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{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{short description|American guitarist}}
{{short description|American guitarist}}
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{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| image = Savatage – Wacken Open Air 2015 11.jpg
| image = Savatage – Wacken Open Air 2015 11.jpg
| name = Al Pitrelli
| name = Al Pitrelli
| caption = Pitrelli with [[Savatage]] at [[Wacken Open Air]] 2015
| caption = Pitrelli with [[Savatage]] at [[Wacken Open Air]] 2015
| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| alias =
| alias =
| birth_date =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|09|26}}
| birth_place =
| birth_place =
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| genre = [[Hard rock]], [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[thrash metal]], [[progressive metal]], [[symphonic metal]]
| death_date =
| occupation = Guitarist
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| genre = [[Hard rock]], [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[thrash metal]], [[progressive rock]], [[symphonic metal]]
| occupation = Guitarist
| years_active = 1982–present
| years_active = 1982–present
| current_member_of = [[Savatage]], [[Trans-Siberian Orchestra]]
| current_member_of = [[Savatage]], [[Trans-Siberian Orchestra]]
| past_member_of = [[Danger Danger]], [[Megadeth]], Hotshot, [[Alice Cooper]], [[Asia (band)|Asia]], Place Called Rage, O'2L, Widowmaker (U.S.), [[Michael Bolton]], [[Vertex (band)|Vertex]]
| past_member_of = [[Danger Danger]], [[Megadeth]], Hotshot, [[Alice Cooper]], [[Asia (band)|Asia]], Place Called Rage, O'2L, [[Widowmaker_(American band)|Widowmaker]], [[Michael Bolton]], [[Vertex (band)|Vertex]]
| website =
| website =
}}
}}


'''Al Pitrelli''' (born September 26, 1962) is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the [[Trans-Siberian Orchestra]], [[Megadeth]], [[Alice Cooper]] and [[Savatage]]. He has performed with various acts as a band member, session musician and touring member, including [[Michael Bolton]], [[Celine Dion]], [[Asia (band)|Asia]], [[Dee Snider]], [[Kathy Troccoli]], [[Taylor Dayne]], [[Blue Öyster Cult]], [[Exposé (group)|Exposé]] and [[Joe Lynn Turner]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Armstrong |first=Chuck|date=2023-11-10 |title=Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Al Pitrelli Admits He's Living His Dream - 'Every Day Is a Pinch Me Moment |url=https://loudwire.com/trans-siberian-orchestra-al-pitrelli-interview-2023/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=BraveWords |title=Ex-MEGADETH Guitarist Al Pitrelli On Dave Mustaine - "He Pulled Me Out Of A Pretty Troubled Personal Life" |url=https://bravewords.com/news/ex-megadeth-guitarist-al-pitrelli-on-dave-mustaine-he-pulled-me-out-of-a-pretty-troubled-personal-life |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=bravewords.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Al Pitrelli |url=https://www.radio-memphis.com/podcast/al-pitrelli/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Radio Memphis |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2003-04-03 |title=JOE LYNN TURNER Goes Back To His Roots! |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/joe-lynn-turner-goes-back-to-his-roots/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=BraveWords |title=SAVATAGE / TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA Guitarist AL PITRELLI Guests On The Double Stop With Brian Sword; Audio |url=https://bravewords.com/news/savatage-trans-siberian-orchestra-guitarist-al-pitrelli-guests-on-the-double-stop-with-brian-sword-audio |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=bravewords.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Al Pitrelli Recalls Offering David Ellefson a Gig He Turned Down, Says 90% of His Guitars Are Gibson |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/al_pitrelli_recalls_offering_david_ellefson_a_gig_he_turned_down_says_90_of_his_guitars_are_gibson.html |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=www.ultimate-guitar.com |language=en}}</ref>
'''Al Pitrelli''' is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the [[Trans-Siberian Orchestra]], [[Megadeth]], [[Alice Cooper]], [[Joe Lynn Turner]], [[Asia (band)|Asia]] and [[Savatage]].


