Marc Rizzo

Marc Rizzo established himself as a prominent figure in metal, gaining significant recognition as a founding member and lead guitarist of the band Ill Niño, which he co-founded in 1998. With Ill Niño, he released the critically acclaimed album Revolution Revolución in 2001, defining his powerful and dynamic guitar style early in his career. After his initial departure from Ill Niño in 2003, Rizzo immediately joined Soulfly in 2004, embarking on an eighteen-year tenure as their lead guitarist. His contributions to Soulfly included eight studio albums, starting with Prophecy in 2004 and continuing through Ritual in 2018, showcasing his consistent evolution within the metal genre.

The same year he joined Soulfly, Rizzo also co-founded Phlamencore Records with his brother Luke, actively releasing sampler CDs and full-length albums. Rizzo’s diverse artistic range extends beyond his primary band affiliations into a prolific solo career, characterized by his command of metal, classical, and flamenco guitar. He embarked on his first U.S. solo tour in 2007 and released two solo records under Shrapnel Records, Colossal Myopia (2006) and The Ultimate Devotion (2007).

He briefly played guitar for Misfits in 2015 and co-founded the death metal side project Revenge Beast in 2020. His guest musician credits span albums by artists including Violent Delight, Divine Heresy, Strife, Dead by Wednesday, and Kaosis. His long-standing equipment endorsements have included Peavey and Yamaha, where he conducted clinics, leading to B.C. Rich producing a signature seven-string Stealth model.

Demonstrating his ongoing commitment to groundbreaking projects, Rizzo remained an integral part of Ill Niño until his departure in late 2024. His extensive discography across multiple influential bands and a robust solo career positions him as a highly sought-after artist known for his technical prowess and continuous exploration of diverse musical landscapes.