Annihilator's Jeff Waters On Modern Metal

[@MateoBakija]

Jeff Waters, Alex Skolnick, Marty Friedman- Most unique guitar players in thrash history.

[@juandidino5482]

and Gary HOLT!!!!!

[@kreator7490]

That Coroner dude and Piggy from Voivod

[@diermax]

u know were's playing marty friedman now? babymetal lol

[@MateoBakija]

I don't know but he played memorable solos on 'Rust in peace' which is one of the best thrash metal albums of all time.

[@silverbane5008]

Dimebag is not overrated, he is one of the greats.

[@caperbye474]

I'm still baffled that Annihilator never success in North America especially here in Canada. I fell in love with this band back in 89 and still love them. As a guitarist myself, Jeff playing and technique is amazing. Amazing song writer.

[@florianklink2961]

Oh he IS great! Sadly I just found out myself. Never gave Jeff and his band a try before. Now I get why this band belongs to the top tier metal groups of the 90's. Jeff is a guitar god that somehow gets overlooked a lot. Perhaps because he doesn't look "metal" enough 😄.

[@beefcake0354]

I like Annahilator. I always do. and damn! after this interview, I have a great deal of respect for this guy.

[@PapaEmeritusII]

Pure class. Jeff is a legend and deserves more praise and attention.

[@TheYagomestre]

AWESOME! Very open minded and stil true to his roots! I just loved how he don't hate Green Day and Sum 41 and love Trivium's guitar work. Keep thrashing and keep doing heavy music, hell yeah!

[@steve1982n]

Old school metal is the best forever, hail Annihilator \m/

[@jeffersonaraujoelcristiano]

Of course, especially Thrash-metal: Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth, Tormentor...

[@70gabino]

People always say that Jeff deserved to be more successful but I think he's fine right where he is. If he'd become super famous he might not be as grounded as he is now. He's successful enough to be at peace with himself.

[@MetalHomeboyJay]

Amen

[@PNL_King]

hes just so fucking good at playing that god damn instrument and people have no motherfucking idea.... you know what? FUCK EM

[@pyromaniarules]

Spiderman of thrash metal in general jeff puts out some of the best, most consistent without copying themselves, and best riffs out of any metal band. and it seems like his talent is never ending plus on top hes a humble great guy whos fighting to keep it more about the music and less about the business.

[@PNL_King]

***** my favorite 3 metal solos all time: 1. Tornado of Souls (Friedman lead, Dave playing rhythym) 2. Under a Glass Moon (Petrucci) 3. Waters (Fun Palace)

[@PNL_King]

***** yes, exactly.. i edited it now because i was so excited to get it out that i switched em up... you know you're shit

[@dna598]

he seems really cool. He seems an immense talent humbled by a changing industry. I listened to Annihilator in the nineties during my Death Metal days. Didnt get into them but was totally blown away by Waters playing. Now I listen to those old albums all the time. Long may Waters continue!

[@UpTheIrons72]

Annihilator should have been way bigger than they are!

[@EminencePhront]

Jeff did that to himself. He refused to hire proper producers and he would make his singers sound terrible (compare Dave Padden in Annihilator to Silent Strain or Aaron Randall in Speeed). He's sabotaged his own music for decades.

[@thrash208]

@@EminencePhront I don't think he cares about being big something tells me he does it for the music more than anything.

[@EminencePhront]

@@thrash208 If he cared about the music, he would put more effort and resources into production. It’s not just that he is not a pop sensation, but that even among metal bands, Annihilator is not highly regarded. Back when Jeff was capable of having original ideas, he did everything in his power to sabotage them. By comparison Devin Townsend is much more serious about his craft and cares about the music.

[@thrash208]

@@EminencePhront it's about HIS art it's something HE created is what I'm trying to say. If you don't care about being big than what does it matter the production it's for his own satisfaction and whoever is willing to enjoy it will regardless? Why does it matter being pouring resources into the production if it's solely for the art? Something tells me Annihilator isn't his gravy train yet he's made music for nearly 40 years why continue if not just to create something. I don't think he just likes to create music in the same way a painter keeps painting even if they've never really done anything big.

[@EminencePhront]

@@thrash208 except that he’s releasing it to the world, not to mention through record labels that are for-profit enterprises. If you want to half-ass your music, do it on your own time and put it on a SoundCloud to share with your friends and relatives. If you intend for your music to become part of the corpus of your genre’s music, there is an expectation that you will put proper effort into it. Jeff Waters is a professional musician in that he makes money playing and publishing music. As such, he should be judged by the standards of professional musicians, not hobbyists fucking around in their spare time. Judged by those standards, he doesn’t fare well.