== Career ==
== Career ==


=== Early career (1982–1995) ===
=== Early career (1982–1999) ===
Pitrelli attended the [[Berklee College of Music]] in [[Boston]] in the early 1980s (where keyboardist [[Derek Sherinian]] was his dorm roommate; they would later work together in the [[Alice Cooper]] band). While at Berklee, Pitrelli formed an original 1980s metal band with classmates that included [[Venom (band)|Venom]] guitarist Mike Hickey. After dropping out of Berklee, Pitrelli worked as a session musician and taught guitar lessons in [[Manhattan]] and in Bellmore, Long Island. His first major label gig was performing with [[Michael Bolton]], helping him support his single "[[Michael Bolton (album)|Fool's Game]]". Pitrelli said of the single, "This was when Michael Bolton was still trying to be [[Sammy Hagar]] and not [[Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)|Engelbert Humperdinck]]."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pitrelli.shender4.com/history.htm |title=Al Pitrelli – Career |access-date=January 16, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070118133309/http://pitrelli.shender4.com/history.htm |archivedate=January 18, 2007 }} Al Pitrelli career history & bio.</ref>
Pitrelli attended the [[Berklee College of Music]] in [[Boston]] in the early 1980s, where future [[Alice Cooper]] bandmate and keyboardist [[Derek Sherinian]] was his dorm roommate.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Armstrong |first=Chuck |date=2023-11-10 |title=Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Al Pitrelli Admits He's Living His Dream - 'Every Day Is a Pinch Me Moment |url=https://loudwire.com/trans-siberian-orchestra-al-pitrelli-interview-2023/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Loudwire |language=en}}</ref> While at Berklee, Pitrelli formed an original 1980s metal band with classmates that included future [[Venom (band)|Venom]] guitarist Mike Hickey. After dropping out of Berklee, Pitrelli worked as a session musician and taught guitar lessons in [[Manhattan]] and in [[Bellmore, New York]]. His first major label gig was performing with [[Michael Bolton]], helping him support his single "[[Michael Bolton (album)|Fool's Game]]". Pitrelli said of the single, "This was when Michael Bolton was still trying to be [[Sammy Hagar]] and not [[Engelbert Humperdinck (singer)|Engelbert Humperdinck]]."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pitrelli.shender4.com/history.htm |title=Al Pitrelli – Career |access-date=January 16, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070118133309/http://pitrelli.shender4.com/history.htm |archivedate=January 18, 2007 }} Al Pitrelli career history & bio.</ref>


In 1989, Pitrelli featured as second guitar on the song "Uptown" on bassist Randy Coven's first album "Funk Me Tender". He then joined forces with Coven and drummer John O'Reilly as a formal member of the Randy Coven Band to release "Sammy Says Ouch!".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicandartinterviews.com/2019/04/john-oreilly.html|title=A Conversation with John O.Reilly|date=April 28, 2019|access-date=April 28, 2019}}</ref> This lineup would also release an album under a different band name of Coven, Pitrelli, and Reilly (CPR). The album was simply titled "CPR" after the band. Pitrelli was [[Alice Cooper]]'s guitarist and musical director from 1989 until 1991 on the ''[[Trashes The World]]'' tour. He then joined [[Dee Snider]]'s band Widowmaker for two albums in the early/mid–1990s, and also briefly played with [[Stephen Pearcy]] (from the band [[Ratt]]) in a band called [[Vertex (band)|Vertex]]. Pitrelli also joined [[Asia (band)|Asia]], appearing on their albums ''[[Aqua (Asia album)|Aqua]]'' (1992) and ''[[Aria (Asia album)|Aria]]'' (1994). He would go on to be featured on many New York sessions, including for [[Kathy Troccoli]], [[Taylor Dayne]], Randy Coven and [[Exposé (group)|Exposé]]. His songs have been covered by [[Y&T]], [[Lita Ford]] and Derek Sherinian. For a month he substituted in [[Blue Öyster Cult]].
In 1989, Pitrelli featured as second guitar on the song "Uptown" on bassist Randy Coven's first album "Funk Me Tender". He then joined Coven and drummer John O'Reilly as a formal member of the Randy Coven Band to release ''Sammy Says Ouch!''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicandartinterviews.com/2019/04/john-oreilly.html|title=A Conversation with John O.Reilly|date=April 28, 2019|access-date=April 28, 2019}}</ref> This lineup would also release an album titled ''CPR'' under the band name Coven, Pitrelli, Reilly. Pitrelli was [[Alice Cooper]]'s guitarist and musical director from 1989 to 1991, having been recommended to the band by [[Steve Vai]], and appeared on the ''[[Trashes The World]]'' video album, in addition to co-writing the song "Burning Our Bed" from the ''[[Hey Stoopid]]'' (1991) album.<ref name="Blabbermouth">{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2010-04-04 |title=Former MEGADETH/SAVATAGE Guitarist AL PITRELLI Interviewed On 'Iron City Rocks' Podcast |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former-megadeth-savatage-guitarist-al-pitrelli-interviewed-on-iron-city-rocks-podcast/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Forsythe |first=Tom |date=February 1990 |title=The Recurring Nightmare |url=https://alicecooperechive.com/articles/feature/guit/900200 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Guitar |language=en}}</ref> He later joined [[Dee Snider]]'s band Widowmaker for two albums in the early/mid–1990s, and also briefly played with [[Stephen Pearcy]] of [[Ratt]] in a band called [[Vertex (band)|Vertex]]. Pitrelli also joined [[Asia (band)|Asia]], appearing on their albums ''[[Aqua (Asia album)|Aqua]]'' (1992) and ''[[Aria (Asia album)|Aria]]'' (1994). He would go on to be featured on many New York sessions, including for [[Celine Dion]], [[Kathy Troccoli]], [[Taylor Dayne]] and [[Exposé (group)|Exposé]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Clay |date=2019-11-13 |title=Trans-Siberian Orchestra are the biggest live rock draw in the US - here's how they did it |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/trans-siberian-orchestra-are-the-worlds-biggest-live-rock-draw-heres-how-they-did-it |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=guitarworld |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> From February to March 1999, Pitrelli toured with [[Blue Öyster Cult]] as a substitute for [[Allen Lanier]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Al Pitrelli |url=http://www.blueoystercult.com/History/AlPitrelli.html |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=www.blueoystercult.com}}</ref><ref name=":4" />


