Legendary guitarist and composer Jason Becker, a titan of the rock and metal guitar scene who has bravely navigated life with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for 35 years, has unveiled a significant new offering for his dedicated fanbase: "The Strawberry Jams." This collection of previously unheard guitar music is now available for purchase and streaming via Bandcamp, marking another milestone in Becker’s enduring creative journey.
"The Strawberry Jams" represents the third installment in a series of archival recordings, meticulously captured on Becker’s Tascam 4-track and 8-track cassette recorders between 1985 and 1992. This prolific period predates the full onset of ALS, a time when Becker’s physical ability to play guitar was unimpeded. The preceding volumes in this series, "The Raspberry Jams" and "The Blackberry Jams," along with the earlier release of early demo material in "Boy Meets Guitar," have provided fans with an intimate glimpse into the formative stages of Becker’s unparalleled musical genius.
In his own words, Becker explained the genesis of these recordings: "I never intended to release this music; they were just demos to have so I wouldn’t forget my ideas. I didn’t take time to polish or work them out. I also left mistakes on some of them. These were just for myself and my family, friends and musicians who I wanted to work with on them." This candid admission underscores the deeply personal nature of these unearthed tracks, initially conceived as a private repository of creative sparks rather than polished commercial releases.
The emotional resonance of these recordings is amplified by Becker’s poignant recollection of their secondary purpose. "As my hands were getting weaker from ALS, I sometimes recorded myself noodling around with solos so I would have them in case the worst scenario happened," he shared. "I recorded so much music during these times." This practice served as a proactive measure against the devastating progression of ALS, a neurodegenerative disease that progressively robs individuals of voluntary muscle control. The sheer volume of music recorded during these challenging years speaks volumes about Becker’s unwavering commitment to his art, even as his physical capabilities waned.
These archived fragments have not merely remained dormant. Becker revealed that elements from these early demos have been foundational to his more recent compositions. "I have used some of these old demos on past new songs like ‘Blue,’ ‘River Of Longing,’ ‘We Are One,’ ‘Once Upon A Melody,’ ‘Taking Me Back,’ ‘Tell Me No Lies,’ ‘Rain’ and the ideas for ‘Fantasy Weaver,’ ‘Higher,’ ‘End Of The Beginning,’ ‘Empire’ and more." This demonstrates a continuous creative dialogue between his past and present, where nascent ideas have matured and evolved into fully realized pieces.
The journey to bring "The Strawberry Jams" to the public was not without its own set of challenges. Following the release of his critically acclaimed 2018 album, "Triumphant Hearts," Becker experienced a significant health decline. "After finishing ‘Triumphant Hearts’ in 2018, I got really sick," he stated. "For five years all of my attention was on staying alive. I felt sad because I had no inspiration for new music." It was during this period of profound personal struggle that a collaborative effort with his friends, Dave Lopez and Reto Peter, began. They requested access to his extensive archive of demo recordings, offering to meticulously work on them. Becker readily shared his collection, which comprised a mix of MP3 files stored in iTunes and, crucially, separated tracks that his producer friend, Dan Alvarez, had painstakingly organized into the Logic Pro digital audio workstation. This collaborative spirit, born out of friendship and a shared passion for Becker’s music, proved instrumental in resurrecting these forgotten gems.
The visual identity of "The Strawberry Jams" also carries a rich history. The evocative cover art features a photograph captured by Mark Leialoha in 1991 at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley, California. The album’s design was thoughtfully executed by Navin Dorai, adding a layer of artistic curation to the sonic content.
The Tracklist: A Deep Dive into Becker’s Unreleased Archives
"The Strawberry Jams" boasts an expansive 30-track listing, offering a diverse sonic landscape that showcases Becker’s multifaceted talent. The track titles themselves hint at the experimental and often playful nature of his creative process during this period:
- Crip Tone Night (04:09)
- Sliding Away (03:59)
- Some Assembly Required – Jason Becker & Friends (07:23)
- Some Assembly Required Demo (feat. Matt and Gregg Bissonette) (04:00)
- Billy the Carrot (04:38)
- Weak Hand Blues (10:54)
- Very Nice Clean Classical Idea (01:06)
- River of Longing (feat. John Scofield) (05:53)
- Lagrima (Tarrega) (01:14)
- Hot For Teacher (04:02)
- Dark Water (01:34)
- King Kong vs Godzilla (01:07)
- Mini Guitar Song (03:00)
- Rock Rhythm #5b (01:08)
- Cool Arpeggio (00:18)
- Meet me Demo (03:38)
- Ripping Song (01:07)
- Ten Oak Trees (01:55)
- Corn In The Morn (03:01)
- Drop In The Bucket Demo (05:19)
- End of the Beginning Demos (04:18)
- First Empire Demo (01:28)
- Serrana Clean Demo (01:36)
- Serrana Intro Backward Stuff (02:13)
- Serrana Clean Guitar Fast Arrangement (02:00)
- Higher Guitar Demo (02:28)
- First Rain Demo (02:03)
- Little Boy Blues (04:17)
- Some Soloing (03:43)
- Some More Soloing (01:03)
The inclusion of "Some Assembly Required" featuring "Friends" and a specific demo with Matt and Gregg Bissonette, renowned drummers, highlights the collaborative spirit even in these early stages. The track "Weak Hand Blues" clocks in at an impressive 10:54, suggesting a more expansive and exploratory piece. Furthermore, the presence of jazz guitar legend John Scofield on "River of Longing" is a significant highlight, showcasing Becker’s ability to transcend genre boundaries and attract collaborations with esteemed musicians. The inclusion of "Lagrima (Tarrega)" also points to Becker’s deep appreciation for classical guitar traditions.
