Happy Birthday today (June 16) to current Megadeth guitarist Kiko Loureiro. He's 44.

Kiko Loureiro was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil June 16, 1972 and began studying music and playing guitar at age 11. Influences include Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, and Randy Rhoads. He joined Megadeth on April 2, 2015 as a replacement for Chris Broderick and appeared on the band's latest album Dystopia.

Megadeth was formed in 1983 out of Los Angeles, California by guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist Dave Ellefson. The band is credited as being one of the "big four" of thrash metal along with Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax. We recently spoke with Dave Mustaine in an exclusive interview at the Rock ‘n Derby festival. When the news of former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza’s passing broke on Sunday morning, May 22, we had already had an interview scheduled with Mustaine promoting Megadeth’s show later that night at Rock ‘n Derby. Check out the interview below.

 

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