Zach Blair

Zach Blair
Zach Blair (left) with Rise Against performing live in 2008.
Background information
Birth name	Zachariah Joaquin Blair
Born	December 26, 1973 (1973-12-26) , Sherman, Texas
Genres	Punk rock Alternative rock Thrash metal
Occupations	Musician, Songwriter, Composer
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1991–present
Labels	Fat Wreck Chords (2003–2007) Geffen, DGC, Interscope (2007–present)
Associated acts	Hagfish (1991–2001) GWAR (1999–2002) Armstrong (2002) Only Crime (2003–2007) Rise Against (2007–present)
Website	http://www.riseagainst.com/
Notable instruments
Gibson Les Paul

Zach Blair is the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for Chicago-based hardcore punk band Rise Against. He is originally from Sherman, Texas.

Before joining Rise Against in early 2007, Blair was a member of hardcore punk group Only Crime along with his brother, Doni Blair, who currently plays with the Toadies. The brothers were founding members of the bands Hagfish and Armstrong. Blair was also Flattus Maximus of GWAR from 1999-2002. He has also been a second touring guitarist for The Loved Ones and was second guitarist on the instrumental band, The Mag Seven's album The Future Is Ours, If You Can Count.

Rise Against's fifth studio album, Appeal to Reason, released on October 7, 2008, was its first with Blair. He also appeared on the band's sixth studio album release, Endgame, which was released on March 15, 2011.

On the reverse of his Les Paul standard, there is a Bill Hicks sticker with a skull and cross bones on the left to it.

Blair currently resides in Austin, Texas. He lives the straight edge lifestyle, as do his bandmates Tim McIlrath and Joe Principe. Blair is a vegetarian and animal rights advocate and actively promotes PETA with the other members of Rise Against.

Equipment

'Guitars

• Gibson Les Paul Custom (Black). Custom made for Blair by Gibson. Single humbucker (bridge), single knob (volume) and toggle switch middle and neck position made into kill switch
• Gibson Les Paul Classic (Black) w/Seymour Duncan JB pickups
• Gibson Les Paul Goldtop Reissue (Chambered Body) w/Seymour Duncan Distortion Pickups
• Gibson Les Paul Standard (Black) w/ Seymour Duncan JB Pickups

Amps and Cabinets

• Marshall JCM900 4100 100watt Hi Gain Dual Reverb amp head (with 5881 Tubes)
• Mesa Boogie 4x12 Recto Cab with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers
• Mesa Boogie custom built Road Ready Cab with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers

Effects and More

• Boss TU-2 pedal
• Lehle P-Split A/B/Y splitter
• Boss NS-2 pedal
• Line 6 Echo Park pedal
• Rivera Channel Switcher
• Furman Power Conditioner
• Shure ULX Wireless Receivers
• Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus

Strings and Picks

• Ernie Ball Coated Slinky guitar strings (10-46 gauged)
• Ernie Ball Hybirds .10 - .52
• Dunlop Tortex Standard Guitar Picks (.50 .60 .73 .88)

Discography

With Hagfish

• Buick Men (1993)
• Rocks Your Lame Ass (1995)
• Hagfish (1998)
• Caught Live (1999)
• That was Then, This is Then (2001)

With GWAR

• You're All Worthless and Weak (2000)
• Violence Has Arrived (2001)

With Armstrong

• Dick, the Lion-Hearted (2002)

With Only Crime

• To the Nines (2004)
• Virulence (2007)

With The Mag Seven

• The Future is Ours, If You Can Count (2006)

See also: Rise Against discography

With Rise Against

• Appeal to Reason (2008)
• Endgame (2011)

References

{{cite news |title= Rise Against Live Make It Stop September's Children 10-08-2011 Sziget |first=Rise |last=2011|url=http://wn.com/Rise_Against_live__Make_It_Stop_September%27s_Children_10-08-2011_Sziget = |date= |accessdate=December 31, 2011}