Jairo Guedz

Origin

João Monlevade, MG

Also known as

Jairo Guedz Braga, Jairo T., Tormentor

Years active

1985–present

Genres

heavy metal, thrash metal, death metal, groove metal, extreme metal

Instruments

guitar, bass

Biography

Jairo Guedes Braga, widely known as Jairo Guedz, is a Brazilian guitarist and bassist who rose to prominence in the 1980s as a founding member of the seminal thrash metal band Sepultura. Born in João Monlevade, Minas Gerais, Guedz's musical journey began at a young age, influenced by the hard rock and heavy metal sounds that were emerging globally. His early involvement with Sepultura was crucial in shaping the band's raw and aggressive sound on their debut EP 'Bestial Devastation' (1985) and their first full-length album 'Morbid Visions' (1986). During his tenure with Sepultura, he was often credited under the aliases "Tormentor" or "Jairo T.".

After departing Sepultura in early 1987, Guedz continued to be an active force in the Brazilian metal scene. He went on to play with several other notable bands, including The Mist, Overdose, and Eminence, contributing his distinctive guitar work to their respective releases. His involvement with The Mist, in particular, spanned multiple periods, and he was instrumental in shaping their sound on albums like 'The Hangman Tree'. Guedz also explored other musical avenues, including playing bass in a Metallica tribute band.

In recent years, Jairo Guedz has remained a prolific musician, co-founding The Southern Blacklist and forming The Troops of Doom, a project dedicated to reinterpreting early Sepultura material. He has also been involved in other projects such as The Darkness Foundation. Beyond his musical career, Guedz has diverse interests, including designing figurines and teaching miniature figure painting. He currently resides in Belo Horizonte, continuing to leave his mark on the Brazilian and international metal landscape.