As part of the Mike Varney-produced duo Cacophony (with Marty Friedman, who later achieved fame in legendary thrash metal band Megadeth), Jason released two albums: Speed Metal Symphony (1987) and Go Off! (1988). He also released a solo album titled Perpetual Burn in 1988. Now aged 20, he was asked to join David Lee Roth's band and recorded A Little Aint Enough (1990). Unfortunately while gearing up for a 1990 tour, he began to feel weakness in his hands and legs. He was soon diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS - aka Lou Gehrig's Disease) and had to depart from the tour. The album he featured on went gold and is often thought of as one of David Lee Roth's finest solo albums.
A few years later, Becker released Raspberry Jams (1999) and Blackberry Jams (2003), the first containing various unreleased demo-tracks and the latter being demo-tracks which were later reworked and published in other albums.
Like many neo-classical guitarists, he studied the works of violin prodigy Niccolò Paganini. Becker's rendition of Paganini's 5th Caprice is a good example of his guitar mastery.
Jason grew musically with Marty Friedman, with whom he co-wrote many songs and by whose sense of melody he was influenced while spurring him to greater heights of guitar technique. Their harmonisation-by-ear melody lines remains their trademark.
After feeling the ravages of ALS, Becker embraced spirituality, which has helped him deal with his disease. Although ALS quickly robbed him of his ability to play guitar, to walk, and even speak, he still remains mentally sharp and through the aid of a computer, continues composing music through the help of other musicians; in this way he has released Perspective (1996). He accomplishes this with a combination of a computer or a system of using his eyes to sign letters and notes. Now in his 40s, his medical condition has remained stable since 1997, which is rare for ALS.
Two tribute albums have come out for Jason Becker, featuring many guitarists playing his songs. The albums profits were sent to Jason to help him with his disease.
Jason and his friend, actor Matt Schulze are planning a movie about his life, tentatively titled Mr. Tambourine Man. According to Jason's official website, Fender and Charvel are going to make guitars for the movie and are planning to release a number of them to the public.
Jason has recently compiled a new CD, "Collection", released in 2008 on Shrapnel Records. It features 3 new songs which are performed by Steve Hunter, Greg Howe, Micheal Lee Firkins, Steve Vai, and Joe Satriani to name a few.
Opus Pocus
Jason Becker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For that second chance
For a break that would make it okay
There's always one reason
To feel not good enough
And it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
Oh, beautiful release
Let me be empty
And weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight
In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort there
So tired of the straight line
And everywhere you turn
There's vultures and thieves at your back
And the storm keeps on twisting
You keep on building the lies
That you make up for all that you lack
It don't make no difference
Escaping one last time
It's easier to believe
In this sweet madness
Oh, this glorious sadness
That brings me to my knees
In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort there
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here
The lyrics to Sarah McLachlan's "Angel" suggest feelings of desperation and hopelessness, as the singer searches for a way to find peace, comfort, and escape from the world around her. The opening verse expresses a sense of waiting for a second chance, for a break that will make everything okay, and the feeling of never being good enough - all of which form a recurring theme throughout the song. She speaks of needing distraction and memories that seep from her veins, perhaps suggesting a past that haunts her in some way. Finally, she hopes to "be empty and weightless" and find peace.
The chorus, "In the arms of the angel, fly away from here," evokes a sense of comfort and safety that the singer seeks. The words "angel" and "arms" suggest a religious or spiritual context, and provide a metaphorical sense of being lifted up and away from pain and suffering. She imagines being pulled out of a silent reverie or wreckage, and finding comfort in the arms of an angel.
The second verse speaks of feeling tired of the "straight line," of constantly being pursued by vultures and thieves, and building lies to make up for one's own perceived lack. It suggests a sense of weariness and frustration, a desire for escape that holds little hope of success. Nevertheless, the singer finds a kind of beauty in the "sweet madness" and "glorious sadness" of life, even if it brings her to her knees.
Overall, "Angel" is a powerful and emotional song about seeking comfort and escape from the pain of life, while acknowledging the beauty in even the most difficult moments.
Line by Line Meaning
Spend all your time waiting
You're stuck in a cycle of waiting for something to happen.
For that second chance
You're hoping for another opportunity to make things right.
For a break that would make it okay
You're wishing for a lucky break that would solve all your problems.
There's always one reason
No matter what, there's always something making you feel less than good enough.
To feel not good enough
You don't feel worthy or capable enough.
