Kiko Loureiro (born June 16, 1972) is a Brazilian guitarist, composer, and professional musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist of Megadeth and a founding member of Angra. Kiko Loureiro is internationally recognized for his technical skill, musicality, and fusion of heavy metal, jazz, and Brazilian music.
He began his career with Angra in 1991, contributing to acclaimed albums such as Angels Cry (1993) and Temple of Shadows (2004). As a solo artist, he released albums like No Gravity (2005) and Open Source (2020). In 2015, he joined Megadeth and played on Dystopia (2016), which won a Grammy, and The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead! (2022).
Famous for his fast and precise technique, Loureiro often incorporates Brazilian harmonies into his playing. He has been named “Best Guitarist” multiple times by Guitar Player Brazil. Fluent in Portuguese, English, and Finnish, he is married to pianist Maria Ilmoniemi. Loureiro is considered one of the most influential metal guitarists of his generation.