Nuno Bettencourt

As a guitarist and songwriter Nuno Bettencourt draws from many styles and influences. Born in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, Nuno grew up in a very musical family in Boston, Massachusetts. During his years as a teenager Nuno began playing drums, bass, and keyboards, but ultimately chose guitar as his primary instrument. As a guitarist, one of Nuno's earliest influences was Eddie Van Halen, however, as he developed his craft as a guitarist and songwriter, his influences ran the spectrum of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Prince, Queen, The Pat Travers Band, and many more.



Nuno rose to international prominence as a guitar player after he joined the Boston area group Extreme. Signed to A&M Records shortly after Nuno joined the group, Extreme released its debut CD, Extreme in 1989. In 1990, Extreme released their most critically acclaimed album, Pornograffitti, which included the hits "More Than Words" and "Hole Hearted" reaching #1 and #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, respectively. The band followed it with III Sides to Every Story in 1992. Nuno composed and arrange the brass and string sections for this album and the full orchestra on III Sides to Every Story.



In 1993, Bettencourt co-wrote and produced "Where Are You Going" for the Super Mario Bros. movie. He also joined Robert Palmer in the studio.

Extreme released their final album in 1995, Waiting for the Punchline, However, the band broke up in 1996 when Bettencourt expressed his desire to follow a solo career.

After Extreme disbanded in 1996, Nuno released his 1997 solo debut, Schizophonic, on which Nuno played all instruments. Following the release and touring of Schizophonic, Nuno assembled a new group, Mourning Widows, which incorporated a variety of alternative/rock styles. Mourning Widows released its debut CD on Polydor/Japan in 1998. The follow-up, Furnished Souls For Rent, was released in Japan in 2000. Both Mourning Widows releases cultivated a strong following in Japan and in the New England area.



Subsequently, Nuno formed the recording entity Population 1 and released the self-titled and self-produced 2002 release, Population 1, on Universal/Japan and YBM/Korea. In 2004, Population 1 released Sessions from Room Four as well as an east coast tour in the fall of that year. The name Population 1 was dropped in 2005 and was replaced by DramaGods with the same lineup. DramaGods released their first album in December 2005 available as an import via JVC/Victor Entertainment (Japan).



Nuno's playing can be heard and seen on the Universal/Japan CD and DVD release of Guitar Wars -- featuring solo and collective performances of Nuno with many others, including John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin fame.



In 2006 Nuno joined forces with Jane's Addiction front man Perry Farrell's for a new project which featured Bettencourt as lead guitarist. Bettencourt helped produce Ultra Payloaded, the debut album by Satellite Party released on May 29th, 2007 on Columbia Records. On June 29, 2007, they performed alongside Pearl Jam, Kings of Leon and Incubus in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. In late July 2007 Nuno Bettencourt departed Satellite Party.



Nuno continues active involvement in all facets of the music industry with current writing and recording engagements with Maverick recording group Tantric (Nuno co-wrote the hit single "Hey Now"), Hollywood recording group BB Mak, Toni Braxton, Wyclef Jean and numerous others.



In December 1990, Washburn Guitars unveiled the Washburn N4 Nuno Bettencourt Signature Series - a series of Bettencourt-designed guitars which endures today.

Exercising his true diversity, in 2008, Nuno scored the Miramax movie Smart People, starring Ellen Page, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Hayden Church and Dennis Quaid. The soundtrack was released on Hollywood records.

Currently, Nuno has rejoined forces with his band Extreme. Extreme’s first album in thirteen years doesn’t just mark the band’s hotly anticipated return to the studio and stage. Saudades de Rock (pronounced “sow-dodge”) is a groundbreaking record that reaffirms the beloved, Boston-bred foursome’s stature as innovators in the world of rock & roll.