=== Savatage (1995–2000) ===
=== Savatage (1995–2000, 2002, 2015, 2023) ===
Al joined [[Savatage]] in 1995, joining at the same time as [[Chris Caffery]] returned to the band; Caffery had previously been part of the band around the release of ''[[Gutter Ballet]]'' in 1989. Pitrelli played guitar on the albums ''[[Dead Winter Dead]]'' (1995) and ''[[The Wake of Magellan]]'' (1997), and performed some lead guitar work on ''[[Poets and Madmen]]'' (2001), despite being a member of Megadeth at the time. On that album, Pitrelli was responsible for the outro of "Stay with Me a While", the main solos of "Morphine Child" and "The Rumor", the first part of the main solo in "Commissar" and its outro.<ref>[http://www.savatage.com/bandinfo/faq3.html]) Savatage Band FAQ, taken from [http://www.savatage.com/ www.savatage.com]</ref> During his time with Savatage, he was asked by their producer [[Paul O'Neill (rock producer)|Paul O'Neill]] if he was interested in joining his side project, the [[Trans-Siberian Orchestra]]. Pitrelli agreed and has played a role in all of their albums to date.
Pitrelli joined [[Savatage]] in 1995, around the same time as guitarist [[Chris Caffery]] returned to the band, who had previously been part of the band around the release of ''[[Gutter Ballet]]'' in 1989. Pitrelli played guitar on the albums ''[[Dead Winter Dead]]'' (1995) and ''[[The Wake of Magellan]]'' (1997), and performed some lead guitar work on ''[[Poets and Madmen]]'' (2001), despite being a member of [[Megadeth]] at the time. On the latter album, Pitrelli was played the outro of "Stay with Me a While", the main solos of "Morphine Child" and "The Rumor", the first part of the main solo in "Commissar" and its outro.<ref>[http://www.savatage.com/bandinfo/faq3.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029190733/http://www.savatage.com/bandinfo/faq3.html|date=October 29, 2013}}) Savatage Band FAQ, taken from [http://www.savatage.com/ www.savatage.com]</ref> He left Savatage in 2000 join Megadeth and rejoined the band following Megadeth's disbandment in 2002.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last= |date=2002-04-06 |title=Former MEGADETH Guitarist Rejoins SAVATAGE |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/former-megadeth-guitarist-rejoins-savatage/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}</ref> Savatage split up later that year, but reunited for an appearance at [[Wacken Open Air]] in 2015 and the recording of a new album in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2023-04-20 |title=JON OLIVA Says Upcoming SAVATAGE Album And Tour Will Be His 'Way Of Saying Goodbye To Everybody' |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/jon-oliva-says-upcoming-savatage-album-and-tour-will-be-his-way-of-saying-goodbye-to-everybody |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}</ref>


