Monte Pittman

Pittman was born in Longview, Texas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/monte-pittman-mn0001948831|title=Monte Pittman Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More|website=AllMusic}} He started playing guitar as a teenager when he received his first guitar at age 13. His guitar teacher was Robert Browning. He also took music theory and piano lessons from Delores Rhoads at the Musonia School of Music in North Hollywood.

Pittman's early musical influences came from bands and artists such as Kiss, Metallica, Slayer, Steve Vai, Jimmy Page, Pantera, The Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, and Radiohead, to name a few.{{cite web|title=Monte Pittman Fave 5 Record Reviews|url=http://www.guitarhoo.com/fave-5/monte-pittman-110|work=Guitarhoo!|publisher=Guitarhoo.com|access-date=March 13, 2013|date=January 9, 2013}}

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Pittman's first band was called Insanity. Eventually Pittman and the singer from Insanity, Chris Sheehan, started the 4-piece Myra Mains which was much more successful, releasing 2 demo tapes and 2 full album CDs. Headquartered in Longview, TX, Myra Mains Had fans from Dallas to Shreveport and all over East Texas and truly blossomed under the unrelenting rhythm section of drummer Kevin Blalock and bassist TJ Carlson.

File:Pittman-madonna.jpg (2006)]]

Pittman moved to Los Angeles in 1999 and worked at a guitar store as a salesman. He eventually quit to start teaching guitar lessons. Pittman's third student was British film director Guy Ritchie, who had just received a guitar as a gift from his girlfriend, Madonna. Ritchie later returned the favor, buying Madonna her own guitar—and she began to take lessons from Pittman as well.[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LTJB&p_theme=ltjb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11A3C7C3BA2A5D98&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D Spring Hill graduate performs at Live Earth]. Nl.newsbank.com (July 7, 2007). Retrieved on November 30, 2011.[http://www.bossus.com/boss_users_group/article.php?ArticleId=825 Monte Pittman: The Texas Trail to Prong and Madonna]. Bossus.com. Retrieved on November 30, 2011.

A month after Pittman started giving guitar lessons to Madonna, he was invited to join her on stage at the Late Show with David Letterman to promote her album Music. The pair played guitar together on an acoustic version of the hit song Don't Tell Me.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vptpv7gVrAk Madonna & Monte Pittman at the David Letterman Show]. Youtube.com. Retrieved on November 30, 2011. Subsequently, Pittman was invited to join the band for Madonna's Drowned World Tour (2001). He has played in every incarnation of Madonna's live band since then.

Pittman shares writing credits with Madonna on the tracks "Easy Ride" from American Life (2003) and "It's So Cool" from Celebration (2009).

Additionally, Pittman has contributed performances to Madonna's studio recordings, appearing on 2005's Confessions on a Dance Floor (Like It Or Not){{Cite web|url=https://breedlovemusic.com/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091127121425/http://breedlovemusic.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=157&Itemid=132|url-status=dead|title=Handmade Acoustic Guitars: Best Custom Designs & Sound {{pipe}} Breedlove|archivedate=November 27, 2009|website=Breedlove Guitar Company}} and 2008's Hard Candy (Spanish Lesson & Ring My Bell).

Apart from world tours Pittman has joined Madonna on stage in many special events, most notably at Live 8 where he played for thousands of people at Hyde Park in 2005 and at the 2007 Live Earth where he had the chance to jam "Big Bottom" with Spinal Tap, James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett among a dozen of other bass players on stage.

In 2012, he played at the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show where he debuted his new signature Jarrell MPS Guitar{{Cite web|url=http://jarrellguitars.com/news29/archives/announcing-the-mps-monte-pittman-signature-guitar|title=Announcing the MPS, Monte Pittman Signature Guitar}}

Pittman started his 5th world tour with the Queen of Pop, the MDNA Tour, on May 31, 2012, in Tel Aviv, Israel and stops in Europe, North & South America till the end of 2012. Paul Oakenfold who opened for Madonna in several US shows, invited Pittman on stage to jam together in the last N.American shows of the tour.

