Douchiest guitarists of all time...

[jerrydyer]

I think the article is lame. written by someone young. How can yngvie be a stereotype, he invented that stereotype..

 

[Badronald]

I think the article is lame. written by someone young. How can yngvie be a stereotype, he invented that stereotype..

Agreed. Most of those guys created the stereotype they're accused of being....

There seems to be a run on dumb lately. Society is taking things up a notch.

 

[Jer]

I could see Vai; Satch is a matter of preference (not one I share) but EVH? That's just ignorant.

Relative to Syn, it's hard to give props when the douchebaggery announces your arrival lol! He went to GIT briefly and I'll admit I've heard some neat licks/runs but not enough to like overlook the guyliner/emo music/look.

 

[killertone]

I think if you take this article with any amount of seriousness you are giving the guy too much credit.

Although, I also think it is funny to see all the reactions.

I win.

 

[Bob Savage]

I think if you take this article with any amount of seriousness you are giving the guy too much credit.

Although, I also think it is funny to see all the reactions.

I win.

I think it's obvious that it's tongue in cheek but also think the wit level was low. Just didn't make me laugh like it should have.

 

[guitarman967]

So according to this article CC can riff for days huh? That's his redeemable quality? Has this person ever heard the meanderning wankery that is CC Deville?
He plays distorted cowboy chords and noodles out of key.... I wouldnt exactly crowbar the word "riff" into that equation.

Also, why is there a picture of Wes Boland for CC? Anyone catch that?

 

[squank]

So according to this article CC can riff for days huh? That's his redeemable quality? Has this person ever heard the meanderning wankery that is CC Deville?
He plays distorted cowboy chords and noodles out of key.... I wouldnt exactly crowbar the word "riff" into that equation.

Also, why is there a picture of Wes Boland for CC? Anyone catch that?

Hey, backoff, man. CC rules.

 

[squank]

Whatever you like, somebody somewhere is looking down their nose on ya for it... Fuck 'em!

Well said.....

Agreed. That shit is sig-worthy.

 

[Heritage Softail]

I've never heard a single A7X song so I don't even know if I like their music. But their guitar players do look like douches.

Ditto. So I just spent the morning cruising several of their tunes on YT. Seems pretty straight up pop metal. I'm neither here nor there with it, I'm sure it's selling which is what the management company/agent wants. As a personal note, I used to date this bimbette that was about 15 years younger than me. She drove around in her VW bug, had her tatties and piercings, dressed the part of a young hotty, etc. There was absolutely nothing "there" with respect to "chemistry" in our relationship - the reasons for it should be obvious to anyone reading. But she liked this kind of music - and I heard a lot of it. The thing that always struck me about the music and its players were that they were seemingly designed in short order to then belt out this latest concoction of music. What I mean by this is, most of these cats seem to me like they've barely got fuzz on their nuts, yet they're covered in ink, dressing like 30s playboy thugs, and their songs are about hardcore life experiences and the like. In the past, this music was "developed" from the ground up. We had Black Sabbath on the mystical side, then Deep Purple, then Uriah Heep, then Motorhead, then Helmet, then then then then.., It evolved. It came to be through experience and use.

These cats just seem to get inked up, buffed up, thrown on stage with a set M.O. to play "songs like this" and sing "lyrics like this" and deliver the goods to an audience of instant-grata youngens who feel they've got hard times and problems and are living on the edge. This hasn't "evolved", this is "designed".

That's my only beef. And as for the bimbette that was way younger than me, she really wasn't the brightest thing and her music seemed to coincide with that. Hey, I'm not an old fart - I dig a lot of newer heavier shit...but when the music relies on "image", I always get a bit skeptical.

Mo

Those are all great points, but was the young whisker biscuit worth it?

 

[thiswaythatway]

They left off the 2 assholes from Blind Melon. Here's what they said about Dream Theater years ago. But they were equally dickish about Satriani and a few others.







"Guitar for the Practicing Musician" - January 1994

"Pull Me Under"
Images And Words
Dream Theater (ATCO/East-West)

