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Marco Sfogli
Marco Sfogli
Marco Sfogli
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Key Information

Marco Sfogli (born April 4, 1980) is an Italian heavy metal and rock guitarist. He has played guitar with James LaBrie, PFM and Icefish.

Biography

[edit]

Born in 1980, Sfogli's first attempt with music came in 1984 when he played with his parents (both musicians) in Schwetzingen, Germany during an encore. In 1989, 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.

In 2005, Sfogli flew to Canada to record James LaBrie's third solo progressive metal release titled Elements of Persuasion. Sfogli released his first solo record titled There's Hope in February 2008 through Lion Music. In 2010, he also worked on the fourth 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 rejoined the James LaBrie 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. In 2015, he played in the band Icefish with Virgil Donati on drums, Alex Argento on keyboards, and Andrea Casali on bass and vocals. Icefish released their debut album Human Hardware in 2017.

Discography

[edit]

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)
  • Ostura – The Room (2018)
  • Richard Henshall – The Cocoon (2019)
  • Virgil Donati – Ruination (2019)
  • Intervals – Circadian (2020)
  • Cody Carpenter – Memories And Dreams (2020)
  • James LaBrie – Beautiful Shade of Grey (2022)

Solo albums

  • Marco Sfogli – There's Hope (2008)
  • Marco Sfogli – reMarcoble (2012)
  • Marco Sfogli – Homeland (2019)
  • Marco Sfogli – Welcome to Ooglyworld (2023)

Equipment

[edit]

Sfogli played on Rash Guitars, a small Italian company, then switched to Ibanez Guitars[when?] and has played them for 10 years exclusively. He's 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 products and Kemper Profiling amplifier. In 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 HSS FR M Satin Burgundy Mist (with EMG 85/SLV/SLV Pickups Set)
  • Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 HSS FR M Satin Shell Pink (with EMG 85/SA/SA Pickups Set)
  • Charvel Henrik Danhage Limited Edition Signature Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 (with EMG Crossroads/Super 77 Pickups Set)
  • Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7 Baked Green (with EMG 81/60 Pickups Set)
  • Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HSH 2PT CM Mystic Blue
  • Charvel Custom Shop So-Cal Style 1 HSS FR
  • Charvel Marco Sfogli Signature Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 HSS FR CM QM-Transparent Purple Burst

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
  • Victory KX the Kraken
  • Mezzabarba MZero Overdrive Head
  • Mezzabarba Skill 30 Head
  • Mezzabarba Nirvana Preamp
  • Mezzabarba Trinity 100W

Effects/Processor:

  • Kemper profiler
  • Fractal FM3
  • Fractal FX8
  • Fractal FM9
  • TC Electronic TC2290-DT
  • F-AudioLabs TAF (Marco Sfogli Signature Chorus／Delay Plugin)
  • Neural DSP Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Suite
  • Universal Audio UAFX Knuckles '92 Dual Rec Amplifier

Other Equipment:

  • Mission Engineering Pedals
  • Dunlop DVP4
  • Line 6 G30 Wireless
  • BOSS WAZA Tube Amp Expander
  • Suhr Reactive Load IR
  • Live Play Rock: Marco Sfogli KEMPER PACK Signature
  • 412 Mezzabarba MZero "69 Cab G12M20 & G12M25 IR Cab Pack"
  • Boutique Tones: "BT Marco Sfogli" Official Tone Pack
  • Elixir Electric Nickel Plated Steel Optiweb Coating Super Light 09-46

