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Virus (born Andre Michel Karkos in Rochester, New York) is a singer/songwriter, guitarist, producer, most recognized for playing lead guitar for the American industrial metal/rock band Dope. He is also known for his work with metal band Device. ==Musical career== Growing up in Rochester, New York, Karkos started playing violin at the age of 9, but began to teach himself guitar when he discovered heavy metal at the age of 13. When he was 17, Karkos dropped out of his junior year of high school to teach guitar at the world-renowned House of Guitars and was already playing clubs throughout upstate New York with his alternative rock band Diamond Tyr, of which his younger brother Daniel Karkos was also a member. One toured the Northeast club circuit in the early 1990s and then relocated to New York City. Virus started to focus on his songwriting/production career and session recording work. During this time, he toured extensively with artists he co-wrote albums with and produced several independent records for regional acts, including the One self-titled album on Sole Records in 1997.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=The Virus Network: Discography )〕 One also appeared on two compilation albums in the late 1990s. ''Making A Scene''〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Swaptree )〕 contained a live recording by the band in 1998 at the famous New York City venue Arlene's Grocery, and ''The Musician's Choice Vol.1''〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Swaptree )〕 album was released by BMG in 1999 featuring Mötley Crüe and Sponge. In the year 2000, Virus won the bass guitar audition for the Brooklyn-based band Dope during the writing of their second album. When Tripp Eisen was fired from the group and joined industrial metal band Static-X, Virus replaced him on lead guitar,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Dope Update )〕Acey Slade was moved up to the position of rhythm guitar, while Sloane Jentry (who had remained friends with the band) rejoined this time on bass. On drums, Preston Nash was also replaced by Racci Shay. Dope released their second album ''Life'' in 2001 on Flip Records/Epic Records. The two singles from ''Life''; "Now or Never", which Virus co-wrote, and "Slipping Away" reached #28 and #29 on the Mainstream Rock charts respectively. The album itself reached #180 on the ''Billboard'' charts and #6 on the Top Heatseekers, which up until that point was the band's highest charting. Disappointed with the label's perceived lack of promotion for the album, the band left Flip/Epic and joined Artemis Records, while also seeing the departure of Acey Slade in 2002. Virus began to contribute significantly to the songwriting alongside the band's founder and lead singer Edsel Dope for their third studio album titled ''Group Therapy'', which was released in 2003 by Artemis Records. It was innovative in that it also featured a video for each song; meaning in total those who purchased the album received thirteen audio songs and videos. One song from that album, "Today is the Day" served as the official theme song for WWE's pay-per-view event No Mercy in October 2003. The songs "Falling Away", "Bitch", "Motivation", "Burn", and "So Low" were featured in the video game; MTX Mototrax, in both full and instrumental versions.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Dope (band) - Wikipedia )〕 In an effort to cut overhead and set up shop in their biggest market, Dope relocated to Chicago, Illinois. It was around this time that Virus began expanding his songwriting to corporate customers, with a company he started with Edsel called Evonix, by writing music for industry giants like Activision, Disney, MTV/VH-1, and ESPN out of his recording studio.〔 During the time when their fourth album ''American Apathy'' was being written, recorded, and released, Virus and Edsel began to pursue some rock side projects. In 2005, Virus wrote, performed, engineered, produced, manufactured, and released Black-N-Blues Vol.1, a dark-toned, all-acoustic collaboration between Virus and his younger brother and Bully frontman Daniel. The music video for this album, "The Sale", featured Jerry Gaskill of King's X, and Hector Graziani of 40 Below Summer.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Black-N-Blues )〕 That same year, Virus and Edsel joined Makeshift Romeo, which was originally formed by vocalist Derrick "Tripp" Tribbett, also known as Sinister of the VH-1 Daisy Of Love〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Daisy of Love: Cast Bios )〕 reality show, and bassist Derek DeSantis. The band released their 9-track self-titled EP on July 13, 2006. In 2005, Dope released the album titled ''American Apathy'', which Virus co-wrote and received credit for vocal production. Although released eight years after the band formed, four albums in and on an independent label, American Apathy performed well in the charts, debuting at #1 on the ''Billboard'' Top Heatseekers chart as well as #1 on the Billboard Independent Album chart; it was the band's highest charting to date.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=DOPE To Release 'No Regrets' In March )〕 After two years of touring, Dope returned to Chicago and began to write the follow-up album to ''American Apathy'' in 2007. Later that year, ''Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock'' included a song by Dope called "Nothing for Me Here" on the bonus list and mentions that it will be on the band's upcoming album.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Dope (band) - Wikipedia )〕 After Dope signed with Koch Records in 2008 for the band's fifth album, Virus relocated to New Hope, PA.