^[2]) he sent demos of his work to Mike Varney of Shrapnel Records. Varney was impressed and offered him a record deal; ultimately however, Govan declined. Regarding his reasons he has explained: ‘it was as though all I really wanted to know was that I was good enough […] I found I was getting a bit wary of the shred movement’^[3]. The University of Oxford (informally Oxford University), located in the city of Oxford, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... Mike Varney is an American hard rock record producer, publisher and impresario. ... A guitar-oriented music label formed out of Mike Varneys Guitar Spotlight column in the back of Guitar Player magazine, which featured a photograph and a little paragraph write-up of various guitarists whove sent in snippets of their playing. ...

In 1993 he won Guitarist magazine’s ‘Guitarist of the Year’ competition with his instrumental piece ‘Wonderful Slippery Thing’ (a version of which would eventually appear on his debut solo album); the demo of the track earned him a place amongst several other entrants in the live final, which he then won. Subsequently, he submitted a sample transcription (of a Shawn Lane piece) to Guitar Techniques magazine; this earned him a job as a contributor to the magazine, ending a spell working in fast food.^[4]

Guitar Tuition

Govan has since worked with ‘Guitar Techniques’, both on transcriptions of songs and on articles providing tuition to readers in particular techniques or styles. His work with the magazine enabled his belated solo album Erotic Cakes to reach a wider audience, not least because the magazine transcribed 'Wonderful Slippery Thing'.

Since the late 1990s, Govan has taught at the Guitar Institute in Acton, Thames Valley University, and the Academy of Contemporary Music; he currently teaches at Brighton Institute of Modern Music. In this context, he is known for his ability to teach a wide range of styles^[5].

Govan has published two books on books on guitar playing: Creative Guitar Volume 1: Cutting Edge Techniques and Creative Guitar Volume 2: Advanced Techniques. As the names imply these books aim to teach innovative guitar techniques.

He has also been a special guest on Blues Jam Tracks, recording first-take leads over purchasable backing tracks.

Playing Career in the 2000s

Asia/GPS/The Young Punx

Govan began his involvement with Asia playing on the album Aura. He came to Asia through the recommendation of Michael Sturgis, the band's long-time session drummer. Sturgis had been a colleague of Govan's at the UK's Academy of Contemporary Music. 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^[6]. He went on to play on the band’s 2004 album Silent Nation. The Academy of Contemporary Music is a prestigious music academy located in Guildford, Surrey, England. ...

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, formed GPS (named after the members' initials). After the addition of Ryo Okumoto on keyboards the band released the album Window to the Soul (2006). Geoff Downes Geoffrey Downes (born August 25, 1952 in Stockport, Cheshire, England) is a rock keyboard player. ... John Payne is currently the lead singer of Asia_(band). ... Jay Schellen (born 20 May 1960, Albuquerque, New Mexico) is a drummer who has worked with a number of heavy rock and progressive rock bands, including with several members of Yes. ... GPS is a progressive rock group formed in 2006 by John Payne (vocals, bass), Guthrie Govan (guitars) and Jay Schellen (drums). ...

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'. The Young Punx are a UK based electronic dance music act whose eclectic and energetic style encompasses french house, nuskool breaks and drum and bass, mashed up with elements as diverse as 1980s pop music, hard rock, disco and glam rock. ...

Erotic Cakes/ 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 named after an episode of The Simpsons; he also explains that when playing live, the band is billed as ‘Erotic Cakes’ rather than simply Guthrie Govan. Simpsons redirects here. ...

In addition to bass by Govan’s brother Seth and drumming by Pete Riley, the album features guitar solos by Richie Kotzen and Bumblefoot on ‘Ner Ner’ and ‘Rhode Island Shred’ respectively. Seth Govan and Pete Riley also complete the Erotic Cakes live band. Richie Kotzen (born February 3, 1970 in Reading, Pennsylvania) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. ... Ron Bumblefoot Thal (Born September 25, 1969 in Brooklyn New York City, NY), is an American guitarist, songwriter and producer. ...

Several of the tracks on the album existed in various incarnations previously. Notably, versions of ‘Waves’ and ‘Rhode Island Shred’ appeared on the compilation Guitar on the Edge, Vol 1. no.4 (Legato Records, 1993); his inclusion on the compilation was organised by Mike Varney's brother, Mark^[7]. Furthermore 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^[8]

The Erotic Cakes band line up, with the addition of saxophonist Zak Barrett, also forms jazz-fusion band The Fellowship. The band plays at the Bassment club in Chelmsford, Essex every Thursday night and has done so for several years.

Influences and Technique

Govan’s earliest influences were Jimi Hendrix and Cream-era Eric Clapton; as such he describes himself as coming from a ‘blues rock background’^[9]. While he is ‘wary’ of 1980s technique driven guitar music (‘shred’) he cites the imagination of Steve Vai (as well as Frank Zappa, whom Vai played with) and the passion of Yngwie Malmsteen as influences. Jazz and fusion elements are an important part of his style: he cites Joe Pass as a pivotal influence in this respect.^[10] The track ‘Rhode Island Shred’ demonstrates his love of country music. Govan's later influences range from fusion players such as Scott Henderson and Shawn Lane to slide players such as Sonny Landreth and Derek Trucks and from country players such as Scotty Anderson and Brent Mason to rock virtuosos such as Bumblefoot to Richie Kotzen. ^[11] Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitar virtuoso, singer and songwriter. ... Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE[2] (born 30 March 1945) [3], nicknamed Slowhand, is a Grammy Award-winning English rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer. ... Steven Steve Siro Vai (born June 6, 1960 in Carle Place, New York) is a Grammy Award winning guitarist, composer, vocalist, and record producer. ... Frank Vincent Zappa[1] (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, musician, and film director. ... Yngwie Johann Malmsteen (IPA pronunciation: //) (born Lars Johann Yngve Lannerbäck on June 30, 1963 in Stockholm, Sweden) is a Swedish guitarist, composer and bandleader. ... Joe Pass (born Joseph Anthony Passalaqua, January 13, 1929, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA, died May 23, 1994, Los Angeles, California), was a jazz guitarist. ...

Govan is known for his virtuoso command of the electric guitar, due to both his technical ability and proficiency in various styles. Govan’s ‘Myspace’ profile lists quotes from various guitarists to this effect^[12]; elsewhere, fellow virtuoso Joe Satriani has called Govan an ‘amazing’ guitarist^[13]. Joseph Satch Satriani (born on July 15, 1956, in Westbury, New York, U.S.) is an American guitarist and former guitar instructor. ...

Equipment

Govan mainly uses various Suhr guitars: three custom Suhr Standards, a Suhr Modern 24-fret model, a Suhr Classic and Suhr Classic T.^[14] Govan also favours Cornford amps: the sleeve notes of Erotic Cakes state he has used an RK100, MK50 and Hellcat.

References

External links

• Official Guthrie Govan Web Sites
• Cornford Records on MyspaceSamples of the debut album
• A YouTube clip of Govan improvising Sample of his fusion-jazz style
• Another YouTube clip of Govan improvising Bluesy style showcasing Govan's string overbends to create melody