Zoltan Bathory

Zoltan Bathory
Zoltan Bathory performing with Five Finger Death Punch
Background information
Birth name Zoltán Garamszegi
Born (1978-05-15) May 15, 1978
Szentendre, Hungary
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • martial artist
  • monster truck driver
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • bass
Labels
Associated acts
Website zoltanbathory.com

Zoltán Báthory, (born May 15, 1978) is a Hungarian-born American musician and martial artist. He is the founder, rhythm guitarist, and one of the main songwriters for the Las Vegas-based multi-million record selling heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch. In 2010, he was named Golden God's "Best Shredder" by Metal Hammer magazine. Zoltan is also a founding board member of the veterans nonprofit Home Deployment Project in Las Vegas (Home Deployment Project works to save and reintegrate homeless veterans) and sits on the Board of Advisors at VETPAW (Veterans Empowered to Protect African Wildlife) an anti-Poaching organization operating on the African continent, composed of US combat veterans.

Career

Zoltán Báthory joined the post-grunge band U.P.O. in 2004 replacing Ben Shirley (on Bass). He left the band in 2005, switched back to guitar, and went on to form the heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch.

Five Finger Death Punch recorded their debut album in 2006 with engineers Steve Bruno and Mike Sarkisyan. It was mixed by Soulfly/Machine Head guitarist Logan Mader. Soon after finishing the album, 5FDP was signed by a major management company The Firm and The Way of the Fist was released on 31 July 2007. This self-produced record sold over 700,000 copies in the US and spawned 3 top 10 singles. Their follow-up album, War Is the Answer was released on 22 September 2009 through Prospect Park Records. The record debuted No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and all 4 singles (off of the album) made it to the top 10 mainstream rock charts. War is the Answer stayed on Billboards Top 100 for over a record-breaking 92 weeks and sold over 1,000,000 copies. Their 3rd record "American Capitalist" was even more successful. It debuted #3 on the Billboard 200, had another 3 top 10 singles and it achieved gold status within a year of its release. Today it's RIAA Certified Platinium for selling over 1,000,000 copies. In 2013 Five Finger Death Punch released a double studio album The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 1 and The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 2 within 3 months from each other. Both albums debuted No. 2 on the Billboard 200 charts. Volume 1 featured guest vocalists Rob Halford of Judas Priest , Maria Brink of In This Moment, Tech N9ne, Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, and Max Cavalera of Sepultura and Soulfly. Volume 1. became RIAA Certified Platinum after selling over 1,000,000 copies and Vol 2. is RIAA certified Gold for selling over 500,000 copies. The band 6th record "Got Your 6" was the band's biggest first-week commercial success. The record was #1 on Billboard 200's physical sales chart and #2 on the overall charts. In this decade (since 2010) only 3 Metal albums have achieved RIAA Certified Platinum Status. Metallica's Hardwired... to Self-Destruct and 2 of Five Finger Death Punch's albums (American Capitalist and their Wrong Side Of Heaven Vol 1.) 5FDP have had 17 top 10 hit singles on U.S. Mainstream Rock Radio. Zoltán won the "Best Shredder" award at the 2010 Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards The award was the 3rd Golden God trophy the band received (2009 Best New Artist) – (2010 Breakthrough Artist).

In 2013 Five Finger Death Punch was nominated and won another Golden God Award (Song of the Year) with "Lift Me Up". This No. 1 mainstream rock hit featured Rob Halford of Judas Priest as a guest vocalist. Rob Halford and Rob Zombie joined the band's performance at the Golden Gods Award Ceremony.

In 2017 it was announced that Bathory expanded into artist management and took a new band Bad Wolves under his wing. Bad Wolves' first record "Disobey" was released on May 11, 2018 by 11/7 Records. The Bathory managed band's first single "Zombie" became a number one hit in the United States and several other countries. The single is RIAA certified Platinum in Canada, Certified Gold in the USA and Germany.

