MARTY FRIEDMAN Explains How He Turned A TV Star In Japan

Marty Friedman exited Megadeth in 2000 and has had one hell of a profession in each Japanese music and TV. Friedman starred Hebimeta-san in Rock Fujiyama all through the 2000s, and received his begin within the Japanese music trade when he joined singer Nanase Aikawa‘s band. However how the hell did Marty Friedman, world-renown guitarist each then and now, get to be a TV star anyway?

In an interview with Consequence, Friedman defined that it began when he joined Aikawa‘s band and was instructed that he ought to possibly give TV a shot.

“I did not begin off wanting to try this in any respect, really. Like I stated, I joined the band of one among my favourite J-pop singers once I first received right here, and while you try this, individuals begin seeing you. That type of began quite a lot of new eyes approaching me, and one of many new eyes was a tv manufacturing firm that put me on a brand new present. I used to be initially not likely into doing it, as a result of I needed to only concentrate on enjoying music — J-pop music. J-pop, once I say the phrase ‘pop,’ it is actually very heavy metallic. There’s quite a lot of heavy metallic affect. Individuals get scared after they hear the phrase pop, however there’s guitar going loopy in it. I used to be loving it.

“I wanted to concentrate on that, but they said, ‘Just try this TV thing. Your Japanese is very good, and you have a very interesting viewpoint. Just give it a try.’ And the first thing out of the box was a really big hit. It was a show called Hebimeta-san, which turned into Rock Fujiyama — it lasted for six seasons. For a new show, it’s unheard of. So, other offers came up, and my management over here started filling things up, and the next thing you know, more people know me from television than music. And it’s still the case.”

Friedman notes that he is so well-known as a TV persona in Japan that the headlines surrounding his current Megadeth reunion needed to clarify that he is additionally a musician. Which is wild contemplating Friedman is just about synonymous with guitar all over the world.

“Really, doing this Budokan present yesterday, when quite a lot of it was printed on Yahoo Information and issues like that, ‘He is the man from TV, however that is what he actually does’ was just like the headline for that factor. Doing tv has facilitated the truth that I can depart for 2 months and tour America with my very own music — and never have any issues with that.

“It’s allowed me to live the exact life that I want to do. It’s given me a lot of freedom. Of course, you never know when people come up to you, what they know me from. But my real gig is making music, and I love making music more than anything else.”