Jake Dreyer
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Member
Studio musician
Live musician
Guest musician
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Personal information
Born on: 02.05.1992
Official website
Jake Dreyer is the lead guitarist for the band Iced Earth and lead guitarist/songwriter for the Progressive Metal band Witherfall. He is the former studio and touring session guitarist for the bands White Wizzard and Kobra and the Lotus. In the Spring of 2011, Dreyer released his debut solo EP "In the Shadows of Madness" showcasing his many years of study under such masters as Chris Broderick (Megadeth, Ex-Jag Panzer, Nevermore), David "The Shred Demon" Shankle (DSG, Ex-Manowar), and Rusty Cooley (Outworld). Throughout his many years of playing, Jake has performed hundreds of shows in front of thousands of people all over the world and has recorded four full length albums and four EP's with his various projects over the years.
Jake began taking lessons at the tender age of 8 years old and formed his first band, "Stealth" at the age of 11. By the time he was 13 he had professionally recorded his first album and opened up for Lou Gramm of Foreigner and John Waite of The Babys.
At the age of 14, Dreyer was introduced to the music of Yngwie J. Malmsteen. This started a total transformation of Dreyer's approach and outlook on music. Jake soon started practicing more (4-5 hours a day) and focused on various guitar techniques. That summer he attended NGW (National Guitar Workshop), studying under Terry Syrek. During this time Dreyer formed a new band, "Fatal Chaos". This led to recording a 3 song E.P, winning Stoli/Budweisers best guitarist of the year, and performing all over the Southeastern United States.
Toward the end of 2007 Jake formed the melodic metal band "DeadRingers Guild." Their debut EP "DeadRingers Guild" contained the track "War Path" which won the 2009 Independent Music Finalist Award in the Hard Rock/ Metal category. In April of 2010 they released their second EP "DeadRingers Guild II"" and followed with a multi-city promotional tour from Florida to Ohio. Throughout the years DeadRingers Guild was honored to have shared the stage with many national and international acts such as Paul Di'anno (Ex-Iron Maiden), Enforcer (Sweden), Cauldron (Canada) and Dark Castle.
In August 2010 Jake began recording his first solo instrumental EP "In the Shadows of Madness" which was produced by JJ Crews and features Adam Sagan (Echoterra, Ex-Into Eternity) on drums as well as Noah Martin (Arsis) on bass guitar. The 3 song EP was released in April of 2011 and is available on Itunes and Amazon.com. In November 2011, the 2nd track from the EP, "Harmony of the Spheres" was released on the Xbox 360 game ROCKBAND. Since March of 2011 Jake has been spotlighted in a series of instructional videos for Reign-licks.com and Ultimate-Guitar.com providing step by step instructions on how to play a featured "lick" of his original music. For more information on these videos go to the audio/video page. Beginning in September 2011, Jake has been a guest columnist with GuitarWorld.com creating articles on such topics as the "Do's and Dont's " of playing live and recording.
In July of 2011, Jake was chosen to replace Christian Lasaegue in the Power Metal band Jag Panzer (Century Media Records) unfortunately Jag Panzer disbanded shortly thereafter. During the Summer of 2011, Dreyer had the privilege of sharing the stage with Neil Turbin (formerly of Anthrax) and his band DeathRiders. In September of 2011 he joined the band White Wizzard and in October began a one month North American tour with Firewind, Arsis, Nightrage followed by a two month European Tour as direct support for Iced Earth. On May 12, 2012, Jake and the band (WW) performed for the first time in Japan to a sold out crowd at Club Quatro in Shibuya, Japan. Upon returning to the states, Jake recorded his solos for the band's newly released single "Torpedo of Truth". The following year the band released "The Devil's Cut with Jake writing and performing lead solos on every track of the album.
In October 2013, Jake departed White Wizzard to begin work on his next solo project. In June 2014, Jake joined the band Kobra And The Lotus as a touring guitarist for their summer tour as support for Kiss and Def Leppard. The following two years with the band included various UK/European tours as well as the recording of the band's double album "Prevail I and II" (Napalm Records) with producer Jacob Hansen in Ribe, Denmark in early Spring 2016.