Between September 2015 and March 2016, Pittman toured with Madonna on her Rebel Heart tour.

File:Prong 16.01.2008 Orpheum Graz-4.jpg

Pittman was introduced to Prong's Tommy Victor[http://www.twisted-talent.com/index.php?p=artists&artistid=14&fulltext=1 Prong at Twisted Talent Concert] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717115735/http://www.twisted-talent.com/index.php?p=artists&artistid=14&fulltext=1 |date=July 17, 2011 }}. Twisted-talent.com. Retrieved on November 30, 2011. by White Zombie drummer Ivan de Prume; the two hit it off, and Pittman joined Prong in 2000. He played guitar on their 2002 tourGarry Sharpe-Young (2005) [https://books.google.com/books?id=uIIf03bGyAAC&dq=%22Monte+Pittman%22&pg=PT254 New Wave of American Heavy Metal] (1st edition) {{ISBN|0-9582684-0-1}} that spawned the live album 100% Live. Pittman handled guitar and bass duties for the 2003 album Scorpio Rising.

On Prong's 2007 release Power of the Damager, Pittman wrote 5 of the 13 songs and provided backing vocals alongside bass duties. He is also credited as an associate producer for both Power of the Damager and the remixed version Power of the Damn Mixxxer which was released in May 2009.

Previous to Adam Lambert's audition on American Idol, Pittman, Lambert, Tommy Victor from Prong and Steve Sidelnyk formed a band titled The Citizen Vein.[http://www.last.fm/music/The+Citizen+Vein The Citizen Vein – Discover music, concerts, stats, & pictures at]. Last.fm (February 11, 2009). Retrieved on November 30, 2011. For the tour of Adam Lambert's debut album, Lambert hired Pittman as his guitarist and musical director. Lambert and the band appeared on several TV shows as well as at the Gridlock New Year's Eve 2010 festival.[http://dose.clubzone.com/events/event137480.html Gridlock 2010 feat. Adam Lambert] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723195955/http://dose.clubzone.com/events/event137480.html |date=July 23, 2011 }}. Dose.clubzone.com. Retrieved on November 30, 2011. Canada's Rock Star Weekly reviewed that "Pittman has a rock-god presence of his own, arising from his well-honed, skilled riffs that come from a connection of love and devotion to his instrument over a long and distinguished musical career"[https://web.archive.org/web/20100211013155/http://www.rockstarweekly.com/content/view/1352/204/ Adam Lambert's Orchestra Of Glitz Welcomes 2010]. Rockstarweekly Pittman also appears on the 'Beg for Mercy' album, the material of which was recorded before Lambert went on American Idol and is co-written by Pittman and Lambert.

He has also worked in the studio with Melanie C and Sophie Ellis-Bextor

File:LiveEarthPittman.jpg, Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield at Live Earth]]

Pittman has been known to perform solo acoustic shows[http://axestaticprocess.wordpress.com/2010/01/31/monte-pittman-open-mic-night-at-suzys/ Open Mic Night with Monte Pittman]. Axestaticprocess.wordpress.com (January 31, 2010). Retrieved on November 30, 2011. in between his responsibilities with Prong and Madonna. He has developed into a fiercely capable musician—equally able to hold his own in a giant pop stadium tour as in a dark and smoky club belting out brutal metal tunes. Pittman's solo work takes a giant detour from both of those avenues, venturing into melodic acoustic territory on his debut, and branching out into rock anthems.

His debut solo album, The Deepest Dark, was released in November 2009 and features 11 songs all written by Pittman, except for "The Circle" which was co-written with Tommy Victor and Adam Lambert. All the songs are acoustic.[http://thezodiacshow.blogspot.com/2009/12/zodiacer-monte-pittmans-solo-album.html Monte Pittman's solo album debut]. Thezodiacshow.blogspot.com (December 3, 2009). Retrieved on November 30, 2011.

