Biography
Born around 1965 in the United States, Joey Taffola took up the guitar at fourteen. He gained early experience in Jag Panzer, a speed-metal group that made little impact, before departing in 1987 and heading back to California for lessons with the noted guitar instructor Tony MacAlpine. At the Guitar Institute of Technology he explored jazz, rock, and classical approaches in the company of Paul Gilbert, who would later join Racer X. A set of demo recordings led Shrapnel Records head Mike Varney to offer Taffola a contract for an instrumental guitar album. Former Jag Panzer drummer Reynold Carlson and ex-Rising Force bassist Wally Voss joined him on Out Of The Sun, which appeared in 1987 and included guest contributions from Paul Gilbert on guitar and Tony MacAlpine on keyboards. The record nevertheless showed little sense of purpose or personal voice; Taffola’s playing came across as an indistinct blend of the approaches associated with Yngwie Malmsteen, MacAlpine, and Vinnie Moore. Following an unsuccessful band venture that included former Rising Force singer Mark Boals, Taffola began preparing his next release, Infa Red.
Albums