[@marcribaudo1965]

That was a great interview. Always respected Jeff as a player, and now as a great person, who believes in what he does to keep metal alive.

[@johnscottyward4588]

Jeff is a LEGEND as far as I'm concerned! \m/

[@jstrong8288]

Jeff still looks like hes in his 20's

[@NoName-nq8fk]

I know man. he never ages!

[@gfan5492]

and hes 51 now and still amazing

[@leeschofield488]

Because he didn't drink, drug or smoke himself to an early grave like so many others.

[@blendzol]

Great Gene pool

[@CobaltLancer]

jstrong82 I know right. Dave Mustaine probably would still look that young too if it weren’t for that throat cancer...

[@jeremygillihan]

Watch mojo needs to make a top ten annihilator song list video.

[@BlindBosnian]

And No.2 would be Human Insecticide

[@huskymetal6678]

@@BlindBosnian no 3. King of the kill

[@michaeltozzi3112]

Imperiled Eyes needs to be in the top 3.

[@Thrasher1984]

Music business is hell, but despite countless lineup changes Jeff Waters and Annihilator are still going strong - respect!

[@Lord_Deimos]

Seen Annihilator with Nevermore back in '02, one of the best shows i've ever been in.

[@gringochucha]

Damn. Must've been awesome. Annihilator with Joe Comeau and Nevermore still promoting Dead Heart in a Dead World.

[@GrooveMetalDude]

Honest and inspiring. Thank you Mr Jeff Waters 🤘🤘🤘

[@jamilaandersson7533]

What a Great Amazing Interview! I Have Always Respected And Love Jeff Waters. .He's an Amazing Talent Guitar Player and Annihilator are Awesome Yeah!!!! And his words from the Interview tells no doubt about It That He Loves What He Do For Metal \m/ ♥ Thanks So Munch ♥

[@waynesmith747]

jeff waters is a god/SAINT in more ways than one!!! he actually gives a fuck about musicians instead of just the mighty buck and that isn't easy to find.i love annihilator and this style of metal.death metal is fine for some but not for others.i like to hear what the vocals are saying personally,not constant growls and screaming. melodic POWERFUL vocals THAT CAN BE HEARD and make sense!!!! stone wall,go to bat,unless you want to live like that stone wall,cant we see,we're our own worst enemy.

[@brandonyoung7973]

Exactly why I listen to 80's thrash, I mean hey if death metal's your thing then cool rock on but its not for me. Bands like Megadeth and Annihilator bring that in your face, speedy yet occasional melodic sections and vocal range that I know and will always love and respect. Long live thrash metal

[@BW_Drums]

Brandon Young Well, I can see what you guys are saying. But that's really the first negative thing anyone says about Death Metal. "You can't understand the lyrics" but if you really put in the time and actually listen, it becomes quite clear. Death Metal is one of my favourite genres of music, particularly Melodic Death. Yet, my favourite bands are bands like Megadeth, Metallica, Annihilator etc. People really should start broadening their taste in Metal.

[@666Hotdogman666]

FordFan197 If you like Melodic Death Metal you will love Be'lakor.

[@davewhitman5392]

FordFan197 One is really not meant to 'understand' death metal vocals. You get the overall point of the song just by how dark it sounds. That's why in most death albums, you get a lyric sheet to help you along.

[@BW_Drums]

Dave Whitman I disagree. It's silly to say that you aren't MEANT to understand the lyrics. You're meant to understand them in the same way you can understand Pop lyrics. Most people just can't understand Death Metal lyrics, but that is because they don't actually put in the time to try and understand. If you have to use a lyric sheet, that just means you cannot understand or have difficulty understanding some Death Metal lyrics... I personally find it hard to understand Black Metal lyrics...

[@mattmullen8239]

Oh Jeff, you're so Canadian.

[@DeadGlassEyes]

Jeff is the man.

[@simmonippos8632]

Oh Jeff, id sign to your label any day you talented underrated guitar god, for your knowledge and experiences over the years you could diffidently cut corners. \m/

[@Wingnut65]

Jeff Waters is awesome...never forget Alison Hell on cassette tape at full blast in the car...that Guitar sound is so clean!!! 🥰

[@adicide9070]

i love this dude. fantastic to have been raised on music where money ain't everything.

[@diegocalero826]

JEFF WATERS!!!!..... AMAZING AND GORGEOUS GUITAR PLAYER!

