View source for Sam Totman

{{Short description|New Zealand guitarist}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2011}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Sam Totman
| image           = DragonForce Rockharz 2019 48.jpg
| caption         = Sam Totman performing with DragonForce at the 2019 Rockharz
| background      = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name      = Ian Samuel Totman
| birth_date      = <!-- NOTE: Per BLP, do not add the birthdate without a reliable source supporting it.--> 
| birth_place     = London, England
| origin          = New Zealand
| death_date      = 
| genre           = {{hlist|[[Power metal]]|[[speed metal]]|[[black metal]] (early)}}
| occupation      = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter}}
| instrument      = Guitar
| current_member_of = [[DragonForce]]
| past_member_of = {{hlist|[[Demoniac]]|[[Power Quest]]}}
| years_active    = 1992–present
| website         = {{url|dragonforce.com/df/band/sam-totman}}
}}

'''Ian Samuel Totman'''<!-- NOTE: Per BLP, do not add the birthdate without a reliable source supporting it.-->  is a British-born New Zealand musician best known as guitarist and main songwriter for the [[power metal]] band [[DragonForce]].

==Early life==
Totman was born in England and grew up mainly in [[New Zealand]].<ref name=charged>{{cite web|last1=Ramanand|first1=Elizabeth|title=Interview: Sam Totman of DragonForce|url=http://www.charged.fm/blog/post/5905/interview-sam-totman-of-dragonforce|website=CHARGED.fm|accessdate=19 August 2014}}</ref> He moved back to England around age 22 because England's music scene offered numerous shows to attend every week—an option he did not have in geographically isolated New Zealand.<ref name=charged/> He began playing classical guitar at the age of nine—receiving formal training for several years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dragonforce.com/sam-totman/|title=Sam Totman – DragonForce|accessdate=2010-06-25}}</ref>

==Career==
In the late 80s/early 90s, Totman was the guitarist in [[death metal]] band Karnage alongside Steve Francis (now of Bulletbelt). They were based in Masterton, New Zealand and released one demo cassette "Dead". Totman was part of the [[black metal|black]] [[power metal]] band [[Demoniac]]—which also featured his future DragonForce bandmate [[Herman Li]]. During his time with Demoniac Totman was referred to as [[Heimdall]] (the Norse God of vigilance). Demoniac struggled to achieve any real fame outside of [[Australasia]] despite releasing three albums and relocating to London, UK.  Demoniac split sometime in late 1999 shortly after the album ''The Fire and the Wind'' was released. Most of the members went on to form power metal band DragonHeart which later became known as [[DragonForce]]. Keyboardist Steve Williams and bassist Steve Scott left Dragonheart to form [[Power Quest]] with whom Totman recorded on their demo as well as their first album ''[[Wings of Forever]]''. Totman also provided guest instrumentation on the band's following album ''[[Neverworld]]''.

As the main songwriter for DragonForce, Totman has written both the music and lyrics for a majority of DragonForce's discography.

== Playing style ==
Totman is known for his use of double handed tapping, extensive whammy bar usage, alternate picking, rapid staccato and legato scale runs, sweeping, and many other shred-guitar techniques; both in solo parts and in harmony with fellow guitarist Herman Li. Like Li, he uses many of said techniques to emulate video game music and sounds.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.dragonforce.com/sam-totman Totman's profile at DragonForce.com]
* [http://www.dragonforce.com DragonForce official website]

{{DragonForce|state=plain}}
{{PowerQuest|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Totman, Sam}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:DragonForce members]]
[[Category:English heavy metal guitarists]]
[[Category:English emigrants to New Zealand]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from London]]
[[Category:Rhythm guitarists]]


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