Who says you have to be twenty years old to make a run at metal? Guitarist Ron Lydian is restarting his recording career in his sixties, and his new single “GHIDORAH,” released October 23, has a story that goes all the way back to the early 1990s.
The track began with his former band Monster Zero, later called Monster Zero Rising. During rehearsal, drummer Wayne Louie pushed the tempo into punk-thrash territory, and Lydian says the band realized the faster version hit harder. Years later, that idea has become a new release.
His influences tell another story: Randy Rhoads, Michael Schenker, Al Di Meola and, especially, LOUDNESS guitarist Akira Takasaki. Lydian says discovering Japanese metal in 1982 changed how he heard guitar playing. That’s the kind of musical history worth digging into, especially from someone returning to it decades later. Listen to “GHIDORAH” here.
Official Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RON LYDIAN REIGNITES HIS METAL CAREER IN HIS SIXTIES WITH NEW SINGLE “GHIDORAH”
Out today, the Southern California guitarist’s latest release introduces the next chapter of a musical journey shaped by Akira Takasaki, Randy Rhoads, Michael Schenker, and Al Di Meola.
October 23, 2026 — Metal has no expiration date. For guitarist Ron Lydian, restarting his career in his sixties means putting a lifetime of musical passion back into motion. Released today, his new single, “GHIDORAH,” marks the next step for an old-school rocker whose perspective spans Southern California’s metal scene, Japanese heavy metal, and the technical possibilities of the guitar.
Listen here on Spotify:
“I think restarting my career in my sixties is fairly unique,” says Lydian. “I also have extensive experience in the Southern California metal scene, along with decades of encounters and connections with prominent people in the industry. There is probably a good book in there somewhere.”
That history gives Lydian a compelling story beyond the release itself: a musician returning to his career with decades of experience behind him and new music ahead. For rock and metal listeners, his next chapter offers an introduction to an artist whose enthusiasm for the genre has endured across generations.
ABOUT THE SINGLE: “GHIDORAH”
“GHIDORAH” is the latest release in Lydian’s renewed recording career, introducing listeners to the current work of a guitarist grounded in metal and open to the possibilities of hard rock. Its release marks another step in a creative chapter informed by decades of playing, listening, and involvement in Southern California’s metal community.
“Ghidorah” actually started out as a metal track in the early ’90s with my former band, Monster Zero—later known as Monster Zero Rising. One day during rehearsal, our drummer, Wayne Louie, decided to speed it up to a punk-thrash tempo, so our bassist and I followed along. When we listened to the playback we had taped, we thought the faster tempo gave the song a more powerful vibe, so we kept it at that faster tempo.
Even though the music is hard and heavy, I try to be as creative as possible. I always try to add little extras or musical nuances to make the song more interesting. The solo section, for example, could be an acoustic piece on its own; in fact, I’ve been using it to tune my guitars for years. Laughs The solo itself is kind of unique because I use small arpeggios mixed with some minor runs and a major run at the end.
Like I said, I try to do things that are a little off the beaten path. I have so many musical influences to draw from, and I like to keep things fresh. There’s that old saying: “It’s all been done before…” So I do it—but in my own special way.
A LIFETIME OF GUITAR INFLUENCES
Lydian’s musical foundation began with Michael Schenker and Randy Rhoads, followed by the influence of fusion guitarist Al Di Meola in the early 1980s. His most significant discovery came in 1982, when a Record Review article by Jon Sutherland introduced him to Japanese metal. Already a longtime fan of anime and tokusatsu, Lydian sought out the bands mentioned in the article—and found Loudness.
A friend he had met at a Ratt concert brought over Loudness’s first album. Hearing Akira Takasaki changed his understanding of what metal guitar could be.
“The music completely blew me away—it was everything I wanted to hear in metal and more,” Lydian recalls. “The highlight was Akira Takasaki’s guitar playing; he was, and remains, my biggest influence.”
His influences also extend to Greg Fulton, known for his work with Znowhite and Cyclone Temple, whose rhythm playing Lydian considers essential listening for guitarists seeking to master thrash. Together, these touchstones reflect his interest in both lead guitar technique and the rhythmic foundation that gives heavy music its power.
Although Lydian embraces the technical playing commonly described as “shred,” he keeps his musical approach open. Metal remains his foundation, with room for hard rock and changes in pace, feel, and intensity.
“Sometimes fast, sometimes slow, and sometimes somewhere in between,” he explains. “I am not a big fan of musical compartmentalization.”
With “GHIDORAH,” Lydian continues a career restart rooted in that independent approach. His story opens the door to conversations about returning to music later in life, the influence of Japanese metal on American guitarists, and the Southern California scene that helped shape his musical perspective.
ABOUT RON LYDIAN
Ron Lydian is a guitarist and recording artist with extensive experience in Southern California’s rock and metal scene. An old-school metalhead with a deep appreciation for technically demanding guitar playing, his influences include Akira Takasaki, Michael Schenker, Randy Rhoads, Al Di Meola, and Greg Fulton. His music centers on metal while allowing room for hard rock and a broad range of musical approaches. Restarting his career in his sixties, Lydian brings decades of experience and an enduring love of the guitar to his new single, “GHIDORAH,” released October 23, 2026.
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Ron Lydian is available for interviews, artist features, and guitar-focused discussions. For coverage inquiries regarding “GHIDORAH,” contact Raquel Figlo Public Relations.
MEDIA CONTACT
Raquel Figlo
Raquel Figlo Public Relations
Email: raquel@raquelfiglo.com
Phone: 714-724-1322