James Franklin Murphy (born July 30, 1967) is an American guitarist. He is best known for his work in metal bands
Obituary
An obituary ( obit for short) is an article about a recently deceased person. Newspapers often publish obituaries as news articles. Although obituaries tend to focus on positive aspects of the subject's life, this is not always the case. Ac ...
,
Death and
Testament
A testament is a document that the author has sworn to be true. In law it usually means last will and testament.
Testament or The Testament can also refer to:
Books
* ''Testament'' (comic book), a 2005 comic book
* ''Testament'', a thriller nov ...
.
He founded Disincarnate,
an early
death metal
Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. It typically employs heavily distorted and low-tuned guitars, played with techniques such as palm muting and tremolo picking; deep growling vocals; aggressive, powerful drumming, feat ...
band.
He was diagnosed with a
brain tumor in 2001 but recovered. In October 2011, Murphy stated that the tumor had returned but that it was non-cancerous and that it was being treated pharmacologically. He is working on a tribute album to Death founder
Chuck Schuldiner who died from
pneumonia, caused by complications of his treatment for a brain tumor. He also produced
Deron Miller
Deron John Miller is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of rock band CKY, which he co-founded in 1998. Other bands Miller fronts include the progressive metal band Foreign Objec ...
's band
World Under Blood. He also completed production of the industrial death metal band
Dååth
Dååth is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta. Their music incorporates styles such as death metal, industrial metal, and some traces of gypsy jazz.
History
Dååth was started by Eyal Levi and Mike Kameron, who had been playing in ...
's second album, ''
The Hinderers
''The Hinderers'' is Dååth's second studio album produced by Dååth and James Murphy, and released by Roadrunner Records. It contains guest solos by James Murphy and James Malone (of Arsis). Two music videos were produced, one each for the ...
'', which was released on
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label focused on heavy metal and hard rock bands. Founded in the Netherlands in 1980, it is now a division of Warner Music Group and is based in New York City.
History
The label was launched in 1980 in t ...
, and
Lazarus A.D.
Lazarus A.D. is an American thrash metal, thrash/groove metal band from Kenosha, Wisconsin, originally formed as "Lazarus" in 2005. The "A.D." was added to avoid potential legal issues. They released two studio albums in their career, ''The Ons ...
's second album ''
The Onslaught
''The Onslaught'' is the first studio album by American heavy metal band Lazarus A.D.
Lazarus A.D. is an American thrash metal, thrash/groove metal band from Kenosha, Wisconsin, originally formed as "Lazarus" in 2005. The "A.D." was added ...
'', and its follow-up ''Black Rivers Flow'' released on
Metal Blade Records, and many other productions and mixes on various record labels. He has also performed as a touring guitarist for
Agent Steel in Europe and the UK in 1987, and was briefly in Hallows Eve in 1989.
In addition to playing guitar, Murphy operates a recording studio, SafeHouse Production, where he has mixed and produced albums for other bands. He has also contributed lessons to ''
Guitar Player magazine''.
Equipment
Murphy has used
Caparison guitars since he was able to play guitar again after his treatment. During his years with
Death and
Testament
A testament is a document that the author has sworn to be true. In law it usually means last will and testament.
Testament or The Testament can also refer to:
Books
* ''Testament'' (comic book), a 2005 comic book
* ''Testament'', a thriller nov ...
he played
Ibanez guitars, primarily the S series models, and
B.C. Rich
B.C. Rich is an American brand of acoustic and electric guitars and bass guitars founded by Bernardo Chavez Rico in 1969.
History
The company started making electric guitars in the 1970s. In the following decade B.C. Rich gained a broad expos ...
guitars during the
Obituary
An obituary ( obit for short) is an article about a recently deceased person. Newspapers often publish obituaries as news articles. Although obituaries tend to focus on positive aspects of the subject's life, this is not always the case. Ac ...
period, especially Warlock models. He also played B.C. Rich guitars in Death. With Disincarnate, he used a
Gibson
Gibson may refer to:
People
* Gibson (surname)
Businesses
* Gibson Brands, Inc., an American manufacturer of guitars, other musical instruments, and audio equipment
* Gibson Technology, and English automotive and motorsport company based
* Gi ...
