Eric Peterson (musician)
Encyclopedia
Eric Peterson is an American
guitarist
. He is best known as the only constant member of the US thrash metal
band Testament
. Eric has also formed a side-project black metal
band called Dragonlord
, in which he plays guitar and also sings. In Testament, Eric was originally a rhythm guitarist while Alex Skolnick handled all lead work. Recently though, on Testament's new album The Formation of Damnation
, Eric plays leads as well as Alex.
Eric was married to Kirk Hammett
's ex-wife Rebecca, with whom he has one child. They are now divorced.
Eric's main guitars have been Gibson models for most of his career in Testament, primarily a black Explorer model and a Les Paul. Recently however, he is endorsing Dean Guitars
and has been using his own signature Dean V guitar.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
. He is best known as the only constant member of the US thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band Testament
Testament (band)
Testament is an American metal band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1983. They are often credited as one of the most popular bands of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
. Eric has also formed a side-project black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
band called Dragonlord
Dragonlord (band)
Dragonlord is an American symphonic black metal band that was formed in 2001 as a side project by Eric Peterson & Steve DiGiorgio of Testament, and Steve Smyth of Nevermore. The band is a result of Eric Peterson's interest in darker music, and not being able to do that with Testament he formed...
, in which he plays guitar and also sings. In Testament, Eric was originally a rhythm guitarist while Alex Skolnick handled all lead work. Recently though, on Testament's new album The Formation of Damnation
The Formation of Damnation
The Formation of Damnation is the ninth studio album by American heavy metal band Testament. It was released on April 29, 2008. It is the first album Testament has released of new material since 1999's The Gathering It is also Testament's first release with original guitarist Alex...
, Eric plays leads as well as Alex.
Eric was married to Kirk Hammett
Kirk Hammett
Kirk Lee Hammett is the lead guitarist and a songwriter in the heavy metal band Metallica and has been a member of the band since 1983. Before joining Metallica he formed and named the band Exodus. In 2003, Hammett was ranked 11th on Rolling Stones list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
's ex-wife Rebecca, with whom he has one child. They are now divorced.
Eric's main guitars have been Gibson models for most of his career in Testament, primarily a black Explorer model and a Les Paul. Recently however, he is endorsing Dean Guitars
Dean Guitars
Dean Guitars is an American manufacturer of guitars. It was founded in 1976 by Dean Zelinsky in Chicago, Illinois and is currently under the ownership of Armadillo Enterprises in Tampa, Florida.- History :...
and has been using his own signature Dean V guitar.
With Legacy
- Demo 1 (1984)
- Demo 2 (1985)
With Testament
- The Legacy (1987)
- The New OrderThe New OrderThe New Order is the second album by American heavy metal band Testament, released on May 10, 1988. It is the album that broke Testament into the thrash metal mainstream, with singles "Trial by Fire" and "The Preacher"...
(1988) - Practice What You PreachPractice What You Preach"Practice What You Preach" is the title of a number-one R&B single by singer Barry White from his 1994 album The Icon Is Love. The hit song spent three weeks at number-one on the US R&B chart and reached 18 on the pop chart. The 1994 single also won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Song...
(1989) - Souls of BlackSouls of BlackSouls of Black is the fourth album by American Thrash metal band Testament, released in 1990. It preceded several changes in style to rather diverse styles of metal, including the traditional heavy metal sound heard in its succeeding album, The Ritual....
(1990) - The Ritual (1992)
- Return to the Apocalyptic CityReturn to the Apocalyptic CityReturn to the Apocalyptic City is an EP released by Testament in 1993.-Track listing:# "Over the Wall" 5:28# "So Many Lies" 6:13# "Haunting" 4:28# "Disciples of the Watch" 4:38# "Reign of Terror" 4:48...
(1993) - LowLow (Testament album)Low is the sixth album by American heavy metal band Testament. It was released in 1994. It was the first album without lead guitarist Alex Skolnick or drummer Louie Clemente, who were replaced by James Murphy and John Tempesta, respectively...
(1994) - DemonicDemonic (album)Demonic is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Testament. It was released in 1997. The lyrics deal with occult themes akin to their 1980s efforts, instead of the political topics covered on more recent releases....
(1997) - The Gathering (1999)
- First Strike Still DeadlyFirst Strike Still DeadlyFirst Strike Still Deadly is an album released by Testament in 2001. It consists of re-recordings of songs released on The Legacy and The New Order, as well as a re-recording of "Reign of Terror", which was originally on Legacy's Demo 1 and was also a b-side from the "Trial by Fire" single...
(2001) - The Formation of DamnationThe Formation of DamnationThe Formation of Damnation is the ninth studio album by American heavy metal band Testament. It was released on April 29, 2008. It is the first album Testament has released of new material since 1999's The Gathering It is also Testament's first release with original guitarist Alex...
(2008) - The Dark Roots of EarthThe Dark Roots of EarthThe Dark Roots of Earth is the upcoming tenth studio album by American thrash metal band Testament. It is currently scheduled to be released in late April/early May 2012 by the independent German record label Nuclear Blast Records...
(2011)
With Dragonlord
- RaptureRapture (Dragonlord album)Rapture is the first album by the Black metal band Dragonlord.Though essentially a black metal album, much of Eric Peterson's thrash roots can still be heard, likening the sound that to the faster thrash style on Testament's "The Gathering" album mixed with symphonic black metal...
(2001) - Black Wings of DestinyBlack Wings of DestinyBlack Wings of Destiny is the second album by the Black metal band Dragonlord.Almost all of the previous album's thrash roots vanished, replaced with pure black metal. Peterson also began extending creative control to the rest of the band, instead of writing all the music himself for this album...
(2005)
Equipment
- Amplifier: Marshall JVM series 210 watt head, with footswitch
- Cabinets: Mesa 4x12 Recto Cabinets loaded with Celestion vintage 30s & EVH III Cabinets
- Effects: Dunlop Cry Baby from Hell Wah, Boss TU-2 Tuner, MXR Flanger, MXR Stereo Chorus, T.C. Electronic Nova Delay
- Cords: Monster Cable
- Guitars: Dean Cadillac, Dean Michael Schenker V, Gibson Flying V, Dean Eric Peterson Signature OldSkull V
- Strings: DR (tuned one half step down)
- Pickups: Dean Flying V: EMG 85 (neck) & EMG 81 (bridge), Dean Time Capsule: Dimarzio Super Distortion Zebras, Dean Cadillac: Seymor Duncan '59 (sh-1n neck) & jazz (sh-2 middle), jb (sh-4 bridge)
- Picks: Dunlop Purple & Green sharp