On records

[edit]
  • James LaBrie "Elements of Persuasion" - Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier 2ch - Mesa Boogie Mark III blue stripes - Mesa Boogie Tremoverb
  • Alex Argento "EGO" - Mesa Boogie Triaxis/2:90 - Boss GT-6 - Roland Microcube
  • The Alchemist II - Mesa Boogie Triaxis
  • Magni Animi Viri "Heroes Temporis" - Mesa Boogie Triaxis/2:90 - Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp/2:90
  • Jordan Rudess "The Road Home" - Native Instruments Guitar Rig - was also the last record which featured the Music Man JP guitar
  • John Macaluso "The Radio Waves Goodbye" - Mesa Boogie Triaxis/2:90 - Lexicon MPXG2
  • Shadrane "Temporal" - Boss GT-6
  • Marco Sfogli "There's Hope" - Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp/Triaxis/2:90 - Mesa Boogie Lonestar - Native Instruments Guitar Rig - Boss GT-6 - IK Multimedia Amplitube - Roland Microcube - Behringer VAmp2 - Lexicon MPXG2
  • Project Damage Control "Mechanism" - Mesa Boogie Studio Preamp/2:90 - Digidesign Eleven - Zoom 9002 Pro - Fractal Audio Axe FX Ultra
  • Adam Nitti "Liminal" - Mesa Boogie Lonestar - Zoom 9002 Pro
  • Utopia "Ice and Knives" - Fractal Audio Axe FX Ultra
  • James LaBrie "Static Impulse" - Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier - Engl Fireball - Fractal Audio Axe FX Ultra

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Marco Sfogli

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Marco Sfogli (born April 4, 1980) is an Italian guitarist, composer, arranger, and producer known for his virtuosic contributions to progressive rock and heavy metal genres. Hailing from the Naples area, he began playing guitar at age nine in 1989, initially inspired by artists like Eddie Van Halen and Joe Satriani, before briefly switching to drums around age twelve and returning to guitar after discovering Dream Theater's Images and Words in 1996. Sfogli's career gained prominence in 2004 at age 24 when he contributed guitar to James LaBrie's solo album Elements of Persuasion, replacing through connections with keyboardist Matt Guillory and keyboardist Alex Argento. He has since become a sought-after , appearing on recordings by drummer Simon Phillips, keyboardist , and drummer , while serving as lead guitarist for LaBrie's band, formerly for the Italian progressive rock group (PFM), and for the band Icefish. As a solo artist, Sfogli released his debut instrumental album There's Hope in 2008, self-recorded in his home studio and issued by Guitar Nine Records, which became a and ranked second in The Top Tens' Best Fully Album category. Subsequent solo efforts include ReMarcoble and (2019), showcasing his melodic phrasing and technical prowess developed through ear-based learning rather than formal exercises. He also participated in the progressive metal band Creation's End and contributed to Alex Argento's Ego. In addition to performing and recording, Sfogli has been an educator since 2000–2001, teaching guitar as a primary source early in his career, and continues to share techniques through masterclasses, such as his 2025 release with JTC Guitar that delves into his melodic rock and metal approaches, including wah-wah usage and construction. He endorses equipment like signature guitars, DV Mark amplifiers, and pickups, reflecting his setup for live and studio work.

Early Life and Education

Childhood in Italy and Germany

Marco Sfogli was born on April 4, 1980, in , , into a family deeply immersed in music. His parents, both professional musicians, were longstanding members of the renowned Italian folk ensemble Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare, which performed traditional Neapolitan and . This familial involvement in the created a vibrant musical household that exposed Sfogli to live performances and instrumental sounds from a very young age, fostering his innate curiosity about music and stage presence. In 1984, when Sfogli was four years old, his family traveled to for a performance, where he first experienced the energy of a live by joining his parents on during an encore in . This early encounter with , amidst his parents' professional commitments, highlighted the dynamic family environment that encouraged creativity and expression, shaping Sfogli's appreciation for musical collaboration and public engagement long before he pursued formal training. The family returned to soon after, allowing Sfogli to grow up in the culturally rich setting of his hometown, where the constant presence of music intertwined with everyday life influenced his developing worldview.

