Eric Peterson (guitarist)

For others of a similar name, see Erik Peterson (disambiguation) and Erik Petersen (disambiguation).

Eric Stanley Peterson (born May 14, 1964) is an American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist of the thrash metal band Testament and the only remaining original member left in the band, which first started in 1983 under the name Legacy.^[1] He and lead vocalist Chuck Billy are the only members to appear on all of the band's studio albums.^[2]

Eric Peterson
Peterson performing in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Eric Stanley Peterson
Born	(1964-05-14) May 14, 1964 (age 61)
Origin	Berkeley, California, U.S.
Genres	Thrash metal heavy metal death metal black metal
Occupations	Musician songwriter
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Years active	1983–present
Member of	Testament Dragonlord

Peterson also has a side project black metal band called Dragonlord, in which he plays guitar and also sings.^[3][4] In Testament, Peterson was originally a rhythm guitarist while Alex Skolnick handled all lead work. More recently though, Peterson plays leads along with Skolnick.^[1]

Musical influences

Peterson has cited Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Kiss, Judas Priest, Boston, Scorpions, UFO, Montrose, Pat Travers and Mahogany Rush (with Frank Marino) as influences and inspirations to him.^[5] When forming the sound of Legacy/Testament, he had been influenced by the band's Bay Area peers Metallica and Exodus, in addition to NWOBHM bands such as Judas Priest, Venom, Saxon and Angel Witch, and European heavy metal bands like Mercyful Fate.^[5]

Discography

Peterson with Testament in 2012

With Legacy

• Demo 1 (1984)
• Demo 2 (1985)

With Testament

• The Legacy (1987)
• The New Order (1988)
• Practice What You Preach (1989)
• Souls of Black (1990)
• The Ritual (1992)
• Return to the Apocalyptic City (1993)
• Low (1994)
• Demonic (1997)
• The Gathering (1999)
• First Strike Still Deadly (2001)
• The Formation of Damnation (2008)
• Dark Roots of Earth (2012)
• Brotherhood of the Snake (2016)
• Titans of Creation (2020)
• Para Bellum (2025)

With Dragonlord

• Rapture (2001)
• Black Wings of Destiny (2005)
• Dominion (2018)

With Leah

• "Dreamland" (2013)
• "Winter Sun" (2015)

Guest appearances

• Old Man's Child – Vermin (2005)