Anyone under 40 care?

[GtarLover]

OK, I will jump in.

I'm over 40 and definitely love me some VH. Thing is, Jack was talking alot about shredders and Eddie doesn't play that way, IMO.
He might be able to, but doesn't make that his focus on VH tracks. Of course Eruption is something else
What is so interesting about his playing is he is a KILLER rhythm player. That's why the songs "swing" and have such a catchy, memorable hooks.
It's the feel he brings...and the rest of the band. He can play 5 notes and I would know it's him because his character (read tone) is in his fingers.

Now, I appreciate many of the "shredder" players and still think Paul Gilbert, for example, gets better with age.
Unfortunately, many of the shredders feel to me like they are playing to shred, not with the band to make a song come alive.
For the record, I don't put Dimebag in that category. Pantera never felt like a shredder band, but more like a group.
I think that's crucial in my book. That the music is just that, music and not just flurries of notes for the sake of playing flurries of notes.
Don't get me wrong, I still like to listen, but for different reasons. Often to prove I need more practice time

Bottom line for me is I think it's a bit of apples and oranges.

In the end, Eddie Van Halen changed rock guitar forever (and for me anyway I think for the better).

 

[guitarobert]

Never was into VH and it's not a tone I would want. That said, I can get why there is a lot of tone chasing going on. EVH had a unique tone on those early albums, a sound I've never heard come out of any amp I've plugged into. So I can see why it's an elusive holy grail that guys are after.

Phenomenal player, unique tone, just not my cup of tea. Still, I get why many are chasing it.

 

[C1-ocaster]

"My heroes were Eddie Van Halen - especially after Van Halen I, II, III, and IV - Randy Rhoads, Ace Frehley and dudes like that. My brother played drums and we jammed in the garage and started writing our own stuff."

Dimebag Darrell


http://www.musicradar.com/us/news/guita ... 994-534866


Just sayin......

Dime was a great player.

But, Ace Frehley?!
There is NOTHING about his playing that I find even remotely interesting or unique or good.

The only influence I can see him and Kiss giving to young guitarists was the whole rock star image and stage show that they put on.
They were a rock band "SHOW". If they didn't have their costumes shtick and pyrotechniques they would have never become successful based on solely on their music.

What did Frehley ever play that is memorable?
That's a rhetorical question.

It's a quote from Dimebag Darrell.......not me. Read the article. I posted that because the OP said Dime was one of his influences. I merely pointed out the EVH was one of Dime's influences.

Yes, I understand.

My post was not about you.
I was simply wondering how in the world Frehley was one of Dime's influences, and I'm suggesting that it was maybe the "show" aspect of Kiss and Frehley that was influential.

 

[C1-ocaster]

"My heroes were Eddie Van Halen - especially after Van Halen I, II, III, and IV - Randy Rhoads, Ace Frehley and dudes like that. My brother played drums and we jammed in the garage and started writing our own stuff."

Dimebag Darrell


http://www.musicradar.com/us/news/guita ... 994-534866


Just sayin......

Dime was a great player.

But, Ace Frehley?!
There is NOTHING about his playing that I find even remotely interesting or unique or good.

The only influence I can see him and Kiss giving to young guitarists was the whole rock star image and stage show that they put on.
They were a rock band "SHOW". If they didn't have their costumes shtick and pyrotechniques they would have never become successful based on solely on their music.

What did Frehley ever play that is memorable?
That's a rhetorical question.

Wow! I can literally hum just about every solo Ace recorded with KISS. Alive! and Hotter Than Hell were my first 2 albums when I was like 6 years old and they remain 2 of my all time favorite albums. KISS used a tried and true formula with songwriting. They certainly never set out to be ground breaking. For the thousands of music afficianados that bash them, none will have a 100th of the success KISS had. I have yet to see a band besides KISS change styles do many times and still retain as large a fan base. Maybe Metallica. Literally millions of music listening non musicians would disagree about your Ace comment.

He was obviously a huge influence for me as was VH, Maiden, Priest but also a lot of thrash and neo-classical shred. I was more influenced by styles ofmudic as opposed to individual guitar players.