Almost a year after its digital release, The Deepest Dark was re-released in hard copy CD, with five additional bonus tracks.{{Cite web|url=http://montepittman.com/2010/09/the-deepest-dark-2010-first-look-at-new-album-art-and-bonus-track-titles/|title=The Deepest Dark to be re-released in hard copy CD}} A week later, it reached the No. 1 spot on the most selling albums (Acoustic genre) on CDBaby.com[https://web.archive.org/web/20110714114119/http://montepittman.com/2010/10/the-deepest-dark-reaches-top-acoustic-status-on-cdbaby/ The Deepest Dark reaches Top Acoustic Albums on CDBaby]. montepittman.com. October 8, 2010 and was No. 9 in the Top 10 Most Selling Albums on CDBaby for October 2010[http://blog.discmakers.com/2010/11/top-10-cd-baby-albums-october-2010/ Top 10 CD Baby Albums: October 2010]. Blog.discmakers.com (November 1, 2010). Retrieved on November 30, 2011.

Pittman managed to raise $65,500 for his second solo album, Pain, Love & Destiny, through Kickstarter.[http://montepittman.com/monte-is-featured-on-this-weeks-billboard-magazine/ Top 5 Most Successful Kickstarter Music Campaigns]. Montepittman.com (August 10, 2011). Retrieved on November 30, 2011. He recorded the album in the summer of 2011 and Noah Shain produced it. The album features Kane Ritchotte on drums and Kelle Rhoads (Randy Rhoads's brother) on piano. It was released on October 3, 2011[http://montepittman.com/pain-love-destiny-release-date/ Monte's 2nd album release date]. Montepittman.com (August 7, 2011). Retrieved on November 30, 2011.

The album made it to No. 1 Rock Album, No. 1 Pop Album, and the Top 10 albums chart in its debut week.{{Cite web|url=https://hautethought.com/2012/01/12/featured-artist-monte-pittman/|title=Featured Artist: Monte Pittman|date=January 12, 2012}}

The album was also available at the Official Merchandise Booths of Madonna's 2012 MDNA Tour.

Pittman was nominated in four categories at Artists in Music Awards and by popular demand he was also invited to perform at the ceremony on February 10, 2012.{{Cite web|url=http://the-in-show.blogspot.com/2012/01/monte-pittman-announced-to-perform-at.html|title=the "IN" show NEWS: Monte Pittman announced to perform at the All Indie Music Awards|first=The "in"|last=Show|date=January 11, 2012}} He won the Award for "Best Solo Artist". He is also the recipient of a "Career Achievement Award – Guitarist" for the Hollywood F.A.M.E. Awards!{{Cite web|url=https://montepittman.com/2012/06/01/monte-to-receive-career-achievement-award/|title=Monte to receive "Career Achievement Award"!|date=June 1, 2012}}

On June 29, 2012, Pittman was invited to ZDF's Morgenmagazin morning TV show where he performed a solo acoustic version of the song "Lost" from his album "Pain, Love & Destiny".{{Cite web|url=https://montepittman.com/2012/06/29/watch-montes-interview-performance-on-zdfs-morgenmagazin-tv-show/|title=Watch Monte's interview & performance on ZDF's Morgenmagazin TV show!|date=June 29, 2012}}

File:Monte Pittman Live.jpg

Pittman started working on new material on July 1, 2012, in Copenhagen, with Danish producer Flemming Rasmussen (the producer behind Metallica's old albums).{{Cite web |url=http://axestaticprocess.com/2012/07/01/monte-pittman-gets-metallica-producer-flemming-rasmussen-for-his-3rd-solo-album/ |title=Monte Pittman gets Metallica producer Flemming Rasmussen for his 3rd album |access-date=July 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202110039/http://axestaticprocess.com/2012/07/01/monte-pittman-gets-metallica-producer-flemming-rasmussen-for-his-3rd-solo-album/ |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |url-status=usurped }} He first released an acoustic EP "M.P.3.: The Power of Three, Part 1" (released on November 19, 2012) and went back to Copenhagen in February 2013, with bandmates Kane Ritchotte and Max Whipple to record more songs with Rasmussen also producing it.

