Celebrities like Kirk Hammett, Ringo Starr, Slash, Nancy Wilson, and others record video messages wishing Jason Becker a happy birthday.
22 July 2024
In a film honoring guitar shred pioneer Jason Becker’s 55th birthday, musicians Kirk Hammett (METALLICA), Nancy Wilson (HEART), Slash (GUNS N’ ROSES), and Ringo Starr (THE BEATLES) have all offered brief greetings. Watch the video down below.
To introduce Jason Becker to people who might not be familiar with his heritage, let’s go back to 1985, when the 16-year-old guitarist formed CACOPHONY with Marty Friedman. His early success was no accident; his metal skill became a topic of conversation among his contemporaries. He went on to support some of the biggest names in rock, such as David Lee Roth, and produced some incredible guitar moments in his solo career.
In 1989, while Becker’s career was starting to take off, Jason, then just 20 years old, received an ALS diagnosis (often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease). As the illness worsened, Jason was unable to hold onto the instrument any longer, but he was driven to keep going and, astonishingly, created his own method of composition that uses “eye geometry” and chin movements—a method that is further explored in the documentary on Becker’s journey.
Below is a trailer for the movie “Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet,” which has live footage, interviews, and more about the songwriter’s inventive creativity and unwavering spirit that touched so many.
The guitar community has spoken, and we are all called upon to take a position and support Jason Becker and his family in their ongoing struggle. Finding a full-time caretaker is a constant issue, which makes getting the right assistance seem like an extremely difficult task. In addition to the everyday struggle of surviving against all odds, Jason and his family now have to worry about a plethora of out-of-pocket medical expenses.
It’s important for Becker to be upbeat and creative, so we encourage you to visit his website, www.JasonBecker.com, to see his most recent works and make a donation to the Jason Becker Foundation.
