Brandon Cook spent his early years in the small farm town of Boyds, Maryland. Brandon’s parents noticed that he was constantly singing little ditties that he made up and idolizing his older brother Justin and cousin Curt who played drums and bass respectively. So, at age 8, Brandon started bass lessons. After moving to California, and discovering Megadeth at 13, Brandon picked up the guitar. Noticing his intensity, many older musicians brought Brandon into their bands. As an “A” student and athlete, Brandon studied guitar with classical guitarist Matthew Grasso practicing up to 4 hours per day. This gave the ambitious young guitarist a foundation for becoming a highly versatile musician. Playing and writing music ranging from funk to Alternative to Death Metal, Brandon found a voice for his many musical interests.

At 19, now living in Oregon, Brandon began studying jazz music. This move also found Brandon in his first professional band, the progressive metal outfit, Ground Zero. These two endeavors would further widen his adeptness at many styles.

Since graduating from Portland State University with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz, Brandon has performed in as many as 6 bands at a time, playing guitar, bass, and singing lead/backup vocals. But there was something missing.

This feeling led Brandon to travel the world to receive lessons from two world renowned guitarists, Al Pitrelli and Marty Friedman. These two Musical encounters forever changed Brandon’s mindset. In New York City, Al taught the lesson of preparedness and encouraged Brandon to sight-read music and continue playing many styles. This lesson would prove highly effective and Al has become an ongoing mentor.

The Marty Friedman story starts as a failed audition in Tokyo, Japan. Having spent 8 months learning Friedman’s material and making 3 audition CD’s and a video, Brandon refused to give up. This led Brandon to receive three 4-hour thrashings from the veteran guitarist. Marty taught the lesson of detail and professionalism to the highest degree. Marty encouraged Brandon to record more and sing lead. Marty has also become an ongoing mentor. Classic Marty quote: If you want to make it in the music business, you have to be prepared to eat shit and ask for more.

In 2004, Brandon won a contest allowing him the privilege of jamming with the mighty Metallica. This jam session further cemented in the young guitarist’s mind that there is more to music than playing in bar bands.

Within days of winning this contest, Brandon asked Al Pitrelli to put in a good word with Chris Caffery. Brandon had heard Caffery was releasing his first solo record. Brandon contacted Chris through email and continued communication for many months. Almost exactly one year after winning the Metallica contest, Brandon secured the 2nd guitarist position in Chris Caffery’s Faces.

After the fourth show with Faces, Brandon and Chris made the decision to part ways so that the younger guitarist could spend time with his brand new baby girl, Lisa Miwa Cook.

Brandon thanks his wife Yoko for teaching him the cold reality that hard work is the only way to get what you want. He also thanks the following musicians for their continued mentorship: Matthew Grasso, Jon Finn, Marty Friedman, Al Pitrelli, Darrell Grant, Sean Malone, Brian Beller, Ron Jarzombek(beat me for the Marty gig, so I made friends), Timmer Blakely, Chris Catero and Charley Grey.