Aldo I just turned 39.

It's all good.
My opinion is mine, and I certainly don't expect anyone to share it.

Their uber success is of course undeniable.
But success is NO indicator of quality.
If it were we should all be singing the praises of modern rap.

I'm with you on the other bands you mention, and I too appreciate different styles and types of music as influences regardless of guitar playing.
With KISS I don't like their style or their individual playing.

I NEVER understood the fascination with KISS.
"Beth" was their best song, and it wasn't even a rock tune.
And their WORST has got to be "Lick it up".
Man what an awful song!

 

[C1-ocaster]

"My heroes were Eddie Van Halen - especially after Van Halen I, II, III, and IV - Randy Rhoads, Ace Frehley and dudes like that. My brother played drums and we jammed in the garage and started writing our own stuff."

Dimebag Darrell


http://www.musicradar.com/us/news/guita ... 994-534866


Just sayin......

Dime was a great player.

But, Ace Frehley?!
There is NOTHING about his playing that I find even remotely interesting or unique or good.

The only influence I can see him and Kiss giving to young guitarists was the whole rock star image and stage show that they put on.
They were a rock band "SHOW". If they didn't have their costumes shtick and pyrotechniques they would have never become successful based on solely on their music.

What did Frehley ever play that is memorable?
That's a rhetorical question.

Dude, don't bag on the Ace!
That dude's like the most influential guitar player to me. He's the one I was listening to and learning how to play that making a solo finally clicked. His playing was so bare bones and repetitive that I was able to put 2 and 2 together about lead guitar. Ya he ain't Edward or Randy, and he never practiced to be that which is why he got canned and got replaced by the speed king Vinnie Vincent, but the simple A pentatonic box solos eventually gave me one of the biggest AHA! moments of my guitar playing career

Cool. I respect your opinion on him and KISS.
I don't understand it or agree with it, but I respect it.

Nothing wrong with pentatonic scales at all, lots of great players use it.
That's not why I don't care for his playing.

 

[C1-ocaster]

I don't think you get rock 'n' roll if you don't dig what Ace Frehley did. He's easily just as important to me as Eddie or Angus or Tony Iommi. I can understand if technical prowess is what turns your crank, he's not high on the list but he is rock 'n' roll spirit personified and I thought a lot of his solo's smoked. But I've never been into Satriani, Vai or any of the shredders, except maybe for Marty Friedman and Jeff Loomis. I'll never get or like Petrucci and to some that would be blasphemous so just different strokes for different folks I guess.

COMPLETELY disagree with that.
Rock n roll was great well before KISS and after.
Technical ability is not the only reason why I don't like Frehley or KISS.
I just don't like their music, nor what he plays, period.

I've already posted the players that impressed me musically and they were far from "shredders" or have the technical dexterity of Vai or Friedman.
Just as you will never get Petrucci, I won't get Frehley.
But I wouldn't be as presumptuous to say you "...don't get rock 'n' roll, as you were to me.

I agree with that last part of you last sentence, which is why I don't insult those who do like Frehley.

 

[C1-ocaster]

About Van Halen, or what amp he used. Serious question, I'm 36 and I can't understand the fascination with EVH or his tone. None of my guitar player friends my age cite Van Halen as an influence. Malmsteen, Freidman, Rhoads, and Dimebag are common influences among my guitar player friends, but EVH is rarely mentioned. Not disrespected, but more in the Hendrix/Page camp. Just didn't resonate with the guys my age. It's strange, growing up the first time I heard the "Ain't Talking About Love" riff was when 2 Live Crew sampled it(didn't listen to rap, just happened that way). Seems like EVH was a big deal for guys born in the late 50's and 60's, but faded after that. I've heard the isolated VH tracks and guys mimicking his tone, I don't care for the tone. I'm not saying it's bad or you shouldn't like it, my question is it an age/generational thing?

Try playing "Romeo Delight" or "I'm the One" start to finish getting the swing and nuances in the playing right and maybe you'll get it.

