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Jeffrey " Jeff" Young (born March 31, 1962) is an American guitarist. He graduated from Musicians Institute in 1985, and is best known for his time with the thrash metal band Megadeth, appearing on the 1988 album So Far, So Good... So What! (Capitol Records). In 1998, Young co-wrote, produced and played on the world-fusion album Chameleon by Badi Assad. In addition to his subsequent music projects, he served as a writer for Guitar for the Practicing Musician.
He was inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame in 2025.
Young's career with Megadeth was spent recording and touring in support of their 1988 platinum selling album, So Far, So Good... So What! His first performance with the band appeared in as a member of Megadeth.
In 1989, Young was fired from Megadeth due to reportedly "contemplating putting the moves on Diana" (Mustaine's fiancé) Young said he told Mustaine that this was untrue but Mustaine fired him anyway.
For a portion of the 1990s, Young stepped away from his career to deal with the untimely deaths of first his father and later his mother while immersing himself in the further study of classical, flamenco, gypsy jazz and other world music varieties.
In 1998, he resurfaced with new Brazilian people musical partner and wife, Badi Assad. Together, the duo crafted exotic soundscapes for Verve/PolyGram records collaboration entitled, Badi Assad's Chameleon. The album (co-written, arranged, and produced by Young), climbed to the top of the world music charts in Germany & Holland also topping JAZZIZ magazine's Readers Poll: "Best Brazilian Albums of the Year."
Opening concerts for renowned artists including Joe Cocker and Cassandra Wilson, as well as performances on 1999's Lilith Fair and Farm Aid 2000, Young's association with the Assad family also spawned songwriting collaborations with guitar luminary Sérgio Assad and two pieces on Badi's Verde album.
In 2003, the track "Waves" from Chameleon was featured in the Michael and Kirk Douglas film It Runs in the Family, as well as on the movie's soundtrack.
Young is currently writing, producing & releasing solo, instrumental music on the High-Tone Eleven Records label. His first, all instrumental album, Revolutions, is being released track by track with the singles, "Monsoon" – "In the Flesh" & "Slow Burn" available now via his official website & most digital distribution sources. Revolutions features performances from some of the world's top players: Tina Guo, Ric Fierabracci, James LoMenzo, Brian Tichy, Jeff Bowders & Shane Gaalaas.
In 2022 Young reunited with former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson to form Kings of Thrash in order to perform old Megadeth songs live. The band have so far completed tours in North America, Australia, the UK and Europe, with one live album released. Some shows have featured fellow former Megadeth guitarist Chris Poland on a few songs.
On January 22, 2025, Young was inducted into the Metal Hall of Fame, he also performed at the event which took place at the Grand Theater in Anaheim, California.
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