Paul Gilbert

Paul Gilbert
Gilbert performing with Mr. Big in 2011
Background information
Born	(1966-11-06) November 6, 1966 (age 50) Carbondale, Illinois, United States
Genres	Instrumental rock, heavy metal, hard rock, power pop, neoclassical metal, speed metal, progressive metal
Instruments	Guitar, vocals, bass, keyboards, percussion, harmonica
Years active	1983–present
Labels	Universal Japan, Shrapnel
Associated acts	Racer X, Mr. Big, Black Sheep, G3, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, Yellow Matter Custard, The Electric Fence, stOrk
Website	Official website
Notable instruments
Ibanez PGM signature series Ibanez Fireman Ibanez Destroyer B.C. Rich Mockingbird Gibson EDS-1275 Gibson ES-335

Paul Brandon Gilbert (born November 6, 1966) is an American hard rock/heavy metal guitarist. He is best known for being the co-founder of the band Mr. Big. He was also a member of Racer X, with whom he released several albums. Following Mr. Big's disbandment in 1996, Gilbert launched a solo career, for which he has released numerous solo albums, and featured in numerous collaborations and guest appearances on other musicians' albums.

Gilbert has been voted fourth-best on GuitarOne magazine's "Top 10 Greatest Guitar Shredders of All Time". He has also ranked in Guitar World's "50 Fastest Guitarists of All Time" list.

Gilbert was raised mostly in the small Pittsburgh suburb of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He began playing music at age five; by age 15, he was touring local clubs with his band (Tau Zero), and had been featured in Guitar Player magazine (alongside fellow up-and-comer Yngwie Malmsteen). Around 1981, Gilbert first contacted Mike Varney (founder of Shrapnel Records), asking for a gig with metal mega-star Ozzy Osbourne. At the time, Varney couldn't think why Osbourne would want a 15-year-old guitarist; but, after listening to Gilbert's demo tape, he changed his mind. They continued talking over the next 3 years, culminating in Gilbert's 1984 cross-country move to Los Angeles to attend the GIT (Guitar Institute of Technology). He was hired as a GIT instructor in 1985, and recorded Racer X's debut album Street Lethal soon after.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1985, Racer X was originally composed of Paul Gilbert (lead guitar), Juan Alderete (bass guitar), Harry Gschoesser (drums), and Jeff Martin (vocals). They were heavily influenced by Judas Priest, and Gilbert's playing was reminiscent of Yngwie Malmsteen, displaying fast-driven solos with extreme-level technique. Gschoesser was replaced by Scott Travis (who would later become Judas Priest's drummer) in 1986; and, Bruce Bouillet was added as a second guitarist, deftly complementing Gilbert's always-challenging phrases. Gilbert gained recognition as one of the world's fastest guitarists due to incredibly technical pieces like "Technical Difficulties", "Frenzy", "Scarified", "Y.R.O." and "Scit Scat Wah".