Eric Peterson (musician)

Eric Peterson (born May 14, 1964) is an American guitarist. He is best known as the only constant member of the US thrash metal band Testament. Peterson has also formed a side-project black metal band called Dragonlord, in which he plays guitar and also sings. In Testament, Peterson was originally a rhythm guitarist while Alex Skolnick handled all lead work. More recently though Peterson plays leads along with Skolnick.

Peterson was married to Kirk Hammett's ex-wife Rebecca, with whom he has one child. They are now divorced.^[1]

Peterson's main guitars have been Gibson models for most of his career in Testament, primarily a black Explorer model and a Les Paul. Recently however, he is endorsing Dean Guitars and has been using his own signature Dean V guitar.

Discography

With Legacy

• Demo 1 (1984)
• Demo 2 (1985)

With Testament

• The Legacy (1987)
• The New Order (1988)
• Practice What You Preach (1989)
• Souls of Black (1990)
• The Ritual (1992)
• Return to the Apocalyptic City (1993)
• Low (1994)
• Demonic (1997)
• The Gathering (1999)
• First Strike Still Deadly (2001)
• The Formation of Damnation (2008)
• Dark Roots of Earth (2012)
• Brotherhood of the Snake (2016)

With Dragonlord

• Rapture (2001)
• Black Wings of Destiny (2005)

With Leah McHenry

• Winter Sun (single) (2015)

As guest

• Old Man's Child - Vermin (2005)

Equipment

• Amplifier: Kemper, Marshall JVM series 210 watt head, Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier Heads, and EVH 5150 heads
• Cabinets: Mesa 4x12 Recto Cabinets loaded with Celestion vintage 30s & EVH III Cabinets
• Effects: Dunlop Cry Baby from Hell Wah, Boss TU-2 Tuner, MXR Flanger, MXR Stereo Chorus, TC Electronic Nova Delay
• Cords: Monster Cable
• Guitars: Dean Cadillac, Dean Michael Schenker V, Gibson Flying V, Dean Eric Peterson Signature OldSkull V
• Strings: DR Gauge 10-52(tuned one half step down)
• Pickups: Dean Flying V: EMG 85 (neck) & EMG 81 (bridge), Dean Time Capsule: Dimarzio Super Distortion Zebras, Dean Cadillac: Seymor Duncan '59 (sh-1n neck) & jazz (sh-2 middle), jb (sh-4 bridge)
• Picks: Dunlop Purple & Green sharp

Guitar Rig & Signal Flow

A detailed gear diagram of Eric Peterson's 2006 Testament guitar rig is well-documented.^[2]

References