Chris Poland (born December 1, 1957) is an American guitarist, best known as the former guitarist of the

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and often fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, 2007, . ...

band

Megadeth Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal along wit ...

. Since 2002, Poland has been the guitarist of the

instrumental rock Instrumental rock is rock music that emphasizes musical instruments and features very little or no singing. Examples of instrumental rock can be found in practically every subgenre of rock, often from musicians who specialize in the style. Instr ...

jazz fusion Jazz fusion (also known as fusion and progressive jazz) is a music genre that developed in the late 1960s when musicians combined jazz harmony and improvisation with rock music, funk, and rhythm and blues. Electric guitars, amplifiers, and ke ...

bands

OHM Ohm (symbol Ω) is a unit of electrical resistance named after Georg Ohm. Ohm or OHM may also refer to: People * Georg Ohm (1789–1854), German physicist and namesake of the term ''ohm'' * Germán Ohm (born 1936), Mexican boxer * Jörg Ohm (bor ...

and

OHMphrey OHM (sometimes stylized Ohm: or OHM:) is an American instrumental rock/jazz fusion power trio group fronted by former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland and featuring bassist Robertino "Pag" Pagliari. The band was formed in 1998 and has released f ...

, among others, and has appeared on several projects and albums from a variety of different genres.

Biography

Megadeth (1984–1987)

Frontman

Dave Mustaine David Scott Mustaine (born September 13, 1961) is an American musician. He is the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and primary songwriter of the thrash metal band Megadeth, as well as their sole consistent member. Mustaine has rele ...

referred to Poland as "an amazing guitar player—he can play circles around me".VH1: Megadeth – Behind the Music DVD – October 2001. Poland joined Megadeth in 1984, after seeing them play as a three-piece, and after being recommended to Mustaine and Ellefson by Megadeth's then-new drummer Gar Samuelson, a friend and former bandmate of Poland's. According to Mustaine, Poland was temporarily let go before Megadeth embarked on their first tour, but was swiftly brought back. He then remained in the band until he and Samuelson were fired in 1987, due to alleged substance abuse, which had led Poland to sell off Mustaine and Ellefson's guitar gear, along with his own. In response, Mustaine wrote the song "Liar" for their following album '' So Far, So Good... So What!'', which was partly meant as a callout to Poland.

''Rust in Peace'' demos

In 1990, Mustaine asked Poland to record solos for demos that would become songs for ''

Rust In Peace ''Rust in Peace'' is the fourth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on September 24, 1990 by Capitol Records. It was the first Megadeth album to feature lead guitarist Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza. The songs " ...

''. Poland agreed to play the solos, but did not rejoin the band. Ultimately, Megadeth recruited

Marty Friedman Marty Friedman (born December 8, 1962) is an American guitarist, best known for his tenure as the lead guitarist for thrash metal band Megadeth from 1990 to 2000. He is also known for playing alongside Jason Becker in Cacophony from 1986 unti ...

to play the solos for the album. Poland's solos can be heard on the 2004 remastered version of ''Rust In Peace''.

Final return to Megadeth and lawsuit

He and Mustaine teamed up one final time in 2004 to record Megadeth's comeback album, '' The System Has Failed'', though Poland opted not to rejoin the band full-time. In 2004, after the reissue and re-release of ''Rust in Peace'', Poland and/or his management and attorney filed a lawsuit against Mustaine regarding the use of the three ''Rust In Peace'' demos on the album's reissue without Poland's permission. Poland eventually settled for $9,500 and thereby ended a professional relationship with Mustaine and Megadeth.

2000s

In 2009, Poland formed OHMphrey, a side-project with Robby Pagliari of OHM, and Jake Cinninger, Kris Myers, and Joel Cummins of progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee. In 2019, Poland appeared on the track "Hammer (Comes Down)", on

bassist

David Ellefson David Warren Ellefson (born November 12, 1964) is an American musician, best known for his long tenure as the bassist for thrash metal band Megadeth. Ellefson initially became an accomplished bassist and honed his songwriting skills while lead ...

's solo release ''Sleeping Giants'', with

Mark Tremonti Mark Thomas Tremonti (born April 18, 1974) is an American guitarist and singer, best known for his tenures with the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. He is a founding member of both bands, and has also collaborated with many other artists over ...

, Thom Hazaert, Dave McClain and Joey Radziwill of

Sacred Reich Sacred Reich is an American thrash metal band based in Phoenix, Arizona, that was formed in 1985. The band split in 2000, but reunited in 2006. Sacred Reich has been credited, along with Testament, Destruction, Death Angel and Dark Angel, for ...

, and Flotsam and Jetsam vocalist Eric AK. It was later announced Poland had signed to Ellefson's revived

Combat Records Combat Records was an American independent record label founded in 1983 and based in New York City. The label specifically was for heavy metal and punk rock acts, Notable artist include: Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Nuclear Assault, OZ, Death, ...