Flying V, loaded with an EMG 85 in the bridge position, through a Marshall 8100. He is a longtime endorsee of
EMG pickups, and mainly uses the 85 and 89 models, although on Testament's
The Gathering his Ibanez were fitted with
Dimarzio Steve's Special and Air Norton. For amplification he is currently using Framus Cobra series amplifiers, although previously he used Mesa amps through Mesa 4x12 cabinets with Testament.
Discography
;
Cancer
* ''
Death Shall Rise
''Death Shall Rise'' is the second album by British death metal band Cancer. It was released on 24 May 1991 through Vinyl Solution.
Track listing
All tracks by Cancer
Personnel
;Cancer
* James Murphy - Lead Guitar
* Carl Stokes - Drums
...
''
(1991)
;
Death
* ''
Spiritual Healing'' (1990)
;Disincarnate
* ''Soul Erosion'' (demo, 1992)
* ''
Dreams of the Carrion Kind
''Dreams of the Carrion Kind'' is an album released by American death metal guitarist James Murphy (guitarist), James Murphy, under the band name Disincarnate. It was released in 1993.
History
''Dreams of the Carrion Kind'', Disincarnate's only al ...
'' (1993)
;James Murphy
* ''Convergence'' (1996)
* ''Feeding The Machine'' (1999)
;
Konkhra
Konkhra is a Danish death metal/extreme metal band formed in Køge in 1989.
History
Konkhra is an extreme metal band from Denmark who blend death metal, groove metal, mid-tempo, and thrash. They are often compared to Machine Head, Entombed, ...
* ''Weed Out The Weak'' (1997)
* ''The Freakshow'' (EP, 1999)
* ''Come Down Cold'' (1999)
* ''Nothing Is Sacred'' (2009)
;
Obituary
An obituary ( obit for short) is an article about a recently deceased person. Newspapers often publish obituaries as news articles. Although obituaries tend to focus on positive aspects of the subject's life, this is not always the case. Ac ...
* ''
Cause Of Death'' (1990)
;
Testament
A testament is a document that the author has sworn to be true. In law it usually means last will and testament.
Testament or The Testament can also refer to:
Books
* ''Testament'' (comic book), a 2005 comic book
* ''Testament'', a thriller nov ...
* ''
Low
Low or LOW or lows, may refer to:
People
* Low (surname), listing people surnamed Low
Places
* Low, Quebec, Canada
* Low, Utah, United States
* Lo Wu station (MTR code LOW), Hong Kong; a rail station
* Salzburg Airport (ICAO airport code: LO ...
''
(1994)
* ''
Live at the Fillmore
''Live at the Fillmore'' and similar names may refer to any of the following live albums, recorded at any of the concert venues known as "the Fillmore".
Fillmore venues
* The Fillmore in San Francisco
* The Fillmore West in San Francisco
* The ...
'' (Live, 1995)
* ''
The Gathering'' (1999)
Guest appearances
* 1000 Ashes – "Guest appearance in first album"
*
Abigail Williams – ''
In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns
''In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns'' is the debut album by American black metal band Abigail Williams. It was released on October 28, 2008 on Candlelight Records. A vast majority of the album was written and composed by lead vocalist Ken Sorceron ...
'' – (Solo on "The World Beyond" and Whammy on "Smoke and Mirrors")
*
The Absence – ''
Riders of the Plague
The Absence is an American melodic death metal band from Tampa, Florida. Their style has been described as aggressive thrash metal with Scandinavian metal influences. They were previously signed to Metal Blade Records and are now signed to M-Th ...
