Kiko Loureiro facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kiko Loureiro
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Loureiro performing with Megadeth in 2016
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Pedro Henrique Loureiro |
| Born | 16 June 1972 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
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| Occupation(s) | Guitarist |
| Years active | 1988–present |
Pedro Henrique Loureiro, better known as Kiko Loureiro, is a famous Brazilian guitarist. He is known for his amazing guitar skills and for playing in several popular heavy metal bands, including Angra and Megadeth.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Kiko Loureiro was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 16, 1972. His musical journey started when he was just 11 years old. He began learning to play the acoustic guitar with two well-known Brazilian musicians, Pedro Bueno and Mozart Mello.
He was inspired by rock legends like Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, and Jimi Hendrix. At age 13, he switched to the electric guitar. By the time he was 16, he was already performing in clubs in São Paulo with two different bands.
Career as a Professional Musician
Founding the Band Angra
When Kiko was 19, he helped start the Brazilian power metal band Angra. The band became very popular, especially as power metal music gained fans around the world. Kiko's success grew, both with Angra and as a solo musician.
Besides his work in rock and metal, Kiko also played guitar on several Eurobeat songs.
Joining the Band Megadeth
On April 2, 2015, Kiko joined the famous American thrash metal band Megadeth. He took the place of the band's previous guitarist, Chris Broderick. This was a huge step in his career, as Megadeth is one of the most famous metal bands in history.
In 2017, Kiko and his Megadeth bandmates won a Grammy Award for "Best Metal Performance" for their song "Dystopia." He also co-wrote songs for the band's 2022 album, The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!.
In September 2023, Kiko announced he was taking a break from Megadeth. A few months later, he confirmed that he had officially left the band to focus on his family and other projects.
Guitar Playing Style
Kiko Loureiro is famous for his incredible technical skill on the guitar. He uses many advanced playing methods, such as:
- Two-handed tapping: Using both hands on the neck of the guitar to play notes.
- Sweep picking: A technique for playing very fast notes, one after another.
- Alternate picking: Moving the guitar pick up and down very quickly.
He has shared his knowledge in instructional videos and has been featured in many guitar magazines. Interestingly, Kiko is naturally left-handed but plays the guitar right-handed. Because of this, he spends a lot of time practicing with his right hand.
Personal Life
In 2011, Kiko married Maria Ilmoniemi, a pianist and keyboardist from Finland. They met in 2008 while he was on tour. They have three children: a daughter named Livia, and twins named Dante and Stella. In 2020, the family moved to Finland.
Kiko is also a vegetarian.
Selected Discography
Here are some of the most important albums Kiko Loureiro has worked on.
Solo Albums
- No Gravity (2005)
- Universo Inverso (2006)
- Fullblast (2009)
- Sounds of Innocence (2012)
- Open Source (2020)
- Theory of Mind (2024)
With Angra
- Angels Cry (1993)
- Holy Land (1996)
- Fireworks (1998)
- Rebirth (2001)
- Temple of Shadows (2004)
- Aurora Consurgens (2006)
- Aqua (2010)
- Secret Garden (2014)
With Megadeth
- Dystopia (2016)
- The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! (2022)
See also
In Spanish: Kiko Loureiro para niños