"Crip Tone Night": A Testament to Resilience and Collaboration
A standout track from the album, "Crip Tone Night" (originally conceived with the working title "Hen Tricks"), offers a compelling narrative of its own. Becker described the intricate process behind its final form: "I had five versions of it. The last one was the best. Arion Salazar (THIRD EYE BLIND) took it and added bass. When I originally recorded it, I didn’t have a bass, so I put down the clean guitar part instead. Arion arranged the song so that the clean guitar was soloed in the beginning and middle of the song. We loved it, and I was excited about music again. After that, Grammy Award-winning GREEN DAY producer Chris Dugan played drums and mixed it." This multilayered collaboration, involving friends, producers, and engineers, exemplifies how Becker’s musical vision continues to be realized through the dedication and talent of others.
The accompanying A.I. generated video for "Crip Tone Night," created by Navin Dorai of OD Studios, further underscores the innovative approaches being taken to present Becker’s music in contemporary formats, bridging artistic expression with technological advancements.
A Message of Gratitude and Support
The release of "The Strawberry Jams" is accompanied by a profound message of gratitude from Becker’s team to his global community of supporters. "We’re sharing it this way as a heartfelt thank-you, out of deep gratitude for the incredible love, kindness, and generosity you’ve shown Jason and all of us at Team Becker over the years," the announcement stated on social media. "Every one of you has made a difference, and we are truly grateful."
This sentiment extends to a direct call for continued support for Becker’s ongoing medical care. A dedicated PayPal link has been provided for donations to his medical trust fund, emphasizing that "Everything goes directly to Jason to help with his ongoing care and to give him the resources he needs to continue living his best life, creating music, and inspiring others." This highlights the significant financial and emotional investment required to manage ALS, and the vital role of community support in sustaining Becker’s quality of life and creative output.
A Legacy of Triumph Over Adversity
Jason Becker’s life story is a powerful testament to human resilience, extraordinary talent, and an indomitable spirit in the face of profound adversity. From his early days as a child prodigy, Becker rapidly ascended the ranks of the music world. In his teenage years, he was a cornerstone of the seminal technical guitar duo CACOPHONY, alongside his close friend Marty Friedman. By 1989, at the astonishing age of 19, he achieved global recognition as the guitarist for David Lee Roth, a role that placed him in the pantheon of guitar legends, succeeding icons like Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai. His contributions to Roth’s third solo album, "A Little Ain’t Enough," solidified his position as a rising star poised for superstardom.
However, fate intervened with a devastating diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease (MND), more commonly known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. This progressive and fatal neurodegenerative condition, famously also affecting Stephen Hawking for over five decades, carries a grim prognosis, with a life expectancy that tragically often hovers around five years. For Becker, this diagnosis came over three and a half decades ago. The relentless march of ALS has stripped him of his ability to play guitar, walk, speak, and even breathe without assistance.
Despite these immense physical limitations, Becker has never surrendered his will to live or his passion for creating music. Through a sophisticated communication system developed by his father, utilizing eye movements, Becker meticulously spells out his thoughts, musical ideas, and even chord progressions. This innovative method allows him to impart his intricate musical visions to his dedicated team, who then translate these ideas into digital formats, refine them to his exacting standards, and generate musical charts for session musicians. His journey, marked by such extraordinary determination and artistic persistence, has been the subject of numerous documentaries, news features, and magazine cover stories, inspiring millions worldwide.
Becker’s 2018 album, "Triumphant Hearts," released via Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group, was a monumental achievement, featuring collaborations with an illustrious roster of guitar virtuosos including Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Neal Schon, Steve Morse, Paul Gilbert, and Joe Bonamassa. This album served as a powerful declaration of his enduring musical prowess and his ability to continue creating at the highest level, despite his debilitating illness.
The critically acclaimed documentary film, "Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet," released over a decade ago, offers an in-depth exploration of Becker’s life and his creative journey with ALS. It is a deeply moving and inspirational account of his unwavering commitment to music, his resilience in the face of unimaginable challenges, and his profound impact on the world of music. "The Strawberry Jams" represents another chapter in this ongoing saga of artistic triumph, proving that even in the face of life’s most formidable obstacles, the creative spirit can continue to flourish and inspire.