Video footage of Greek guitar virtuoso Gus G., well known in rock and metal circles for his work as Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist and as leader of his own band FIREWIND, showing U.K.’s Total Guitar magazine some of the techniques that have made him one of the most sought-after players in rock can be seen below.
Asked how he came up with his stage name Gus G. after being born as Kostas Karamitroudis, Gus told Hungary’s Fezen festival: “It’s a funny story, ‘cause, well, it goes back a long time. ‘Cause I have some family in America — my uncle lives in Miami and when I used to visit him when I was ten or eleven years old, I asked him, ‘Hey, uncle, my Greek name, how do you say it in English?’ And he said to me, ‘Oh, your name is Gus.’ Which is not true, but somehow all the [Greek] guys that emigrated to the States in the ’60s and ’70s, and their name was Kostas, they became Gus. So, I don’t know why — don’t ask me — but I’ve had that name follow me since I was a kid.”
Gus G.’s second solo album, “Brand New Revolution”, was released in Europe on July 24 via Century Media. The CD was made available through Century Media in Australia and South America, Dismanic/eOne in North America and King Records in Japan. The cover artwork was once again created by Gustavo Sazes, who previously worked with Gus on the guitarist’s debut album, “I Am The Fire”, and also took care of artwork duties by such bands as ARCH ENEMY, KAMELOT and FIREWIND.
“Brand New Revolution” features guest vocal appearances by Jeff Scott Soto (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JOURNEY, TALISMAN), Elize Ryd (AMARANTHE), Jacob Bunton (ADLER, LYNAM) and Mats Levén (CANDLEMASS, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, TREAT).
“Brand New Revolution” was recorded with Jay Ruston (STONE SOUR, ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER) and mixed by Mike Fraser (METALLICA, AC/DC, VAN HALEN, AEROSMITH). Just as on “I Am The Fire”, the core of Gus’s recording group consisted of Jo Nunez (FIREWIND) on drums and Marty O’Brien (LITA FORD) on bass.
Source: Blabbermouth
