Chris Impellitteri
Chris Impellitteri (born September 25, 1964) is an American guitarist and songwriter, who is the lead guitarist and founder of the heavy metal band Impellitteri. In 2003, Guitar One Magazine voted Chris Impellitteri the second-fastest guitar shredder of all time. In 2008, Guitar World magazine named him as one of the fastest guitarists of all time.
Chris Impellitteri

애콜라이트 · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Born
- 1964 · Connecticut.
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- musician · guitarist
- Fields
- heavy metal music
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Chris Impellitteri (born September 25, 1964) is an American guitarist and songwriter, who is the lead guitarist and founder of the heavy metal band Impellitteri. In 2003, Guitar One Magazine voted Chris Impellitteri the second-fastest guitar shredder of all time. In 2008, Guitar World magazine named him as one of the fastest guitarists of all time.
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Chris Impellitteri (born 1964) is an American guitarist and musician. The guitarist was born in Connecticut. Chris Impellitteri is a member of Impellitteri. Genres include heavy metal music.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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Authority files
wikidata · Q576624 · wikipedia · Chris Impellitteri
In this article
Biography
Biography
In 2023, Impellitteri was inducted into the Heavy Metal Hall of Fame.
On The Blairing Out Show, he said that both his parents died by suicide when he was nine years old, and that the guitar provided a path for him to express his anger and feelings. Impellitteri's first music release was a black EP titled Impellitteri. It was filled with music featuring shredding guitar solos, screaming vocals, and a fast rhythm section. The Impellitteri Black EP established the band's sound in the metal world and was well received by their fans, critics, and respected musicians. Chris Impellitteri was instantly branded a guitar hero after this recording was released. The following Impellitteri record was titled Stand in Line and propelled the band into stardom. The music video "Stand in Line" was played often on MTV and VH1. The Stand in Line album featured Graham Bonnet on lead vocals who formerly sang with the rock band Rainbow. Impellitteri has released two records titled Venom (2015) and The Nature of the Beast (2018). The band Impellitteri currently features Rob Rock on vocals, James Pulli on Bass and Jon Dette on drums. The band has become popular globally and has performed to over 30,000 people at a single show.
Equipment
Equipment
Over the course of his career, Impellitteri has used a wide variety of different guitar brands and models, including Fender, Gibson, and Dean. He is currently endorsed by Charvel guitars with whom he has a custom model. In addition, he also used ENGL amplifiers and Seymour Duncan pickups. Chris Impellitteri is currently using Charvel and Gibson guitars and Vintage Marshall and Mesa Boogie amplification.
with Impellitteri
with Impellitteri
See: Impellitteri Discography • Stand in Line (1988) • Grin and Bear It (1992) • Answer to the Master (1994) • Screaming Symphony (1996) • Eye of the Hurricane (1997) • Crunch (2000) • System X (2002) • Pedal to the Metal (2004) • Wicked Maiden (2009) • Venom (2015) • The Nature of the Beast (2018)
with Animetal USA
with Animetal USA
• Animetal USA (2011) • Animetal USA W (2012)
Guest appearances
Guest appearances
• House of Lords – Sahara (1990) • Various artists – Dragon Attack: A Tribute to Queen (1997) • Various artists – Randy Rhoads Tribute (2000) • Damir Šimić-Shime - tOne Addict (2010) • Mari Hamada - Gracia (2018) • Alcatrazz - Born Innocent (2020)

Impellitteri, 2016 Busan International Rock Festival
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Chris Impellitteri, 2016 Busan Rock Festival
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Discography
• Illustration — Impellitteri performing in 2016
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q576624: Chris Impellitteri
Unverified · Wikidata
reference work
- “Chris Impellitteri”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Phil Brodie Band. Fastest Guitar Shredders.
- 2.GuitarWorld Magazine. 50 Fastest Guitarists of All Time.
- 3.Lift Up Your Hands in Praise: The 2023 Metal Hall of Fame Gala. Metal Hall of Fame. 31 January 2023.
- 4.CHRIS IMPELLITTERI Says He Was Approached By SHARON OSBOURNE About Joining OZZY's Band. Blabbermouth.net. April 12, 2020.
- 5.Colin Larkin. The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal. Guinness Publishing. 176. 1995. 0-85112-656-1.
- 6.Impellitteri – Eternal Rock. www.eternalrock-musicagency.com.
- 7.Chris Impellitteri's Equipboard. Equipboard.
- 8.Andy Aledort November 30, 2018. Chris Impellitteri Breaks Down His Latest Pyrotechnical Workout, 'The Nature of the Beast'. guitarworld. November 30, 2018.
References
Citations
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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