Gor Mkhitarian

Gor Mkhitarian (middle) in Lav Eli band

Gor was widely known throughout Armenia as the lead guitarist for one of country's best rock bands, Lav Eli (in Armenian Լավ էլի) that he established with fellow musician Mher Manukyan in 1996.

The original set-up was:

• Mher Manukyan - vocals and guitar
• Gor Mkhitaryan - guitar, backing vocals
• Vahe Terteryan - bass
• Davit Grigoryan - drums

Later on, with drummer David Grigoryan and bassist Vahe Terteryan leaving, the band was accentuated with more members, including a new bass player:

• Tigran Voskanyan - bass
• Bagrat Aznavouryan - guitar, backing vocals (2007-2019)
• Gor Tadevosyan - guitar, backing vocals
• Shogher manukyan - cello
• Vardan Paremuzyan - drums

Besides Lav Eli, Mkhitaryan also worked with the group Snack.

Force Major (in Armenian Ֆօրս Մաժոր) was Mkhitarian's one-year experimental jam project established in 2000. Stylized as FORCE MAJOR, it was made up of:

• Gor Mkhitarian - guitars, percussion
• Vahe Terteryan - bass
• Davit Grigoryan - drums
• Shaun Hall - keyboard
• Edgar Sargsyan - guitar

Guest musicians included Anush (flute), Diana (violin), Artyom (dhol), Aharon (guitar) and Mher Bekchyan (vocals). The project released a 5-track EP Force Major

Mkhitarian launched his solo career in 2001 with his debut solo album Yeraz and has released six more albums since: Godfather Tom (2003), Episode (2004), self-titled GOR (2006), Acoustic Folklore (2007), United Fantasies: Exit Ahead (2008) and Spirit (2009). Having been nominated for 14 industry music awards, he makes fresh and compelling music that successfully fuses traditional Armenian music with both rock and folk idioms.

In 2003, Mkhitarian moved to Los Angeles where drummer Andranik Harutyunyan, bassist Varoujan Hovakimyan, pianist Art Grigorian and guitarist Jay Dean joined the band. Stepping away from his previous acoustic-driven "signature", with the new band he features remarkable musicianship and showcases a different approach to his songwriting.

Gor Mkhitarian cites Simon & Garfunkel, Sting, and The Dave Matthews Band, to name a few, as strongly influencing his music. Traces of Armenian folk troubadours Ruben Hakhverdyan and Harout Bezjian as well as Bob Dylan can at times be heard in Mkhitarian's solo material.

In Lav Eli

• 1995: Aha yev menk (in Armenian "Ահա և մենք")
• 1996: First Lav Album (in Armenian "Առաջին ԼԱՎ Ալբոմ")
• 1999: Essays (in Armenian "Էսսեներ")
• 2006: Notes From Vanadzor – Urban Armenian Rock

Solo

• 2001: Yeraz (in Armenian "Երազ")
• 2003: Godfather Tom (in Armenian "Կնքահայր Թոմ")
• 2004: Episode
• 2006: GOR (in Armenian "Գոռ")
• 2007: Acoustic Folklore
• 2008: United Fantasies: Exit Ahead
• 2009: Spirit (in Armenian "Հոգի")
• 2013: Live at Steve's Ranch
• 2016: Passport