THE RISING SON

BACK IN MARCH, EXTREME RELEASED A NEW SONG AND MUSIC VIDEO CALLED "RISE" (COMPLETE WITH A FREAKIN' PHENOMENAL NUNO BETTENCOURT GUITAR SOLO). THE GUITAR-PLAYING COMMUNITY HASN'T QUITE BEEN THE SAME SINCE

- Richard Bienstock

THE LAST TIME NUNO

Bettencourt appeared on the cover of Guitar World was the December 1992 issue, when this magazine declared the then-26-year-old phenom the “new boss.” At the time, Bettencourt had turned the six-string universe on its ear with the excessively funky and fiery guitar acrobatics he packed into every groove (or, given the smash acoustic hit “More Than Words,” almost every groove) of Extreme’s smash sophomore album, Pornograffitti.

Here we are more than three decades later, and while Bettencourt has continued to push the creative and technical limits of rock guitar — on successive albums with Extreme; in his own solo work and projects like Mourning Widows; with superstar bands like Satellite Party; alongside pop superstar Rihanna; and with Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde and Tosin Abasi on the Steve Vai-led Generation Axe extravaganza tours, for starters — he has, at 56 years old, quite possibly just set a new bar.

In March, Extreme announced their first album in nearly 15 years, Six, and also released its first single, “Rise.” And while all the hallmarks of what makes a great Extreme song — high-energy, rock-solid riffs and rhythms; sticky hooks and choruses; a forceful and expressive Gary Cherone vocal — are present and intact, it was Nuno’s guitar solo that stopped fans, peers, industry pros and even guitar legends in their tracks.