Musical Beginnings and Influences

Around age 8, Sfogli began classical guitar studies influenced by his father, a classical guitarist. He received his first electric guitar, a Washburn model, as a gift in 1989 at the age of nine. He quickly began self-teaching himself to play by emulating recordings from artists such as Michael Jackson, Van Halen, and Europe, which sparked his initial passion for the instrument. This early experimentation laid the foundation for his guitar proficiency, as he spent hours daily replicating riffs and solos from these influences without formal instruction. In 1992, at age twelve, Sfogli set aside the guitar to pursue intensively for two years. This period enhanced his rhythmic understanding, which later informed his guitar work. He resumed guitar around age 14. By 1996, at age sixteen, Sfogli's interest in guitar was reignited following repeated listens to Dream Theater's album , which profoundly inspired him due to its technical complexity and melodic depth. During his teenage years, he developed core skills through consistent, self-directed practice, emphasizing accuracy in phrasing and timing drawn from his early idols.

Formal Training

Sfogli's formal musical education commenced around age 8 with lessons for a couple of years, introducing him to foundational techniques, notation, and discipline in guitar , providing an academic grounding in music theory and execution. At age 12, he shifted to studies for two years, an experience that bolstered his rhythmic foundation and contributed to his overall musical sensibility. Returning to guitar thereafter, Sfogli supplemented his early formal training with intensive self-directed practice, analyzing transcriptions from magazines and instructional tapes to refine his skills in and arrangement. By his late teens in the late , Sfogli had begun teaching guitar at music schools in , including private instruction and group sessions that honed his theoretical and practical expertise.

Professional Career

Breakthrough with

In 2004, at the age of 24, Marco Sfogli received a recommendation from Matt Guillory, a mutual acquaintance, which led to his invitation to join solo project and record the album Elements of Persuasion. As lead guitarist, Sfogli contributed guitar parts to several of LaBrie's solo albums, including Elements of Persuasion (2005), Static Impulse (2010), Impermanent Resonance (2013), and the acoustic-leaning Beautiful Shade of Grey (2022). He performed on live tours supporting these releases from 2005 through 2022, including a world tour following Elements of Persuasion, where his technical prowess and stage presence helped elevate the band's sound. Sfogli also offered songwriting input by submitting demos that were reviewed and incorporated into the band's material, complementing LaBrie's vision under primary songwriter Guillory.

Solo and Independent Work

Marco Sfogli launched his solo career with the release of his debut There's Hope in 2008 through Lion Music, comprising original instrumental compositions that blend with melodic guitar work. Sfogli mixed the himself, showcasing his hands-on approach to production from the outset. The record emphasizes emotional depth and melodic phrasing alongside technical prowess, with Sfogli intentionally prioritizing passion within structured compositions to convey themes of and personal resilience. Building on this foundation, Sfogli's follow-up album reMarcoble, released in 2012 via JTC Records, shifted toward more pronounced melodic rock influences while retaining his signature progressive elements. He oversaw production to achieve a contemporary sound, incorporating diverse textures from blistering metal riffs to acoustic introspection in his songwriting process. This independent effort allowed Sfogli greater creative autonomy, drawing from his touring schedule with to refine personal artistic directions. In 2019, Sfogli issued Homeland as his third solo album, self-produced and distributed through JTC, featuring nine original tracks that explore dynamics with intricate guitar arrangements. His songwriting here reflects a maturation in thematic depth, inspired by concepts of identity and , achieved through layered compositions that balance high-energy passages with reflective moments. Sfogli's fourth solo release, Welcome to Ooglyworld in 2023, further exemplifies his independent ethos, with him handling mixing and mastering alongside performances on guitars, keyboards, effects, and percussion. The album introduces "The Ooglies" as a conceptual framework involving a close-knit group of musical friends, fostering collaborative yet Sfogli-led songwriting that fuses prog, rock, and pop for an emotional narrative arc. Thematic inspirations include satirical commentary on contemporary life, portrayed through whimsical yet pointed explorations of highs and lows, marking a playful evolution in his independent output.

