He was the lead guitarist for the thrash metal band Megadeth for a period of almost ten years (from February 1990 to December 1999). During this period, perhaps its most successful, Megadeth released a string of gold and platinum albums. At the same time, Megadeth's musical style became less Thrash, and more melodic, which many attribute primarily to Marty's creative influence.
Prior to joining Megadeth, he formed and played lead guitar in several bands that attained loyal and faithful followings, including Deuce, Hawaii, Vixen (not the all-female band of the same name), and notably Cacophony. Marty collaborated with Jason Becker on two albums, "Go Off" and "Speed Metal Symphony" that are considered masterpieces and works of reference for pure virtuoso and creative guitar playing. His solo albums, including one in conjunction with Japanese maestro Kitaro, reveal the wide range of Marty's musical exploration, from the very melodic music of "Scenes" and "Introduction" to the hard driving rock of "Music for Speeding", to the variety of styles presented in "True Obsessions". His solo albums seldom conform to a specific genre and often reminds the listener of Marty's creative exploration in music.
Currently living in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Marty travels the world giving eagerly anticipated clinics, performances and master classes in dozens of countries in Asia, Europe, and North and South America. He has become a major force in the Japanese music scene, playing lead guitar in the bands of the some of the country's most famous performers. He is also making his mark as a popular versatile and talented performer on several hit shows on Japanese television, and as a columnist for a major Japanese music magazine and a national daily newspaper.
Marty speaks fluent Japanese. He once appeared on TXN's musical TV program "hebimetasan" with Japanese idol Yoko Kumada etc. Marty has recently appeared on the track "Born Of Anger" on the album "All That Remains" by Fozzy. Marty is a big fan of the Ramones, KISS (during its early years) and Frank Marino. Marty very much enjoys playing guitar -- which he 'speaks' as fluently as he does Japanese. With music, there is never a language barrier.
The Brightest Star Of All
Marty Friedman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And what I want the most is to free you
Well I'm scared and weak, compared to you
You have the power and the will of a thousand men
'Cause you are the brightest star of all
Every night that you're here
You are the brightest star of all
And you must, hold on
As I'm standing here you will never know
Just how much strength I feel from you
And we will walk for you, we will talk for you
We can feel your heart everywhere we go
'Cause you are the brightest star of all
Every night that you're here
You are the brightest star of all
Through the clouds the rain and the tears
And you must, hold on
We're living in a time of hope
And shattered dreams
You've made us realize
How precious life can be
As I'm standing here you will never know
Just how much strength I feel from you
Well I'm standing here so free to move
And what I want the most is to free you
The song "The Brightest Star Of All" by Marty Friedman is a touching and emotional tribute to someone who has inspired the singer with their inner strength and resilience. The opening lines of the song reveal the deep yearning of the singer to set this person free, but he feels weak and scared in their presence, knowing that they possess a strength that is far greater than his own. He praises their power and will, saying that they have the strength of a thousand men.
As the song unfolds, it becomes clear that the person being honored here is someone who has gone through a great deal of hardship and pain, but continues to shine bright, even in the darkest of nights. The singer acknowledges them as the "brightest star of all", and says that they bring light to everyone around them, even through the clouds, rain, and tears. The singer pledges to walk and talk for this person, feeling their strength everywhere he goes.
In the final verse, the singer observes that we are living in a time of both hope and shattered dreams, but this person has served as a beacon of light, reminding us of the preciousness of life. The song ends with the singer once again expressing his desire to free this person, who has inspired him with their indomitable spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm standing here, so free to move
At this moment, I am free to take any action that I choose.
And what I want the most is to free you
My ultimate desire is to see you released from whatever is holding you back.
Well I'm scared and weak, compared to you
Although I stand here now, I feel weak in comparison to you.
You have the power and the will of a thousand men
You possess an overwhelming strength of character, comparable to that of an army's worth of soldiers.
'Cause you are the brightest star of all
You shine with an unparalleled brightness compared to everyone else.
Every night that you're here
Whenever you're present, you light up the room with your unique radiance.
Through the clouds the rain and the tears
Your light is strong enough to penetrate any darkness or sorrow.
And you must, hold on
Even when times are tough, you must keep fighting and persevering.
As I'm standing here you will never know
You may never fully comprehend how much strength I draw from you in this moment.
Just how much strength I feel from you
You give me the energy and encouragement I need to keep pushing forward.
And we will walk for you, we will talk for you
We will advocate for you and support you in any way we can.
We can feel your heart everywhere we go
Your unwavering spirit is palpable, and it inspires us everywhere we go.
We're living in a time of hope
Despite whatever bleakness may exist in the world, hope is still alive and well.
And shattered dreams
Although some may have given up on their aspirations, we won't let disappointment bring us down.
You've made us realize
Your unflagging enthusiasm and determination have taught us an important lesson.
How precious life can be
Through your positive outlook, you've taught us to cherish the gift of life.
And what I want the most is to free you
My ultimate goal is to see you set free and able to shine your light even brighter.
Contributed by Charlie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.