'' (two tracks)
*
Agent Steel – (one live track on the re-release)
*
Agressor
Agressor is a French death metal band which started in 1986.
Members
Current
* Alexandre Colin-Tocquaine – Electric guitar, guitar, chant (1986–present)
* Joël Guigou – Bass guitar, bass (1991–present)
* Kevin Paradis – Drum kit ...
– ''Medieval Rites'' (one solo)
* Agressor – ''The Spirit of Evil'' (three tracks)
*
Artension
Artension is a North American neoclassical progressive metal band, founded in 1993 by keyboardist Vitalij Kuprij. The band split up after recording seven albums from 1996 to 2004, but reformed in 2016 with the intention of releasing an eighth ...
– ''Into the Eye of the Storm'' (one solo)
* Artension – ''Phoenix Rising'' (one solo)
* Artension – ''Forces of Nature'' (four solos)
*
Broken Hope – ''Repulsive Conception'' (one solo)
*
Cannae
Cannae (now Canne della Battaglia, ) is an ancient village of the Apulia region of south east Italy. It is a ''frazione'' (civil parish) of the ''comune'' (municipality) of Barletta. Cannae was formerly a bishopric, and is presently (2022) a Lati ...
– ''When Gold Becomes Sacrifice'' (one solo)
* Chaos Disorder – ''Infested'' (one solo)
*
DÅÅTH – ''
The Hinderers
''The Hinderers'' is Dååth's second studio album produced by Dååth and James Murphy, and released by Roadrunner Records. It contains guest solos by James Murphy and James Malone (of Arsis). Two music videos were produced, one each for the ...
'' (one solo)
* Demise – ''Torture Garden'' (one solo)
* Embryonic Autopsy – ''Cauterized Womb Impalement '' (one solo 2022)
*
Explorers Club – ''
Age of Impact
''Age of Impact'' is Explorers Club's first album, released in 1998. The album included guest appearances by guitarists Steve Howe and John Petrucci, singer James LaBrie, bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Terry Bozzio.
Track listing
Personnel
* ...
''
* Enforsaken – ''The Forever Endeavor'' (Lead guitar on 'All For Nothing')
*
Firewind – ''
Forged by Fire'' (one solo)
*
Foreign Objects – ''
Universal Culture Shock
''Universal Culture Shock/Undiscovered Numbers & Colors'' is the debut full-length studio album by American alternative metal band Foreign Objects. Recorded in West Chester, Pennsylvania, it was released by Distant Recordings on October 31, 2004. ...
'' (guitar solos)
*
Gorguts – ''
Considered Dead
''Considered Dead'' is the debut full-length album by Canadian death metal band Gorguts. The album was released on October 8, 1991 through Roadrunner Records, with whom the band signed a deal following the release of their 1991 demo ...And ...
'' (one solo)
*
Gruesome
''Salvage'' is a 2006 horror film by the Crook Brothers, Jeffrey Crook and Joshua Crook. It was an official selection of the 2006 Sundance Festival. According to the directors' commentary, the film was shot for around $200,000. It stars Lauren C ...
– ''
Savage Land
The Savage Land is a hidden prehistoric land appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is a tropical preserve hidden in Antarctica. It has appeared in many story arcs in ''Uncanny X-Men'' as well as other related books.
Pu ...
'' (one solo)
* Killfloor Mechanic – ''Estimated Time of Death'' (one solo)
*
Malevolent Creation
Malevolent Creation is an American death metal band formed in Buffalo, New York in 1987 and later based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The band's original members were rhythm guitarist Phil Fasciana, vocalist Brett Hoffmann, lead guitarist Jim Nic ...
– ''
Retribution
Retribution may refer to:
* Punishment
* Retributive justice, a theory of justice
** Divine retribution, retributive justice in a religious context
* Revenge, a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance
Film and televis ...