And it's hard at the end of the day
It's difficult to deal with these feelings at the end of a long day.
I need some distraction
You need something to take your mind off of your problems.
Oh, beautiful release
You crave the feeling of being released from your worries.
Memories seep from my veins
Your painful memories come back to haunt you.
Let me be empty
You want to let go of everything and feel unburdened.
And weightless and maybe
It would be great to feel free and unattached to anything.
I'll find some peace tonight
You hope to find some peace in your sleep tonight.
In the arms of the angel
You wish to be comforted and protected.
Fly away from here
You want to distance yourself from your current problems.
From this dark, cold hotel room
You feel alone and helpless in a dark and cold place.
And the endlessness that you fear
You're scared of the endlessness of your problems and worries.
You are pulled from the wreckage
You're rescued from the destruction caused by your problems.
Of your silent reverie
You've been stuck in a state of deep thought, without any sound or action.
You're in the arms of the angel
You feel like you're embraced by a comforting force.
May you find some comfort there
You hope to find some peace and comfort in this embrace.
So tired of the straight line
You're bored and fed up with a predictable and monotonous life.
And everywhere you turn
Every direction you look in.
There's vultures and thieves at your back
You feel like there are people trying to take advantage of you.
And the storm keeps on twisting
The challenges and struggles keep getting more complicated and difficult.
You keep on building the lies
You feel like you have to continue to lie to cover up your failures and shortcomings.
That you make up for all that you lack
You create the lies to make up for what you feel is missing in your life.
It don't make no difference
It doesn't matter.
Escaping one last time
You're trying to escape from your problems one more time.
It's easier to believe
You find it easier to believe.
In this sweet madness
You prefer to believe in the madness than the harsh realities of life.
Oh, this glorious sadness
You find beauty in your sadness and despair.
That brings me to my knees
Your sadness is overwhelming and brings you to your lowest point.
May you find some comfort here
You hope to find comfort in the same place you've found comfort before.
Writer(s): Jason Becker Copyright: Varney Metal Music
Contributed by Emily A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
David Gonzalez
Un prodigio con sentimientos,muy adelantado para la época 💪
Mahey Dog
Jason Becker is underrated, for a good reason. He's not from this world. Style , technic, creativity.
Who dares to compare !?
Simon Belmont
I would also put Shawn Lane on the list
LogioTek
Jason listened to classical music masters growing up. Every great maestro in history had many multiple influences they were able to adopt into their own playing. All maestros throughout history were also amazing composers. It just keeps rolling along. Handel Vivaldi Bach(s) to Haydn to Mozart to Paganini Beethoven Schubert Schumann Wagner Liszt Mendelssohn etc.
Commander Thorkil J. Amundsen
Robin Sjörs Shawn more of a guitar machine operator; or a really fast typist, and he played to age 40. Jason so much younger, more melodic, musical, able to be appreciated by no-shred folks.
LogioTek
@Commander Thorkil J. Amundsen Shawn Lane is more than a "typist" he improvised on a level of Holdsworth who was his Idol. Jason himself wanted Shawn to be his teacher but it never materialized. However I do agree if you normalize achievement based on age, Jason triumphs like Mozart. With that said, I'd put up Gurthie Govan, Allan Holdsworth, Shawn Lane, and Jason Becker as guys on the level above other so called electric guitar "virtuosos". There is a video on here that does exactly that and if you read comments there is a consensus. P.S. And by the way, Jason is faster than Shawn, ever so slightly by a fraction of nps, both around 22nps peaks though.
Commander Thorkil J. Amundsen
logiotek You’re falling into the adolescent mind trap of equating playing fast notes with greatness, and adding validity to my assertion that some of your heroes are more like facile operators of the guitar as a machine, to produce fast pulses of sound rather than music. This is why serious non guitarist and guitarist musicians will skip past your idols when naming great musicians, and instead cite ( in various disparate genres) players like Segovia, Hendrix, SRV, Chet Atkins, Joe Pass, Bonamassa, Duane Allman, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Dimeola, Tommy Emmanuel, etc. who play listenable music rather than matrices of notes.
Nakattack
Jason Becker has become my all time favorite guitarist, I have been playing for a little under 3 years and it amazes me how much he can do and also how musical and dynamic he makes everything, very inspiring
Julian Minor
Good favorite to have
Commander Thorkil J. Amundsen
Nakattack He was definitely a virtuoso in every sense. Unfortunately, must inform you he no longer plays guitar due to ALS.