Andreas Kisser
He forged Sepultura's razor-sharp sonic identity, blending thrash metal with Brazilian rhythms to create a globally influential sound.
Born 1968 (age 58)·Brazilian guitarist·Birthday: August 24·Generation X
Biography
Andreas Kisser joined Sepultura in 1987, stepping into a band still finding its voice. His arrival, replacing founding guitarist Jairo Guedz, marked a seismic shift. Kisser brought a more technical, classically influenced style that became central to the band's landmark albums like 'Beneath the Remains' and 'Arise.' He was instrumental in the ambitious fusion of indigenous Brazilian sounds and tribal percussion with extreme metal on the groundbreaking 'Roots,' an album that reshaped the genre's boundaries. After the departure of the Cavalera brothers, Kisser, alongside bassist Paulo Jr., became the steadfast core of Sepultura, steering the band through decades of evolution and maintaining its status as a vital, touring force in heavy music. His work extends beyond the band into solo projects and collaborations like De La Tierra, showcasing a restless creative spirit.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Andreas was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andreas Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Andreas's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- As lead guitarist, he co-wrote and performed on Sepultura's seminal albums 'Arise,' 'Chaos A.D.,' and the globally influential 'Roots.'
- He has been a constant member of Sepultura since 1987, appearing on every studio album from 'Schizophrenia' onward.
- He formed the Latin American rock supergroup De La Tierra with members of Maná and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs.
- He released solo albums like 'Hubris I & II' that explore musical concepts outside of Sepultura's framework.
Did You Know?
He is a huge fan of the Brazilian soccer team Corinthians and has composed music for them.
Before joining Sepultura, he auditioned for the band by learning their entire setlist in just one week.
He directed a documentary film about Sepultura's history titled 'Sepultura Endurance.'
His guitar playing is heavily influenced by classical composers like Bach and Vivaldi.
“Metal is a universal language. It doesn't matter where you come from, if the feeling is true, people will understand.”