Christopher: This could be metal at any moment--I'm just warning everybody.
Rogers: Either that or it could build up into a power ballad.
C: I feel like we might have to excuse ourselves here for a second. We might
have to leave.
R: This is one of those guitar sounds that when he hits a note, about a million
lights jump up on his guitar rig.
C: Any minute now there is gonna be a squealy.
R: Is this, like, Queensryche?
C: If it is, let's turn it off right away because I hate that band.
R: Hate it. This is the kind of music you listen to right when you start to get
your pubic hairs.
C: I can't even be fair to this music, I hate it so bad. I can't even sit
through one song. I know I'm not being fair but I think it is complete
garbage. That sort of guitar playing is just stupid.
R: If I want to hear a metal band I really like old Black Sabbath and
Soundgarden, heavy bands with brains. If I were listening to an angry metal
band I would be more into Rage Against the Machine or Sugar. I like that
Sugar record a lot, I like Sonic Youth a lot. That's heavy, guitar based
music that I listen to.
C: Playing fast for the sake of fast is hideous. I hate that whole mentality of
sitting around playing scales and cock-rock crap.
R: I heard some squealies. I don't really like that sound either. I'm not into
those guitar sounds. When I hear that stuff I get feeling squeamish.
Guitar: That was Dream Theater.
C: We'll remember not to buy that record. I bet they have really nice hair...
now I'm being mean.
R: This is just our opinion. There's a lot of people that like Dream Theater and
that's fine. They get off on it--good for them. They'll probably hate us,
maybe they won't.
C: They probably do because we sound like we're playing sloppy. But that's
alright, that's a different thing. We're just coming from a different space.
R: In no way do we condemn this sort of music. These people have a right to
exist.
C: Just keep it the hell away from us.
[on to the other songs.]

To give you an idea how fucked-up Blind Melon are, they liked:
Medicated Goo - Traffic
Midnight Rider - Almond Brothers

And they hated:
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You - Sons of Mercury
Omaha - Moby Grape
Pull Me Under - Dream Theater
Little Miss Can't Be Wrong - Spin Doctors
Always With Me Always With You - Joe Satriani

These following letters to the editor appeared in the February 1994 issue with
Alex Lifeson of Rush on the cover!!

"...I've had it! I'm sick of these stupid fucks writing that heavy metal is
soulless, mindless bullshit..."

"...If you have something to say about another type of music, keep it to
yourself."

And in March 1994:

"Blind Lemon only wish they could compare to Queensryche and Dream Theater!"

"...John Petrucci's technical skill and rapturous melodies are things of beauty,
things that Christopher and Rogers hate because they can't create such things
themselves..."

And so on.

Return to the Dream Theater FAQ

I think you are taking this a little too seriously. I believe they were fucking around. I did security for them and they signed my Kamikaze and were fans of Lynch. I got to hang out with them and Shannon Hoon asked me to come party with them on the bus. Unfortunately, I didn't get to. RIP Shannon.

They trashed others as well in the same interview, they went on how they wanted to punch the Spin Doctors guitar player. They put it out there not me, this interview even got a reaction from Petrucci.

 

[joepete77]

I've never heard a single A7X song so I don't even know if I like their music. But their guitar players do look like douches.

Ditto. So I just spent the morning cruising several of their tunes on YT. Seems pretty straight up pop metal. I'm neither here nor there with it, I'm sure it's selling which is what the management company/agent wants. As a personal note, I used to date this bimbette that was about 15 years younger than me. She drove around in her VW bug, had her tatties and piercings, dressed the part of a young hotty, etc. There was absolutely nothing "there" with respect to "chemistry" in our relationship - the reasons for it should be obvious to anyone reading. But she liked this kind of music - and I heard a lot of it. The thing that always struck me about the music and its players were that they were seemingly designed in short order to then belt out this latest concoction of music. What I mean by this is, most of these cats seem to me like they've barely got fuzz on their nuts, yet they're covered in ink, dressing like 30s playboy thugs, and their songs are about hardcore life experiences and the like. In the past, this music was "developed" from the ground up. We had Black Sabbath on the mystical side, then Deep Purple, then Uriah Heep, then Motorhead, then Helmet, then then then then.., It evolved. It came to be through experience and use.

These cats just seem to get inked up, buffed up, thrown on stage with a set M.O. to play "songs like this" and sing "lyrics like this" and deliver the goods to an audience of instant-grata youngens who feel they've got hard times and problems and are living on the edge. This hasn't "evolved", this is "designed".

That's my only beef. And as for the bimbette that was way younger than me, she really wasn't the brightest thing and her music seemed to coincide with that. Hey, I'm not an old fart - I dig a lot of newer heavier shit...but when the music relies on "image", I always get a bit skeptical.

Mo

I totally get what you are saying about bands having a fake image. We call it a tattoo starter kit. It used to be a man had different tattoos from all different eras in life, some from when a kid in the navy, some from a first love, time in prison , etc. It used to be that tattoos were a thing for rebels and outsiders, rockers, now it seems every powder puff can and does go get full sleeves in an afternoon. With bands it more of selling an image then the music with many of these bands so they make up what they lack in life experience.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Whatever you like, somebody somewhere is looking down their nose on ya for it... Fuck 'em!

Well said.....

Agreed. That shit is sig-worthy.

Thanks man.

I see your avatar is back to normal. ZZ was kinda narrow for a while, now it's back to an E Z Wider

 

[squank]

Whatever you like, somebody somewhere is looking down their nose on ya for it... Fuck 'em!

