Introduction
Grant J. Estes (born February 7, 1963 [1]) is an American guitarist from Santa Monica, California. He was one of the guitarists for the highly influential band Suicidal Tendencies, during the band's hardcore punk era.
Early years
Suicidal Tendencies/Los Cycos
Grant Estes joined Suicidal Tendencies in 1982 and played on the highly controversial self-titled debut album. Having been credited with starting a new genre of guitar playing, with a variety of heavy metal-like solos, and a mixture of Chorus effects and Distortion. To achieve a tone not so commonly associated with Hardcore Punk. Their self-titled debut, released in 1983, was considered "Too Metal" upon its release by some Hardcore Punk fans but was nonetheless highly influential for both genres. He later left after it was recorded, never playing with the band after the record was released, and was replaced by Jon Nelson. After departing from Suicidal Tendencies, he collaborated in a side project with fellow former band mates Mike Muir and Louiche Mayorga replacing original choice Bob Heathcote on bass with Anthony "Bob" Gallo on rhythm guitar and Sal Troy of No Mercy on drums called Los Cycos. Resulting in recording one track "It's Not Easy" for the Welcome to Venice compilation split(1985), which was later remade by Suicidal Tendencies on the Controlled by Hatred/Feel Like Shit...Déjà Vu compilation. He performed throughout the early-mid-1980s with local LA heavy metal band "Hostage" and various local metal bands at that time. In the early 1990s, he reunited with Louiche Mayorga and former Malice drummer Cliff Carruthers to form "Gang of Love." After numerous personnel changes, he formed "Skin on Skin." Despite extensive college airplay and after working briefly with record label "Scotti Bros." SOS did not go on to success.
Recently
In May 2006, he reunited with his old Suicidal Tendencies bandmates, Louiche Mayorga and Amery Smith, to form a band named Against with Excel vocalist Dan Clements and former No Mercy singer Kevin "The Jerk" Guercio that will be featured in the Welcome 2 Venice compilation. The band has also enjoyed working together after all these years without playing together. Plans for future material is most certain.
Equipment
Grant Estes used his Flying V through a 50 Watt Marshall head and an Eventide Harmonizer for the first Suicidal Tendencies album.
Discography
Suicidal Tendencies
- Suicidal Tendencies (album) (1983)
Los Cycos
- Welcome to Venice (1985) *played guitar on the track "its not easy"*
AgainST
- Welcome 2 Venice (2007) *played guitar on "Camarillo", and "Roll the dice"*
Luicidal
- Luicidal (album) (2014) *played lead guitar on "Kumbaya", "Sinister Love", and "Green Light". played guitar on "You Always Knew", "Least To Succeed", and "Killing Skating Machine"*