The Metal Voice recently spoke to guitarist and solo artist Marty Friedman about his latest studio album DRAMA and upcoming US Tour 2025. Friedman also talked about living in Japan, learning a second language and working with Kiss' Gene Simmons on a Movie in Japan a few years back
WATCH FULL INTERVIEW HERE
When asked if knowing a second language makes you more empathetic to people Globally who struggle with another language
"Where it fits into my life is, I'm very blessed and lucky to be able to tour the world playing music. And when you do that you run into a lot of people who don't speak good English, almost all the time. So learning a second language makes you feel very empathetic to people trying to speak another language. For example if you go to Brazil you know people are going to speak a different kind of English that's not nearly what we grew up with in America. So you try to kind of figure out what it is they're trying to say when it's not coming out right. And when you've had the experience of learning a second language you know the exact thing they're trying to say even if they're totally messing it up. Even if they're totally on the wrong page on completely wrong grammar, wrong words you pick it up. Then you can get them back into it and they don't feel intimidated. Sometimes fans will feel intimidated because maybe they're a fan of mine and they get to meet me. They're so nervous because they don't speak English and I hopefully can make them feel kind of calm and less anxious when I can understand them from just a couple little phrases of what they're saying. And that's definitely thanks to having the experience of starting from zero and learning a language myself (Japanese). So there's no shame in trying to speak when you're not really fluent and actually it's really manly to do that because that's the only way you get better at anything. "
When asked about acting/performing with Gene Simmons in the movie Detroit Metal City in Japan a few years back
"That's not very recent though there was a movie called 'Detroit Metal City' based on a very famous comic in Japan and the movie was absolutely fantastic. It was a huge hit. I was in the Gene Simmons band in that movie, so it was a dream come true for a Kiss fan like myself. Another great thing was everyone there was Japanese and Gene was the only guy who didn't speak Japanese and I was the only guy who spoke English. So Gene practically cornered me and we were chatting the entire time. When you're making a movie it was a three days shoot. It's all waiting around time really so I was just like my little 15-year-old self. So we're just talking about everything. Gene is so knowledgeable about my favorite type of music which is 50s music and early 60s and he's so knowledgeable and just a great intelligent guy to talk to. And as a Kiss fan I was a very captive audience . I remember chatting to him much more than actually filming us jamming together. It's just one of the biggest bonuses of this profession that we have. I also met Gene in the early 90s and we did a radio program together. It was just me and him and the DJ. I was so impressed because Gene told me he says hey I know your solo album Dragon's kiss, I'm like you don't know that and then he says yeah I can tell you the first song called 'Saturation Point' the second is 'Dragon Mistress' and he listed off the titles of my solo album. I was just so excited. The funniest thing was his voice. You know, like he's the God of Thunder but his voice was literally my 90-year-old grandfather from Austria. It was just the most typical Jewish grandfather voice with those same pronunciations and the same slangs.(Laughs)."
Guitarist Marty Friedman, has been living and recording music in Japan since 2003. Friedman's autobiography, "Dreaming Japanese", arrived on December 3, 2024 via Permuted Press.
MARTY FRIEDMAN has announced 2025 US tour dates supporting his most recent studio album 'Drama' out now on Frontiers Music. The tour will kick off on January 25th in Las Vegas and wraps up on February 22nd in Los Angeles. Ticket pre-sales start July 31st at 10 am local time, with general sales beginning August 2nd at 10 am local time. A full list of tour dates is below.
MARTY comments on the tour:
"My three band members from Japan, Chargeeeeee, Wakazaemon, and Naoki have created the ultimate setting to perform music from all stages of my career. If you`ve seen us live before, you know what to expect. If not, you are in for a unique treat. You will remember my band`s performances on this 'Drama' tour for a long time. Our last two USA tours have left an unforgettable impact on them. We are all beyond excited to cross the pond and play for my home country again!"
MARTY FRIEDMAN`s presence in the world of music, the world of guitar, and Japanese pop culture is mystifying, bizarre, and nothing short of inspiring. On his new solo album, 'Drama,' he only slightly revisits the atmospheric elements of his legendary 1992 release, Scenes, elevating them to a modern and exotic collection of epic, extravagant, and unapologetically emotional mini-symphonies.
Recorded in Verona, Italy, where MARTY had access to a treasure trove of extremely rare vintage guitars along with his modern signature models, he has achieved a sonic depth unlike anything else. 'Drama' is a pure, uplifting musical experience.
MARTY FRIEDMAN 'Live Drama 2025'
Jan 25 - Las Vegas, NV @ Count’s Vamp’d
Jan 27 - Denver, CO @ HQ Live
Jan 29 - St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway
Jan 30 - St. Charles, IL @ Arcada Theater
Jan 31 - Westland, MI @ Token Lounge
Feb 1 - Columbus, OH @ The King of Clubs
Feb 2 - Cleveland, OH @ The Winchester
Feb 4 - New York, NY @ The Loft at City Winery
Feb 5 - Boston, MA @ City Winery
Feb 6 - Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall
Feb 7 - Annapolis, MD @ Ram’s Head on Stage
Feb 8 - Pawling, NY @ Daryl’s House
Feb 10 - Philadelphia, PA @ City Winery
Feb 11 - Leesburg, VA @ Tally Ho Theater
Feb 13 - Greenville, SC @ Radio Room
Feb 14 - Nashville, TN @ The Basement
Feb 16 - Houston, TX @ Bronze Peacock at House of Blues
Feb 17 - Austin, TX @ Antone’s
Feb 18 - Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
Feb 20 - Albuquerque, NM @ Launch Pad
Feb 21 - Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room
Feb 22 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Whisky
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