, who would release a 30th Anniversary Edition of his solo debut '' Return to Metalopolis'' in 2020. The expanded 2-CD/LP configuration, features a remastered version of the original LP, with four new tracks, and material from the independently released, out of print 2007 release ''Return to Metalopolis Live''. It was later announced in 2020 that Poland would tour Australia and Japan, with Ellefson and Hazaert, supporting Ellefson's eponymous solo band. In January 2020, Poland was inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame, alongside

Geoff Tate Geoff Tate (born Jeffrey Wayne Tate, January 14, 1959; he later changed his first name to Geoffery or Geoffrey) (Pp. 11, 48). is an American singer and songwriter. He rose to fame with the progressive metal band Queensrÿche, who had commercial ...

Don Dokken Donald Maynard Dokken (born June 29, 1953) is an American singer and musician. He's best known for being the lead singer, occasional guitarist, and founder of the glam metal band Dokken. He is known for his vibrato-laden, melodic vocal style wh ...

Joe Satriani Joseph Satriani (born July 15, 1956)Prato, Greg"Joe Satriani – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". '' AllMusic''. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 28, 2014. is an American guitarist, composer, songwriter, and guitar teacher. Early in his ...

Steve Vai Steven Siro Vai (; born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, composer, songwriter, and producer. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee, Vai started his music career in 1978 at the age of eighteen as a transcriptionist f ...

, Prong,

Graham Bonnet Graham Bonnet (born 23 December 1947) is an English rock singer. He has recorded and performed as a solo artist and as a member of several hard rock and heavy metal bands including Rainbow, Michael Schenker Group, Alcatrazz, and Impellitteri. ...

, and more. Poland was inducted by Hazaert and former

Machine Head A machine head (also referred to as a tuning machine, tuner, or gear head) is a geared apparatus for tuning stringed musical instruments by adjusting string tension. Machine heads are used on mandolins, guitars, double basses and others, and ar ...

guitarist

Phil Demmel Phil Demmel (born April 2, 1967) is an American musician who played lead guitar in the heavy metal band Machine Head between 2002 and 2018, making him their longest running member in that position. He has also performed in other bands such as V ...

who joined Poland for a performance of "Peace Sells", with

Butcher Babies Butcher Babies is an American groove metal band from Los Angeles, consisting of frontwomen Heidi Shepherd and Carla Harvey, guitarist Henry Flury (Amen), bassist Ricky Bonazza, and drummer Chase Brickenden. Their debut album, ''Goliath'', was re ...

bassist Ricky Bonazza, and

Dead by Wednesday Dead by Wednesday is an American heavy metal band from New Haven, Connecticut, formed in 2006.

drummer Opus Lawrence and guitarist Dave Sharpe, who also tour with Ellefson and Hazaert in Ellefson's "Sleeping Giants" solo band. Poland also performed "Paranoid" at the induction, with Vai, Satriani, and Tate.

Discography

Solo albums

*1990: '' Return to Metalopolis'' *2000: '' Chasing the Sun'' *2000: ''Rare Trax'' (compilation) *2007: ''Return to Metalopolis Live'' (live) *2019: ''Resistance'' *2020: '' Return to Metalopolis 30th Anniversary Edition''

With Megadeth

*1985: '' Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!'' *1986: '' Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?'' *1990: ''

Rust in Peace ''Rust in Peace'' is the fourth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on September 24, 1990 by Capitol Records. It was the first Megadeth album to feature lead guitarist Marty Friedman and drummer Nick Menza. The songs " ...

'' (Poland's solos appear on the demo recordings of " Holy Wars... The Punishment Due", "Take No Prisoners", and "Rust in Peace... Polaris", which were released as bonus tracks on the 2004 remaster) *2000: '' Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years'' (compilation) *2004: '' The System Has Failed'' *2005: '' Greatest Hits: Back to the Start'' (compilation) *2007: '' Warchest'' (compilation) *2008: '' Anthology: Set the World Afire'' (compilation) *2019: '' Warheads on Foreheads'' (compilation)

With Damn the Machine

*1993: '' Damn the Machine'' *1993: ''Silence'' EP

With Mumbo's Brain

*1995: ''Excerpts from the Book of Mumbo'' *1999: ''Rare Trax''

With Lamb of God

*2003: ''

As the Palaces Burn ''As the Palaces Burn'' is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Lamb of God, released under Prosthetic Records on May 6, 2003. The album was produced by Devin Townsend and the band itself, and received considerably more airplay t ...

'' *2004: ''

Ashes of the Wake ''Ashes of the Wake'' is the fourth studio album and first major-label release by American heavy metal band Lamb of God, released in 2004 via Epic Records. The album debuted at number 27 on the ''Billboard'' 200, selling 35,000 copies in its f ...

