Corey Beaulieu

Personal life

Born in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, Beaulieu is the second of two siblings in the Beaulieu family. His older sister, Sandy, lives in Maine and works with horses. He is of French-Canadian descent.

Career

Corey attended high school at Foxcroft Academy in Maine where he played ice hockey. He began to play guitar at the age of 14, under the influence of Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Dio, Armored Saint, Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth, Pantera, Skid Row, Motley Crue, Guns N' Roses and Metallica. He studied guitar with Bill Pierce at the world-famous Mark's Music in Brewer for 4 years. He was said to be the fastest shredder to study with Bill. "He worked harder than anyone I ever worked with." says Pierce.

He was asked to join Trivium when he tried out for the band, after the release of their first album Ember to Inferno in 2003. Corey primarily plays Lead Guitar, but he occasionally shares lead/rhythm guitar duties with bandmate Trivium frontman Matt Heafy playing some of the lead and melody sections when performing live. He is also a primary supporting vocalist in Trivium.

He performed backing vocals for Taking Dawn in 2010. Later, in 2011, Beaulieu performed guest vocals on Maine metal band Rebirth To End's song "The Weakness Randomization."

Musical influences

Beaulieu cites Yngwie Malmsteen, Tony Iommi, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Alex Skolnick, Kirk Hammett, Marty Friedman, Dave Mustaine, John Petrucci, Jeff Waters, Dimebag Darrell, Slash, and George Lynch as his primary influences.

Guitars

In the past Beaulieu used mainly Jackson guitars such as the Jackson KV-2 Black Ghost Flames finish (as seen in Roadrunner United bonus DVD) and DX10D series occasionally using a B.C Rich Warlock and a Blue Ibanez guitar, until Rita Haney, partner of 20 years to Dimebag Darrell gave him and Matt Heafy each one of Dimebag's signature Dean guitars in the same year, later spawning a three-year-long endorsement with Dean Guitars, with Beaulieu sporting a black 7 string Razorback V with silver bevels. He also had a signature model V. This V is metallic red with the Trivium circle logo placed between the bridge and neck pickups and is also fitted with a Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo and a Seymour Duncan Dimebucker.

He left Dean guitars in the summer of 2009, for the Throes of Perdition video he was back to playing a Jackson King V. After talking to several guitar companies, including DBZ Guitars, and using a variety of guitars live, including a Jackson King V, and an ESP DV8 Dave Mustaine Signature, Corey has signed with Jackson Guitars. He has recently been seen playing various custom Jackson V guitars and is in talks with Jackson regarding the development of a signature guitar. His new Jackson Prototype Signature Guitar can be seen in recent live performances and in the Video for Trivium's new single for the God of War III soundtrack, "Shattering the Skies Above". In a recent statement on Facebook however, he stated that his new signature Jackson would be a traditional flying V shape, with no Cut-outs.It will have Seymour Duncan Blackout active pickups. Corey has released a video on YouTube entitled, "Corey Beaulieu: Guess What's Coming?," where he shows off a prototype of his new signature Jackson V. He states that he will have 6-string and 7-string variations of his signature V. At the 2013 Winter NAMM Show, Jackson officially released Corey's Signature Guitar. Available in 6 and 7 string variants made in the USA only.

Summary

Amplifiers and effects

Live: Kemper Profiler Multi Effects unit with distortion patches based on the EVH 5150 III direct to the PA system

Current equipment:

Pickups

Seymour Duncan:

Accessories

Trivium

Guest appearances