Terry Philip Balsamo II (born October 8, 1972 in Tampa, Florida) is an American guitarist. He is the former guitarist of both alternative metal band Cold and popular rock band Evanescence. Balsamo is noted for his onstage expression of his fondness for Michael Myers of the Halloween film franchise.
Balsamo briefly re-joined Cold for their early 2009 reunion tour, but has not played with the band since nor contributed to their 2011 comeback album.
Evanescence
When Evanescence's guitarist Ben Moody left the band during their European tour, Balsamo filled in for Moody on stage. When Cold's future suddenly came into question, Balsamo jumped ship, signing on for good with Evanescence. He has also become a songwriter with lead singer and songwriter of Evanescence, Amy Lee.
Balsamo can be seen and heard most prominently in Evanescence's live album, Anywhere but Home (2004) and on the band's studio album The Open Door (2006). He has become Amy Lee's main collaborator for Evanescence and co-wrote most of Evanescence's 2nd album The Open Door including the album's first single, "Call Me When You're Sober", and third single "Sweet Sacrifice". He was also recording Evanescence's self-titled third album that was released in October 2011.
On August 7, 2015, it was announced on the bands Facebook that Terry had parted ways with Evanescence, to be replaced by Jen Majura.
Health issues
In November 2005, Balsamo suffered a stroke. The doctors informed him that it was a result of a blood clot in his neck that formed from headbanging on-stage.[4] As a result from his injury, he formerly used his dreadlocks as a stage act by shaking them and bringing them forward while standing still, so as not to create too much movement and thus avoiding further problems.[citation needed]
Equipment
“
I useIbanez guitars. In the studio, I kind of use a similar setup to what I used on the last Cold record I did, which is mix up the amps and combine the sound together. It’s a Diezel and a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier and mixed that for one side. Then I took a Bogner and a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier on the other side. I combined it and made one big wall of metal!
Right now on tour I’m using T.C. Electronics, the G-System.