[@cm5386]

needs more like him in the industry. so many bands getting signed but nothing to show. still having to work part time. good on you Jeff.

[@2soonnow]

Jeff Waters rocks!!!! He is a smart sober sob.

[@bricemcgregor6540]

NO WAY THATS AT KATAKOMBES!!! My hometown of Montreal!

[@bobbysimpson5540]

Great Musician and even Better Person.

[@rhythmicbeast]

I LOVE JEFF! A GREAT MAN!

[@BadRonald1]

I like when Guitarist slide up like that at 4:23. It's simple and sounds cool.

[@AGNTthrasher]

It's kind of cool to see a more serious side of him. He always shows his sense of humor in other interviews/tutorials/whatever but it's nice to see a musician get serious and actually be mindful of the next generation.

[@klinturshel3242]

Jeff Waters = Legit, Cool, Talented, Humble. I tip my hat.

[@GiovanniGarciaMusic]

Jeff es un maestroo!!

[@GypsyDanger514]

Jeff is probably the most underrated guitarist on the market

[@poopmaster13]

Totally respect his opinions as a vet of the business who never quit. However, he's only referring to trends and popular bands. For one thing, "real" metal that he's referring to never went away at all in Europe and Japan, etc. And it never even went away in America either. There were still bands making great music, like Nevermore.

[@justinnatasmai4503]

"The 90s sucked for metal" what he meant is that it totally went underground and wasnt very popular as it was when it was in the 90s, grunge and pop-punk took over the 90s, your taking it out of context

[@FIRE-LOTUS]

But like Jeff Waters said you got guys like Pantera that was keeping metal alive in the 90's. And there are a just a handful of bands that was keeping metal alive in the 90's in America, bands like Death and some of the other first wave of Death Metal was also rising as well, but I can't remember any other groups that was keeping metal strong in the 90's in America at the top of my head. But other than all that, all the mainstream stuff was going to those grunge, nu and core bands.

[@notsure1135]

This guy is a champ. Duff McKagan and him should start a company to help musicians.

[@heinrichberlichingen7489]

Jeff Waters is one of the greatest guitarists ,in my humble opinion ,in the world !!!!!

[@johnyentes6643]

Dude, hes the man, but he totally did skip over the glory days of death metal man. You had all those great albums by death, morbid angel, Cannibal corpse, Suffocation, Monstrosity, Obituary, Deicide. Dude the 90's was like the GOLDEN ERA of death metal and you had some phenomenal guitarists back then too. James Murphy Played with death and obituary. Paul Masvidal with Cynic and Death. Chuck schuldiner, Shannon Hamm. Andy Laroque from King diamond. The list goes on and on and on. Even Pat Obrien from cannibal corpse is an absolute shred machine man. But i do get what he is saying. Bands like children of bodom really made it in to the lime light like a lot of the other Euro metal bands in that time period. The first Speedy guitar driven stuff i really heard , besides priest and Maiden, was Stratovarius and hammerfall. It was some of the first new sounding music out there that really got me into metal when I was a kid. The death metal took me a while to get into. Death kinda opened up all the doors to that realm. I honestly think that Death is probably the most important Metal band Of the late 80's to 90's. They opened all the doors dude.

[@verve92]

Agree 1000000%. I remember back when I got this first album and was blown away! Technical yet not sterile band had great energy and Walters is SPOT ON when he talks about the shite record industry. We need more advocates like this guy who stand up for us and against the industry.

[@НикитаКостылев-ь8к]

well, maybe he was telling about mainstream metal in nineties? because he said about metallica, slayer - they are big for mainstream, exodus, testament, annihilator - for mainstream they are little. not the death metal! korn, nirvana, alice in chains - they're cool, they were the mainstream backdays... dunno, maybe?..

[@charlesoliphant4825]

you don't want to see this man participate in death metal. you'd need a new pack of whitey tighties every day

[@leeschofield488]

Only just got into Annihilator and it seems Jeff is a fucking cool guy to boot. Awesome.

[@pnkrker]

It does look alot like Samuel Dunn, who did Metal Evoloution, Metal: A Headbangers Journey and Global Metal

[@vlakarados]

I've heard a couple of bands that were mastered by Jeff Waters. My opinion - I don't like it. But Jeff is the only man on this planet that I would let touch my music.

[@viledrivermetal1788]

Jeff helped my old band Starring Janet Leigh by reviewing contracts offered to us by record companies and guiding us to ensure we are not getting bent over. Just like what he said in the interview here.