Well said.....

Agreed. That shit is sig-worthy.

Thanks man.

I see your avatar is back to normal. ZZ was kinda narrow for a while, now it's back to an E Z Wider

The weird thing is that it's not quite where it was. Now it is mimicking the dimensions of another (newer) avatar. The weirdness never ends with the avatar gremlin.

 

[Ventura]

Those are all great points, but was the young whisker biscuit worth it?

For the first few go rounds while I still had regular rotations with the other ones, absolutely. But after that, not a chance. I don't wanna be a teacher, or a therapist for that matter.

 

[Schaf]

I've never heard a single A7X song so I don't even know if I like their music. But their guitar players do look like douches.

Ditto. So I just spent the morning cruising several of their tunes on YT. Seems pretty straight up pop metal. I'm neither here nor there with it, I'm sure it's selling which is what the management company/agent wants. As a personal note, I used to date this bimbette that was about 15 years younger than me. She drove around in her VW bug, had her tatties and piercings, dressed the part of a young hotty, etc. There was absolutely nothing "there" with respect to "chemistry" in our relationship - the reasons for it should be obvious to anyone reading. But she liked this kind of music - and I heard a lot of it. The thing that always struck me about the music and its players were that they were seemingly designed in short order to then belt out this latest concoction of music. What I mean by this is, most of these cats seem to me like they've barely got fuzz on their nuts, yet they're covered in ink, dressing like 30s playboy thugs, and their songs are about hardcore life experiences and the like. In the past, this music was "developed" from the ground up. We had Black Sabbath on the mystical side, then Deep Purple, then Uriah Heep, then Motorhead, then Helmet, then then then then.., It evolved. It came to be through experience and use.

These cats just seem to get inked up, buffed up, thrown on stage with a set M.O. to play "songs like this" and sing "lyrics like this" and deliver the goods to an audience of instant-grata youngens who feel they've got hard times and problems and are living on the edge. This hasn't "evolved", this is "designed".

That's my only beef. And as for the bimbette that was way younger than me, she really wasn't the brightest thing and her music seemed to coincide with that. Hey, I'm not an old fart - I dig a lot of newer heavier shit...but when the music relies on "image", I always get a bit skeptical.

Mo

I totally get what you are saying about bands having a fake image. We call it a tattoo starter kit. It used to be a man had different tattoos from all different eras in life, some from when a kid in the navy, some from a first love, time in prison , etc. It used to be that tattoos were a thing for rebels and outsiders, rockers, now it seems every powder puff can and does go get full sleeves in an afternoon. With bands it more of selling an image then the music with many of these bands so they make up what they lack in life experience.

I really don't understand this whole thing about these guys. Anybody who says those guys can't play are fn crazy. They are more skilled than a whole bunch of guys out there. What they are playing isn't basic pentatonic riffs. And, like I said "the Rev" was an FN badass on drums. I like his stuff even better than what Portnoy did with them. And I repeat....what's the difference between them and Motley Crue image wise?

Everyone has tattoo nowadays. What does that have to do with whether they can play?

 

[Ventura]

I really don't understand this whole thing about these guys. Anybody who says those guys can't play are fn crazy. They are more skilled than a whole bunch of guys out there. What they are playing isn't basic pentatonic riffs. And, like I said "the Rev" was an FN badass on drums. I like his stuff even better than what Portnoy did with them. And I repeat....what's the difference between them and Motley Crue image wise?

Everyone has tattoo nowadays. What does that have to do with whether they can play?

They can play. But have they created? See, for me, innovation in music is where true talent lies. Give me something I can't foresee happening musically in a song, and you've got my attention. I'm not saying A7X is bad - hell no - they're doing just fine. But they're a dime a dozen m'man, and the music is extremely generic and pop metal'esque. But it's easy listening to the processed metal crowd, which makes it popular. It's okay to like it. Hell, it's okay to LOVE it. PAssing judgement on music is the same as passing judgement on art - you shouldn't - because it's a very personal thing. However, where I was going with the prose above was saying "don't come onboard with young ink and a badass image to carry your celebration of musical mediocrity". For instance - would this band be popular if they looked like Weezer? A bunch of nerdy middle aged men making the identical music? Doubtful. People subscribe to bands like this because it's primarily image and context driven - a very forceful psychological adjunct to identity, both external and self-possessed. So this is where the line blurs from "what is the music" to "what is the music without the image". Can't be answered easily, not here anyway. But that was my point.

 

[Schaf]

I really don't understand this whole thing about these guys. Anybody who says those guys can't play are fn crazy. They are more skilled than a whole bunch of guys out there. What they are playing isn't basic pentatonic riffs. And, like I said "the Rev" was an FN badass on drums. I like his stuff even better than what Portnoy did with them. And I repeat....what's the difference between them and Motley Crue image wise?