With OHM

*2003: ''OHM'' *2004: ''"Live" On KPFK 90.7 FM'', Lion Music *2005: ''Amino Acid Flashback'' *2006: ''Live at the New Brookland Tavern'' (DVD) *2008: ''

Circus of Sound ''Circus of Sound'' is the third studio album by the band OHM, released on August 26, 2008 through Tone Center Records. Track listing Personnel * Chris Poland – guitar, engineering, production * Joel Taylor – drums (tracks 1–3) *Frank ...

'' *2012: ''Tsunami Jams''

With OHMphrey

*2009: ''

'', Magna Carta *2012: ''

Posthaste ''Posthaste'' is the second studio album by the band OHMphrey, released on April 10, 2012 through Magna Carta Records. It features two additional live tracks that were recorded at Winston's in San Diego, California from a concert in 2009. Track ...

'', Magna Carta

With Polcat

*2012: ''Polcat'', Ashro Records

Other album appearances

*2001: ''Warmth in the Wilderness: A Tribute to Jason Becker'', Lion Music *2002: ''Squadrophenia'', Cosmosquad, Marmaduke Records *2004: ''Give Us Moore! – Gary Moore Tribute'', Lion Music *2006: ''The Longest Night'',

Pharaoh Pharaoh (, ; Egyptian: '' pr ꜥꜣ''; cop, , Pǝrro; Biblical Hebrew: ''Parʿō'') is the vernacular term often used by modern authors for the kings of ancient Egypt who ruled as monarchs from the First Dynasty (c. 3150 BC) until th ...

*2006: ''Double Heart Project – Human Nature's Fight'', Brennus *2006: ''Jimi Hendrix Tribute – The Spirit Lives On Vol. 1 & 2, Lion Music *2007: ''Long Live Me'', THE SCREAMIN' LORDS, Brannick Records *2008: ''Innervisions'', Tadashi Goto, Progrock *2009: ''Guitars That Ate My Brain'' *2009: ''Misty Mountain Hop: A Millennium Tribute to Led Zeppelin'' *2009: ''The Call of the Flames'', Shredding the Envelope, Standstill And Scream Music *2011: ''Metalusion'', Glen Drover, Magna Carta *2012: ''Plains of Oblivion –

Jeff Loomis Jeff Loomis (born September 14, 1971) is an American musician, best known for his role as lead guitarist in the progressive metal band Nevermore during its existence from 1991 to 2011, as well as brief tenures in its precursor, Sanctuary. In ...

'' *2012: ''Two Minutes to Midnight: A Millennium Tribute to Iron Maiden'', Versailles Records *2013: ''

Intermezzo In music, an intermezzo (, , plural form: intermezzi), in the most general sense, is a composition which fits between other musical or dramatic entities, such as acts of a play or movements of a larger musical work. In music history, the term ha ...

'',

Michael Angelo Batio Michael Angelo Batio (), also known as Michael Angelo, Mike Batio or MAB, is an American heavy metal guitarist and columnist from Chicago, Illinois. He was the lead guitarist for the Los Angeles-based glam metal band Nitro in the late 1980s an ...

*2013: ''Virtue and Vices'', Robot Lords of Tokyo, RLoT Records *2013: ''

Frequency Unknown ''Frequency Unknown'' is a studio album released under the name Queensrÿche; it was released by Geoff Tate's temporary version of the band, before a settlement determined that only the other band members were entitled to use the name Queensrÿche ...

'' Queensryche(guest appearance), Cleopatra *2013: ''Belt Buckles and Brass Knuckles'', Moccasin Creek, Moccasin Creek Music *2014: ''Curve of the Earth'' – Lion Drome *2014: ''Will to Power'' – Lord Vulture, Mausoleum Records *2014: '' Onward to Freedom'' –

Tourniquet A tourniquet is a device that is used to apply pressure to a limb or extremity in order to stop the flow of blood. It may be used in emergencies, in surgery, or in post-operative rehabilitation. A simple tourniquet can be made from a stick an ...

*2016: '' The Art of Loss'' - Redemption *2018: ''Gazing at Medusa'' – Tourniquet *2018: Long Night's Journey into Day - Redemption *2019: ''Sleeping Giants'' -

*2020: Alive In Color - Redemption

References

External links

2006 Chris Poland Interview – by Brian D. HollandTone Center Records, OHM's record company
{{DEFAULTSORT:Poland, Chris 1957 births Living people American heavy metal guitarists American jazz guitarists Megadeth members Lead guitarists People from Dunkirk, New York Guitarists from New York (state) American male guitarists 20th-century American guitarists Jazz musicians from New York (state) American male jazz musicians OHMphrey members OHM (band) members Circle Jerks members Redemption (band) members