Rusty Cooley is a guitarist from Houston, Texas.

Early life

Rusty received his first equipment (a Peavey T27 guitar and a Peavey Decade amp) on his fifteenth birthday. From that day on Cooley immersed himself in music, practicing upwards of four hours a day. Rusty took guitar lessons for a while but became dissatisfied with local guitar instructors and decided to become self-taught. He relied on instructional books and videos like Doug Mark's Metal Method.

After only three years of playing he became a guitar teacher at the music store where he had purchased his first guitar.

After high school Rusty went to the local college and studied Music Theory.

Rusty joined Revolution in 1989 and stayed with them until 1993. During his time with Revolution they became a well-known band in Houston, even opening for bands such as Nitro, Badlands, South Gang, and Every Mother's Nightmare.

Rusty formed a short-lived band called Dominion after he left Revolution. The band broke up in 1995. During this time Rusty won the Guitar Master Series and was named "Best Guitarist" in Houston.

Solo work

Rusty was unsatisfied with local musicians and began to work on solo music in early 1996. He also began playing 7-string guitars exclusively at this time. His debut solo album Rusty Cooley was released in 2003 on Lion Music.

Currently

He has left outworld and now does solo work

Teaching

Rusty has been a guitar instructor since his third year of playing. He has also released five instructional products, done lessons for magazines (such as his Metal Guru column) and posted many lessons on sites such as Shredaholic In addition, he has taught for the National Guitar Workshop three times (1996, 1997, 1998) and given many clinics. One of his students was Mica Roth, former member of Hybreed.

Endorsements

Currently Rusty is endorsed by Dean Guitars, EMG Pickups, Morley Pedals, GHS strings, VHT, Rocktron, Eventide and .

He was previously endorsed by Jackson Guitars and, more recently, Ibanez Guitars.

His Signature Dean Model was released at NAMM in early 2007.

Releases

Music

• Outworld - Outworld
• Rusty Cooley
• Book of Reflections
• Shawn Lane Remembered Vol. 1
• Warmth in the Wilderness 2 A Tribute to Jason Becker
• Prog Power 4
• Prog Power 3
• The Alchemist
• Fresh Blood Vol. 4
• Lick This
• Guitarapalooza Vol. l
• Ball One Strike One
• Across the Miles
• Revolution 4-song EP

Instructional products

• Shred Guitar Manifesto
• Extreme Pentatonics
• The Art of Picking
• Rusty Cooley Performance/Clinic
• Rusty Cooley Performance/Clinic 2
• Basic Training

Television appearances

• Stay Tuned
• Metallurgy Live
• Metallurgy Unplugged
• World Class Guitar Techniques
• Robb’s Metal Works

External links

• Official Website
• Rusty Cooley Videos
• The music video for "Under the Influence"
• Interview
• Outworld Message Board - Ask Rusty
• GUITAR GODS: Rusty Cooley (2003 interview)