After playing the album to Metal Blade's CEO Brian Slagel, he got signed to the label to release The Power of Three in 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://montepittman.com/2013/06/18/monte-pittman-signs-with-metal-blade-records-for-solo-metal-release/|title=Monte Pittman signs with Metal Blade Records for solo metal release|date=June 18, 2013}}

"A Dark Horse", the first single from The Power of Three, was released on October 14, 2013, by Metal Blade Records and marks Pittman's return to his metal roots. The second single is track No. 7 on the album and is entitled "Before the Mourning Son". It was released on November 25, 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://montepittman.com/2013/11/25/monte-pittman-releases-before-the-mourning-son-single-on-itunes/|title=MONTE PITTMAN releases "Before the Mourning Son" single on iTunes!|date=November 25, 2013}} The final track on the album, "All is Fair in Love and War", features guitars by Testament's Alex Skolnick and additional vocals from Chris Barnes (ex-Cannibal Corpse, Six Feet Under).{{Cite web|url=https://montepittman.com/2014/01/13/alex-skolnick-chris-barnes-are-featured-in-montes-new-album/|title=Alex Skolnick & Chris Barnes are featured in Monte's new album|date=January 13, 2014}}

The album was released on January 21, 2014{{Cite web|url=https://www.metalblade.com/us/releases/monte-pittman-the-power-of-three/|title=Monte Pittman "The Power of Three" {{pipe}} Metal Blade Records}} and has received many raving reviews. Music blog "The Global Onslaught" has described it as "2014's sleeping giant in the echelons of Hard Rock and Metal".{{Cite web |url=http://www.globalonslaught.com/reviews/561/Monte-Pittman-The-Power-of-Three/ |title=Global Onslaught review for The Power Of Three |access-date=February 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222172236/http://www.globalonslaught.com/reviews/561/Monte-Pittman-The-Power-of-Three/ |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

On 2016's Inverted Grasp of Balance, Pittman joined drummer Richard Christy and bassist Billy Sheehan.{{Cite web|url=http://montepittman.com/2016/08/16/monte-pittman-reveals-details-for-new-album-inverted-grasp-of-balance/|title=Monte Pittman reveals details for new album, 'Inverted Grasp of Balance'|website=Monte Pittman|access-date=August 18, 2016}}

Pittman released Between the Space on Metal Blade in August 2018 and undertook a tour with Sebastian Bach of Skid Row in the USA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metalblade.com/us/news/monte-pittman-releases-two-new-albums-today/|title=Monte Pittman releases two new albums, 'Better or Worse' and 'Between the Space', today via Metal Blade Records {{pipe}} Metal Blade Records}}

At the same time Pittman released Between the Space, he released an acoustic album Better or Worse also on Metal Blade.

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Pittman uses the Gibson Les Paul as his primary guitar. He has also been known to play Gibson SGs and he has a number of custom made Gibson electrics, acoustics, and basses—frequently specially-built for use in Madonna shows. In 2015 he signed with ESP guitars

File:MPittmanJarrell.jpgIn December 2011, Jarrell Guitars announced{{Cite web|url=http://jarrellguitars.com/news29/|title=Announcing the MPS, Monte Pittman Signature Guitar}} that they are launching a new line, the Monte Pittman Signature Guitar and it will be presented at the 2012 NAMM. The Jarrell MPS features a custom Seymour Duncan pickup set making it one of the most versatile guitars in the market. "All together it seems Monte Pittman and Jarrell Guitars are hell bent on rocking the world – the sound of which is none other than simply amazing."{{Cite web|url=http://www.mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=150173|title=Jarrell Guitars Debuts "Monte Pittman Signature" Guitar At NAMM 2012}}

