Ben Woods (musician)

Ben Woods (musician)
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Born	(1974-01-20) January 20, 1974 Seattle, Washington
Died	2022
Occupation	Musician Artist

Ben Woods (Benjamin Woods) (1974-2022) is the creator, the father, of Flametal (Flamenco-Metal), a music genre that combines Flamenco and Metal. He was an international recording artist and touring musician known for his guitar playing and original acoustic arrangements and fusions of Spanish Flamenco, Rock, Metal, and Surf. He has over 100k subscribers and over 30 million views on his YouTube channel, Ben Woods Guitar. He has released over 20 albums, has been sponsored by Ortega Guitars, and has designed several different guitar models. He was also an illustrator, specializing in wildlife illustration. He was the founder and a member of the bands Flametal and Heavy Mellow, and was part of a Flamenco Duo with Flamenco Dancer Arleen Hurtado.

Biography

Ben Woods was born on January 20, 1974. He was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. He began playing guitar at a young age, with his primary genre being Death Metal. In his early 20s, he was in a Death Metal band while renting a house with his friends. They rented a room out to someone who ended up stealing Woods' music gear. Though he was missing his gear, he still had his classical guitar and used it to practice. Playing fast on the nylon strings reminded him of the Flamenco guitar style. It was through this experience that he decided to look into learning Flamenco and developed a deep appreciation for the music and culture. Along with practicing on his own, his Flamenco instructors were Marcos and Rubina Carmona.

Also around 19 years old, Woods began illustrating and learned wildlife illustration, Native American totemic formline and carving, darkroom skills, screen print color separation by hand from illustrator William Cunningham while working at Indian Arts and Crafts in Seattle, WA. He also learned tattoo art with his other art mentor Christopher Westbrook. He later taught himself computer art and designed t-shirts and various album covers.

On September 28, 2022, Woods died of colon cancer at 48 years old.

Bands

Flametal

Woods formed the band Flametal in 2004 in Oakland, California. Flametal is the first and only band to successfully combine Flamenco and Metal music, thus creating a new genre. Members of Flametal included Ben Woods, Thomas Perry, Uriah Duffy(Whitesnake), Brian T Spalding, and Angeline Saris. The band also regularly had performances with Flamenco dancers. In 2010, Woods released a solo album under Flametal titled "Heavy Mellow." Heavy Mellow was created completely by Woods himself. It was a series of metal covers done in the flamenco way.

Heavy Mellow

After releasing the solo album Heavy Mellow under Flametal, Woods decided to put a trio together so that they can continue to make covers of heavy metal songs in the Flamenco style. Heavy Mellow (Metal Classics on Flamenco Guitars) consisted of Ben Woods, Luis Villegas (guitarist), Al Velasquez (formerly played percussion), Mike Bennett (percussion).

Flamenco LA

Flamenco LA was a Flamenco Duo with Ben Woods (guitarist) and his partner Arleen Hurtado (dancer). Flamenco LA performed modern and Flamenco fusion all over the world.

Discography

Albums

• Bedroom Sessions '05 (2005)
• Flametal – The Elder (2007)
• Spanish Guitar By Benjamin (2008)
• Flametal – Heavy Mellow (2010)
• Califas (2011)
• Vision (2011)
• Ghost Town (2011)
• SIDEWINDER(2011)
• Surf Flamingo (2014)
• Flametal Priest / Flametallica (2015)
• Electric Flamenco (2016)
• Ben Woods (2) & Thomas Zwijsen – Master Guitar Tour (2017)
• Boaraxx (2018)
• Nashville Sessions (2016 & 2018) (2018)
• Robots From Outer Spain (2020)

Guitars

Ben Woods created and designed several guitars.

• Ben Woods Signature Flamenco Guitar Series by Ortega Guitars:
  • Ben Woods Signature Model (BWSM)
  • Ben Woods Signature Model 2 (BWSM2)
  • Flametal-One
  • Flametal-Two
• Nylocaster (Woods' guitar brand)

Features, Publications, and Endorsements

Ben Woods has been featured in several reputable music magazines, published a book with his own original arrangements, and has been endorsed by different major music companies.

Classical Guitar Magazine

Classical Guitar Magazine reviewed Woods' guitar artistry as he performed for its Classical Guitar Sessions. During the session in 2017, Ben Woods performed his original Flamenco guitar arrangement of the Foo Fighters’ Grammy-nominated song “The Pretender” and an original piece, "Agua Donde Vas." Classical Guitar Magazine described Woods as a "fine traditional flamenco player" and affirmed his originality in his flamenco-inspired interpretations of heavy metal rock songs. He was also interviewed by Classical Guitar Magazine, where he shared his musical experience and background and gave tips on Flamenco improvisation. This was featured in the Fall 2015 edition of the Classical Guitar Magazine, pages 30-33.

Ben Woods' Signature Model guitar was reviewed by Classical Guitar Magazine. It was received with positive reviews with the reviewer stating that they were, "struck by its easy playability; good sound, both acoustic and amplified; and relatively affordable price."

Acoustic Guitar

Acoustic Guitar featured Woods' guitar arrangement of the “The Pretender” by Foo Fighters, calling it a creative cover and a perfect demonstration of his style, Flametal, that blends Flamenco with Heavy Metal. He was featured in the Acoustic Guitar Magazine November 2015 edition pages 38-39 which showcased his musical experience and background. Record producer and engineer Pat Moran said about Woods, "With flamenco arrangements of heavy-metal classics, Ben Woods explores the 'perfect marriage' of two genres."

Ortega Guitars

Ortega Guitars deems Woods as "a protagonist of authentic Spanish Flamenco guitar" and well-known for his original and unique acoustic arrangements and fusions of Rock, Metal, Surf, and Flamenco.

Woods was endorsed by Ortega Guitars and has collaborated with them to create four original guitar models.

Cordoba Acoustic Guitars

Woods was also endorsed and featured by Cordoba. Cordoba showcased Woods' feature on Classical Guitar Magazine and his original Flamenco solo guitar arrangement of "Spill the Blood" by Slayer.

Hal Leonard

Ben Woods has created original, solo guitar arrangements of classic heavy metal songs. He published "Metal Classics for Fingerstyle Guitar" with publisher Hal Leonard, the worlds largest print music publisher, which includes eight of his original arrangements.

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