Jack Ripper. Remember the name as you’re sure to be seeing it again. He’s a 12 (!!!) year old guitar prodigy out of Phoeniz, AZ who’s mentioned in a great little post on Blabbermouth.net. That same post also links to an interview he did with XM radio’s Eddie Trunk, as well as some awesome footage of the young shredder playing the “Star Spangled Banner” at Rocklahoma this year.
Now normally I could give 3 shits about ANOTHER young kid covering the National Anthem (a la Hendrix), but wait until you hear him tremelo pick the higher part of the song. With ease. And with more than a little confidence on the stage. All I can say is WHOA, when this kid is old enough to drive himself to gigs, there’s gonna be a different type of battle of the bands in ole’ Phoenix, know what I mean? Provided Phoenix can manage to keep him that long.
So support today’s youth, especially the ones with enough initiative to actually learn the REAL guitar and not some video game. Thanks to Phoenix New Times where I stole this great action photo.
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[...] in a great little post on Blabbermouth.net.?? That same post?also links to an?interview?he didhttp://www.therimofhell.com/2008/08/05/introducing-jack-ripper/Ready to rock? Sioux Falls to host its first rock festival The Argus LeaderThe eighteen band line-up [...]
I just saw Jack Ripper at Arizona Bike Week and I was BLOWN AWAY by this kid! 13 years old, with braces and the cutest face…don’t let that fool you cuz this boy can SHRED!!! (THUS THE NAME) If this kid can stick around without gettin caught up in the standard Rock and Roll lifestyle, then by the time he is 20…I can only imagine! Wow! Maybe one of our dead guitar heroes reincarnated into Jack Ripper..Whatever it is….He is AWESOME!
I agree – if we can just keep him out of Corey-Haimville . . . we might all reap the audio benefits of his reaching maturity. Somebody like Steve Vai needs to take this young lad under his wing & help keep him on the road to Shredder Godhood. There IS hope for the future.