Steve

"I'm the one" is a great example of why I like EVH's rhythm, which I appreciate most about his playing.
I hadn't played that tune in decades and hadn't heard it in years.
And a month ago I saw a youtube video reminding me of it.
So I've been trying to get it down, but it still eludes me as a natural feel.
It sounds so simple, and as for the notes it is, but it's that rhythm that MAKES the tune so unique and cool.
It reminds me of Schenker's "Rock Bottom" cause it too has a cool rhythm though a seemingly simple pattern.
Oh, and Gibbon's "Just got paid" too, you just gotta remember that it's not in standard tuning for that tune.

 

[Ventura]

Sumbitch I didn't even know this thread was about this topic

Now I get why I was on the receiving end of the flack yesterday when I posted a similar thread. Apologies folks, had no idea I was kicking the proverbial dead horse

As to the OP and question put forth. I'm 43, and do not give a rats ass as to how EVH achieved his tone, or what his gear consisted of, or any of the nuances and intricacies relating to. In fact, I found his playing to be awesome - yes - but the tone and sound and overall "package" never really did it for me. Randy Rhoads playing Mr. Crowley, or Diary of a Madman gives me tingles and shivers to this day. THAT to me was mindblowing. And correct me if I am wrong, but we're almost in the same period of time here, no (Blizzard was 1980). So the question was asked in my other thread, who did it for me - well certainly Randy. But I couldn't care less about this gear or the like, his playing and sound blew me away.

So there it is - for me it's "why emulate" when we should "newly create"

[runs for cover to corner of room....]

 

[rupe]

Ya he ain't Edward or Randy, and he never practiced to be that which is why he got canned and got replaced by the speed king Vinnie Vincent

That isn't quite how it went down...how many "speedy" solos do you hear on Creatures of the Night or Lick it Up? Ace was replaced because he was an unreliable addict and a hack in the studio and didn't care to change his ways.

As for those under 40 (I'm over 40) caring about Van Halen...if they don't, they should. Not saying that you need to buy and listen to all the albums, simply saying that he's an extremely important figure in the pantheon of rock guitar and is somebody any rock player should know about.

Bottom line is that <insert favorite player here> didn't have even a fraction of the impact that Eddie did on the landscape of rock guitar playing...and there's a reason for that. (This sentence works for everybody except Hendrix fans )

 

[charveldan]

I'll be 50 soon, when the general public debates the exsistence and/or worthiness of EVH as a whole can see rock as i know it fading away into obscurity forever ...

 

[metalmaniac93]

EVH will always been relevant in the history of rock!!! I agree that rock is fading away, but mostly in the USA. Europe (Scandinavia, Finland, and Germany have churned out some great rock/metal and it will always be popular in Japan and Latin America. Too bad most people in the US are fascinated with the garbage that this put out especially the AI crap!!!

 

[dfrattaroli]

I'm 47. Van Halen came out the year I started playing guitar so I love EVH. I don't give a shit what he played or is playing. I'm astounded at what some people will do to chase his tone as well. Especially when I can think of a million other "tones" that are just as impressive.

 

[Schaf]

"My heroes were Eddie Van Halen - especially after Van Halen I, II, III, and IV - Randy Rhoads, Ace Frehley and dudes like that. My brother played drums and we jammed in the garage and started writing our own stuff."

Dimebag Darrell


http://www.musicradar.com/us/news/guita ... 994-534866


Just sayin......

Dime was a great player.

But, Ace Frehley?!
There is NOTHING about his playing that I find even remotely interesting or unique or good.

The only influence I can see him and Kiss giving to young guitarists was the whole rock star image and stage show that they put on.
They were a rock band "SHOW". If they didn't have their costumes shtick and pyrotechniques they would have never become successful based on solely on their music.

What did Frehley ever play that is memorable?
That's a rhetorical question.

Dude, Ace Frehley probably inspired as many people to play guitar as Van Halen. If you were 15 when Kiss Alive came out they were the heaviest band around. Not that he was anywhere on the same planet as far as playing, but he definitely left his mark on the rock and roll world.