Collaborations and Band Memberships

In March 2015, Marco Sfogli joined the renowned Italian band (PFM) as lead guitarist, succeeding founding member Franco Mussida. His debut performance with the group occurred on May 1, 2015, before an audience of nearly 700,000 at a major event. Over the next nine years, Sfogli contributed to PFM's dynamic live shows, blending his virtuosic style with the band's classic and contemporary repertoire, until his departure in October 2024. That same year, Sfogli co-founded the progressive metal ensemble Icefish alongside drummer , keyboardist Alex Argento, and bassist/vocalist Andrea Casali. The quartet released their sole studio , Human Hardware, in 2017, showcasing intricate fusion-metal compositions driven by the musicians' technical prowess. Icefish remained active through 2017, focusing on recording and promotion before disbanding. Throughout the 2010s, Sfogli undertook extensive session work and guest spots with both Italian and international artists, enhancing his reputation as a versatile collaborator. Notable examples include his guitar contributions to Virgil Donati's 2012 solo album In This Life. He also featured prominently in the fusion supergroup The Elba Triangle, a project with guitarists Tom Quayle and Alessandro Benvenuti, which released the album Chapter One in 2014, reinterpreting classic fusion tracks with modern flair. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sfogli pivoted toward virtual and remote collaborations to sustain his musical output amid touring restrictions. In 2020, he joined the multi-artist initiative String Theory by Canadian progressive metal band Intervals, delivering a guest solo that highlighted his melodic shredding. By 2024, he appeared on the track "Spotlight" by Polish post-progressive rock outfit Distant Dream, adding guitar layers to their upcoming album End of the World We Know. In 2025, Sfogli participated in JTC Guitar's Collab Series Vol. 6, a digital ensemble effort featuring interactive tabs and playthroughs with fellow guitarists, reflecting his ongoing adaptation to hybrid recording environments. These projects underscore Sfogli's resilience as a musician, balancing remote sessions with selective live engagements in 2024 and 2025.

Musical Style and Technique

Signature Techniques

Marco Sfogli demonstrates mastery of , , and , techniques essential for executing the intricate passages characteristic of . forms the foundation of his precise, high-speed runs, allowing for clean articulation across scales and arpeggios, as detailed in his instructional packages where he breaks down exercises combining these methods with for fluid execution. enables efficient navigation of wide-interval arpeggios, often applied in ascending and descending patterns to maintain momentum in complex solos, while optimizes directional changes between strings, reducing hand fatigue during extended progressive compositions. These approaches are showcased in his exercises, where they support the genre's demand for technical without sacrificing . Sfogli places a strong emphasis on melodic phrasing over sheer shredding, prioritizing expressive lines that enhance the emotional core of a piece rather than relying on relentless speed. In his live solos, such as the rendition of "Still Hurts," he constructs phrases using chord tones and intervallic leaps from modes like C# Aeolian, incorporating bends, slides, and to convey dynamics and narrative flow. This approach is evident in examples where he targets specific chord progressions, ending phrases on resolving notes like arpeggios to create tension and release, ensuring solos serve the song's structure. By focusing on controlled techniques—such as wrist-driven bends for intonation accuracy—Sfogli achieves a quality in his leads, distinguishing his style in progressive contexts. Sfogli integrates techniques to add vocal-like expression and timbral variation, particularly in melodic contexts, as highlighted in his 2025 instructional discussions. In tracks like "Our Lives," he employs the wah to evoke character-specific emotions, such as nervousness in younger portrayals, by sweeping the pedal for dynamic filter effects that interact with his clean neck pickup tones. This method enhances phrasing without overpowering the , allowing subtle sweeps to underscore bends and sustains in live and studio settings. His rhythmic complexity, applied to odd-time signatures, stems from an early background playing drums, which honed his sense of groove and subdivision. Having studied drums from age 12 for several years, Sfogli developed a percussionist's perspective that informs his guitar work, enabling seamless navigation of shifting meters and accents. In his 2025 masterclass, he addresses incorporating strumming in odd times, accent shifts, and subdivision variations to build rhythmic interest in solos and riffs. This influence manifests in progressive metal applications, where he layers guitar lines over unconventional signatures like those in 7/8 or 5/4, maintaining pocket and interplay with the rhythm section.