'' (one solo)
* Malevolent Creation – ''
The Will to Kill
''The Will to Kill'' is the eighth studio album by Florida death metal band Malevolent Creation.
The U.S. and UK album covers are alternate.
Track listing
Personnel
;Malevolent Creation
* Kyle Symons - Vocals
* Rob Barrett - Lead guitar
* P ...
'' (two solos)
* Martriden – ''The Unsettling Dark'' (one solo)
*
Memorain
Memorain is a speed/groove/thrash metal band from Greece, formed by guitarist/vocalist Ilias Papadakis in 1999.
History
After a few lineup changes in 2001, the band recorded their first demo CD titled "Until You Die". Drawing influence mainly ...
– ''
White Line'' (five solos)
* Only Human -''The Dismantling'' (one solo on the track 'Winter and the Dancing Leeches')
* Outliar – ''Provoked To Anger'' (Solo performed on the track "Faceless Enemy")
*
Steve Morse – ''Prime Cuts'' (one solo)
*
Nevermore – ''
This Godless Endeavor'' (Solo on the track "The Holocaust of Thought")
* Rise – ''Pentagramnation'' (2009)
* Rob Van Der Loo's Freak Neil inc. – ''Characters'' (3 solos)
*
Single Bullet Theory (metal band)
Single Bullet Theory (SBT) is an American heavy metal band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band was founded in 2000 by guitarist Matt DiFabio after the disbanding of Cipher (active again as of Dec. 2015 and renamed "Vedic" as of Aug. 2017). ...
– ''Behind Eyes of Hatred'' (solo on the track "Shades of Things to Come")
* Single Bullet Theory – ''IV'' (one solo on the track "Auctioneer of Souls")
*
Solstice – ''Solstice'' (four solos + backing vocals)
* Summon – ''...And the Blood Runs Black'' (guest keyboard, acoustic guitar and lead guitar)
* ''Various artists'' – ''
Roadrunner United'' – Annihilation by the Hands of God (solo), Constitution Down (intro solo)
* ''Various artists'' – ''
Working Man - A Tribute To Rush
Working may refer to:
* Work (human activity), intentional activity people perform to support themselves, others, or the community
Arts and media
* ''Working'' (musical), a 1978 musical
* ''Working'' (TV series), an American sitcom
* ''Worki ...
'' (lead guitar, rhythm guitar, and/or keyboards on five songs)
*
Vicious Rumors – ''
Sadistic Symphony
''Sadistic Symphony'' is the eighth album by American heavy metal band Vicious Rumors, released in 2001.
Track listing
#"Break" – 5:06
#"Sadistic Symphony" – 5:47
#"March of the Damned" – 5:17
#"Blacklight" – 8:06
#"Puritan Demons" – ...
'' (one solo)
*
John West – ''Mind Journey'' (one solo)
* John West – ''Permanent Mark'' (one solo)
*
Warrel Dane – ''
Praises to the War Machine
''Praises to the War Machine'' is the debut solo release/album by heavy metal vocalist Warrel Dane from Nevermore, released on April 25, 2008. The album was produced by Peter Wichers, who was tapped by Dane to work on the album while Wichers was ...
'' (Solo on the track "The Day the Rats Went to War")
*
World Under Blood – Solo on the track "Under the Autumn Low" between
Deron Miller
Deron John Miller is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of rock band CKY, which he co-founded in 1998. Other bands Miller fronts include the progressive metal band Foreign Objec ...
's solos
*
Various artists – ''Guitars That Ate My Brain'' – "Maiden Voyage" (lead guitar, rhythm guitar, and all lead & rhythm guitar solo's)
References
External links
James Murphyon Facebook
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murphy, James
Death (metal band) members
American heavy metal guitarists
1967 births
Living people
Guitarists from Virginia
Lead guitarists
Musicians from Portsmouth, Virginia
American male guitarists
20th-century American guitarists
Obituary (band) members
Testament (band) members
Explorers Club (band) members