Neil Young’s Guitar Chops- A Musical Faux Pas?
Get someone else to do the tricky bits, Neil
Just a quick rant, bear with me unless you like Neil Young then abort now! I’ve just had the misfortune to listen to a longer than necessary track by Neil Young, formerly of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young fame and a well known artist in his own right.
Now I am not having a go at the music, I happen to own some of his work, solo and with CSN & Y and there is much to admire, his songwriting ability is without question but why doesn’t he get someone else to do the lead guitar work?
You get a perfectly decent song ruined in the middle or at the end, or worse still middle and end by what sounds like a fourteen year old trying to be Eddie Van Halen when he really should be practicing those chords instead. I have nothing against him but his songs which do not feature his guitar ’shreds’ have considerable more appeal. It’s the same with Led Zeppelin whose music I have been a fan of for more than twenty five years, the fact is that live performances by Jimmy Page were ‘erratic’ to put it mildly. They are both wonderful guitar players by virtue of the songs they have written on them but they spoil this by trying to do something they are not capable of. Neil Young isn’t a lead guitarist, period. Page is but was usually too high/drunk to recreate it live.
I’ve been reading some tributes to Mr.Young’s guitar work placing him second only to Prince and above messers Van Halen, McLaughlin, di Meola, Ray Vaughn and more for technical ability!!! Seriously, that’s like saying Gordon Brown is more charismatic than JFK.
Stick to the chords, Neil.
In the interests of fair play I must point out that Neil Young does play his guitar live in concert unlike, allegedly, Motley Crue! Yes (Rod) it would seem those purveyors of God-awful 80’s glam metal have been caught miming at a recent concert in the US. According to the Washington Post the Crue’s recent concert at the Washington Nissan Pavillion was more technical theatrics than live playing with bassist Nikki Sixx ‘largely absent from the mix’ and lead singer Vince Neil not bothering to sing the chorus to Dr. Feelgood whilst the sound came from an alternative source.
Whilst we are on the subject of playing live it would seem that Meatloaf will not be seen at another open air concert festival in the UK for the foreseeable future. Oh well, never mind. He says that English festivals are ’stupid’ and by this he means the way the English audiences have a habit of throwing large, urine filled plastic bottles at him during his set. What he fails to understand is the reason they do it is because he’s crap in festival concerts. I saw him supporting Deep Purple at Knebworth in 1985 and he was bloody awful. The only time the crowd responded to him was when he fell over on the stage with his leg in plaster-they loved that! That was the concert that started the bottle throwing off. I’ll never forget raising my arm and as I lowered it a flying bottle got stuck under my armpit, my friend thought this was hysterical until, literally sixty seconds later another smacked him on the back of the head and floored him. I nearly ruptured myself laughing at him face down in the mud. Golden years.
If you think anyone is overated and should be ‘outed’ then feel free to do it here!
Miles
good post making some interesting points.
There is certainly a great deal of confusion as to what a ‘Guitar Hero’ is, witness the selections on the computer games of the same name for example.
The problem with Neil Young et al is they play at, or close to, the limit of their ability.
There is also a great deal of difference between playing the guitar and being a musician. Look at Noel Gallagher from Oasis, terrible guitarist but great musician.
Here’s a few I think overrated:
Jimmy Page - Led Zep
Pete Townshend - The Who
Joe Satriani
Slash - Guns n Roses - Velvet Revolver
Most guitarists in modern ‘rock’ bands
Underrated:
Brian May - Queen
Not stunning in terms of technical ability but perfection in writing, composition and structure. I’ve yet to hear a Brian May solo that could possibly be changed in any way !
Cheeers
Rod
July 18, 2008 @ 7:46 am
Rod,
Exactly. David Gilmour of Pink Floyd is another example, classy solo’s all in keeping with the song. When you see/hear Gilmour live he is bang on every time and that to me is how it should be.
Another bone of contention would be Jeff Beck’s lowly ranking in the Clapton/Page/Beck et al list. What is going on there I’ll never know. Perhaps it was because he concentrated on cars and guitars and turned up sober to play live. Not much to ask from a paying audience.
Miles
July 18, 2008 @ 8:03 am
MIles
Jeff Beck towers above the likes of Clapton as a player.
What’s more he can still do it with a modern twist - he makes real guitarists pay attention.
The real tragedy for Jeff Beck is that most people know, and will remember, him for Hi Ho Silver just as people think of Paul Kossoff in terms of Alright Now - criminal !
July 18, 2008 @ 9:43 am
I saw a little known Stevie Ray Vaughn open up for Robert Plant in the mid eighties. Jimmy Page was there - sitting front row - and refused to get on stage with Plant. Looking back it was probably because Stevie Ray had just converted the entire audience.
I have always preferred guitarist that stayed within the confines of the song - big flashy solos that meandered off always seemed frivolous or self serving and very few can pull it off without looking foolish. I like your point about Gilmour, his solos with PF always enhanced a song, pushed it a little farther than it would go before, yet remained within the framework. But then what do I know - my favorite band is the Ramones.
July 18, 2008 @ 10:36 am
Dave
But then what do I know - my favorite band is the Ramones
Plenty I would say by that statement - The Ramones are classic !
July 18, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
Dave,
Everytime I’ve been to see Motorhead their tribute to the Ramones always gets an extra large response from the crowd. They were one of a kind.
Miles
July 18, 2008 @ 6:07 pm
Rod and Miles,
I fought my wife tooth and nail to name our daughter Sheena - I lost, but she’s 9 and LOVES the Ramones. Makes me proud.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxClTaoO0iM
or for the simpsons generation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY2vapBV2_M&NR=1
July 19, 2008 @ 1:47 am
Dave,
Great story, nothing wrong with Sheena! It’s nice to see you giving your child the musical education she deserves
Miles
July 19, 2008 @ 5:20 am