Influences on Playing Style

Marco Sfogli's playing style draws significant inspiration from early pop-rock icons, particularly through the lens of showmanship and energetic delivery. His initial exposure to came via Michael Jackson's 1983 hit "," where Van Halen's guest solo captivated Sfogli with its effortless smoothness and pioneering rock flair, instilling a sense of dynamic that permeates his approach to phrasing and presence. This pop-rock foundation emphasized melodic hooks and rhythmic vitality, shaping Sfogli's ability to blend accessibility with technical prowess in his compositions. Progressive rock elements profoundly influenced Sfogli's precision and complexity, with Dream Theater serving as a pivotal turning point in his development. John Petrucci's intricate rhythms and tasteful solos on tracks like "Learning to Live" from the band's early catalog directly molded Sfogli's tone and structural sensibilities, crediting the group for defining his identity as a guitarist. Similarly, modern melodic players such as Andy Timmons impacted his note selection and fusion of rock with jazz attitudes, evident in Timmons' unique phrasing on songs like "Happening '68," which encouraged Sfogli to prioritize emotional depth over sheer speed. Italian rock traditions further enriched Sfogli's style through his immersion in the progressive sounds of (PFM), whose symphonic and folk-infused elements informed his incorporation of melodic Italian prog motifs. Joining PFM in allowed him to synthesize these roots into his playing, adding layers of orchestral texture and cultural nuance. Post-2020, Sfogli's evolution incorporated more acoustic elements and reflective tones, influenced by the pandemic's isolation themes during remote recordings for PFM's album I Dreamed of Electric Sheep. This period fostered a contemplative approach, blending with impressionistic soundscapes that evoke emotional and genre-blending .

Discography

Solo Albums

Marco Sfogli's solo discography spans four albums, showcasing his evolution as a from melodic rock foundations to progressive experimentation and conceptual storytelling. Released through independent labels like Lion Music and JTC Records, these works highlight his compositional depth, technical virtuosity, and ability to blend genres while maintaining emotional resonance. His debut solo album, There's Hope, was released on February 15, 2008, and features 11 tracks emphasizing hopeful, melodic guitar lines infused with hard rock, progressive, blues, and fusion elements. Produced independently with Sfogli handling guitars, bass on select tracks, and keyboards, the album includes contributions from drummers like John Macaluso and keyboardists such as Matt Guillory, creating a dynamic soundscape of emotional depth and passionate playing. Tracks like the title song "There’s Hope" and "Sunset Lights" exemplify its uplifting themes, earning praise for blending genres accessibly and marking Sfogli as a promising instrumental talent; reviewers noted its strong melodic roots and suitability for broad rock audiences. The follow-up, reMarcoble, arrived on November 15, 2012, comprising 11 tracks that explore experimental progressive metal with groovy rhythms, intricate arrangements, and guest musicians enhancing its textural variety. Sfogli described it as a more mature effort reflecting his desired musical direction, featuring funky passages alongside prog metal intensity in songs like "Jester's Tears," "Heartburn," and "The Forest." Released via JTC Records, the album received acclaim for its musical phrasing, creativity, and tonal excellence, with critics highlighting Sfogli's unmatched finesse and its appeal to fans of virtuoso guitar work. Homeland, Sfogli's third solo release on February 22, , consists of 9 tracks drawing on acoustic influences and a return to his Italian roots through warm, crisp tones and melodic compositions. The album balances progressive leanings with accessible rock, as seen in pieces like "Dawn," "," and "The ," which incorporate light percussion and emotive leads for a reflective journey. Critically acclaimed for its compositional strength and production quality—featuring tight drumming and full bass lines—it was lauded as a high point in Sfogli's catalog, blending glistening melodies with harder edges to showcase his growth. In 2023, Sfogli released Welcome to Ooglyworld on , an 11-track conceptual album themed around "The Ooglies," fusing , and pop elements into a sonic adventure of soaring highs and introspective lows. Tracks such as "Ambiguous Gifts," "Morning Haze," "," and "Nothing Is Lost" explore varied moods with virtuoso flair, supported by collaborators like drummer . The work garnered positive reception for its emotional range and Sfogli's brilliant guitar work, reinforcing his status as a gifted instrumentalist.

