Do Guitarists Become Better When They Die?

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ghosty999

ghosty999

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Me and my friend have been discussing this for a while, could it be that guitarists suddenly get shot to Virtuoso/Guitar Hero/Pioneering status as soon as they die?

It may be an unpopular opinion but does anyone else feel that Hendrix/Dime/Rhodes have had their skills grossly exaggerated just because they have died? Would they of been the guitar heros they are today without their death or would they all end up like every other really good guitarist that is still alive?

If Yngwie had died in his Jag crash in the late 80s.. all we'd of heard is his 3 best albums... now we all like to bash him now and again for being cheesey and comical...

Would the same of happened to Rhodes? Would he of gotten fat and mailing it in? Would Hendrix just be like Clapton is now?

People say "there will only ever be one Dimebag... or one Rhandy Rhodes" but what about all the other "ahead of their time" guitarists that are now in the bin because they are simply...still alive

Thoughts?
 
I think their lack of longevity contributes to their legend. Meaning, that they do not have enough time to get old. People don't get sick of them because they are here and gone so quick.

Perfect example is ZAkk Wylde vs Randy Rhodes. Everyone moans about Zakk and how they are sick of him and Randy is a legend. But Randy only did like 2 studio records with Ozzy. If he did 4 more, people might have gotten sick of him too. Maybe his licks and ideas would have gotten repetititve etc.

I do not think people consider that when they make these comparisons.........
 
Yeah that's exactly my point!

Maybe that's why guitarist like Paul Gilbert have diversified to stay relevant, if he did Racer X/Mr.Big forever he'd get boring.

Basically if you want to be a guitar hero you have to:

1. Play slightly ahead of everyone else
2. Release under 3 albums
3. Die

If you want to be average

1. Play slightly ahead of everyone else
2. Release 5+ albums
3. Have an average solo career
4. Do instructional events to fund pension

Skill doesn't matter
 
No. I would imagine rigor mortis makes some stretches incredibly difficult. ;)

EDIT: To give an actual answer...Yes it does make them "better" because you never get the downside. You never get the repetitiveness of them not changing, or the "they changed too much." That said I think Dimebag is the exception to the rule mostly because he had been around for a while already, and a lot of the "Dimemania" that has followed his passing has to do with a lot of people just liking him as a person.
 
I would agree with your points.. there is something magical about guitar players from the 60's-80's. The fire they had in their performances, their tone etc... I think in Randy's case, there is simply not as much documented footage as some of the other players. This adds to the mystique and the legend and what if factor. He could definitely rip and had a great stage presence (you can hear it in the demos) but he had a few off nights as well I am sure and his bag of tricks or licks might also have gotten older as he aged and wrote more material. In fact, a lot of the Ozzy stuff was recycled Quiet riot riffs so maybe it was already getting old to him. The one advantage Randy's body of work might have had was that Randy looked like he had enough of the rock star thing already by 82 and had told Ozzy he was more interested in pursuing classical guitar. I think he would have been smarter and evolved more and then come back with different band/s. That said, like everyone, age and more material means more of the same. There are only so many ways to have your own style really. Yngwie is a perfect example and i absolutely agree... if he had died following Marching Out or Trilogy he might be harolded as the best to ever walk the face of the earth because there was so much fury on those albums that you almost didn't ever need to hear another note from anyone else. Dime was an amazing riffer but I had grown tired of the Pantera formula by the time they had moved on to damage plan and a lot of his leads also used the same tricks. (though I never got tired of how he used his floyd and harmonics or some of his legato stuff... )It is inevitable.. you are almost better off as an artist passing away in your prime or around your prime rather than fading away! Same goes with SRV. What an amazing player! But more albums of more of the same?? I know i can't listen to anything Malmsteen has done in the last 8 years, how about you guys?
 
I agree Malmsteen 1995 onwards is pretty terrible in comparison to his classic stuff. I agree if he'd died after Odyssey he'd of been hailed much higher in regards of a guitar god than he is now.

Dimebag... I don't get it and never will, fizzy tone, playing pentatonics fast, playing pretty generic metal riffs. Just not my thing musically but respect to him and his fans.

