Al Voltage

Al Voltage (October 13, 1963 – August 8, 2001) was an American heavy metal guitarist known for his work with California heavy metal bands Laughing Dead and Piranha.

Life and career

Al Voltage was born Alan Breed on October 13, 1963, in Hanover, New Hampshire. In 1988, he joined the Berkeley, California-based thrash metal outfit Piranha, with vocalist Paul Baloff, bassist Eric Wong, drummer Fred Cotton, and guitarist Ron Shipes. That year, the band recorded three demo tapes (Big F*****g Teeth, Demo, and Piranha). Metallica frontman James Hetfield also assisted in the production of a few tracks for the demo tapes.

Voltage and bassist Eric Wong left Piranha to join Oakland, California-based metal band Laughing Dead, alongside vocalist David White, drummer Ken Mooney, and guitarist Chris Paganetti. In 1990, they recorded a demo tape with three tracks—"Never A God", "Mad Men Clash", and "Last Stand"—at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco, California. The tape was produced by Gary Holt (Exodus and Slayer).

Death

Voltage passed away on August 8, 2001, at the age of 37.