Jonas Hörnqvist started playing the guitar 1983 at the age of 12, inspired by guitarplayers like Ace Frehley, Michael Schenker, Uli Jon Roth and Gary Moore.
A year after Jonas started playing guitar, Jonas put his first band together and played live at some schools and even some backyard partys. Songs in the setlist included only KISS songs.
Summer of 1985 changed Jonas playing totally when he heard Yngwie J Malmsteen for the first time. Jonas also discovered jazz/rock guitarplayer Al Di Meola that summer. This lead to an almost obsessive guitar practicing period since Jonas wanted to take his guitarplaying to a higher level.
In 1987, Jonas was in the biggest rock band competition ever held in Sweden, playing live in front of 2500 people with his band Calilio. A year later his band signed a record deal which resulted in a single (Lips/I remember you) that sold well over all of Europe.
By the end of 1991, Jonas disolved his band and started to work on more progressive songs, during 1991 Jonas also recorded a 8 song instrumental demo which sold almost 2000 copies world wide.
In 1993 Jonas put together the band he still have today, Treasure Land. In April 1996 Treasure Land signed a world wide record deal with German label Modern Music.
Two cd’s later (”Questions” released 1997 and ”Gateway” released 1998) Treasure Land parted ways with the label.
Treasure Land also participated in two tribute cd’s:Power from the north – Sweden rocks the world 1999 A guitar odyssey – A tribute to Yngwie J Malmsteen 2000
Treasure Land is currently writing songs for a 3rd CD after some years of doing other music stuff.
Jonas have also written 3 books about ”Guitar technique” written for the Swedish market.
There will also be 3 instructional dvd’s.
Jonas is currently teaching 35-40 students a week, both privately and online. At the moment, Jonas have students from USA, Italy, France, Germany, Denmark, Canada and Sweden.
Some impressive press quotes state...
Guitarist Jonas Hornqvist is a class neoclassical guitarist who is without a doubt one of the most talented uprising stars in Progressive metal.(Metal warriors - Australia)
J. Hörnqvist is a high class stringbender mixing flashy technique with Yngwiesque feeling.(Janne Stark. Author of "The Encyclopedia of Swedish Hardrock and Heavy Metal - Sweden)
Jonas Hornqvist is a man on a mission. I listen in utter amazement of his guitar work.(Metallic Symphonies - Greece)
Baroque & Roll hopes to interview Jonas very soon.
Web Links
http://www.jonashornqvist.com
http://www.myspace.com/jonashornqvist
http://www.treasureland.nu/
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