Contributions to Other Artists

Sfogli has made significant contributions as a guitarist to several prominent and metal projects, beginning with his early collaborations in the mid-2000s. His work with vocalist spans multiple solo albums, where he provided and solos, establishing a long-term partnership that showcased his technical prowess in contexts. On LaBrie's Elements of Persuasion (2005), Sfogli handled all guitar duties, contributing intricate riffs and solos that complemented the album's complex arrangements. He continued this role on Static Impulse (2011), delivering dynamic leads across its progressive tracks, and Impermanent Resonance (2013), where his playing added melodic depth to the ensemble's sound. Sfogli's involvement extended to Beautiful Shade of Grey (2022), providing on all tracks and enhancing the album's blend of acoustic and electric elements. Since joining Italian progressive rock legends (PFM) in 2016, Sfogli has been a core guitarist for their studio and live releases, participating in tours and recordings that revitalized the band's classic sound with modern flair. He featured prominently on the studio album Emotional Tattoos (2017), performing electric and acoustic guitars throughout its dual-language tracks. Sfogli also contributed to I Dreamed of Electric Sheep (2021), blending his style with PFM's symphonic prog elements on both electric and acoustic parts. His live work includes the anniversary release PFM Canta De André Anniversary (2024), recorded during the 2023-2024 tour, where he handled guitar on interpretations of Fabrizio De André's material. In the supergroup Icefish, formed in 2015, Sfogli took on full guitar responsibilities for their debut album Human Hardware (2017), co-writing and performing on all nine tracks alongside drummer Virgil Donati, keyboardist Alex Argento, and bassist/vocalist Andrea Casali, resulting in a fusion of progressive metal and instrumental complexity. Throughout the 2010s and 2020s, Sfogli has appeared as a guest guitarist on various Italian and international progressive releases, adding his signature melodic leads to enhance their sound. Notable examples include lead guitar on Jordan Rudess's covers album The Road Home (2007), contributions to Creation's End's A New Dawn (2010), and guest solos on The Wormhole Experience's self-titled album (2019). He also provided leads on tracks from Italian prog projects like Alex Argento's works and Sound the Sirens' Imaginary Gravity (2025), as well as the single "Mirror Strings" by Brian Maillard (2025).

Instructional Releases

Marco Sfogli has maintained an online educational presence since the early , primarily through platforms like and JTC Guitar, where he shares playthrough videos and instructional content to demonstrate his playing techniques. Early examples include full playthroughs of tracks such as "" from his 2012 album reMarcoble, released in 2013, and "Nothing Is Lost" from the 2014 compilation , released in 2014, which provide viewers with visual breakdowns of his guitar parts accompanied by official tabs and backing tracks available for purchase. These releases laid the foundation for his more structured courses, emphasizing melodic phrasing and technical execution in contexts. In 2021, Sfogli expanded his instructional offerings with Melodic Rock Soloing 101, a masterclass on JTC Guitar that distills decades of his soloing expertise into lessons on phrasing, , and interval navigation across scales. This was followed in 2025 by The Marco Sfogli Masterclass, a comprehensive course released on July 4, which delves into his warm-up routines, right-hand techniques, and approaches to , , and , all geared toward enhancing melodic expression. The masterclass includes 10 lesson videos, 21 exercise videos, six solo demonstrations, interactive tabs, backing tracks, audio files, and a study guide, marking his most in-depth pedagogical release to date. Sfogli also contributed to JTC Guitar's The Collab Series Vol.6 in September 2025, providing an original track with interactive tabs, full playthrough video, audio, and backing tracks for students to practice and improvise alongside his melodic rock style. This collaborative educational package highlights his precise execution and serves as a tool for guitarists to study fusion-influenced phrasing in a group context.

