Kiko Loureiro is a Brazilian heavy metal guitarist, member of the band Angra. Loureiro began studying music and playing acoustic guitar at age 11. Inspired by various artists, mainly Eddie Van Halen, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, and Randy Rhoads, he moved to the electric guitar at 13 and by 16 had already joined two bands, Legalize and A Chave, and was playing in nightclubs in S�o Paulo. At 19, he helped co-found Brazilian power metal band Angra, with whom he still plays. Due to the increase in popularity of power metal, Loureiro has become quite successful, both playing in Angra and as a solo artist. He is known for his tremendous technical skill on the guitar, frequently incorporating such techniques as two handed tapping, sweep picking, alternate picking, artificial & natural harmonics and combining legato & staccato in the same run or phrase. He is also well known for both his instructional and demonstration videos as well as for writing columns for and appearing on the cover of magazines Cover Guitarra, Guitar & Bass, and Young Guitar. 

June 16th, 1972 in Rio de Janeiro (Age 52)