EVH, I don't get it...

[TeleBlaster]

Oh well, can't make the youtube thing work...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWWu6Dx_ ... re=related

 

[Vrad]

I must be looking to get shot around here

I respect everyone's opinion, I'm not a guy that'll try to push down your throat what my pov is on things, but I don't understand the EVH stuff that much. I didn't "grow" up in the 80s (was born in 1981) so the 90s was my thing, which should explain a lot about why I don't get it, but still.... listening to Van Halen and Eddie's stuff I don't get why he was sooooooo idolized. He could definitely play, but his style is just not my thing at all.

Now, I didn't use to like Hendrix and now I totally LOVE HIM..... I wasn't looking in the right places..... now I've seen the light.

Can you point me to a few "ground braking videos" of Eddie so I can "get it" ?

I feel a little void as a guitarist because I don't quite get the hype, like I should get it but I don't.


Go easy on me please

You don't have to like him just because a bunch of older people on a forum do, follow your own path.

No one said he HAS to like EVH... but his contribution is undeniable.

He doesn't have to understand him either

You're such a rebel. No one tells you what to do or to think... right? BIG FU TO THE MAN!

More like a big FU to internet cliques

Yeah that's showin' 'em!!

Anyway... no one in this thread said Joey has to like EVH... or even understand him. They're just sharing what EVH means to them.

But thanks for reminding everyone that we should have independent thought.

 

[Rogue]

 

[shreder75]

I must be looking to get shot around here

I respect everyone's opinion, I'm not a guy that'll try to push down your throat what my pov is on things, but I don't understand the EVH stuff that much. I didn't "grow" up in the 80s (was born in 1981) so the 90s was my thing, which should explain a lot about why I don't get it, but still.... listening to Van Halen and Eddie's stuff I don't get why he was sooooooo idolized. He could definitely play, but his style is just not my thing at all.

Now, I didn't use to like Hendrix and now I totally LOVE HIM..... I wasn't looking in the right places..... now I've seen the light.

Can you point me to a few "ground braking videos" of Eddie so I can "get it" ?

I feel a little void as a guitarist because I don't quite get the hype, like I should get it but I don't.


Go easy on me please

You don't have to like him just because a bunch of older people on a forum do, follow your own path.

No one said he HAS to like EVH... but his contribution is undeniable.

He doesn't have to understand him either

You're such a rebel. No one tells you what to do or to think... right? BIG FU TO THE MAN!

More like a big FU to internet cliques

Yeah that's showin' 'em!!

Anyway... no one in this thread said Joey has to like EVH... or even understand him. They're just sharing what EVH means to them.

But thanks for reminding everyone that we should have independent thought.

We are Borg

 

[Lord Toneking]

reallly depends on how deep you want to go with it. dont listen to just popular solo's on utube, listen to the inspiring/deep cuts and stuff. play a note for note clip of "hang m high" or "i'm the one" or" take your whiskey home" ( just for beginners) as an example, from start to finish, in tempo and note for note with swing aspect then u will see.. What makes Ed so unique is his ability to make stuff sound simple, his tremendous ability to lay in the pocket as clapton did with Cream, and his unique phrasing that is what sets him apart to anyone including his imitaters...if you really want to make sense of this and dedicate your time because it will take u time, or else dont even go there half assed because most young kids DON'T get it becasue they are not listening to the right stuff.

You hit the nail on the head You couldnt have worded it any better

 

[amiller]

I became an instant EVH fan the very first time I ever heard him and actually didn't even know who I was listening to. I was in a "record" store looking for singles for my cover band. One of the store clerks put the first EVH album through the store stereo...Eruption!!! I heard the first few notes and was like...what the hell is that. I dropped what I was doing, bought the album and must have listened to it over and over again for the next few weeks or so. I had never heard anything remotely like it. The over the top gain, pinch harmonics, hammer-ons/two handed taps, blistering leads...man, the whole freakn' thing...just amazing. I don't think I've heard anything since then that was SO dramatically different from the mainstream. There are a bunch of guitar players whos playing I like more then EVH now...but nothing has had as big an impact as the first time I heard Eruption...nothing!

 

[thegame]

There was too much Eddie vs. Randy elitism among the fans. They were BOTH so groundbreaking and brilliant that for one side to dismiss the other is plain musical prejudice. Its ok to prefer one over the other, but to dismiss one as "nothing special", as I've seen on this forum is retarded.

You don't have to be a fan of either, but if you don't at least understand why both EVH and RR were so goddamn special, then its time to put the guitar down and take up another hobby IMO.

 

[irondeth21]

Dude I was born in 84 and I think evh's playing still trounces anything since him, not from a pure technical playing, but his phrasing and swing in both his rhythm and lead work is untouchable. No one is close to having his feel in the same way no one is close to having SRV's feel. Sure yiu can play the songs but you cant siund like those guys i dont care who you are. Not to mention how heavy and fun van halen is at the same time. Look past Eddie and just see what a killer band van halen was up until 85 (I don't really like van Hagar). You can bring van halen album on a date with a 23 y/o chick and she can dig it and you can drink with your buddies to the same album. Plus when you consider vh 1 came out when the biggest thing going on guitar at the time was Joe perry and Ted nugent (who I both love btw) it's amazing where Eddie was coming from. I can go on all day about vh but just go buy the first 4 albums and the music speaks for itself.