[@reladham]

he seems to have his head on at least half way straight. nice to see

[@vulgarjack]

That's what the world needs. Jeff Waters: Musician Advocate. I support!

[@onpsxmember]

they are friends and played together also there is one collabroation on a record

[@marksonanything]

Jeff the Legend!

[@enjoythestruggle]

From '94 to '97 he did the vocals for three albums, King of the Kill, Refresh the Demon and Remains. He still sings live and does backing vocals etc. but obviously Dave has become the 'main' singer.

[@majorThreatNOW]

at 1:47 to the left, isnt that the dude who did the metal evolution documentaries?

[@sickistartform1]

Much R.E.S.P.E.C.T to, Jeff ... what a guy.

[@PapaEmeritusII]

Underrated and needs more attention.

[@kotakidd2653]

Jeff Waters is the fucking man!

[@mcdonnellkieran68]

and production on albums was so much better than 80's as metal grew in popularity..

[@jlarsena]

Can you believe I can't find Annihilator's self titled album anywhere in Canada, so sad. You would think I could find Canuck thrash gods in Toronto, but no.

[@pround22]

Great guitar player. Lovely guy.

[@floydrazor]

I enjoy Exodus, Overkill and Testament more than Annihilator(I like Annihilator also) but I have seen all these bands within the last year and Annihilator was the only show which was completely sold out. They are also huge in Europe and Japan. Gotta give him respect,,plus he is a nice guy

[@judowrestlerka]

Canada grows some crazy good musicians.

[@SacredLuzt777]

Annihilator rocks! It's true what Jeff said about those scumbags in the record industry wanting to control every aspect of musicians. He definitely didn't sell out.

[@Bumzen]

Jeff Waters is so fucking cool!

[@terracestevenkennedy9198]

Way to go Jeff

[@Fuzorz]

wow jeff is more metal than I thought and I thought he was already metal enough JEFF STOP BEING SO AWESOME

[@Chorofonfilo]

Jeff Waters talking on 3:30 - 4:05 reminds me about Born of Osiris, He should rescue them to help them boost up their inner talent so they can reach their highest potential without drugs and shit.

[@tapeboi321]

Thanks, Jeff

[@joeylo3543]

90s did suck for metal however Black and death metal did boom during that era.

[@gixxusmetalman7435]

Fucken best band in the world...the whole world, xant get enough, everyday ,those solo and their sound is just amazing 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@MarwickMarco]

Jeff rules !!

[@TrollandDie]

I wouldn't say metal died in the 90's by a long fucking shot. To be honest, if a person avoided the MTV tripe the 90's had some of the best material-far better than the 80's. There was an explosion of variety (black, death, gothic, doom, industrial, Gothenburg, progressive, power, sludge, groove. etc.). and the only genres that missed out were traditional and thrash.

[@rinozisa9396]

The 90s sucked for metal? Not that I know of. Death Morbid Angel Cannibal Corpse Suffocation Deicide Carcass At The Gates In Flames Entombed Emperor Immortal

[@EDsavant]

I miss the In Flames from back then.

[@MaaZeus]

These bands were considered underground, small or just extreme. True metal never really died in the underground, it just went away from the public eye for a while. Jeff was talking about rock and metal bands everybody could hear from a radio and MTV. Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Papa Roach and so on. Bleh, excuse me if I threw up a little bit in my mouth.

[@bestmetalandrocklists9120]

Rino Zisa thrash is what took a dip, but was revived in the 2000's

[@arvindshastry1178]

You forgot that Pantera was making their best songs in 90s

[@kisstagals]

Hey kid you didn't get what Jeff wanna say... Crunch and alternative were ruling the world around 90-97, and later punk like blink 182 and rap rock linking Park and Lim bizkit kinda bands... Only few maintstream band like Pantera were carrying the torch and Later Slipknot..

[@Britishwolf89]

Jeff takes pride in saying he doesn't drink or take drugs because he went bat shit crazy with drink in the 90's. My point is, he was just as awesome at playing even when he did drink. Annihilator has just never seemed to get the break they deserve, i fucking love this band and have met Jeff, he's 110% genuine. Terrible management is the problem like he was saying.

[@FIRE-LOTUS]

I believe he was referring to N. American metal music. Iced Earth was from America but they were underrated at the time and that's just one band compare to the mainstream music of the 90's and Blind Guardian is from Germany. In the 90's power metal was rising strong in Europe but in America,on the other hand, stuff like Grunge and Nu Metal was taking place and that's whats killing traditional metal and have all these screamo, nu metal hard/metal/grind/death/mathcore bands now.