=== Trans Siberian Orchestra (1995–present) ===
=== Trans-Siberian Orchestra (1995–present) ===
Pitrelli has been a core member of the group since their first album. As well as being the main lead guitarist, he is also the live musical director. TSO's 2007 tour program credits his "edgy playing and vast musical lexicon" with making him a perfect fit for the band's constant boundary-pushing [[progressive rock]] stylings. Pitrelli's leads are notable on "Tracers" and the instrumental "Toccata – Carpimus Noctem",<ref>Sea of Tranquility, October 27, 2009</ref> the latter being a piece he co-wrote. Both songs form part of the group's fifth rock opera, on their 2009 album ''[[Night Castle]]''.<ref>''Night Castle'' album credits.</ref>
In 1995, Pitrelli was asked by Savatage's producer [[Paul O'Neill (rock producer)|Paul O'Neill]] to join his new project, the [[Trans-Siberian Orchestra]].<ref name=":2" /> Pitrelli has been a core member of the band since their debut album, ''[[Christmas Eve and Other Stories]]'', was released in 1996. In addition to being the band's main lead guitarist, he is also the live musical director.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Playlist: Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Al Pitrelli shares his favorite classics |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/08/21/trans-siberian-orchestras-al-pitrelli-shares-playlist-of-favorites/2074757001/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> TSO's 2007 tour program describes Pitrelli's "edgy playing and vast musical lexicon" as key components for contributing to the band's constant boundary-pushing [[progressive rock]] stylings. Pitrelli's leads are notable on "Tracers" and the instrumental "Toccata – Carpimus Noctem", the latter being a piece he co-wrote.<ref>Sea of Tranquility, October 27, 2009</ref> Both songs form part of the group's fifth rock opera, on their 2009 album ''[[Night Castle]]''.<ref>''Night Castle'' album credits.</ref> Following founder O'Neill's death in 2017, Pitrelli has continued performing with the band while O'Neill's role has been taken over by his family.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2019-10-02 |title=AL PITRELLI Says Late TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA Mastermind PAUL O'NEILL Wanted To 'Outdo Himself Every Year' |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/al-pitrelli-says-late-trans-siberian-orchestra-mastermind-paul-oneill-wanted-to-outdo-himself-every-year/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}</ref>