Everyone has tattoo nowadays. What does that have to do with whether they can play?

They can play. But have they created? See, for me, innovation in music is where true talent lies. Give me something I can't foresee happening musically in a song, and you've got my attention. I'm not saying A7X is bad - hell no - they're doing just fine. But they're a dime a dozen m'man, and the music is extremely generic and pop metal'esque. But it's easy listening to the processed metal crowd, which makes it popular. It's okay to like it. Hell, it's okay to LOVE it. PAssing judgement on music is the same as passing judgement on art - you shouldn't - because it's a very personal thing. However, where I was going with the prose above was saying "don't come onboard with young ink and a badass image to carry your celebration of musical mediocrity". For instance - would this band be popular if they looked like Weezer? A bunch of nerdy middle aged men making the identical music? Doubtful. People subscribe to bands like this because it's primarily image and context driven - a very forceful psychological adjunct to identity, both external and self-possessed. So this is where the line blurs from "what is the music" to "what is the music without the image". Can't be answered easily, not here anyway. But that was my point.

I dunno man, the only other band that I know of that really does anything like them is All That Remains. And, I think A7X was d0ing it before them. I think they're older music has a bit more identity and they do most definitey have their music that was primarily aimed at hard rock radio. When I think of pop metal I think more in terms of Nickelback and Theory of a Dead Man. These guys music is way more intricate and musically challenging. Have you listen to the guitar harmonies alone. They are badass. I think from a musicianship standpoint these guys are a cut above most of those other so called pop metal bands. As far as innovation, the same could be said for nearly every band out ther right now. But when I hear them I know it's them. Unlike most of the other guys out there. And, I think as with most eras of music a change is coming just like it did in the 80's 90's and 2000's. And really still nobody has point out the difference in image than Motley Crue. It's the same thing really. I guess what I'm saying is because they wear guyliner and have tats, they are gay and their music is no good and contrived? I hear what you're saying but i disagree.

 

[leib10]

The thing about A7X is that their music is very accessible. It's complicated, intricate, and technical enough to satisfy the more discerning listeners while not being "out there" to the point where a large group of people can't identify with it and enjoy it. Which is the point of EVERY pop band in existence, metal or otherwise, regardless of the claims that they're not "selling out". People hate on them because of their image and the fact that it's hard to put them into one category- metal or hard rock. Their music blurs the lines between the two and often goes off in random directions (Dear God, A Little Piece of Heaven, etc.). They don't have any shame in saying that they want to reach the widest audience possible, and while many people bristle at that notion, the fact of the matter is that anybody who is a professional musician has to make a living somehow, and creating music that 200 people will listen to won't pay the bills. It's a matter of financial pragmatism. A7X have rocketed to their fame and renown by appealing to a wide audience and by creating a signature sound and vibe that could be construed as unoriginal since it draws from many sources of inspiration, but in fact attempts to fuse them into something new. Their last two albums have shown a band that is a jack of all trades- they do a lot of things well, but not necessarily exceptionally.

BTW, their new album is said to have a strong Zeppelin/Sabbath vibe. They specifically said that they were NOT going to jump on the electronic/metal bandwagon, but instead were going retro. Should be very interesting...

 

[Flump]

Lots of A7X hate here, lol. I agree that when they first broke out into the mainstream their image was pretty over-the-top, and there are a lot of guys who will never get over that, but for a pop hard-rock/metal band they have some serious skills. I think they get a lot of hate because of their fanbase as well that consists of a lot of post-emo girls and faggy teenaged boys. It's a shame because this band has a lot of hidden talent that often goes ignored because people get turned off by the image, which they've definitely toned down in recent years.

Yeah man, I agree. And the image? How much different is it than Motley Crue? Those guys can play for sure. I mean some of the guitar harmonies and arrangements are pretty killer. And, I'm pretty selective about the more modern music that I like. That drummer (the Rev) that died.....he was an Fn bad ass. A real tragedy.

I don't really like or hate the Avenged guys, first of all...and I bolded basically what I came in to say...but here's the thing.

If these guys existed in the 80's, this whole board would love them.

Edit: Just thought of a great example. This music video makes it impossible for me to take Journey seriously in any way....and the fact that they meant this to be serious just makes me laugh. My buddies and I often put on this music video when we feel like laughing our asses off. For the love of god he plays air keyboard on everything in the video

 

[Hail Satin]

Re: CC Deville
"his ability to be taken seriously as a guitarist is due only to the fact that the dude can riff for days"

WTF?

The writer of this article probably tastes man chowder on a regular basis...

The only thing worse than CC is the guy who wrote the article.