Racer X - Hammer Away Live

Racer X Preforming there tune "Hammer Away" Live!!
Guitarist Paul Gilbert first gained notoriety when he was featured in Mike Varneys Spotlight Column in the February 1983 issue of Guitar Player magazine. Gilbert was 16 years old and living in Greensburg, Pennsylvania at the time. He would later relocate to Los Angeles and enroll at the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT), part of (MI) Musicians Institute. After graduating from the school, Gilbert was hired as an instructor.

While at GIT, Paul met fellow student John Alderete. The two became friends, and felt that with their skills, they could form a band like no other on the L.A. Strip at the time. Searching for a drummer, Alderete and Gilbert first turned to Scott Travis, who was living in Virginia at the time. A friend who had visited Los Angeles to pursue his own career gave Travis some of Gilbert's demo material, which was originally provided by Mike Varney; the tapes included an early version of the song "Frenzy". While Gilbert had received from Travis a video of his drumming, Travis ultimately turned down the offer due to his commitment to the band Hawk; Travis was receiving a salary from Doug Marks, the band's lead guitarist, and would not turn down the income. Alderete and Gilbert instead sought the services of fellow student, Harry Gschoesser.

After acquiring Gschoesser, Gilbert asked Varney for assistance in finding a lead singer. The final two candidates were Mark Slaughter who later joined the Vinnie Vincent Invasion and then founded the band Slaughter and Jeff Martin of the Phoenix-area metal band, Surgical Steel. Surgical Steel had a strong following in the Phoenix area, and it was during this time that Rob Halford, who lived in the area, befriended the band. After appearing with Leif Garrett in the movie Thunder Alley, the band began to disintegrate.

Alderete and Gilbert settled on Martin as the vocalist for their new band. Martin, who still lived in Phoenix and could not regularly write songs with Racer X in Los Angeles, began writing lyrics immediately for demo tapes that Gilbert had sent, and recording for their first album entitled Street Lethal began quickly. The band began the recording process in 1985, and Racer X's debut album was released on January 1, 1986 on Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records label.

The same template used to form Racer X would later be used by other bands such as later band Nitro.

Martin claims that, while listening to Bruce Springsteen on the radio, he pulled over and wrote the lyrics to "Blowin' Up the Radio".

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Paul
• Gilbert
• Racer
• Mr
• Big
• Vai
• Satriani
• Malmsteen

[RestofYourLifeOff]

When was this recorded? It looks recent...

[aandc2005]

pretty recent I think from snowball of doom dvd

[mattduder]

watching a rock singer who doesn't hold a mic makes me feel awkward. lol

[Tomyzepp]

John Alderete se hizo sindicalista!!!!Jajaja!!

[westbrionage]

@gedrickwilson hahaha they allways do it so people cant work out what the notes are by looking :(

[gedrickwilson]

Does anyone else die a little bit inside when they're waiting for the guitar solo, only for the camera man to jump to _EVERY_ other member of the band during the sickest part of the solo and miss the guitarist completely?

[ShinOnigashima]

@bajaracer40x

It turns out that I can speak better English than you, you imbecile.

[bajaracer40x]

@ShinOnigashima english mother fucker

[mrknvk]

he dosent hold a mic so he can flex both his arms at the same time... ?> my guess

[twbastian]

Scott Travis is the best drummer in rock period. he plays things that will kill most drummers and he makes it look like it takes no effort at all. And... he is a great guy as well. He is a down to Earth human being and a oy to meet and be around. Props Scott!

[therealgeddylee]

This video had potential to be so totally awesome. Good quality, good sound. The question is this: why the hell does the camera CUT AWAY FROM GILBERT during his solos? What the hell?

[SomeGuyWithABucket]

They sound amazing live. . .

[TheTim1007]

great lead gilbert is one of the most underated players around second heat is one of the best recordings ive ever heard poor production though remember us metal varneys first recording gilbert was only 17 at the time ive got no time was the song it stood out and so did paul mr big was a farce he should have stayed with his roots

[ShinOnigashima]

Ps ahi sigue el Juan con Mars Volta creo