Dreyer cites his main influences as Jason Becker, Paul Gilbert, Marty Friedman, Yngwie J. Malmsteen and Jeff Loomis
Official website
Jake Dreyer is the lead guitarist for the band Iced Earth and lead guitarist/songwriter for the Progressive Metal band Witherfall. He is the former studio and touring session guitarist for the bands White Wizzard and Kobra and the Lotus. In the Spring of 2011, Dreyer released his debut solo EP "In the Shadows of Madness" showcasing his many years of study under such masters as Chris Broderick (Megadeth, Ex-Jag Panzer, Nevermore), David "The Shred Demon" Shankle (DSG, Ex-Manowar), and Rusty Cooley (Outworld). Throughout his many years of playing, Jake has performed hundreds of shows in front of thousands of people all over the world and has recorded four full length albums and four EP's with his various projects over the years.
Jake began taking lessons at the tender age of 8 years old and formed his first band, "Stealth" at the age of 11. By the time he was 13 he had professionally recorded his first album and opened up for Lou Gramm of Foreigner and John Waite of The Babys.
At the age of 14, Dreyer was introduced to the music of Yngwie J. Malmsteen. This started a total transformation of Dreyer's approach and outlook on music. Jake soon started practicing more (4-5 hours a day) and focused on various guitar techniques. That summer he attended NGW (National Guitar Workshop), studying under Terry Syrek. During this time Dreyer formed a new band, "Fatal Chaos". This led to recording a 3 song E.P, winning Stoli/Budweisers best guitarist of the year, and performing all over the Southeastern United States.
Toward the end of 2007 Jake formed the melodic metal band "DeadRingers Guild." Their debut EP "DeadRingers Guild" contained the track "War Path" which won the 2009 Independent Music Finalist Award in the Hard Rock/ Metal category. In April of 2010 they released their second EP "DeadRingers Guild II"" and followed with a multi-city promotional tour from Florida to Ohio. Throughout the years DeadRingers Guild was honored to have shared the stage with many national and international acts such as Paul Di'anno (Ex-Iron Maiden), Enforcer (Sweden), Cauldron (Canada) and Dark Castle.
In August 2010 Jake began recording his first solo instrumental EP "In the Shadows of Madness" which was produced by JJ Crews and features Adam Sagan (Echoterra, Ex-Into Eternity) on drums as well as Noah Martin (Arsis) on bass guitar. The 3 song EP was released in April of 2011 and is available on Itunes and Amazon.com. In November 2011, the 2nd track from the EP, "Harmony of the Spheres" was released on the Xbox 360 game ROCKBAND. Since March of 2011 Jake has been spotlighted in a series of instructional videos for Reign-licks.com and Ultimate-Guitar.com providing step by step instructions on how to play a featured "lick" of his original music. For more information on these videos go to the audio/video page. Beginning in September 2011, Jake has been a guest columnist with GuitarWorld.com creating articles on such topics as the "Do's and Dont's " of playing live and recording.
In July of 2011, Jake was chosen to replace Christian Lasaegue in the Power Metal band Jag Panzer (Century Media Records) unfortunately Jag Panzer disbanded shortly thereafter. During the Summer of 2011, Dreyer had the privilege of sharing the stage with Neil Turbin (formerly of Anthrax) and his band DeathRiders. In September of 2011 he joined the band White Wizzard and in October began a one month North American tour with Firewind, Arsis, Nightrage followed by a two month European Tour as direct support for Iced Earth. On May 12, 2012, Jake and the band (WW) performed for the first time in Japan to a sold out crowd at Club Quatro in Shibuya, Japan. Upon returning to the states, Jake recorded his solos for the band's newly released single "Torpedo of Truth". The following year the band released "The Devil's Cut with Jake writing and performing lead solos on every track of the album.
In October 2013, Jake departed White Wizzard to begin work on his next solo project. In June 2014, Jake joined the band Kobra And The Lotus as a touring guitarist for their summer tour as support for Kiss and Def Leppard. The following two years with the band included various UK/European tours as well as the recording of the band's double album "Prevail I and II" (Napalm Records) with producer Jacob Hansen in Ribe, Denmark in early Spring 2016.
Dreyer cites his main influences as Jason Becker, Paul Gilbert, Marty Friedman, Yngwie J. Malmsteen and Jeff Loomis