Doug Aldrich...What's the Deal???

[charveldan]

Not many forum people can say they're at this level enough to do better.

 

[ttosh]

Doug's a hero to those that think the 80's are alive and well. To me, he's a fill-in player, a joke at best. This guy will be busy as long as the 60 year old 80's has beens like Coverdale are around.

Hi Carl!

 

[bravedude2]

 

[Badronald]

His phrasing and tone don't do anything for me, but I still think he's a great rock player.

 

[Chubtone]

Many here will know what I am going to type as I've done it a dozen times on RT and back to the Hc days for us old timers. I started going to see Doug in the late 80's in the clubs of LA when he was with Lion. At that point he was the complete package. His tone ruled and his playing was killer. Back then, he was like a cross between Rhoads, Lynch and rock era Gary Moore. He played a Jackson and his solos contained much more than pentatonic and blues scales. That stuff bores me to tears after a song or two. I WANT those extra 2 notes. And Doug's playing was full of them. He was a metal guitarist in a sea of LA glam guys. We went to see Lion as often as we could.

Many people didn't discover Doug until the Dio era. But unfortunately, by that time, grunge had hit and Doug was effected by that. As soon as grunge hit, Doug ditched his Jacksons and San Dimas Charvel as quickly as possible and started playing grunge/alternative approved strats, teles and Les Pauls. And...... unfortunately his playing lost the cool, flashy, metal vibe he had. He does seem to be able to summon it at times as evidenced by the Dio and Burning Rain stuff, but not to the extent and extreme coolness he used to have.

Doug in Lion was monster IMO and Doug in Whitesnake is like Sykes Lite to me. It's hard to go back in time and "Discover" Lion now though. At the time, he was a cool new player on par with anyone doing it on big stages. If you listen back to it now, 23 years later, well, we've heard it all.

On the same note, I saw Loudness and Akira Takasaki last Friday night. I was always a fan but had never seen them live. What a huge disappointment. The mix was very bass heavy and Akira just didn't shine like the guitar hero that he is to very many people. Put him on a stage in 1985 and put me in the crowd then and I might have been even more of a disciple.

Back in these days, we were constantly scouring the clubs of LA, looking for the next big thing guitar hero wise. Doug was at the very top of my list, followed by Joe Holmes, Kurt James and Brian Young. That Doug is still doing it and has made a career out of it, I give him kudos and wish him the best. Check these out below, if you can travel back in time mentally to where these won't sound so dated. And one main thing with Doug, check out his bending and vibrato on these tracks. He was freaking MONSTER in that area in my opinion. I always thought Doug should have been the guy to replace Jake E Lee in Ozzy.

 

[snowdog]

Saw this posted the other day, their setlist for NY. Not a very good selection for a band that has a lot of great tunes.

'Best Years'
'Give Me All Your Love'
'Love Ain't No Stranger'
'Is This Love'
'Steal Your Heart Away'
'Lay Down Your Love'
'Forevermore'
'Love Will Set You Free'
Guitar Duel'
'My Evil Ways'
'Fare Thee Well'
'One Of These Days'
'Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City'
'Fool For Your Lovin''
'Here I Go Again'

Encore:
'Still Of The Night'


I do like his playing but can't find much that he's on that I would listen to. The playing on the newest WS is good, but the songs are easily forgettable.


EDIT: I will check out those tunes Chubtone just posted.

 

[university81]

Overrated His talent is copying other guitarists solos (you know, the guys that actually created the solos) and shitting them out parrott-like.

You are correct but that is still a talent. When I go to a show and listen to the guitar solos I want to hear note for note what I hear on the album, even though the guy may have not written it. It doesn't take as much skill to just wank in the same key as it does to completely play something note for note. A great example of this is Chris Broderick but that guy can, and has, written killer solos. Shit, even the guys that wrote the solos can't play them note for note, or choose not to because they are either bored or lazy.

Doug is a hired gun imo, and he does that very well.

+1 , i think most people would be a bit miffed if those whitesnake or indeed dio solos weren't played close to the original, even reb's solo on here i go again is pretty much bang on the same as the original with one of the runs being tapped instead of legato/picked or whatever

imagine Chris playing something different over the Tornado of souls solo...

i'm glad he doesn't

 

[skoora]

I don't disagree about his technical ability, but his lead tone and lead playing bores me to tears. I like his rhythm tone and playing on the Whitesnake DVD but his solo's are real yawn fests for me. Reminds me a lot of Zakk honestly. Same passages repeated again and again at great speed with the occasional huge bend. To show soul I guess. Pretty much any of the many threads that lick the sweat form his ball sack I just glaze over

 

[rokker]

The setlist posted is correct and woefully inadequate for a headlining gig at a festival.
No Bad Boys, No Crying in the Rain, No Slide It In, No Slow & Easy....Why?
ALL the others at the M3 played 80 to 90% classic material, Whitesnake played about half from the last two albums.

Doug is a kick ass player and the show would have sucked bad without him. Reb Beach's presence was minimal.
If you look at it that way Doug and the killer drummer were and are the savior of the modern day Whitesnake.

Still like Rupe I don't put him up there with the legends...even though I like his playing a LOT.

 

[Greazygeo]

On the same note, I saw Loudness and Akira Takasaki last Friday night. I was always a fan but had never seen them live. What a huge disappointment. The mix was very bass heavy and Akira just didn't shine like the guitar hero that he is to very many people. Put him on a stage in 1985 and put me in the crowd then and I might have been even more of a disciple.

