His ALS gradually robbed him of his ability to play guitar, to walk, and eventually his ability to speak. Although he managed to finish the album, he did not join the supporting tour due to his inability to perform on stage former Lizzy Borden guitarist Joe Holmes took Becker's place on tour. He finished the recording using lighter gauge guitar strings and other techniques, which made it easier for him to play with his weakening hands. He was soon diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS Lou Gehrig's disease) and was given three to five years to live. While preparing for the album, Becker began to feel what he called a "lazy limp" in his left leg. In 1989, Becker joined David Lee Roth's solo band to work on his third album A Little Ain't Enough, replacing Steve Vai, who left the band to record and tour with Whitesnake. He has since released the albums Perspective and Collection, as well as two albums of demos, entitled The Raspberry Jams and The Blackberry Jams.Īmyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis
In 1990, Friedman left to join Megadeth and Becker began to pursue a solo career, having released his first solo album titled Perpetual Burn in 1988. While they never went mainstream in the U.S., they proved popular enough in Europe to sell out almost every performance. Together, they put out an album, and toured Japan and the U.S. Cacophony and solo career īecker started out playing alongside Marty Friedman in the Mike Varney-produced duo, Cacophony. He cited Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Van Halen as early influences. He absorbed all kinds of music from around the world and melded different aspects of each style into his playing. He was exposed to the guitar at an early age because both his father and his uncle were guitar players. While still in high school, Becker was introduced to Marty Friedman. Becker graduated from Kennedy High School where he performed Yngwie Malmsteen's "Black Star" with his band at a talent show.
His maternal grandfather was actor Wayne Heffley. He was born in Richmond Hospital on 23rd Street in 1969.
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