Birth name James Franklin Murphy Name James Murphy | Role Guitarist | |
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Born July 30, 1967 (age 56) Portsmouth, VirginiaUnited States ( 1967-07-30 ) Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter, producer, recording and mixing engineer Instruments Guitar, bass, keyboards Website msanthrope.com/jamesmurphy/ Albums Similar People Steve DiGiorgio, Terry Butler, Chuck Schuldiner, Eric Peterson, Rick Rozz | ||
James Franklin Murphy (July 30, 1967 in Portsmouth, Virginia) is an American guitarist. He is best known for his work in metal bands, Obituary, Death and Testament. He founded Disincarnate, an early death metal band.
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He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2001 but recovered. In October 2011, Murphy stated that the tumor had returned but that it was non-cancerous and that it was being treated pharmacologically. He is working on a tribute album to Death founder Chuck Schuldiner who died from pneumonia, caused by complications of his treatment for a brain tumor. He is also producing Deron Miller's band World Under Blood. He also completed production of the industrial death metal band Dååth's second album, The Hinderers, which was released on Roadrunner Records, and Lazarus A.D.'s debut album The Onslaught released on Metal Blade Records. He has also performed as a touring guitarist for Agent Steel, and in Hallows Eve in 1988.
In addition to playing guitar, Murphy operates a recording studio, SafeHouse Production, where he has mixed and produced albums for other bands. He has also contributed lessons to Guitar Player magazine.
Equipment
Murphy has used Caparison guitars since he was able to play guitar again after his cancer treatment. During his years with Death and Testament he played Ibanez guitars, primarily the S series models, and B.C. Rich guitars during the Obituary period, especially Warlock models. He also played B.C. Rich guitars in Death. With Disincarnate, he used a Gibson Flying V, loaded with EMG's 81 and 85, through a Marshall 8100. He is a longtime endorsee of EMG pickups, and mainly uses the 85 and 89 models, although on Testament's The Gathering his Ibanez's were fitted with Dimarzio Steve's Special and Air Norton. For amplification he is currently using Framus Cobra series amplifiers, although previously he used Mesa Rectifiers through a Marshall 4x10 with Testament.
Discography
Guest appearances