Yeah I saw Loudness a few years ago....all the solos he just ran his hand up and down the neck hitting any note in reach. Threw in his over the neck tapping stuff now and then. Saw him back in '86 with TNT...he was awesome back then. I'm sure he doesnt practice much anymore.

 

[PentatonicPunk]

Ok here is my .2 cents. Most know I am a big Doug fan and have mentioned his tone and playing many times on the boards. In my opinion Doug has a fantastic blend of chops, tone, and an overall rock n roll " vibe" which many players from this genre have lost. Doug still plays with fire, something many have lost as well. Further his work on the new album Forevermore is light years ahead of many other 80's rock bands current offerings. There is always an inspiring tone and great phrasing. The last album Good to be Bad had outstanding tone as well. Aside from being a cool, down to earth guy,( met him twice) Doug just has a cool story. Was in an incredible band (lion) which may have hit the scene kinda late. Had some success with Bad Moon Rising, made a few other albums through the 80's, found a great home with Dio, and now has had a strong few years in Whitesnake. To sum up, there are alot of household names that may have not been so well known had Lion had more success. Doug's playing was 10 times above many of the 80's guitar heros. Of course this is simply my opinion.

 

[Gsxrbusa]

Overrated His talent is copying other guitarists solos (you know, the guys that actually created the solos) and shitting them out parrott-like.

You are correct but that is still a talent. When I go to a show and listen to the guitar solos I want to hear note for note what I hear on the album, even though the guy may have not written it. It doesn't take as much skill to just wank in the same key as it does to completely play something note for note. A great example of this is Chris Broderick but that guy can, and has, written killer solos. Shit, even the guys that wrote the solos can't play them note for note, or choose not to because they are either bored or lazy.

Doug is a hired gun imo, and he does that very well.

+1 , i think most people would be a bit miffed if those whitesnake or indeed dio solos weren't played close to the original, even reb's solo on here i go again is pretty much bang on the same as the original with one of the runs being tapped instead of legato/picked or whatever

imagine Chris playing something different over the Tornado of souls solo...

i'm glad he doesn't

That guy is sick

 

[Jimmie]

You're only as good as your last new Bentley

 

[Tone Merchant]

White Snake rehearsed 50 feet from the shop the past two weeks and I thought they sounded great. Doug and David were both really nice guys also. dougs tone was killer

 

[Jimmie]

White Snake rehearsed 50 feet from the shop the past two weeks and I thought they sounded great. Doug and David were both really nice guys also. dougs tone was killer

his tone always is, did you get a chance to inspect his rig?

 

[rupe]

White Snake rehearsed 50 feet from the shop the past two weeks and I thought they sounded great. Doug and David were both really nice guys also. dougs tone was killer

his tone always is, did you get a chance to inspect his rig?

And if not, did you at least check out his amps?

 

[rupe]

Many here will know what I am going to type as I've done it a dozen times on RT and back to the Hc days for us old timers. I started going to see Doug in the late 80's in the clubs of LA when he was with Lion. At that point he was the complete package. His tone ruled and his playing was killer. Back then, he was like a cross between Rhoads, Lynch and rock era Gary Moore. He played a Jackson and his solos contained much more than pentatonic and blues scales. That stuff bores me to tears after a song or two. I WANT those extra 2 notes. And Doug's playing was full of them. He was a metal guitarist in a sea of LA glam guys. We went to see Lion as often as we could.

Many people didn't discover Doug until the Dio era. But unfortunately, by that time, grunge had hit and Doug was effected by that. As soon as grunge hit, Doug ditched his Jacksons and San Dimas Charvel as quickly as possible and started playing grunge/alternative approved strats, teles and Les Pauls. And...... unfortunately his playing lost the cool, flashy, metal vibe he had. He does seem to be able to summon it at times as evidenced by the Dio and Burning Rain stuff, but not to the extent and extreme coolness he used to have.

Doug in Lion was monster IMO and Doug in Whitesnake is like Sykes Lite to me. It's hard to go back in time and "Discover" Lion now though. At the time, he was a cool new player on par with anyone doing it on big stages. If you listen back to it now, 23 years later, well, we've heard it all.

On the same note, I saw Loudness and Akira Takasaki last Friday night. I was always a fan but had never seen them live. What a huge disappointment. The mix was very bass heavy and Akira just didn't shine like the guitar hero that he is to very many people. Put him on a stage in 1985 and put me in the crowd then and I might have been even more of a disciple.

Back in these days, we were constantly scouring the clubs of LA, looking for the next big thing guitar hero wise. Doug was at the very top of my list, followed by Joe Holmes, Kurt James and Brian Young. That Doug is still doing it and has made a career out of it, I give him kudos and wish him the best. Check these out below, if you can travel back in time mentally to where these won't sound so dated. And one main thing with Doug, check out his bending and vibrato on these tracks. He was freaking MONSTER in that area in my opinion. I always thought Doug should have been the guy to replace Jake E Lee in Ozzy.

This was exactly what I was after when I started the thread...thanks Curt!

 

[charveldan]

White Snake rehearsed 50 feet from the shop the past two weeks and I thought they sounded great. Doug and David were both really nice guys also. dougs tone was killer

Thank you, i don't get a thread that tries to pick apart some of the best tone in music.

 

[rlord1974]

I Don't get the hate?.....Pentatonic wanking IS rock playing.

Agreed. Why do you have to play with all ten fingers and fit 100,000 notes into 4 bars of solo in order to be considered a good player?

Less IS more. Let the music breathe. Embrace melody.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

Doug Aldrich is the anti-Zakk Wylde