Comments on: Neil Young’s Guitar Chops- A Musical Faux Pas?

by: miles

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 05:20:31 +0000

Dave,
Great story, nothing wrong with Sheena! It’s nice to see you giving your child the musical education she deserves

Miles

by: Dave

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:47:37 +0000

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

by: miles

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:07:28 +0000

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

by: Rod

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:07:24 +0000

Dave
But then what do I know - my favorite band is the Ramones

Plenty I would say by that statement - The Ramones are classic !

by: Dave

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:36:57 +0000

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.

by: Rod

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:43:46 +0000

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 !

by: miles

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:03:19 +0000

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

by: Rod

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:46:51 +0000

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