=== Megadeth (2000–2002) ===
=== Megadeth (2000–2002) ===
Pitrelli was a member of [[Megadeth]] from 2000 to 2002, replacing guitarist [[Marty Friedman (guitarist)|Marty Friedman]].<ref name="Blabbermouth"/> He joined the band in the middle of their [[Risk (Megadeth album)|''Risk'']] tour and played his first show with Megadeth on 11 January 2000, two days after Friedman's final show.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Megadeth Guitarist Marty Friedman Leaves Band |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/tz74ta/megadeth-guitarist-marty-friedman-leaves-band |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925134247/https://www.mtv.com/news/tz74ta/megadeth-guitarist-marty-friedman-leaves-band |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 25, 2022 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=MTV |language=en}}</ref> Pitrelli performed on their 2001 album ''[[The World Needs a Hero]]'', co-writing the song "Promises" and playing most of the album's guitar solos. He later appeared in an episode of [[VH1]]'s ''[[Behind the Music]]'' focusing on Megadeth.<ref name="VH1">{{cite magazine |date=February 20, 2001 |title=Metal Returns: Megadeth, Halford, Slayer |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/80495/metal-returns-megadeth-halford-slayer |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=December 7, 2013}}</ref> Pitrelli also performed with the band for the recording of the ''[[Rude Awakening (Megadeth album)|Rude Awakening]]'' live album that was released in 2002. Following Megadeth's disbandment in April 2002 due to an arm injury sustained by frontman [[Dave Mustaine]], Pitrelli rejoined Savatage and continued his work with Trans-Siberian Orchestra.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 4, 2002 |title=Megadeth to split up |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1910481.stm |access-date=January 21, 2014}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />[[File:Al Pitrelli Guitar.jpg|thumb|Pitrelli performing live with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in 2012]]
Pitrelli was a member of [[Megadeth]] from 2000 to 2002, replacing [[Marty Friedman (guitarist)|Marty Friedman]]. Megadeth bandleader [[Dave Mustaine]] asked him to join after hearing good reviews from their then-current drummer [[Jimmy DeGrasso]], with whom Pitrelli played during his days with Alice Cooper in the early 1990s. Pitrelli joined the band after an impromptu "audition" in front of a live crowd in Vancouver on January 16, 2000. Two nights after Friedman played his last show with Megadeth, Pitrelli was asked to play fifteen minutes before the show and was shocked by the prospect as they never rehearsed. He was present during the recording of ''[[Rude Awakening (Megadeth album)|Rude Awakening]]'', a live CD/DVD that was released in 2002. Pitrelli performed on their 2001 album ''[[The World Needs a Hero]]'', which has the song "Promises" which was co-written by Pitrelli and he played most of the guitar solos. When Megadeth entered hiatus after Mustaine injured his arm, Pitrelli rejoined Savatage on April 9, 2002, but did not tour with the band. He also continued his work with TSO, which he's still a member of today.


== Selected discography ==
=== Recent work (2002–present) ===
[[File:Al Pitrelli Guitar.jpg|thumb|Pitrelli in 2012]]
In 1998, Pitrelli was featured on the video game album ''[[Sonic Adventure]] Remix'', where he played guitar on a remix of the game's theme song "[[Open Your Heart (Sonic Adventure)|Open Your Heart]]".


== Personal life ==
=== Trans-Siberian Orchestra ===
⚫
* ''[[Christmas Eve and Other Stories]]'' (1996)
Al Pitrelli is currently married to Nicole Pitrelli, with whom he has two children: Olivia and Layla. Al also has three sons Jesse, who is currently serving in the US Coast Guard Jamie, who is a Brooklyn based bass player and Zachary who is serving in the US Navy.
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* ''[[The Christmas Attic]]'' (1998)
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* ''[[The Ghosts of Christmas Eve]]'' (2000)
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* ''[[Beethoven's Last Night]]'' (2000)
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* ''[[The Lost Christmas Eve]]'' (2004)
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* ''[[Night Castle]]'' (2009)
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* ''[[Dreams of Fireflies]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Tales of Winter: Selections from the TSO Rock Operas]]'' (2013)
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* ''[[Letters from the Labyrinth|Letters From The Labyrinth]]'' (2015)


== Discography ==
=== Megadeth ===
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* ''[[Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years]]'' (2000)
⚫
;Danger Danger
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* ''[[The World Needs a Hero]]'' (2001)
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* ''[[Rude Awakening (Megadeth album)|Rude Awakening]]'' (2002)
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* ''[[Still Alive... and Well?]]'' (2002)
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* ''[[Greatest Hits: Back to the Start]]'' (2005)
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* ''[[Anthology: Set the World Afire]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Warheads on Foreheads]]'' (2019)

⚫
=== Alice Cooper ===
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* ''[[Trashes the World|Alice Cooper Trashes The World]]'' (1990)
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* ''[[Classicks]]'' (1995)

⚫
=== Savatage ===
⚫
* ''[[Dead Winter Dead]]'' (1995)
* ''[[The Wake of Magellan]]'' (1998)
⚫
* ''[[Poets and Madmen]]'' (2001)

⚫
=== Danger Danger ===
* ''[[Rare Cuts (album)|Rare Cuts]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Rare Cuts (album)|Rare Cuts]]'' (2003)


;Hotshot
=== Hotshot ===
* ''The Bomb'' (2005)
* ''The Bomb'' (2005)


⚫
=== Asia ===
⚫
;Alice Cooper
⚫
* ''[[Trashes the World|Alice Cooper Trashes The World]]'' (DVD, 1990)
⚫
* ''[[Classicks]]'' (1995)