Benefits, Charities and Non-Profits

Five Finger Death Punch have played many military benefit concerts, visited bases around the world and spearheaded a fundraising campaign for Veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI.[1]

In 2014, Five Finger Death Punch launched a campaign that raised over $225,000. The band used their recent music video for their latest single Wrong Side of Heaven to focus on the theme and launched website 5fdp4Vets.com. They also started selling a custom jersey which was designed by Bathory, on Indiegogo. The funds raised went to organizations that raise awareness about PTSD.[2]

Báthory was elected as the chairman of development of the non-profit organization The Home Deployment Project in Las Vegas, helping veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI and chronic homelessness.[2]

In 2017 it was announced that Zoltan has joined VETPAW [3](Veterans Empowered To Protect African Wildlife) the Anti-poaching organization consisting of US Combat Veterans. VETPAW focused on fighting the huge spike in rhino killings on the continent. To achieve this Vetpaw launched Operation Rhino Shield in South Africa where they deployed a team of Army, Marine and Navy veterans on private reserves that are under direct threat from rhino poaching.

Equipment

In 2009, B.C. Rich launched 3 Zoltan Bathory Artist Signature Guitars: Bathory - Assassin (Artist Signature Model). Zoltan runs this through TC Electronic G-System and Diamond Amplifiers. Zoltan uses a Dunlop heavy core string set (gauge of .13 to .66)

In 2013 Dean and Zoltan Worked on Signature Guitar's. The AR6 and SK6

It was announced in November 2014 that DBZ Guitars - teamed up with Bathory to create the company's first ever Diamond signature guitars. Although Zoltan has made the switch to Diamond/DBZ guitars in late 2014, the company claims he goes way back with Diamond – as he designed several guitars in Diamond's arsenal in the past (Bird Of Pray, Halcyon) and he's used their amplifiers for over a decade.[4]

Personal life

In his private life Zoltán is a martial artist,[5] judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner often appearing in martial art magazines. He is a member of the Gracie Humaita Jiu-Jitsu Competition Team, under Professor Amilcar Cipili (4th Degree)[6] and 7th Degree Black Belt Master Royler Gracie[6] Zoltán won the silver medal at the Abu-Dhabi Pro Jiu-Jitsu World Trials, and The North American Grappling Championship, Placed 3rd at the 2012 Masters World Championship in his division.[7] He is one of the few civilians certified by the US Army as an L1 Modern Army Combatives Instructor – Close Quarter Combat.[8] Zoltan also practices Wing Chun Kung-Fu under Sifu Randy Williams C.R.C. Academy and Guerilla Jiu-Jitsu under professor John Simons III. In May 2014 Zoltan has joined Monster Jam Free Style World Champion Jimmy Creten's Monster Truck Racing Team 2Xtreme Racing as their driver[9] behind the wheel of the new "Knucklehead" truck.[10] Zoltan's professional debut took place in California at the WGAS Motorsport Flip Fest Monster Truck and Motocross Show. Zoltan raced at Florida's EastBay Race Way, Kansas City Speedway, Newfoundland Raceway in Canada, and appeared at the 2015. Monster Jam Finals in Las Vegas.[11] Zoltan is in a long term relationship with Grace Gracie, a [12] Las Vegas-based DJ / Producer. Heather is also a Jiu-Jitsu fighter and a member of the Gracie Family.

Author

Zoltan is a contributing writer and social-political commentator for the nationally distributed Skillset Magazine.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Five Finger Death Punch + Volbeat Prove Rock Is Alive and Well at Massachusetts Gig". Loud Wire. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Five Finger Death Punch: Rockin' for the Troops". Yahoo Music. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "VETPAW: TEAM".
  4. ↑ DBZ Announcement
  5. ↑ "Close Quarter Combat".
  6. 1 2 "Zoltan Bathory: Grapplers Quest".
  7. ↑ "Metal's Medalist".
  8. ↑ "CQB Instructor".
  9. ↑ "Four Wheeler Magazine".
  10. ↑ "Zoltan Bathory Debuts Monster Truck".
  11. ↑ "Monster Jam Finals 2015". L
  12. ↑ "Heather Grace Gracie".
  13. ↑ "Skillset Magazine".
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