Richard Fortus
Encyclopedia
Richard Fortus is a professional guitarist who is most famous for being rhythm guitarist in Guns N' Roses
.
Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Fortus cut his teeth throughout the Midwest with his band, The Eyes. The four-piece alternative band independently released "Freedom in a Cage", which was produced by David Probst. After signing with Atlantic Records
, they changed their name to Pale Divine. They subsequently toured the U.S. in support of their only album, Straight to Goodbye, opening for The Psychedelic Furs.
After The Psychedelic Furs split up, Fortus formed Love Spit Love
with Richard
and Tim Butler
. When The Furs reformed in 2000, Fortus joined the group as second guitarist and played on the live album 'Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live'.
Fortus has since left Love Spit Love and is now a member of Guns N' Roses, replacing Axl Rose
's childhood friend Paul Tobias
. In Guns N' Roses, Richard plays both rhythm and lead guitar. Axl is very pleased with Richard's work and has said, "He's an amazing lead player and very technically skilled. He really likes the pocket that Brain
sets and the two of them click with Tommy so we finally have the real deal rhythm section, as Richard is a proven professional. Basically, Richard's the guy that we always were looking for."
- On November 5, 2005, Richard's wife, Jen Fortus, gave birth to a daughter. Her name is Paisley Piper Fortus.
- On March 2008 it was announced that Richard was one of the guest guitarist on the upcoming shows of X Japan
at the Tokyo Dome
.
- Richard performed with Rihanna
on her Good Girl Gone Bad world tour in 2007
- In 2008 he also contributed as guitar player on the debut cd of Paramount Styles
.
- In 2009 he recorded a hard rock version of "The James Bond Theme" for the Guitar Hero
video game series. This was released as downloadable content in March 2009. On the 2009-2011 Chinese Democracy Tour
, he played this cover as a solo spot during shows.
In 2011 he played with the reformed version of Thin Lizzy
for the summer tour.
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
.
Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Fortus cut his teeth throughout the Midwest with his band, The Eyes. The four-piece alternative band independently released "Freedom in a Cage", which was produced by David Probst. After signing with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, they changed their name to Pale Divine. They subsequently toured the U.S. in support of their only album, Straight to Goodbye, opening for The Psychedelic Furs.
After The Psychedelic Furs split up, Fortus formed Love Spit Love
Love Spit Love
Love Spit Love was a musical group founded in 1992 by singer Richard Butler following the initial disbanding of the Psychedelic Furs.-History:...
with Richard
Richard Butler (singer)
Richard Lofthouse Butler is the lead singer of the Psychedelic Furs. He is also the founder and vocalist for the disbanded Love Spit Love.-Musical career:...
and Tim Butler
Tim Butler
Tim Butler is an English songwriter and musician. He is the bass player, and co-founder of the Psychedelic Furs. He is also the youngest of three brothers....
. When The Furs reformed in 2000, Fortus joined the group as second guitarist and played on the live album 'Beautiful Chaos: Greatest Hits Live'.
Fortus has since left Love Spit Love and is now a member of Guns N' Roses, replacing Axl Rose
Axl Rose
W. Axl Rose is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is the lead vocalist and only remaining original member of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he enjoyed great success and recognition in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before disappearing from the public eye for several years...
's childhood friend Paul Tobias
Paul Tobias
Paul Tobias is an American guitarist best known for his involvement with hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he has collaborated since 1994.-Guns N' Roses:...
. In Guns N' Roses, Richard plays both rhythm and lead guitar. Axl is very pleased with Richard's work and has said, "He's an amazing lead player and very technically skilled. He really likes the pocket that Brain
Bryan Mantia
Bryan "Brain" Mantia is a contemporary rock drummer. He has played with bands like Primus, Guns N' Roses, Praxis and Godflesh, and with other popular performers such as Tom Waits, Bill Laswell, Bootsy Collins and Buckethead...
sets and the two of them click with Tommy so we finally have the real deal rhythm section, as Richard is a proven professional. Basically, Richard's the guy that we always were looking for."
- On November 5, 2005, Richard's wife, Jen Fortus, gave birth to a daughter. Her name is Paisley Piper Fortus.
- On March 2008 it was announced that Richard was one of the guest guitarist on the upcoming shows of X Japan
X Japan
is a Japanese heavy metal band founded in 1982 by Yoshiki and Toshi. Originally named X , the group achieved their breakthrough success in 1989 with the release of their second album Blue Blood...
at the Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...
.
