World's Fastest Guitarist [part.3]
Full Name: Nuno Duarte Gil Mendes Bettencourt
Website: NunoCentral.co.uk
Previous Band Group: Extreme, Overseas, Myth, Viking, Ruin & Sinful
Current Band Group: Mourning Widows
Guitar: Washburn Nuno Bettencourt Signature Series (N2, N4 & N8)
Place / Date of Birth: September 20, 1966 in Praia da Vitoria, Terceira, Azores, Portugal.
Influence: Queen / Brian May, Prince, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Al Dimeola & Rimski Korsakov
Expertise: Funky Metal, etc.
Nuno Bettencourt is the best rock guitarist in his rhythm game. Some other guitarists who can match the rhythm game can be counted for example: John Petrucci, Darren Housholder and some other metal funk players. Nuno's creativity in creating new game techniques has been known since the first and second albums of his band Extreme: "Extreme" and "Pornograffitti".
No wonder Nuno was crowned "Best New Talent" (Extreme Best) so Extreme launched their second album "Pornograffitti". In accordance with Nuno's own words in his interviews that Nuno's goal is to write colored funk albums like Pearl Jam, Nirvana and the like. Therefore if you want to listen to Nuno's expertise as a shredder, then we recommend you listen to Extreme album: "Pornograffitti". The first album "Extreme" and third album "Three Side Story" is also no less good. Precisely Nuno's own solo album and his new band Mourning Widows, does not feature the skills of Nuno's own game. Extreme dissolution is quite disappointing Nuno fans. In 1982 Nuno first met Extreme vocalist: Gary Cherone. This is the beginning of the Extreme band. 2 years later (1984) Nuno left school and concentrated in training his guitar. Nuno sees the Extreme drummer: Mike Mangini at a club inside the Van Halen tribute band, when the other bands are taking a break, Mike plays a great drum solo. 1985 Nuno meets Extreme bassist: Pat Badger who works at Jim Mouradian guitar shop in Winchester where Nuno always modifies his guitar there.
Their band name was first called "The Dream" before using the name "Extreme" and produced the song "Mutha" which successfully broke through the ranks of songs on MTV. Soon the band's name was changed to "Extreme" and performed at the Mare de Agosto (Santa Maria) Festival in 1986. In 1987 Extreme won the "Outstanding Hard Rock Act" in the first year of the Boston Music Awards. They also won the MTV video contest, which was also watched by record company A & M A & R scout. In September they got the good news from A & M records to start recording.
Nuno Bettencourt is one of the fastest guitarists but also (and no less important) was one of the most innovative guitarists of the 80's and 90's with that funky touch in the way of playing guitar. Extreme is more than "More Than Words", and apart from Gary Cherone's vibrant voice, it's because of Nuno's technique and originality.
It's nice that since 2015 the band reunited, as I hope to see them (again) live.
Thanks for the post about one of the best guitarist of the last 30 years and let me share (via offical Extreme VEVO site) a video of the song that opens the most succesful album of the band, Pornograffitti, this "Decade Dance".
thank you very much ,
yeah man.. i hope to see extreme live again..
i love nuno when play "Play With Me" i think it's perfect note in my ear...