Jason Becker – Uber Rock Interview Exclusive

Written by Mark Ashby
Saturday, 17 November 2012 00:02

In 1989, 20-year old guitarist JASON BECKER apparently had the world at his feet. Having exploded onto the global arena as one half (alongside then future Megadeth axeman Marty Friedman) of Cacophony, and followed this up with his own ‘Perpetual Burn’ solo effort, he was selected to replace the legendary Steve Vai in David Lee Roth’s solo band.

 

However, shortly after recording sessions for Diamond Dave’s third album, ‘A Little Ain’t Enough’, began, disaster struck the young virtuoso. At first it took the form of what he himself later described as a ‘lazy leg’: however, as his condition worsened, he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Although he struggled on and finished the album, he was too weak to embark on the subsequent tour, and was warned by his doctors that he would not see his 25th birthday – never mind ever make music again…

 

Now approaching his mid-40s, Becker is, in the words of an inspirational new movie about his life, ‘Not Dead Yet’. In fact, although having spent more than half his life only able to move and communicate with his eyes, the one-time wunderkind is continuing to compose music.

 

In the second part of our special series of features to coincide with the movie’s UK release, Über Rock’s Mark Ashby finds himself privileged to be allowed a long-distance insight into Jason’s world. What he found was a man still very much full of life…

 

 

Hi Jason, and thank you very much for taking the time to answer a few questions from Über Rock: it genuinely is a pleasure to talk to you (albeit by email).

 

Thank you so much, Mark. It is my pleasure.

 

Can we start by taking you back to the beginning of your career: what are your memories of how the Cacophony project came about?

 

I was a teenager who loved playing guitar and learning everything I could about music and playing. I was in high school and had played in school shows and at coffee houses, but never in a band, other than jamming with my friends, and being in the school jazz ensemble. I knew I wanted to be a professional musician and I sent a demo tape to Mike Varney of Shrapnel Records, who called me and said I had potential. I got to know him a little, and he was getting ready to work with Marty Friedman on an album and suggested the two of us meet and play together and see what we thought about creating a duo. I didn’t know this at the time. I was just happy to jam with a brilliant guitarist. Once we met and played together, we got along really well, both personally and musically. We had a blast and I felt very lucky to get to play with Marty. He taught me a lot.

 

Was there much rivalry between yourself and Marty?

 

Not really. Marty was older and had more experience than I did and I soaked up what he had to teach me like a sponge. He and I both knew what we wanted and, even though we acted goofy and had a lot of fun, we were serious about our music and constantly played and challenged each other just by having our own ideas and being excited about them. We didn’t feel like we were competing so much as we both wanted to make it big time doing our own thing. We did keep each other on our toes, though. We each appreciated and learned from the other’s style. It was more about writing unique music than about the guitar playing.

 

Do the pair of you still keep in touch?

 

Yes, we always stay in touch. He lives in Japan, so we email each other. We often send each other new stuff we are working on. He is still my musical guru and my brother. I love that guy! I wouldn’t be half the musician I am today without his friendship and influence.

 

You joined David Lee Roth’s band in 1989, replacing Steve Vai: at that time, how big a challenge was that for you?

 

I was young and confident and don’t remember thinking it was a huge challenge. I loved and respected Vai a lot, but I was the next great guitarist! I had my own style, and I wasn’t intimidated by anyone – hell, I had played with the great Marty Friedman! I knew this was the gig that would give me exposure to the world and I wanted to show what I thought was important about my playing and my music. I wish I could have done more, and a few things differently, but it was Dave’s band and his call so I worked around those things. Dave was in a softer mood, musically, so I wasn’t allowed to tear it up as much as I wanted to, plus, my hands were getting weak.

 

 

Of course, your biggest challenge was to come, as it was at this time that you were first diagnosed: what do you remember about that time and your reaction to the news?

 

I remember thinking it would be OK. I just got the gig of a lifetime and I was so young I just wanted to concentrate on my music and doing my job. I was in denial for a while, which was a good thing because, even though I remember being sad, it didn’t really hit me in a huge way until after the record was finished. I couldn’t tour and that made me sad, but there was nothing I could do but go home and try to heal. I had to get on with making music in a completely different way. And I had to deal with the emotions and anger that came with that, but at first I just didn’t care. I didn’t read up on ALS. I lived my life as normally and happy as I was. I was totally happy, and no silly disease was going to change that.

 

How important was it for you to finish the DLR album, given that your condition was deteriorating rapidly during the recording?

 

It was very important to me. At the time I wasn’t worried about not being able to finish. I was still good. I wish I could have been at the top of my game; I could feel the effects of ALS and it was scary, but I was able to finish recording before things got impossible. I recorded ‘Meet Me in the Morning’, a Dylan song, with the other guys in Dave’s band (except Dave) before I went home and I was really happy I did that. John Stix talked me into it, and I’m very thankful for that.

 

 

You were given five years to live – yet, here we are, 20+ years later: you said in 1996 that your disease had crippled your body but not your mind – what has kept you going, and brought you to this stage?

 

Twenty-three and a half years now. Yeah, when you hear things like that, you just have to keep going and hope for the best. I’m not a statistic, I’m a human being, and no one knows what is going to happen. I have been lucky to have help: from my parents, Serrana, Marilyn, insurance, friend and fan support. It seems to be about love; my peeps tell me I am the reason they keep going and I think they are the reason I keep going. It just seems to take a lot of love and kindness, along with sacrifice and sadness. Having a passion and feeling like you have a purpose in life is essential. I love music and women.

