Alex Skolnick

A versatile guitarist best known for speed and precision, Alex Skolnick first came to the attention of guitar fans worldwide in the mid-'80s as a member of thrash metallists Testament. He went on to establish himself in the realm of nuanced jazz fusion with the Alex Skolnick Trio. An on-again, off-again member of Testament for over three decades, Skolnick maintained a high profile outside of his metal group and his jazz trio, collaborating with acts including Ozzy Osbourne, Les Claypool, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Still going strong in the 2010s, he debuted on the Billboard jazz chart with his trio's fourth long-player, 2011's Veritas, and contributed to the Testament Top 20 albums Dark Roots of Thrash (2012) and Brotherhood of the Snake (2016). ~ Marcy Donelson