⚫
;Asia
* ''[[Aqua (Asia album)|Aqua]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Aqua (Asia album)|Aqua]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Aria (Asia album)|Aria]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Aria (Asia album)|Aria]]'' (1994)


;Place Called Rage
=== Place Called Rage ===
* ''Place Called Rage'' (1995)
* ''Place Called Rage''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tommyfarese.com/Tommy%20Farese%20-%20Place%20Called%20Rage.htm |title=Tommy Farese – Place Called Rage |access-date=January 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011075656/http://www.tommyfarese.com/Tommy%20Farese%20-%20Place%20Called%20Rage.htm |archive-date=October 11, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (1995)


;Randy Coven
=== Randy Coven ===
* ''Funk Me Tender'' (1989)
* ''Funk Me Tender'' (1989)
* ''Sammy Says Ouch!'' (1990)
* ''Sammy Says Ouch!'' (1990)


;Coven, Pitrelli, O'Reilly (CPR)
=== Coven, Pitrelli, O'Reilly ===
* ''CPR'' (1992)
* ''CPR'' (1992)


⚫
=== Morning Wood ===
;Megadeth
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* ''[[Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years]]'' (2000)
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* ''[[The World Needs a Hero]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Behind the Music]]'' (DVD, 2001)
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* ''[[Rude Awakening (Megadeth album)|Rude Awakening]]'' (2002)
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* ''[[Still Alive... and Well?]]'' (2002)
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* ''[[Greatest Hits: Back to the Start]]'' (2005)
⚫
* ''[[Anthology: Set the World Afire]]'' (2008)

⚫
;Morning Wood
* ''[[Tony Harnell#Morning Wood|Morning Wood]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Tony Harnell#Morning Wood|Morning Wood]]'' (1994)


;O'2L
=== O'2L ===
* ''O'2L''
* ''O'2L''
* ''Doyle's Brunch''
* ''Doyle's Brunch''
* ''Eat a Pickle''
* ''Eat a Pickle''


⚫
=== Widowmaker ===
⚫
;Savatage
⚫
* ''[[Dead Winter Dead]]'' (1995)
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* ''[[The Wake of Magellan]]'' (1998)
⚫
* ''[[Poets and Madmen]]'' (2001)

;Trans-Siberian Orchestra
⚫
* ''[[Christmas Eve and Other Stories]]'' (1996)
⚫
* ''[[The Christmas Attic]]'' (1998)
⚫
* ''[[The Ghosts of Christmas Eve]]'' (DVD, 2000)
⚫
* ''[[Beethoven's Last Night]]'' (2000)
⚫
* ''[[The Lost Christmas Eve]]'' (2004)
* Different Wings (2004)<ref>Released by RHINO Records, Warner Music Group</ref>
⚫
* ''[[Night Castle]]'' (2009)
⚫
* Letters From The Labyrinth (2015)

⚫
;Widowmaker
* ''[[Blood and Bullets (album)|Blood and Bullets]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Blood and Bullets (album)|Blood and Bullets]]'' (1992)
* ''Stand by for Pain'' (1994)
* ''[[Stand By for Pain]]'' (1994)


;Vertex
=== Vertex ===
* ''Vertex'' (1996)
* ''Vertex'' (1996)


;Guitar Battle
=== Guitar Battle ===
* ''[[Guitar Battle]]'' (1998)
* ''Guitar Battle'' (1998)


== References ==
== References ==
Line 116: Line 110:
== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{Discogs artist}}
* [http://www.metal4bremen.de/interviews/al-pitrelli-trans-siberian-orchestra/ Interview with Al Pitrelli on metal4bremen.de] (German / English)
* {{AllMusic|id=mn0000612697}}
* [http://www.melodic.net/#!/interview/514 Interview with TSO's Music Director Al Pitrelli on melodic.net November 2020] (English)


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[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:1962 births]]

Latest revision as of 22:56, 4 December 2024

Al Pitrelli
Pitrelli with Savatage at Wacken Open Air 2015
Pitrelli with Savatage at Wacken Open Air 2015
Background information
Born (1962-09-26) September 26, 1962 (age 62)
GenresHard rock, heavy metal, thrash metal, progressive metal, symphonic metal
OccupationGuitarist
Years active1982–present
Member ofSavatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Formerly ofDanger Danger, Megadeth, Hotshot, Alice Cooper, Asia, Place Called Rage, O'2L, Widowmaker, Michael Bolton, Vertex

