Marco Sfogli

Born in 1980, his first attempt with music came in 1984 when he played with his parents (both musicians) in Schwetzingen, Germany during an encore. In 1989 when he received his first Washburn electric guitar as a gift. He started to play along with his heroes (Michael Jackson, Van Halen, Europe). In 1992 he left the guitar to study the drums: "Being a drummer first and a guitarist second, helped me a lot in terms of creativity and rhythmic knowledge." In 1996 he left the drums because of his growing interest in guitar, especially after an intense listening of Images and Words by Dream Theater. Today, he's a guitar player, a composer and an arranger. He has worked for a lot of artists since. In 2005 he flew to Canada to record James LaBrie's third solo release titled Elements of Persuasion which has become a hit with progressive metal fans. Now member of the James LaBrie band, he put out his first solo record titled There's Hope on Feb. 15th 2008 through Lion Music. In 2010 he also worked on the James LaBrie record Static Impulse as guitar player, co-writer and engineer. He released his second solo album in 2012, titled reMarcoble and edited by JTC Records. In 2013 he joined the James LaBrie's band for the third time for the recording of the album Impermanent Resonance. In March 2015, he was announced as new guitar player for the Italian progressive band PFM, replacing former member Franco Mussida. Also in 2015 he announced a new band in the making with other members such as Virgil Donati on drums, Alex Argento on keyboards, and Andrea Casali on bass and vocals. The band name is Icefish, and they have released their debut album "Human Hardware" in 2017.

Sfogli used to play Rash Guitars, a small Italian company then switches to Ibanez Guitars and now play them exclusively. Recently has been seen using a prototype of what would become his signature model, based on a Premium line RG shape, this guitar was out in 2016 named the Ibanez Premium RG MSM1. In 2019 a new Japanese model based on the popular AZ series has been revealed, named the MSM100. He used Mesa Boogie Amps for various recordings, then switches to Dv Mark amplification using their Triple 6 then their Multiamp digital processor. During 2016 he played Victory amps for the first P.F.M. tours then switches to Mezzabarba amps as his main amp in 2018, he uses both the MZero Overdrive and the Skill; in 2019 he switches to a rack config using the new Mezzabarba Nivrana Preamp alongside a VHT 2:50:2 poweramp and a Fractal FX8 for his effects. In the studio he's been using both the Fractal Audio AXE FX-II and Kemper Profiling amplifier. On July 2020 he announces the switch to Charvel/Jackson Guitars

Guitars:

-Rash Custom Guitars "Marco Sfogli models"

-Ibanez RG Premium RG920QM

-Ibanez RG Prestige RG752

-Ibanez RGDIX7MPB-SBB Iron Label

-Ibanez RG2750QV-TAB Prestige

-Ibanez RG28020ZD LTD

-Ibanez Prestige RG2027XL-DTB

-Ibanez Prestige RG-MS1 Custom

-Ibanez RG MSM L.A.C.S Custom build (Signature Prototype)

-Ibanez Prestige AZ2402 TFF

-Ibanez RG MSM1 (Marco Sfogli Signature Model) (Premium Line)

-Ibanez AZ MSM100 (Marco Sfogli Signature Model) (Prestige Line)

-Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 HH FR M Satin Burgundy Mist (with EMG 85/SLV/SLV Pickup Set)

-Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 HSS FR M Satin Shell Pink

-Charvel Henrik Danhage Limited Edition Signature Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 (with EMG Crossroads/Super 77 Pickup Set)

-Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7 Baked Green

Amps:

-Mesa Boogie Mark V

-Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier

-Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier

-Mesa Boogie Lonestar

-Mesa Boogie Rectifier Rack Preamp

-Mesa Boogie Triaxis Preamp

-Mesa Boogie Stereo 2:90 Poweramp

-ENGL Fireball

-DV Mark Triple 6

-Victory V30 the Countess

-Mezzabarba MZero Overdrive Head

-Mezzabarba Skill 30 Head

-Mezzabarba Nirvana Preamp

-Mezzabarba Trinity 100W

Effects/Processor:

-Fractal AxeFX Ultra

-Fractal AxeFX 2 XL+

-DV Mark Multiamp

-Kemper profiler

-Fractal AX8

-Line 6 HX Effects

-TC Electronic TC2290-DT

Other Equipment:

-DV Mark Midi board

-Fractal MFC101

-Mission Engineering Pedals

-Boss FV500

-Line 6 G50 Wireless

-Two Notes Torpedo Captor

-BOSS WAZA Tube Amp Expander

-Live Play Rock: Marco Sfogli KEMPER PACK Signature

As A Player

• NCCP (Nuova Compagnia Di Canto Popolare) - La voce del grano (2001)
• Marco Fasano - e già...! (2003)
• NCCP (Nuova Compagnia Di Canto Popolare) - Candelora (2005)
• James LaBrie - Elements of Persuasion (2005)
• Magni Animi Viri - Heroes Temporis (2006)
• Jordan Rudess - The Road Home (2007) (Guitar on "Dance On A Volcano")
• The Alchemist II - The Alchemist II (2007)
• Alex Argento - EGO (2007)
• John Macaluso & Union Radio - Radio Waves Goodbye (2007)
• Shadrane - Temporal (2009)
• Adam Nitti - Liminal (2009) (Guitar on "The Reinassance Man/Rebirth" and "Distraction")
• Project Damage Control - Mechanism (2010)
• Utopia - Ice and Knives (2010)
• Creation's End - A New Beginning (2010)
• James LaBrie - Static Impulse (2010)
• Soul Secret - Closer To Daylight (2011) (Guitar solo on "River's Edge")
• Dino Fiorenza - It's Important (2011) (Guitars on Mr. Vester)
• Guitar Addiction - A Tribute to Modern Guitar (2011)
• Various Artists - Jason Becker's Not Dead Yet! (Live in Haarlem) (2012)
• Virgil Donati - In This Life (2012)
• Neural FX - Abreaction (2012) (Second guitar solo on "Matter of Time")
• Ray Riendeau - Transcend (Song) (2012)[1]
• James LaBrie - Impermanent Resonance (2013)
• LALU - Atomic Ark (2013)
• Nathan Frost - synecron (2013)[2]
• Creation's End - Metaphysical (2014)
• Alberto Rigoni - Overloaded (2014)
• Widek - Hidden Dimensions (2017) (Guitar on "Deep & Shallow")
• Icefish - Human Hardware (2017)
• Premiata Forneria Marconi - Emotional Tattoos (2017)
• Richard Henshall - The Cocoon (2019)

Solo Albums

• Marco Sfogli - There's Hope (2008)
• Marco Sfogli - reMarcoble (2012)
• Marco Sfogli - Homeland (2019)

• Marco Sfogli official website