Jason Becker

         

     I believed that all of you have heard about ALS. It’s a severe disease that the invalid will gradually lose control over their body, and finally they can’t walk, speak, and eat. Why do I talk about ALS now? It’s because today I’ll introduce a talented guitarist but sadly contracted ALS. His name is Jason Becker.

     

     Jason Becker played Bob Dylan at 5, performed Eric Clapton’s solo at 12, started to composed songs at 15. At his solo career in 1980s, he released two album, one of which was his most famous one – “Perspective”. At the age of 20, he joined the David Lee Roth’s band to replace the position that Steve Vai left behind. Wow! It’s hard to imagine that a young guitarist could replace Steve Vai. You can tell how talented he was from that!

     

     Unfortunately! Miserably! Jason Becker was diagnosed ALS at the same year, and was told that he had 5 years to live at best. What a cruel joke! He tumbled on a concert stage in 1990, and the illness worsened from then on. In 1996, he lost the ability to speak. His father invented a system to make it possible to communicate with his eyes.

     Now, he keeps composing. Though it takes ten times or above of time to do it compared to normal person, he still won’t give up. He is also one of the ALS patient that lived 20 years longer after diagnosed.