Equipment

Guitars

Marco Sfogli began his musical journey with a Washburn received as a gift in 1989, which he used during his formative years of playing along to influences like . In his early professional career, prior to 2015, he endorsed Rash Guitars, an Italian manufacturer, and developed a custom signature model tailored to his needs for progressive and rock performances. In 2016, Sfogli signed an endorsement deal with and introduced the MSM1 signature model from their Premium line, handcrafted in . The MSM1 features an American basswood body with a tineo top for balanced tone, a neck-through construction with a five-piece /walnut neck for enhanced sustain and stability, and pickups—including the in the middle and The Tone Zone in the bridge—for versatile progressive sounds. It also includes a SynchroniZR bridge with ZPS FX stabilizer and 24 jumbo frets on a bound , designed to support Sfogli's technical demands in both studio recordings and live settings. By July 2020, Sfogli transitioned to an endorsement with and , seeking greater versatility for his progressive playing style through custom configurations. In 2022, released his signature Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 1 HSS model, featuring an alder body with a quilted top, a caramelized neck with a 12"-16" compound radius for fluid bends and speed, and EMG active pickups (81 in the bridge, SA in the middle and neck) for high-output clarity and low noise in complex arrangements. The model incorporates a 1000 Series double-locking for reliable tuning stability during aggressive techniques, reflecting Sfogli's evolution toward modern, high-performance instruments suited to his session and touring work. Sfogli has incorporated acoustic guitars into his solo work and collaborations, notably providing lead acoustic parts on James LaBrie's 2022 album Beautiful Shade of Grey, where they contributed to the project's melodic, folk-influenced tracks alongside his electric contributions.

Amplifiers and Effects

Throughout his early career, Marco Sfogli relied on amplifiers to achieve his signature high-gain tones, notably using the Dual Rectifier head and combo for the recording of James LaBrie's album Elements of Persuasion, where the amps were cranked without additional overdrive pedals to capture a direct, saturated sound. For subsequent projects like his debut solo album There's Hope, he incorporated the TriAxis preamp and Studio preamp, often paired with the Lone Star head for warmer, bluesier leads in tracks such as "Spread The Disease" and "Seven." These setups emphasized a rich, warm that supported his melodic phrasing without muddiness. Since 2008, Sfogli has primarily adopted the DV Mark Multiamp as his go-to amplifier, valuing its versatility across clean, crunch, and lead channels, which he has customized with personal presets for both studio and live applications. In live settings, particularly during tours with in the mid-, he combined the Multiamp with the V30 head for enhanced projection and tonal consistency. By the late , Sfogli integrated Mezzabarba amplifiers, such as the Trinity head, specifically for pristine clean tones, leveraging its MIDI-programmable three-channel design to maintain clarity in dynamic performances. Sfogli's effects chain has evolved to complement his amps, focusing on subtle enhancements for sustain and expression. Early recordings featured the Dunlop Dime Cry Baby from Hell wah pedal to add vocal-like sweeps to leads on There's Hope. For live and studio work in the 2010s, he incorporated overdrives like the TS808 and Xotic BB Preamp for mid-gain boosts, alongside a Japanese Girl wah for expressive solos. Delays and modulation came from units, including the Flashback X4 for ambient repeats and Corona Chorus for subtle width, often routed through the DV Mark Multiamp. Post-2020, Sfogli shifted toward hybrid digital-analog rigs for touring efficiency, blending his analog amps with modelers like the Fractal Axe-Fx III in the studio and live setups to replicate classic tones while reducing gear weight. This approach, evident in recent tone packs capturing his sound for units like the Quad Cortex, allows seamless switching between high-gain leads and cleans. Central to Sfogli's tonal philosophy is achieving a balance of clarity and sustain that enhances melodic leads, drawing from the warm saturation of amps while prioritizing definition for emotional phrasing, as he described seeking a "rich, warm, saturated sound without being muddy" in early interviews.

References

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