Rocky George
Encyclopedia
Rocky George is an American
heavy metal
guitarist who has been a member of several notable musical acts. George's guitar playing career began in 1982 when he joined a local punk rock
band called Pap Smear. He became lead guitarist of Suicidal Tendencies
in 1984 and stayed with the band until their first breakup in 1995. After Suicidal Tendencies, George played with 40 Cycle Hum and Cro-Mags
, and in 2003, he joined Fishbone
.
side project called "Pap Smear", formed by Slayer
members Jeff Hanneman
and Dave Lombardo
. Although Pap Smear has never released any records, two of their songs were re-recorded on Slayer's 1996 covers album Undisputed Attitude
. After Pap Smear broke up around 1985, George joined Suicidal Tendencies, replacing Jon Nelson
, who replaced the first album
's guitarist Grant Estes
. His debut with the band was Welcome to Venice
on the song "Look Up..(The Boys Are Back)" written by Jon Nelson and Mike Muir
. George is largely considered responsible for moving Suicidal Tendencies away from their hardcore punk
roots into a more thrash
oriented territory. He is also responsible for Robert Trujillo
joining the band, who was a high school friend of his (at Culver City High School
).
Since 2003, he has been playing guitar with Fishbone
and appeared on their 2006 album Still Stuck in Your Throat
.
In 2008, after thirteen years, George played with his former bandmates during an Infectious Grooves
set.
guitars almost exclusively for years (particularly the RG series and Universe 7-strings). He is still endorsed by Ibanez. Despite rumors, however, Rocky did not design the RG series (as "RG" stands for Roadstar Guitar, not for Rocky George). He is also a long time user of Mesa Boogie
amplifiers, though he has been seen using a Framus
Dragon amplifier, and a Hughes & Kettner
TriAmp MKII he borrowed from B-Liminal
's guitarist, Michael Lyons
, while Fishbone was on tour in December 2008
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
guitarist who has been a member of several notable musical acts. George's guitar playing career began in 1982 when he joined a local punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band called Pap Smear. He became lead guitarist of Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies is a U.S. crossover thrash band founded in 1981 in Venice, Los Angeles, California by Mike Muir, its leader and only permanent member. The band is sometimes credited as one of "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
in 1984 and stayed with the band until their first breakup in 1995. After Suicidal Tendencies, George played with 40 Cycle Hum and Cro-Mags
Cro-Mags
Cro-Mags are a hardcore punk turned crossover thrash band from New York City. The band, which had a strong cult following, released many records, their first two considered the most influential...
, and in 2003, he joined Fishbone
Fishbone
Fishbone is a U.S. alternative rock band formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California, which plays a fusion of ska, punk rock, funk, hard rock and soul. Critics have noted of the band: "Fishbone was one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands of the late '80s...
.
Biography
In 1982, prior to joining Suicidal Tendencies, George joined a short-lived punkPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
side project called "Pap Smear", formed by Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
members Jeff Hanneman
Jeff Hanneman
Jeffrey John "Jeff" Hanneman is a rhythm/lead guitarist and founding member of the American thrash metal band Slayer. Hanneman grew up in Los Angeles in a family of war veterans, and his fascination with warfare is attributed to his upbringing...
and Dave Lombardo
Dave Lombardo
Dave Lombardo is a Cuban American heavy metal drummer best known for his work with American thrash metal band Slayer. He has performed with Slayer on seven albums, including their groundbreaking 1986 release Reign In Blood and their 2006 release Christ Illusion, for which he received critical praise...
. Although Pap Smear has never released any records, two of their songs were re-recorded on Slayer's 1996 covers album Undisputed Attitude
Undisputed Attitude
Undisputed Attitude is the seventh studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer. The album is a collection of punk covers of bands like Minor Threat, T.S.O.L., D.R.I and The Stooges...
. After Pap Smear broke up around 1985, George joined Suicidal Tendencies, replacing Jon Nelson
Jon Nelson (guitarist)
Jonathan D. "Jon" Nelson is best known for playing lead guitar in the controversial punk band Suicidal Tendencies.-Early life:...
, who replaced the first album
Suicidal Tendencies (album)
-Personnel:* Mike Muir – lead vocals* Grant Estes – guitar[A]* Louiche Mayorga – bass, backing vocals* Amery Smith – drums-Production:* Glen E...
's guitarist Grant Estes
Grant Estes
Grant Estes is an American guitarist from Santa Monica, California. He was one of the guitarists for the highly influential band Suicidal Tendencies, during the band's hardcore punk era.-Suicidal Tendencies/Los Cycos:...
. His debut with the band was Welcome to Venice
Welcome to Venice
Welcome to Venice is a crossover thrash album that features local Venice Beach, California punk and metal bands. It was released in 1985 on Suicidal Records.-Album History:...
on the song "Look Up..(The Boys Are Back)" written by Jon Nelson and Mike Muir
Mike Muir
Mike Muir is the lead vocalist of the Venice skate punk bands Suicidal Tendencies Los Cycos and the funk rock band Infectious Grooves...
