EDI FITRI GUNARA (GUITARS)

• Born on: 08/01/1981
• Main influences: Metallica, Dream Theater, Angra, Rhapsody, Shadow Gallery, The Flower Kings, Yngwie Malmsteen, Scorpion, Michael Angelo Batio, Tjahjo Wisanggeni, Ian Antono
• First record acquired: Metallica - Black Album
• First concert attended: Betrayer - Live at Gunadarma University

Biography:
Edi Fitri Gunara was born in Bekasi on 1981. When he started playing guitar at the age of fifteen, he also try to play another instruments like drums and bass. Before too long, he realizes that those instruments are not fitting him, so he turns to play guitar again. Later on he started to practice guitar from books and video lessons that he acquired from friends and the internet. The first guitarist that he admired is James Heatfield from Metallica, because he has speed and power when playing his guitar. Another guitarist that influence him is Yngwie Malmsteen. He was very surprised that there’s person in the world that can performed like a magician, with his classical style he is able to hypnotized people with his picking and melody and very fast arpeggios. Yngwie has a major impact on Edi, because he favored his classical melody. On 1999, the first band that he is join on is “Voltaire”, his high school band based on metal influence.

When he’s still in college, he meet a person that introduced him to another genre, which is progressive, especially progressive metal. The first album that he heard is “Images and Words” from Dream Theater and it ROCKS!!! Those brilliant people (Dream Theater) is somehow managed to play musical parts that people would find it difficult to understand, plus the amazing technique. Later on he started to take part in some local music competition with his band Voltaire. In 2001 they take part in the first Indonesian Progressive Festival I, held on Taman Ria Senayan. They replace the band’s name to “Vantasma” rather than Voltaire, because the word Vantasma seems easier for people to remember.

After the performance on taman ria senayan, Vantasma are not active an sometimes, so Edi decided to finish his college and getting his Economic Bachelor degree first and decided to leave the band. On 2005 Edi being asked to act as an additional player for Vantasma because their lead guitarst was not available for the event that Vantasma will attempt (The IPS’ Prognite). Having that opportunity Edi decided to re-join Vantasma and fill the lead guitar position in Vantasma. Later on Edi managed to adjust with other band mates and continue to perform from one cafe to another until there’s an offer to make an Album under the flag of PRS ( Progressive Rock Sony ) Records. Vantasma managed to make their first album, with the title “Beyond Fallen Dreams”.

Favourite Records and Artists:
Metallica - Black Album
Dream Theater - Scene From Memory
Shadow Gallery - tyranny
Angra - Rebirth
Rhapsody - Dawn of Victory
Yngwie Malmsteen - all albums!