Pittman comments on the MPS, "There are 13 different sounds you can get out of it. It's the most versatile guitar I've ever played. Jarrell guitars have a very unique and distinctive sound. We have three models. The regular MPS and the MPS-f which has a Floyd Rose. They are loaded with custom Seymour Duncan pickups. There is also the MPS Classic which is the least expensive."{{Cite web |url=http://www.metroseeker.com/los-angeles/felos/monte-pittman |title=Monte Pittman talks about his career and new guitar on MetroSeeker.com |access-date=February 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203022953/http://metroseeker.com/los-angeles/felos/monte-pittman |archive-date=February 3, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

Pittman is endorsed by Orange Amplifiers.{{cite web|title=Monte Pittman – Madonna|url=http://www.orangeamps.com/monte-pittman-madonna/|publisher=Orange Amplifiers|access-date=April 13, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901071618/http://www.orangeamps.com/monte-pittman-madonna/|archive-date=September 1, 2011}}

Like most guitarists, Pittman's effects change from show to show, but he has consistently employed the Roger Linn Adrena Linn, the Emma DiscomBOBulator, and the Keeley Compressor. He has been known to use Eventide, Boss, MXR, Crybaby, Ernie Ball, Electro-Harmonix, Digitech, Line 6, Dunlop,[http://axestaticprocess.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/axe-static-money-shot%E2%84%A2-montes-board/ Monte Pittman's pedalboard]. Axestaticprocess.wordpress.com (August 2, 2009). Retrieved on November 30, 2011. VoiceLive 2 by TC-Helicon[http://www.tc-helicon.com/artist_select.asp?ajrDcmntID=11264 TC-Helicon Artists] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418154743/http://www.tc-helicon.com/artist_select.asp?AjrDcmntId=11264 |date=April 18, 2010 }}. Tc-helicon.com. Retrieved on November 30, 2011. and Fishman effects pedals.[http://www.fishman.com/artists/ Fishman Artists]. Fishman.com. Retrieved on November 30, 2011.

• Between the Space (2018){{cite web |last1=Godla |first1=Frank |title=MONTE PITTMAN Announces Two New Solo Albums And Full U.S. Tour With SEBASTIAN BACH |url=http://www.metalinjection.net/av/new-music/monte-pittman-announces-two-new-solo-albums-and-full-u-s-tour-with-sebastian-bach |website=Metal Injection |date=July 18, 2018 |access-date=September 7, 2018}}
• Better or Worse (2018)
• Inverted Grasp of Balance (2016)
• The Power of Three (2014)
• Before The Mourning Son – single (2013)
• A Dark Horse – single (2013)
• M.P.3: The Power of Three, Part 1 (2012)
• Pain, Love, & Destiny (2011)
• The Deepest Dark (with bonus tracks) (2010)
• The Deepest Dark (2009)

• Drowned World Tour (2001)
• American Life (2003)
• Re-Invention Tour (2004)
• Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
• I'm Going to Tell You a Secret (2006)
• Confessions Tour (2007)
• Hey You (single) (2007)
• Hard Candy (2008)
• It's So Cool (2009) (Celebration bonus track)
• Sticky & Sweet Tour (2010)
• MDNA Tour (2012)
• Rebel Heart Tour (2015–2016)

• 100% Live (2002)
• Scorpio Rising (2003)
• The Vault (2005)
• Power of the Damager (2007)
• Power of the Damn Mixxxer (2009)

• Condition (1996)
• Buried (1999)
• Two Blocks Down from the Seventh Sign (cassette EP) (1994)
• MYRA MAINS (Eden's Way, Rape the Whirlwind, Truth, Death Is But a Bag of Chips) (self-titled cassette EP) (1992)

File:Pittman-lambert.jpg]]