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=DOPE Signs With KOCH RECORDS )〕 Now being on the East Coast again, he was able to pursue new musical ventures in his old stomping ground, New York City. Using the name, Andre Virus Karkos, he won the Guitar 2 position for the monstrous Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, which all the music was written by U2. A proud moment for Virus, since he auditioned for The Edge via video and had to get his approval. When Reeve Carney signed on to take the lead role of Peter Parker, a deal was made to have Reeve's band to be hired as key musicians for the show, which led to Virus getting bumped by Zane Carney(Reeve's brother) for the chair of Guitar 2. To fill in the gaps between gigs, Virus started teaching guitar, bass, and song composition at the Paul Green School Of Rock Fort Washington,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=The Paul Green School Of Rock Ft. Washington Staff )〕 and also looked for more recording work.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=DOPE Guitarist Producing KORE ROZZIK Demo )〕 After rebuilding his studio in his new residence, he had his first client in Prong. Virus was asked to do a remix of the track "Looking For Them" for "Power of the Damn Mixxxer", the remix counterpart to Prong's 2007 album ''Power of the Damager''. The CD was released on May 12, 2009 via 13th Planet Records.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=PRONG: 'Power Of The Damn Mixxxer' Artwork, Samples Available )〕 ''No Regrets'', which is co-written and co-produced by Virus, was released March 10, 2009. To coincide with the release, Dope joined the Black Label Bash tour with Black Label Society and Sevendust to promote the album from March 7- May 17, 2009.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=DOPE will be on tour with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and SEVENDUST all spring long )〕 The first video from the record featured a guest appearance by Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society), who lent his signature guitar squeals to the song "Addiction".〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=DOPE: New Video Interview Available )〕 Continuing his desire to teach, Virus gave a tour and lecture to the School of Rock students during the Black Label Bash Tour about a typical day on the tour: loading into the venue, setting up the stage, maintaining gear, and even let the kids play his and Zakk Wylde's guitars.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=DOPE Guitarist Gives School Of Rock Students Inside Look At Black Label Bash Tour )〕 Heading into the summer, the release of their second single "Rebel Yell" should be in full swing while Dope joins Mudvayne, Black Label Society, Static-X, Suicide Silence, and Bury Your Dead for the Pedal To The Metal Tour.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=A.M. Nuggets: Pedal to the Metal Tour Announced )〕 Also during this tour, E1 Records band Dirge Within released Force Fed Lies, their debut album 09/01/2009, which contains a guest guitar solo from Virus on the song "Complacency".〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=It's Official: DIRGE WITHIN Signs With E1 MUSIC )〕 Looking for more work in 2010, Virus was asked to play guitar by his longtime friend and band mate Tripp, who is now playing shows as Sinister(VH-1 Daisy Of Love〔). In June, Virus was asked to play with ''American Idol'' finalist and Tony Award nominated ''Rock of Ages'' vocalist Constantine Maroulis to perform shows called, "A Night At The Rock Show" around the NY, NJ, PA area.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Swaptree )〕 Being the lead guitarist for Constantine eventually led to Virus performing in the Broadway musical smash hit ''Rock of Ages'' himself; playing shows from July 2010 through the present. On January 13, 2011 the techno/industrial band Lords of Acid announced Virus would be joining the band. He made his debut on the Sonic Angel Tour 2011.〔http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/lordsofacid/posts/118324494905971〕 Virus also toured with Lisa Bouchelle, a singer/songwriter who was main support for Ted Nugent on his Summer of 2011, "I Still Believe Tour".〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Swaptree )〕 After hearing guitar tracks that Virus played for the album from up and coming country artist Bradley Gaskin, John Rich asked Virus to audition to play some shows with Big & Rich. He got the nod and made his debut at the prestigious festival Country Thunder〔http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/music/articles/2012/04/14/20120414country-thunder-review-day-two-big-and-rich-jake-owen-kellie-pickler.html〕 in Phoenix, AZ on April 13th, 2012. Virus will also be doing back to back tours this Fall; first playing with Scum of the Earth in the opening weeks of September, and then joining up with Lords of Acid to finish out until November. From November 8th through December 15th, Virus will be on tour with New York-based band, Eve To Adam, who are opening the 2012 Halestorm tour with In This Moment as main support.〔http://screamermagazine.com/press-releases/eve-to-adam-adds-rhythm-guitarist-virus-for-the-jagermeister-tour/〕 On Jan. 10th, 2013, it was announced that Virus is a tour member of Device, an industrial metal band which includes David Draiman from Disturbed, and Will Hunt from Evanescence.〔http://maytherockbewithyou.com/mtrbwy/2013/01/david-draimans-device-more-info-revealed/〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Virus (musician)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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