Jeff Waters facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jeff Waters
Jeff Waters at Rockharz Open Air 2016 in Germany
Background information
Born	(1966-02-13) February 13, 1966 (age 59) Ontario, Canada
Genres	Thrash metal, speed metal, progressive metal, heavy metal, groove metal
Occupation(s)	Musician, record engineer & producer, songwriter, studio owner
Instruments	Guitar, bass, vocals
Years active	1984–present

Jeff Waters was born on February 13, 1966. He is a talented Canadian guitarist. He is best known as the founder and leader of the metal band Annihilator. Jeff also produces music and writes songs. He was born in Ontario, Canada, and now lives in the UK. Since 1994, Jeff has owned his own recording studio, Watersound Studios. It has been in different locations, including Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Ottawa, Ontario, and now in the UK.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Jeff Waters grew up in a family where his father was in the military. His mother worked as a teacher. His family lived in different places, including Ottawa and Camp Borden, Ontario. They also lived in London, England. When he was young, Jeff took lessons to learn classical and jazz guitar.

Musical Influences

Jeff was inspired by many famous musicians. Some of his early influences included Van Halen and Randy Rhoads. He also looked up to bands like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. Jeff started listening to hard rock bands like AC/DC. Later, he discovered heavier music like Black Sabbath. He also enjoyed bands like Razor and Exciter. These bands helped shape his own musical style.

Jeff Waters and Annihilator

Jeff Waters started the band Annihilator in Ottawa, Ontario, in 1984. He wrote and recorded an early song called "Annihilator." This song was later released on a special album in 2005.

Changes in the Band

Over the years, Annihilator has had many different band members. Jeff's first goal was to have a steady group. However, members often left for various personal reasons. Because of these changes, Jeff took on many roles. He played bass guitar, engineered recordings, and produced music. He also wrote songs and played guitar.

Eventually, Jeff decided to work with many different musicians. From 2003 to 2014, Dave Padden was the band's singer. Jeff also used different musicians for touring. Jeff Waters has sung lead vocals on several of Annihilator's studio albums. He also sang on specific songs from other albums.

In December 2014, Jeff decided to become the main singer for the band again. This happened after Dave Padden left. Dave said he was not happy with the touring lifestyle.

Annihilator's Success

Annihilator has toured a lot in Europe and Asia since 1989. Even though they don't tour much in Canada or the US, they are very popular. Annihilator has sold more albums than almost any other Canadian metal band. Most of their sales come from Asia and Europe. It can be hard to find their music in Canada.

Jeff Waters' Legacy and Impact

Jeff Waters is highly respected in the metal music world. He is known for his amazing guitar skills. He can play very difficult parts on rhythm, lead, acoustic, and classical guitar. He plays with great speed and accuracy. He has also made acoustic versions of some Annihilator songs.

Influence on Other Musicians

Many metal musicians around the world say Jeff Waters has influenced them. Artists from bands like Slipknot and Megadeth have mentioned him. Bands like Lamb of God and Children of Bodom are also fans.

In 2008, music writer Joel McIver named Jeff Waters as one of the top metal guitar players. Jeff has also been compared to Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters. This is because both musicians can play many different instruments.

Watersound Studios

Watersound Studios Inc. has been Jeff's recording studio since 1994. In 2003, he moved his home and studio to Ottawa. He became a popular engineer and producer for mixing and mastering music. Watersound Studios Inc. is now located in Durham, England.

Jeff Waters shares his name with another musician from Baltimore, Maryland. However, they are not related and their music is very different.

Equipment Jeff Waters Uses

Waters performing in 2007

When he first started, Jeff used a Hamer Flying V guitar. Around 1994, he started trying other guitars. He used classic models like the Gibson SG and Gibson Les Paul. This helped him get different sounds for Annihilator's music. He also used a Fender Stratocaster in the studio sometimes. For live shows, he used a Gibson Flying V Gothic.

Jeff has also used an ESP Dave Mustaine signature Flying V. He used this guitar to record the album Schizo Deluxe. Currently, Jeff plays Epiphone Annihilation-V Guitars. These are his own special models. They come in red or black and have custom features. For his amplifiers, he uses the EVH 5150III. He also had his own special guitar pedal called the Jeff Waters Devil Drive.

Personal Life

Jeff Waters married Angie in 2018. They live in Durham, England. He continues to run his recording studio, Watersound Studios, from there.

Discography

Annihilator

• Alice in ... (1989)
• Never, Neverland (1990)
• Set the World on Fire (1993)
• King of the Kill (1994)
• Refresh the Demon (1996)
• Remains (1997)
• Criteria for a Black Widow (1999)
• Carnival Diablos (2001)
• Waking the Fury (2002)
• All for You (2004)
• Schizo Deluxe (2005)
• Metal (2007)
• Annihilator (2010)
• Feast (2013)
• ... Society (2015)
• For the Demented (2017)
• ... , ... (2020)
• Metal II (2022)

Amerikan Kaos

• Armageddon Boogie (2024)

Guest Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Jeff Waters para niños