• Melanie C – Reason (2003)
• Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Shoot from the Hip (2003)
• Adam Lambert – Take One (2005)Take One (album). Wikipedia (December 3, 2009). Retrieved on December 27, 2011.
• Run Run Run – Endless Winter (2006)
• Run Run Run – Good Company EP (2007)
• Jes – Disconnect (2007)
• Nicki Richards – Nicki (2008)[http://www.newsli.com/2009/02/25/nicki-richards-hot-off-madonna-sticky-sweet-tour-announces-brand-new-release-two-huge-nyc-shows-this-spring/ Nicki Richards "Nicki" Album Credits]. Newsli.com (February 25, 2009). Retrieved on November 30, 2011.
• In Extremo – Sängerkrieg (2008)
• Adam Lambert – Adam Lambert Acoustic Live (2010)
• Adam Lambert – Glam Nation Live (2011)
• Adam Lambert – Beg for Mercy (2011)
• Body Count – Bloodlust (2017){{cite web| url = https://www.discogs.com/composition/ca9e8756-a794-4734-b91f-451cae4929e7-Bloodlust| title = Discogs - Tracks Beta| website = Discogs}}

• Drowned World Tour (2001) with Madonna
• Prong Live (2002–2003) with Prong
• MTV Video Music Awards (2003) with Madonna
• Re-Invention World Tour (2004) with Madonna
• Tsunami Aid (2004) with Madonna
• Live 8 (2005) with Madonna
• MTV Europe Music Awards (2005) with Madonna
• Grammy Awards (2006) with Madonna
• Confessions Tour (2006) with Madonna
• Live Earth (2007) with Madonna
• Slicing Across America & Europe (2007) with Prong
• Sticky & Sweet Tour (2008–2009) with Madonna
• American Music Awards (2009) with Adam Lambert
• Hope for Haiti Now (2010) with Madonna
• GLAAD Media Award (2010) with Adam Lambert
• Glam Nation Tour (2010) with Adam Lambert
• Artists in Music Awards (2011) solo
• MDNA Tour (2012) with Madonna
• From Beer to Eternity Tour with Ministry
• Rebel Heart Tour (2015–2016) with Madonna
• Monte Pittman Solo Tour (2018) with Sebastian Bach{{Cite web|url=https://montepittman.com/2018/07/16/monte-joins-sebastian-bach-on-tour-this-fall/|title=Monte joins Sebastian Bach on Tour this Fall!|date=July 16, 2018}}
• Monte Pittman Solo Tour (2019) with Tony MacAlpine{{Cite web|url=https://www.metalblade.com/us/news/monte-pittman-announces-north-american-tour-with-tony-macalpine-lonero/|title=Monte Pittman announces North American tour with Tony MacAlpine, Lonero {{pipe}} Metal Blade Records}}
• Madame X Tour (2019–2020) with Madonna

{{Awards table}}

|-

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="4"| 2012

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="3"| Monte Pittman

| rowspan="1"|Best Rock Artist

| {{nom}}

|-

| rowspan="1"|Best Blues Artist

| {{nom}}

|-

| rowspan="1"|Best Solo Artist

| {{Won}}

|-

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan="1"|Pain, Love & Destiny

| rowspan="1"|Album of the Year

| {{nom}}

{{end}}

{{Awards table}}

|-

| style="text-align:center;" | 2012

| style="text-align:center;" | Monte Pittman

| rowspan="1"|Male Singer/Songwriter

| {{nom}}

|-

{{end}}

Pittman was honored by the Hollywood F.A.M.E. Awards with the "Career Achievement Award – Guitarist" on November 15, 2012{{cite web|url=http://montepittman.com/monte-to-receive-career-achievement-award/|title= Monte Pittman to receive Career Achievement Awards|work=Montepittman.com}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|http://montepittman.com}}

{{authority control}}

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Category:1975 births

Category:21st-century American guitarists

Category:Guitarists from Texas

Category:Living people

Category:Ministry (band) members

Category:People from Longview, Texas

Category:Prong (band) members