Justin “GuitarSlayer” Lyons has been a guitar-hero-for-hire for K-pop bands, rapper Lil Wayne and now the Dallas Mavericks. As an emcee roars the names of the Mavs’ starting lineup, the GuitarSlayer peels off furious metal-blues riffs to the accompaniment of the Who’s “Eminence Front,” the team’s longtime intro song.When musicians describe their approach as “a gumbo of styles,” it can sound like a cliche. But when Justin “GuitarSlayer” Lyons uses that phrase, it rings true.
But his musical career actually began in gospel. Raised in Oak Cliff, the 38-year-old Lyons grew up singing in his grandparents’ church, the House of Prayer for All People. But his focus shifted when his mom bought him a B.B. King cassette tape and an electric guitar from Toys R Us. “We were asked to urbanize their music,” Lyons says. “I hope this isn’t translated wrong, but their K-pop came off as popcorn-ish. So we put some urban flavor to it.”