Equipment
Richard used their playing guitars and amplifiers for these during the performances- 1959 Gibson Les Paul Custom BlackGibson Les PaulThe Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
- 1959 Gibson Les Paul Custom SunburstGibson Les PaulThe Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
- 1958 Gibson Les Paul GoldtopGibson Les PaulThe Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
- 1956 Gibson Les Paul Flametop SunburstGibson Les PaulThe Gibson Les Paul was the result of a design collaboration between Gibson Guitar Corporation and the late jazz guitarist and electronics inventor Les Paul. In 1950, with the introduction of the Fender Telecaster to the musical market, electric guitars became a public craze. In reaction, Gibson...
- Gibson ES-335 Candy Apple RedGibson ES-335The Gibson ES-335 is the world's first commercial thinline arched-top semi-acoustic electric guitar. Released by the Gibson Guitar Corporation as part of its ES series in 1958, it is neither hollow nor solid; instead, a solid wood block runs through the center of its body...
- Gibson Lucille ES-335 BlackLucille (guitar)Lucille is the name given to B.B. King's guitars. They are usually black Gibson guitars similar to the ES-355.-The story of Lucille:In the winter of 1949, King played at a dance hall in Twist, Arkansas. In order to heat the hall, a barrel half-filled with kerosene was lit, a fairly common practice...
- PRS Standrd 24 HollowbodyPRS GuitarsPRS Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland. PRS Guitars was founded by guitarist and luthier Paul Reed Smith in 1985. The company is one of the leading manufacturers of high-end electric guitars.-Materials:...
- Fender Telecaster WhiteFender TelecasterThe Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
- Taylor Acoustic GuitarsTaylor GuitarsTaylor Guitars is an El Cajon, California‐based luthier, specializing in acoustic guitars, as well as semi-hollow and solidbody electric guitars. It was established in 1974 by Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug.- History :...
- Custom Marshall Amplifiers
- Voodoo AmpsVoodoo AmplificationVoodoo Amplification is a Lansing, New York company which designs and modifies guitar amplifiers.-History:Trace Allen Davis first went into business in the mid 1990s with a small shop in Ithaca, New York, repairing and modifying production guitar amps with his own custom circuits...
V-Rock 100 watt Single Lead Amplifier - Voodoo AmpsVoodoo AmplificationVoodoo Amplification is a Lansing, New York company which designs and modifies guitar amplifiers.-History:Trace Allen Davis first went into business in the mid 1990s with a small shop in Ithaca, New York, repairing and modifying production guitar amps with his own custom circuits...
Platinum Modified 1973 Marshall Super Lead (1959 model) - Voodoo AmpsVoodoo AmplificationVoodoo Amplification is a Lansing, New York company which designs and modifies guitar amplifiers.-History:Trace Allen Davis first went into business in the mid 1990s with a small shop in Ithaca, New York, repairing and modifying production guitar amps with his own custom circuits...
Platinum Modified Marshall EL34 100/100 Stereo Power Amplifier - Voodoo AmpsVoodoo AmplificationVoodoo Amplification is a Lansing, New York company which designs and modifies guitar amplifiers.-History:Trace Allen Davis first went into business in the mid 1990s with a small shop in Ithaca, New York, repairing and modifying production guitar amps with his own custom circuits...
Modified Kelly 100 Amplifier
- Richard performed with Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
on her Good Girl Gone Bad world tour in 2007
- In 2008 he also contributed as guitar player on the debut cd of Paramount Styles
Paramount Styles
Paramount Styles is an American indie rock band from New York formed by Scott McCloud of Girls Against Boys.McCloud recorded the debut with Alexis Fleisig , Richard Fortus and some others...
.
- In 2009 he recorded a hard rock version of "The James Bond Theme" for the Guitar Hero
Guitar Hero
Guitar Hero is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by RedOctane for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It is the first entry in the Guitar Hero series. Guitar Hero was released on November 8, 2005 in North America, April 7, 2006 in Europe and June 15, 2006 in...
video game series. This was released as downloadable content in March 2009. On the 2009-2011 Chinese Democracy Tour
Chinese Democracy Tour
The Chinese Democracy Tour is a current worldwide concert tour by hard rock band Guns N' Roses to promote the group's long-delayed album Chinese Democracy....
, he played this cover as a solo spot during shows.
In 2011 he played with the reformed version of Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy
Thin Lizzy are an Irish hard rock band formed in Dublin in 1969. Two of the founding members, drummer Brian Downey and bass guitarist/vocalist Phil Lynott met while still in school. Lynott assumed the role of frontman and led them throughout their recording career of thirteen studio albums...
for the summer tour.
External links
- 4tus.com - Official Website of Richard Fortus
- http://firstact.com/Artists/Richard_Fortus.aspx