Displaying items by tag: CHASTAIN

CHASTAIN Mystery Of Illusion
© 1985 Shrapnel Records / © 2020 The Orchard / Divebomb Records DIVE 207
11 tracks = 46'19"

Who was the strangest rock/metal guitar virtuoso of the 1980s? Joe Satriani? Hmmm. One Yngwie J. Malmsteen? No way! Being cover darlings of so many music and musicians’ magazines back then, both of them were “normal” (should I say “maintream”?) artists, who had contracts with major music labels and hence good promotional budgets, massive world tours, coverage in quality media etc. 

Nothing against Mr. Satriani and Mr. Malmsteen in person, but the most idiosyncratic metal guitar player of the era was Cincinnati very own David T. Chastain, “most hard-working guitar player in the music business”, as he was called once in Metal Hammer magazine. Indeed, in 1985–1990 only David recorded and released nine albums: five with Chastain band, two with CJSS and two as a solo artist. Period.