Al Pitrelli (born September 26, 1962) is an American guitarist, best known for his work with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth, Alice Cooper and Savatage. He has performed with various acts as a band member, session musician and touring member, including Michael Bolton, Celine Dion, Asia, Dee Snider, Kathy Troccoli, Taylor Dayne, Blue Öyster Cult, Exposé and Joe Lynn Turner.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Career

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Early career (1982–1999)

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Pitrelli attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston in the early 1980s, where future Alice Cooper bandmate and keyboardist Derek Sherinian was his dorm roommate.[7] While at Berklee, Pitrelli formed an original 1980s metal band with classmates that included future Venom guitarist Mike Hickey. After dropping out of Berklee, Pitrelli worked as a session musician and taught guitar lessons in Manhattan and in Bellmore, New York. His first major label gig was performing with Michael Bolton, helping him support his single "Fool's Game". Pitrelli said of the single, "This was when Michael Bolton was still trying to be Sammy Hagar and not Engelbert Humperdinck."[8]

In 1989, Pitrelli featured as second guitar on the song "Uptown" on bassist Randy Coven's first album "Funk Me Tender". He then joined Coven and drummer John O'Reilly as a formal member of the Randy Coven Band to release Sammy Says Ouch![9] This lineup would also release an album titled CPR under the band name Coven, Pitrelli, Reilly. Pitrelli was Alice Cooper's guitarist and musical director from 1989 to 1991, having been recommended to the band by Steve Vai, and appeared on the Trashes The World video album, in addition to co-writing the song "Burning Our Bed" from the Hey Stoopid (1991) album.[10][11] He later joined Dee Snider's band Widowmaker for two albums in the early/mid–1990s, and also briefly played with Stephen Pearcy of Ratt in a band called Vertex. Pitrelli also joined Asia, appearing on their albums Aqua (1992) and Aria (1994). He would go on to be featured on many New York sessions, including for Celine Dion, Kathy Troccoli, Taylor Dayne and Exposé.[12][3] From February to March 1999, Pitrelli toured with Blue Öyster Cult as a substitute for Allen Lanier.[13][6]

Savatage (1995–2000, 2002, 2015, 2023)

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Pitrelli joined Savatage in 1995, around the same time as guitarist Chris Caffery returned to the band, who had previously been part of the band around the release of Gutter Ballet in 1989. Pitrelli played guitar on the albums Dead Winter Dead (1995) and The Wake of Magellan (1997), and performed some lead guitar work on Poets and Madmen (2001), despite being a member of Megadeth at the time. On the latter album, Pitrelli was played the outro of "Stay with Me a While", the main solos of "Morphine Child" and "The Rumor", the first part of the main solo in "Commissar" and its outro.[14] He left Savatage in 2000 join Megadeth and rejoined the band following Megadeth's disbandment in 2002.[15] Savatage split up later that year, but reunited for an appearance at Wacken Open Air in 2015 and the recording of a new album in 2023.[16]

Trans-Siberian Orchestra (1995–present)

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In 1995, Pitrelli was asked by Savatage's producer Paul O'Neill to join his new project, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.[7] Pitrelli has been a core member of the band since their debut album, Christmas Eve and Other Stories, was released in 1996. In addition to being the band's main lead guitarist, he is also the live musical director.[17] TSO's 2007 tour program describes Pitrelli's "edgy playing and vast musical lexicon" as key components for contributing to the band's constant boundary-pushing progressive rock stylings. Pitrelli's leads are notable on "Tracers" and the instrumental "Toccata – Carpimus Noctem", the latter being a piece he co-wrote.[18] Both songs form part of the group's fifth rock opera, on their 2009 album Night Castle.[19] Following founder O'Neill's death in 2017, Pitrelli has continued performing with the band while O'Neill's role has been taken over by his family.[20]

Megadeth (2000–2002)