. George is largely considered responsible for moving Suicidal Tendencies away from their hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
roots into a more thrash
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
oriented territory. He is also responsible for Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo is an American bassist who currently plays bass in Metallica. He has also played in Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Black Label Society, and with Jerry Cantrell and Ozzy Osbourne.-Career:...
joining the band, who was a high school friend of his (at Culver City High School
Culver City High School
Culver City High School is the main public high school of the Culver City Unified School District in Culver City, California. It was opened in 1951. The school's colors are primarily blue and silver, and the mascot is the centaur. As of 2008, the enrollment was 2,308...
).
Since 2003, he has been playing guitar with Fishbone
Fishbone
Fishbone is a U.S. alternative rock band formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California, which plays a fusion of ska, punk rock, funk, hard rock and soul. Critics have noted of the band: "Fishbone was one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands of the late '80s...
and appeared on their 2006 album Still Stuck in Your Throat
Still Stuck in Your Throat
Still Stuck In Your Throat is a 2006 studio recording from Fishbone. It was their first album since Fishbone and the Familyhood Nextperience Present: The Psychotic Friends Nuttwerx had been released six years previously. It is also the first album to feature Rocky George , Dre Gipson and Curtis...
.
In 2008, after thirteen years, George played with his former bandmates during an Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves
Infectious Grooves is a funk metal band led by Suicidal Tendencies frontman Mike Muir. It also features former Excel guitarist Adam Siegel, ex-Suicidal Tendencies bassist Robert Trujillo , and ex-Jane's Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins...
set.
Instruments
Rocky has used IbanezIbanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
guitars almost exclusively for years (particularly the RG series and Universe 7-strings). He is still endorsed by Ibanez. Despite rumors, however, Rocky did not design the RG series (as "RG" stands for Roadstar Guitar, not for Rocky George). He is also a long time user of Mesa Boogie
Mesa Boogie
Mesa/Boogie is a company in Petaluma, California that makes amplifiers for guitars and basses. It has been in operation since 1969....
amplifiers, though he has been seen using a Framus
Framus
Framus is a German guitar, bass, lap steel guitars and banjo manufacturing company, that existed from 1946 until going bankrupt in 1975. The Framus brand was revived in 1995 as part of Warwick GmbH & Co Music Equipment KG in Markneukirchen ....
Dragon amplifier, and a Hughes & Kettner
Hughes & Kettner
Hughes & Kettner is a German brand of guitar and bass amplifiers, cabinets and effects processors. It was founded in Neunkirchen in 1984 and is based in St.Wendel since 1987....
TriAmp MKII he borrowed from B-Liminal
B-Liminal
B-Liminal is an alt-surf/rock/reggae band from Jupiter, Florida formed in November 2007.-History:B-Liminal began as a solo singer/songwriter project for former Boxelder front man Bryce Rutkowski. After signing a record deal with the independently owned Contempt Records, Rutkowski released a...
's guitarist, Michael Lyons
Michael Lyons
Michael Lyons may refer to:* Michael Lyons , Chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation* Michael Lyons , Fine TD and senator from County Mayo...
, while Fishbone was on tour in December 2008
Suicidal Tendencies
- Welcome to VeniceWelcome to VeniceWelcome to Venice is a crossover thrash album that features local Venice Beach, California punk and metal bands. It was released in 1985 on Suicidal Records.-Album History:...
(1985) - Join The ArmyJoin the Army* "War Inside My Head", "Human Guinea Pig", and "You Got, I Want" were originally written by previous guitarist Jon Nelson. He traded the rights for "War Inside My Head" for a Flying V guitar after he left the band....
(1987) - How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile TodayHow Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile TodayHow Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today is the third album by the American crossover thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, released on Epic Records on September 13, 1988....
(1988) - Controlled By Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Deja VuControlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu- Song notes :* "Master of No Mercy", "Waking the Dead", "Controlled by Hatred" and "Choosing My Own Way of Life" were compositions by guitarist Mike Clark's previous band No Mercy....
(1989) - Lights...Camera...Revolution!Lights...Camera...Revolution!Lights...Camera...Revolution! is an album by Suicidal Tendencies, which was released in 1990. It is their fourth proper studio album as their previous release, Controlled By Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu, is considered a double-EP of stop-gap material rather than a full-length album.This was the...
(1990) - Art of RebellionArt of Rebellion"Monopoly on Sorrow " from promo 1993 CDS:The Art of Rebellion is the fifth full-length album by Suicidal Tendencies. It was released in 1992 on the Sony Music label.It is widely considered to be Suicidal's "experimental" album...
(1992) - Still Cyco After All These YearsStill Cyco After All These YearsStill Cyco After All These Years is a 1993 compilation album by Suicidal Tendencies. It is a re-recording of the band's 1983 debut album, Suicidal Tendencies and also contains 3 additional tracks...
(1993) - Suicidal For LifeSuicidal for LifeSuicidal for Life is an album by Suicidal Tendencies, which was released in 1994. It is their sixth proper studio release as Still Cyco After All These Years is a re-recording of the band's early material...
(1994)