 

It could be argued that your music was your life: you’re still regarded by many as one of the greatest and most influential guitar players in all of modern music. When the ability to perform your music was taken away from you, did you ever feel that your life had been taken away from you as well?

 

Wow, thanks man. Hmmm…I don’t remember feeling my life had been taken away as much as my ability to play guitar. I had to figure out a way to make music that was in my head, and get over the sadness I felt about not being able to play guitar. Now, I can almost feel the same rush I felt when playing the guitar when I write a song. I still get sad sometimes, but it feels really good to create music and give myself goose bumps when I listen to it. I guess I learned that it was less about performing music with my instrument, and more about composing.

 

We’re here to talk about the movie, ‘Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet’, of course: how did you feel when you were first approached with the idea, and did it take long for you to agree to participate in it?

 

I was sceptical at first, because many things had recently been promised and I had worked hard to help make them happen and they fell through. I was so tired of that, so I asked my mom to talk to Jesse through email and let me know what she thought. She told me, after a few emails, she thought he was cool and wanted to do a good job, so I started talking to him and we really got along and he explained everything about the process of funding and making a movie these days, as well as what kind of movie he had in mind to tell my story. It all sounded good to me, so we all worked together. Jesse made a sample trailer, just from things on the internet, and I was completely blown away. It made me really excited that he could make something so brilliant out of nothing.

 

This was Jesse (Vile)’s first movie: did that cause you any sort of concern, that you would be working with an ‘unknown’, or was the fact that he was not an established filmmaker something that made it easier for you to agree to work with him?

 

I just liked Jesse and thought he sounded intelligent and sincere and like he knew what he was doing. I was really happy with the trailer he created with only what he found on the internet. I thought it was touching and it made me proud. I only worried a bit that the movie wouldn’t have enough music, or the music I wanted, but I trusted Jesse, so I had to let that go. Actually, I liked that this was his first movie. It meant that he would give all of his attention and love to the project.

 

Did you find the filmmaking process intrusive?

 

Not at all. The film crew was a bunch of very cool people. We became good friends and we all had fun. We enjoyed spending time together. Everyone was on the same page and no one was uncomfortable as far as I remember. In my family, we always worked on one art project or another, and this was like another one of those fun art projects that we all wanted to see complete and done really well, and we had professionals with cool cameras and lots of technical knowledge and it was really exciting. It wasn’t like a reality TV show, where they follow you around all the time.

 

Are you pleased with the way it has turned out?

 

Yes, very pleased. I think it is a beautiful movie. It is funny, sad, interesting and, hopefully, inspiring. I am proud of how it turned out. I feel like no one could have done a better job capturing my personality, the music, and love than Jesse. I think he did our story perfectly.

 

How much control did you have over the finished movie? 

 

Jesse listened to everything I said, and even replaced some of the music, but mostly he made the decisions. He knows how to make a movie so he is the expert. If my ideas didn’t mess with the flow of his movie, he would work with them. He was very kind – ha ha!

 

Is there anything specific you asked to be taken out, or is there anything in it that you would rather people didn’t see?

 

I don’t love the shots of me in a weak state, or crying, but that is part of the story, so I could live with it. I just didn’t want any filming of the details of my tedious morning/evening care routines. It seemed like too much of an invasion of privacy, and also very boring. He listened to me about that.

 

What do you see are the benefits of having the film made? By this I mean what have yourself and your family taken from the experience of being involved in it, and what would you like the people who see it to take from it?

 

I guess more exposure to my story and my music. Hopefully, it will make people interested enough to buy my music, which is how musicians support themselves. That is what I hope. For my folks, I know they are happy that my/our story is out there and told in a way they really like. We would all like for people to feel and see how important it is to love each other and take care of each other. Also, to see that what matters most in life is not riches, but art, soul, heart and love. When your life plans don’t work out, you can still live a happy and fulfilling life.

 

What does the future hold, and how do you approach it?

 

I hope the future holds more security for me and my family. I hope my music becomes more widely known; maybe even in films. I hope I can help us all get to a place where we can feel like we aren’t always hanging on, but actually able to relax and enjoy a little time off from work and worry about the future. I approach the future as it comes; it seems pointless to try to plan for it. I have seen that really isn’t possible. I really mostly live in the moment.

 

Looking back over your all-too-brief career, and what has happened since your diagnosis, do you have any real regrets?

 

My career has just begun! I was just on the cover of Guitar Player Magazine. Jesse and the movie have brought about many opportunities. I don’t really have any regrets. I have always lived an extremely productive and kindness filled life. I have also had tons of fun with friends and women, and I still always do. Man, despite ALS, I am a grateful mother fucker!

 

Finally, Jason, how would you like to be remembered?

 

I would like to be remembered as the Beethoven of my time, the guy Jeff Beck was jealous of, the Saint of Richmond, CA, the champion of animals and the poor worldwide, the healer of ignorance, the hope of mankind. And, most importantly, the sexiest man alive!  Ha ha!

 

Thank you very much for your time. It truly has been a pleasure to have been able to ask these few (probably very inane) questions…

 

My pleasure, and your questions were great! Thank you for your interest and support.