 

[MARK1970]

reallly depends on how deep you want to go with it. dont listen to just popular solo's on utube, listen to the inspiring/deep cuts and stuff. play a note for note clip of "hang m high" or "i'm the one" or" take your whiskey home" ( just for beginners) as an example, from start to finish, in tempo and note for note with swing aspect then u will see.. What makes Ed so unique is his ability to make stuff sound simple, his tremendous ability to lay in the pocket as clapton did with Cream, and his unique phrasing that is what sets him apart to anyone including his imitaters...if you really want to make sense of this and dedicate your time because it will take u time, or else dont even go there half assed because most young kids DON'T get it becasue they are not listening to the right stuff.

Totally agree. Learning the tunes will give you a whole different level of appreciation and respect. For example, learn a Metallica tune like Hit the Lights or any tune. Now go learn a VH tune like Top Jimmy. Nothing against Metallica, I use them as an example, but learning the VH tune, you will aknowledge Ed's bad ass rhythm playing. If that don't do it. Crank Fair Warning on your home stereo.

 

[Ventura]

Interesting, interesting thread...

I say this because I'm definitely one of the FEW who never REALLY went apeshit over EVH, or VH in general. I think, sorry - I KNOW - he's an incredible player, and he really threw some flair into the mix of a stagnant music scene, he did a 2 handed deal that smacked of virtuoso, Diamond Dave was a showpiece, the glubs of Jack Daniel's on stage....yada yada.

But it NEVER resonated with me to the point where I went "Aw ya man, Eddie's the shit!! The best!! He's AWESOME". Nah, to me, unfortunately, just when I started to hear something EVH was playing that I thought was pretty innovative, musical and original, it got kyboshed into some white bread style americana rock and roll. Just didn't work for me. Is this a taste thing? Maybe. He'd certainly clean the floor with all of us here on RT I am sure (save for the odd professional who checks in here periodically, Roa, Woods, Day, et al), but what he did never did it for me.

I had one CD, "Fair Warning", and to this day, that's the only one I have...yay.

V.

PS - for the record, born in '70. Started listening and getting into music at age of 6... Since then never stopped.

 

[marshall]

You can like VH without him being an influence.
By time VH came out, my influences were set, Jimi, Blackmore, Bolin, Trower, Beck, Page. I saw VH destroy Sabbath in '78....bought all the albums, and enjoyed him from a "listeners" standpoint.


What ruined it, for me, were all the lame imitators who copped his bag and ran it into the ground. Only guy, IMO, who gave him as run for his money was Randy.

 

[MisterBulbous]

Uncle bought me VH1 in 1978. I was 11, but already had ~200 albums. VH1 was my "go-to" album when I wanted to point my stereo speakers out the window and let the kids at the bus stop think I was cool. A few years later, I bought the magazine in my Avatar and got a guitar. Eddie made me do it.

 

[9ball]

I didn't "grow" up in the 80s (was born in 1981) so the 90s was my thing, which should explain a lot about why I don't get it, but still.... listening to Van Halen and Eddie's stuff I don't get why he was sooooooo idolized. He could definitely play, but his style is just not my thing at all.

ok ... good for you.
so why even bother asking? lol

 

[Ventura]

You can like VH without him being an influence.
By time VH came out, my influences were set, Jimi, Blackmore, Bolin, Trower, Beck, Page. I saw VH destroy Sabbath in '78....bought all the albums, and enjoyed him from a "listeners" standpoint.


What ruined it, for me, were all the lame imitators who copped his bag and ran it into the ground. Only guy, IMO, who gave him as run for his money was Randy.

Much agreed. This hopefully isn't a EVH versus RR thread morph, but ya, RR spoke to me more than anything EVH did. To me, a lot of EVH and the whole VH package was too Hollywood. Not to say Ozzy (and a notable mention to Quiet Riot) weren't Hollywood too, but RR's playing just "did it" for me. EVH was too typical, even though it was the farthest thing from 'typical' at that time.

I remember going to guitar lessons before I was 10 years old. This dude told me to forget about EVH, and start learning classical positions on the neck etc (man, those hurt my hands!!). When I asked him who he thought was a killer guitarist (not necessarily in those words), I remember him muttering something about some weird named dude called Zappa. Wasn't long after that I started to understand what he meant

V.

 

[thenine]

I am really surprised by the amount of ppl who are saying they dont get EVH or arent really into him or whatever. For me, he is/was always has been the best. He completely changed everything that was happening. He played with his back to the audience before they were signed so ppl couldnt cop his stuff. He simply redefined rock guitar.

 

[jcj]

I'm far from a VH freak. Don't care about Eddie's tone, solos, etc. However, Eddie is the best rock rhythm player I've ever heard.

I'm with whoever said try and cop some VH note for note, in tempo etc. Not easy

Nuno is next (in my book), and he copped a lot of Eddie's vibe. I personally prefer Nuno to Eddie, but that's an overall style thing.

 

[Rogue]

EVH was too typical, even though it was the farthest thing from 'typical' at that time.

I hated that dog, even though he wasn't a dog.

 

[Badronald]

Sheesh.

 

[thegame]

EVH was too typical, even though it was the farthest thing from 'typical' at that time.

V.

What ? Are you judging EVH based on all the imitators that followed ?

 

[stevemorse]

fair warning is awesome