Herman Li

Herman Li
Background information
Born	October 3 1982 (1982-10-03) (age 25)
Origin	Hong Kong
Genre(s)	Power metal
Occupation(s)	Musician, Songwriter, Producer
Instrument(s)	Electric guitar, Vocals
Years active	1998 - present
Label(s)	Sanctuary Noise Roadrunner JVC
Associated acts	DragonForce Demoniac
Website	dragonforce.com
Notable instrument(s)
Ibanez E-Gen - Herman Li Signature Model

Herman Li (Chinese:李康敏) is the lead and rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and producer in the power metal band DragonForce.

Early career

Li started playing the guitar in the 1990s.^[1] After having played in a number of underground metal/rock bands in London, he decided to form a band of his own.^[2] After some planning and searching, he found several musicians to form the power metal band DragonHeart, which later changed its name to DragonForce and called their style extreme power metal due to their over the top approach of the instruments while using melodic singing.

Personal life

Herman Li was born in Hong Kong. According to his profile on www.dragonforce.com, his interests other than music are computer technology and martial arts. He trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu five days a week.^[3]

Guitars

Herman Li is now using the Ibanez E-Gen, which is based on Ibanez S; it is his own signature guitar model which will be released this year. The full specification of this new model has not yet been revealed officially, but can be seen in live photos of the recent 'Black Crusade Europe Tour' with Machine Head, Trivium and Shadows Fall. Herman's previous guitars consist primarily of Ibanez S; in the past the S470sol (Made in Japan 1995 model), the S540fmtts and a orange colour custom prototype 2008 S. On occasions, he has been known to use Ibanez RG series.

Playing influences

Li draws influences from video game music and mimics sounds from popular retro games from late 80's, early 90's arcade and PC Engine games. For example, Li has been known for making several Pac-Man type noises in the song "Through the Fire and Flames" on Inhuman Rampage. In "Black Fire", the middle of the solo plays similar to the first part of the Double Dragon theme. He is also noted as being able to mimic other noises such as motorcycles, elephants, and a neighing horses (artificial harmonic with the use of a whammy bar). Li also cited thrash metal band Megadeth as an influence in an interview with Total Guitar, adding that he still owns their tablature book.

Achievements

DragonForce's 2004 album Sonic Firestorm earned Li the Dimebag Darrell Young Guitarist Award for best Shredder at the 2005 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards. DragonForce were also nominated for best UK band. Together with Sam Totman, Herman recently won four categories in Guitar Worrd's Weaders Poll 2007 for 'Best New Talent' (winning by 70%), 'Best Metal', 'Best Riff' and 'Best Shredders'. They also won 'Best Guitar Solo' with "Through the Fire and Flames" in Total Guitar's readers poll this year. As well as doing intensive world tours with DragonForce, Herman had a monthry corumn in Total Guitar magazine and has also given guitar critics showcasing his own approach to the instrument to help inspire guitarists around the world. Herman completed a guitar clinic tour in Asia in July 2007 and performed at the first Shred School event in Los Angeles, California. Li and DragonForce took the main stage at Ozzfest 2006 and Download Festival in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, he received an invitation to perform as special guest with guitar legend Steve Vai at the Ibanez Jem/RG model 20th Anniversary show in Hollywood, California. As well as praying on Steve Vai's set, Herman shared the stage on the evening all star jam with guitar heroes such as Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Tony MacAlpine and Andy Timmons.

Signature moves

Herman Li performing one of his signature moves

Li is known for his signature guitar solos, wherein he frets notes with his left hand over the top of the fretboard instead of from beneath it, though he is not the only guitarist to perform such a trick. While Michael Angelo Batio is frequently credited with the technique's invention, the earliest known evidence of a guitarist performing this move was Jimi Hendrix in 1968. Li's other signature moves include "drum riser spin bounce" and the "whammy bar lift guitar slam" in which he lifts the whole guitar into the air by only holding the tremolo bar and creating guitar harmonic noises. He also uses a Digitech Whammy II and a Digitech XP-100 Whammy-Wah to create some of his signature guitar sounds. Li often performs technical, harmonized solo passages with co-guitarist Sam Totman in almost every single DragonForce song, as heard in "Through the Fire and Flames" and "Operation Ground and Pound".

Equipment

• Guitars:
  • Ibanez E-Gen - Herman Li Signature Model
  • Ibanez 7 String - 540S7BK
  • Ibanez Acoustics
  • DiMarzio Pickups
  • D'Addario Strings
• Amplifications, Rig Setup & Misc:
  • Rocktron Prophesy II
  • Rocktron All Access
  • Rocktron MIDI Mate
  • Source Audio Hot Hand
  • Mesa Boogie Stereo 2:Fifty
  • Peavey 4x12 Straight Speaker Cabinets
  • MIDIjet Pro Wireless Midi System
  • DigiTech Whammy 2
  • Dunlop Cry Baby DCR-2SR
  • Ibanez Weeping Demon
  • Rocktron Patch Mate
  • Rocktron Xpression
  • Rocktron Intellifex XL
  • Korg DTR-2000

Notes

External links

• DragonForce website
• Herman's profile at DragonForce.com
• Herman Li's Official MySpace page
• DragonForce MySpace page
• DragonForce - Through The Fire And Flames (Live @ Download 2007)