I remember reading Rhandy was not enjoying the rock'n'roll lifestyle and wanting to leave Ozzy and I agree he has the most mystique as he appeared out of nowhere, nailed the riffs and solos, then sadly died. But there where plenty of other guitarists doing what Dime/Rhandy did that aren't dead, but we neglect them for their existence
 
Hendrix had plans to play classical music a fe months before he died.
I think if he'd still live, he would be a forgotten piece of human crap. He at least turned to be a junkie. A few years later and he would be on heroin.
 
EVH is still here and so is the mania that follows him...go start an EVH VHI tone thread...watch what happens.
 
paulyc":2eg13cvr said:
EVH is still here and so is the mania that follows him...go start an EVH VHI tone thread...watch what happens.
Click to expand...

:lol: :LOL: :lol: :LOL: :lol: :LOL: :lol: :LOL:
 
As far as Randy goes, his legendary status has grown since his death and continues, but I was into him as others my age were when he was alive and I still think he is one of the greatest. Now would he still the greatest or has progressed to another level, if he was alive? Who knows, but the music does the talking. Blizzard and Diary are still one of the best metal guitar performances ever IMO!!!
 
Just sad to think if I ever want to be a guitar legend I have to become slightly famous then die haha
 
ghosty999":1o6bqwvr said:
I agree Malmsteen 1995 onwards is pretty terrible in comparison to his classic stuff. I agree if he'd died after Odyssey he'd of been hailed much higher in regards of a guitar god than he is now.

Dimebag... I don't get it and never will, fizzy tone, playing pentatonics fast, playing pretty generic metal riffs. Just not my thing musically but respect to him and his fans.

I remember reading Rhandy was not enjoying the rock'n'roll lifestyle and wanting to leave Ozzy and I agree he has the most mystique as he appeared out of nowhere, nailed the riffs and solos, then sadly died. But there where plenty of other guitarists doing what Dime/Rhandy did that aren't dead, but we neglect them for their existence
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There is absolutely nothing generic about Dimebag's riff's or playing. He was an original in all aspects... one or two notes and I can identify his playing. So obviously you've never listened to a Pantera album. Plus, the guy was considered one of the best in Metal before he died.
 
Candiria":1zdcf88t said:
Yes it does make them "better" because you never get the downside. You never get the repetitiveness of them not changing, or the "they changed too much." That said I think Dimebag is the exception to the rule mostly because he had been around for a while already, and a lot of the "Dimemania" that has followed his passing has to do with a lot of people just liking him as a person.
Click to expand...

That's a good point.
 
paulyc":xdy1y362 said:
EVH is still here and so is the mania that follows him...go start an EVH VHI tone thread...watch what happens.
Click to expand...

High five! :thumbsup: Ahahahaha!! :lol: :LOL:
 
In fact you could apply this theory to other artists.

Van Gogh for example became more famous as a painter after he sadly passed away. I think he suffered from a lot of depression I recall, so never really enjoyed the fruits of being a successful painter when he was alive.
 
petejt":yld15pcs said:
In fact you could apply this theory to other artists.

Van Gogh for example became more famous as a painter after he sadly passed away. I think he suffered from a lot of depression I recall, so never really enjoyed the fruits of being a successful painter when he was alive.
Click to expand...

Can be expanded to anyone really.... JFK, Marilyn Monroe. JFK was a decent/good president, and what if Marilyn got old and fat?

As far as guitarists I do think they get "better" if they die young, with the exception of Randy, he was just fucking epic.
 
metalmaniac93":3p0369ho said:
As far as Randy goes, his legendary status has grown since his death and continues, but I was into him as others my age were when he was alive and I still think he is one of the greatest. Now would he still the greatest or has progressed to another level, if he was alive? Who knows, but the music does the talking. Blizzard and Diary are still one of the best metal guitar performances ever IMO!!!
Click to expand...

I just posted something similar in the Ozzys guitarists thread. Randy wasn't around long enough to make a bad album. In interviews, he said the next one will be a big step forward from Diary. As killer as Blizzard and Diary (especially) are, can you imagine if he would have topped them on a third cd? Thats part of the mystique...we'll never know.
 
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