Metal Prodigy on a Mission to Heal with Music
Russell Watson loves heavy metal and believes that all music, especially metal, heals. As a heavy metal guitar prodigy starting at age 8 (and since expanding into song writing, composition, drumming and more), Russell is fully engaged with the metal community and dedicates his time to developing his talents, rapidly consuming the rich history of metal and preserving the origins of metal. Discovered by Gibson’s President & CEO César Gueikian when he was playing guitar at the Gibson Garage in London, England in 2025, Russell is now a Gibson Artist.
Metal heals. Music heals.
Russell's belief that music heals originated when he started playing guitar at age 8, shortly after losing his father to stomach cancer. Guitar was Russell’s medicine for his grief. Music healed him. Metal spoke to his soul and kept him connected with his dad’s memory until it became a new language all of his own. Now, Russell is eager to carry that healing forward and spread the message of hope in his own music.
Russell is determined to keep heavy metal thriving. He was introduced to rock and heavy metal from the womb and then had it regularly reinforced through his childhood by his parents. He counts Metallica, Pantera, Lamb of God, Black Sabbath, Mastodon, Tool and Gojira among the many bands that have influenced him. He also discovered a love of Grunge and Blues, incorporating elements of these styles into his playing. He draws inspiration from legendary guitarists like the late Dimebag Darrell, Randy Rhoads, Jimi Hendrix, and Eddie Van Halen as well as current guitar greats such as Zakk Wylde, Mark Morton and Kirk Hammett.
“Rock music is not meant to be perfect.” – Ozzy Osbourne
Russell couldn’t agree with Ozzy more. He believes music is meant to have a soul and human element to it; he's been noticing that a lot of modern music seems to be striving for perfection and focusing on technique, sometimes using AI and computers that he feels sacrifice the element of soul in songs. Russell infuses his music with emotion and grit because he prefers a raw tone and a sound that has a human hand in it, with an intention of healing and connection behind it.
“To hell with the rules. If it sounds right, then it is.” - Eddie Van Halen
Russell agrees! Russell practices for hours daily, honing his technique, and yet, some of his most brilliant moments come when he ‘plays’ to find new sounds that speak to him. When he can’t find the words, he speaks with his guitar. And while he appreciates and loves to grow by learning others’ music, he is equally, if not more, passionate about writing his own riffs and songs.
Russell lives in Southern California, with his mom, Anne, on a ranch with plenty of space to rock out and then hang out with his dogs, pigs, chickens, and the hawks that stop by for inspiration. He’s homeschooled to balance his schoolwork, being a kid, traveling to attend as many concerts as possible, and his own burgeoning music career.