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Pitrelli was a member of Megadeth from 2000 to 2002, replacing guitarist Marty Friedman.[10] He joined the band in the middle of their Risk tour and played his first show with Megadeth on 11 January 2000, two days after Friedman's final show.[21] Pitrelli performed on their 2001 album The World Needs a Hero, co-writing the song "Promises" and playing most of the album's guitar solos. He later appeared in an episode of VH1's Behind the Music focusing on Megadeth.[22] Pitrelli also performed with the band for the recording of the Rude Awakening live album that was released in 2002. Following Megadeth's disbandment in April 2002 due to an arm injury sustained by frontman Dave Mustaine, Pitrelli rejoined Savatage and continued his work with Trans-Siberian Orchestra.[23][15][2]

Pitrelli performing live with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in 2012

Selected discography

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Trans-Siberian Orchestra

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Megadeth

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Alice Cooper

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Savatage

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Danger Danger

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Hotshot

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  • The Bomb (2005)

Asia

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Place Called Rage

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  • Place Called Rage (1995)

Randy Coven

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  • Funk Me Tender (1989)
  • Sammy Says Ouch! (1990)

Coven, Pitrelli, O'Reilly

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  • CPR (1992)

Morning Wood

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O'2L

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  • O'2L
  • Doyle's Brunch
  • Eat a Pickle

Widowmaker

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Vertex

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  • Vertex (1996)

Guitar Battle

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  • Guitar Battle (1998)

References

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  1. ^ Armstrong, Chuck (November 10, 2023). "Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Al Pitrelli Admits He's Living His Dream - 'Every Day Is a Pinch Me Moment". Loudwire. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  2. ^ a b BraveWords. "Ex-MEGADETH Guitarist Al Pitrelli On Dave Mustaine - "He Pulled Me Out Of A Pretty Troubled Personal Life"". bravewords.com. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Al Pitrelli". Radio Memphis. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  4. ^ Blabbermouth (April 3, 2003). "JOE LYNN TURNER Goes Back To His Roots!". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  5. ^ BraveWords. "SAVATAGE / TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA Guitarist AL PITRELLI Guests On The Double Stop With Brian Sword; Audio". bravewords.com. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Al Pitrelli Recalls Offering David Ellefson a Gig He Turned Down, Says 90% of His Guitars Are Gibson". www.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Armstrong, Chuck (November 10, 2023). "Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Al Pitrelli Admits He's Living His Dream - 'Every Day Is a Pinch Me Moment". Loudwire. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  8. ^ "Al Pitrelli – Career". Archived from the original on January 18, 2007. Retrieved January 16, 2007. Al Pitrelli career history & bio.
  9. ^ "A Conversation with John O.Reilly". April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  10. ^ a b Blabbermouth (April 4, 2010). "Former MEGADETH/SAVATAGE Guitarist AL PITRELLI Interviewed On 'Iron City Rocks' Podcast". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  11. ^ Forsythe, Tom (February 1990). "The Recurring Nightmare". Guitar. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  12. ^ Marshall, Clay (November 13, 2019). "Trans-Siberian Orchestra are the biggest live rock draw in the US - here's how they did it". guitarworld. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  13. ^ "Al Pitrelli". www.blueoystercult.com. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  14. ^ [1] Archived October 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine) Savatage Band FAQ, taken from www.savatage.com
  15. ^ a b "Former MEGADETH Guitarist Rejoins SAVATAGE". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. April 6, 2002. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  16. ^ Blabbermouth (April 20, 2023). "JON OLIVA Says Upcoming SAVATAGE Album And Tour Will Be His 'Way Of Saying Goodbye To Everybody'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  17. ^ "Playlist: Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Al Pitrelli shares his favorite classics". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  18. ^ Sea of Tranquility, October 27, 2009
  19. ^ Night Castle album credits.
  20. ^ Blabbermouth (October 2, 2019). "AL PITRELLI Says Late TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA Mastermind PAUL O'NEILL Wanted To 'Outdo Himself Every Year'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  21. ^ "Megadeth Guitarist Marty Friedman Leaves Band". MTV. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  22. ^ "Metal Returns: Megadeth, Halford, Slayer". Billboard. February 20, 2001. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  23. ^ "Megadeth to split up". BBC News. April 4, 2002. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Al Pitrelli.
Preceded by
 Danger Danger guitarist
1987–1988 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Megadeth lead guitarist
2000–2002 		Succeeded by
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