[@MattWeismiller1994]

Metal has always been around. In the 90's and early 2000's it was underground and then the New Wave Of Thrash Metal came out in about 2008.

[@davidgarcia6796]

0:33 wtf bass?

[@PetarJovanovic993]

He recorded the bass on most Anni albums.

[@matthewstuart3482]

CARCASS, ANTHRAX, , KREATOR, TESTAMENT. kept it going to.

[@beelzebubbles666]

Damn right! Add to that Master.

[@guilcom5911]

yes but anthrax was living pay check to pay check at the time....also chuck billy had to drive transport truck on the side for a living...in the 90....i have great respect for those guy...to keep metal alive when it wasnt so easy for them

[@daddyyotv3832]

He looks cooler with long hair

[@an_38kitkashyap]

He looks cool and rockstar in both ways. In short hair, he looks more modern. But his old looks are also not outdated, and have aged well.

[@ebeaver15]

1:48 Sam Dunn on the left?

[@BelialsGenuflect]

pretty cool guy definitely understands the modern mainstream metal scene. seems kind of out of it regarding the underground scene though which is kind of odd considering his B status in thrash metal fame. thought he'd be more grounded in the understanding of underground labels that care about supporting metal bands in their musical endeavors. still good advice though \m/\m/

[@keithsa41]

Metal will never die..

[@HeadacheCentral]

Good point.

[@dylanvalorfall]

This guy fuckin rules man

[@JanPatrickLucas]

DOESN'T DRINK, SMOKE, OR DO DRUGS!......PERHAPS THAT'S HALF THE REASON WHY HE SHREDZ 'EM ALL!! A VERY WELL RESPECTED, TRUE METAL AMBASSADOR!!!

[@camelius]

He is awesome!

[@Yiannis2112]

Jeff Waters. As true as it gets.

[@Mitch_Essence]

Nice when things are called as seen. Thumbs up for balls to express.

[@MrChow69]

this man is awesome

[@lightningbrigade4722]

Jeff Waters is very smart with a lot of common sense. No wonder Record companies fear him.

[@chugnorris2223]

my favourite metal dude. Love to have a beer with Jeff. He'd be good value

[@leeschofield488]

Especially given that he doesn't drink, lol.

[@SwordOfLight79]

What a gent!

[@UniversalCola]

Isn't that Sam Dunn at 1:48 ?

[@semitar6]

This kind of explains to me why Jeff couldnt get a major label to release their last album. He is a hundred percent right of course but honesty is rarely the right policy when dealing with the soul sucking record labels.

[@420protoman]

guitar solo's stopped? until alexi? hahaha omg... he must not like death metal than.... Death's Chuck and Shannon both shred hard... very melodic as well.. all thru the 90's... same with Obituary's guitarists James Murphy, Allan West... lol Annihilator is good but man... and Sepultura also had amazing solo's... u just gonna know the old death metal.. Death still to this day will always be one of the best most influential metal bands ever on all new styles of metal. they took it to another level

[@jlarsena]

I'm proud of Jeff sticking up for the less fortunate bands that get crappy contracts. Hate these record labels that prey on them instead of empowering them.

[@TheCanadianViper]

It's true no doubt that mainstream metal sucked in the 90s especially in the mid to late 90s Pantera was just about it but underground movement was AMAZING in the 90s

[@AGNTthrasher]

As far as North America goes, they're pretty much only known by the die-hards; outside however, they're right up there. Maybe not the same importance historically speaking but they're music stands up right along with Exodus and Testament.

[@onepercentersentertainment]

Seems like a really nice, cool guy

[@RJjadhavKING]

did i see sam dunn at 1:48 ????

[@harrythepup]

Yes

[@anujupadhyay10]

I saw him too

[@JanPatrickLucas]

HA HA, You're right! Yes that just might have something to do with it also. That would be the other "half reason" obviously!

[@townofed]

A metal man fighting the power as it should be.

[@davewhitman5392]

Started sucking in the 90s Jeff says. That's when I got INTO metal.. with Metallica's Black album, Megadeth's Countdown, Flotsam and Jetsam, which led to Cannibal Corpse, Mortification, Obituary, and Morbid Angel, . The early 90s was an awesome era for metal. Then grunge kinda ruined everything.

[@ReapersShredder]

Jeff is made of 100% big hearted metal,i love this dude

[@manvaix]

doubt that because Dunn is Canadian and the show was in Czech republic.But wtf, maybe he´s die hard fan and took a trip just for the show :-)

[@Laske]

he is the king !