As far as EVH, even if you're not really into the music, you have to recognize his impact and contribution on the world of guitar playing. He completely changed the way people approached guitar playing. One of the most influential players ever. That just doesn't come along often. And if you don't "get it". Go learn a VH tune front to back. it just wasn't his lead playing, his rhythm playing is amazing as well. He's truly amazing

And, for you Sammy haters.....He had a pretty good solo career going when he joined Van Halen. Most definitely not the level of VH, but he was pretty hot at the time. And, if EVH thinks you're pretty good, you're probably pretty good.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I am over 40.
Do I like VH? Yes the first 4 albums were great IMO.
Was EVH an influence? Yes to an extent, I spent countless hours playing air guitar to those albums as I did to AC/DC and Sabbath.
Do I care about the amps used to record those albums? Not really, I will say reading about it is kind of intriguing but not enough to get a shit storm started every 6 months.

 

[rlord1974]

I have another take on this thread. Specifically, perhaps it should have had the title/subject.....

"Anyone over 40 care about this thread?"

 

[rlord1974]

Do I care about the amps used to record those albums? Not really, I will say reading about it is kind of intriguing but not enough to get a shit storm started every 6 hours.

FIXED TO REFLECT ACTUAL RECENT EXPERIENCE ON RT.

 

[metalmaniac93]

"My heroes were Eddie Van Halen - especially after Van Halen I, II, III, and IV - Randy Rhoads, Ace Frehley and dudes like that. My brother played drums and we jammed in the garage and started writing our own stuff."

Dimebag Darrell


http://www.musicradar.com/us/news/guita ... 994-534866


Just sayin......

Dime was a great player.

But, Ace Frehley?!
There is NOTHING about his playing that I find even remotely interesting or unique or good.

The only influence I can see him and Kiss giving to young guitarists was the whole rock star image and stage show that they put on.
They were a rock band "SHOW". If they didn't have their costumes shtick and pyrotechniques they would have never become successful based on solely on their music.

What did Frehley ever play that is memorable?
That's a rhetorical question.

Dude, Ace Frehley probably inspired as many people to play guitar as Van Halen. If you were 15 when Kiss Alive came out they were the heaviest band around. Not that he was anywhere on the same planet as far as playing, but he definitely left his mark on the rock and roll world.


As far as EVH, even if you're not really into the music, you have to recognize his impact and contribution on the world of guitar playing. He completely changed the way people approached guitar playing. One of the most influential players ever. That just doesn't come along often. And if you don't "get it". Go learn a VH tune front to back. it just wasn't his lead playing, his rhythm playing is amazing as well. He's truly amazing

And, for you Sammy haters.....He had a pretty good solo career going when he joined Van Halen. Most definitely not the level of VH, but he was pretty hot at the time. And, if EVH thinks you're pretty good, you're probably pretty good.

I was a huge Ace fan until EVH came along!!

 

[headlessdeadguy]

Do I care about the amps used to record those albums? Not really, I will say reading about it is kind of intriguing but not enough to get a shit storm started every 6 hours.

FIXED TO REFLECT ACTUAL RECENT EXPERIENCE ON RT.

 

[acalaf]

under 40. Appreciate VH. Got into them, when Sammy was the singer and also like sammy better than Dave. Don;t get the chasing the brown sound tone or any tone from any artist really.

 

[Zachman]

I'm not minimizing EVH's contributions to music, but his tone and songs don't move me.

The point is that some of those that influenced you WERE influenced by EVH. I am not perplexed why you have your opinion of Ed. My question to you is; Why do you give a shit about why others dig his tone and playing??

To attempt to justify one's preference to the acceptance of another's standard or preference only makes sense IF they are paying you to get the results THEY want, does it not? Otherwise, why give a shit about someone elses preferences, and opinion? I mean, it's not like that somehow obligates one to purchase, transport, setup/tear down, program, or even to listen to said player's gear, does it?

Remember: 50% of all people are more stupid than that average person. Expect stupid comments. This is NOT aimed at the OP, or anyone in particular-- just more of a general observation.