Phil Collin of Def Lep on That Metal Show

[MYLILSS]

To me it's clear that he can play, and much better than a lot of people, but what he chooses to play, out of the song context isn't very listenable or melodic. I don't think he's lacking any ability other than restraint and an ear for improvising in a melodic way. To say he sucks is pretty silly IMO.

i wouldnt say he is a bad guitarist. his guitar playing is designed to do one thing. it is to make the general population stare at him in awe, thinking wow i wish i could do that, just like you see the kids in this youtube video doing

 

[Kevin11]

i dont think collin played on pyromania m8

Phil came in and laid down several solos on Pyromania after Pete Willis was let go. Pete had finished most of his rhythm guitar tracks, but as far as I know, no solos. Photograph was one of the first solos Phil tracked.

Thomas "She Blinded Me With Science" Dolby also did most of the keyboards on that album as a totally non-related aside.

 

[SFW]

I actually like Phil's playing, most of the time. He had some great moments on Sparkle Lounge. Are there better players out there? Sure. But considering that he gets to play for packed out shows and shag mountains of pussy... I'd say he's ok with not being the "best" guitarist on the planet.

 

[DeezDemos]

I actually like Phil's playing, most of the time. He had some great moments on Sparkle Lounge. Are there better players out there? Sure. But considering that he gets to play for packed out shows and shag mountains of pussy... I'd say he's ok with not being the "best" guitarist on the planet.

Phil Collen is my least favorite member of Def Leppard, even though I do own a PC-1... I'm a huge Clark/Willis era fan, but I completely agree with you on this. Us forum folks can bag on a successful player as much as we want, however, it will never change the reality that they have most likely accomplished more in the music business than we ever will...........

 

[Red_Label]

Us forum folks can bag on a successful player as much as we want, however, it will never change the reality that they have most likely accomplished more in the music business than we ever will...........

One the one hand, I agree with sentiments like this, while on the other... I completely disagree.

MANY/MOST pop icons are where they are because they were in the right place at the right time. Many wrote a catchy hook one time in their early careers, and then made a lifelong career out of milking that early creativity. Many didn't even write the hook, but were just smart enough to keep their pieholes shut that the writers and/or producer did all of the creating (and even much of the tracking).

The point is, that for various reasons, many forumites have not been fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time with the right group of people. But don't mistake that to mean that few are creative and/or skilled. There are SO many amazingly talented people slogging it out in their basements and clubs. Many of whom have been recorded over the years, but who for various reasons never found their way to mamoth rock stages on world-wide tours. Based on my short time here, I tend to think that the members of Rig-Talk are more talented and experienced than your average music forum populace. In this place, most of the guys with walls full of rack gear and stacks seem to be able to lay it down well. That's not my experience on other forums. There, it seems like the more the gear the guy has, the more of a hack or "wanna-be" they are.

Anyways... I agree with those in this thread who are less than impressed with Phil's solo riffing. It's not like he can't play, but his playing is really amateur sounding. Which came as a surprize to a guy who grew-up listening to the cool stuff that he laid-down on Pyromania (I'm thinking of the solo to Stagefright right this very moment). I dunno, maybe he didn't do that lead. But I always thought it was him. And that's a tasty, yet "shreddy" lead. Evidently, he's a studio cat only for the most part, which is surprizing in this day and age of players who make their recordings sound restrained by comparison when they really open it up live...


BTW... Phil started his big time career doing Pyromania with Mutt Lange at the helm. How many thousand players could also springboard themselves to greatness with a leg-up like that? Probably more than you think. He's an average player and musician. Especially in this guitar-centric day and age...

 

[DeezDemos]

Us forum folks can bag on a successful player as much as we want, however, it will never change the reality that they have most likely accomplished more in the music business than we ever will...........

One the one hand, I agree with sentiments like this, while on the other... I completely disagree.

MANY/MOST pop icons are where they are because they were in the right place at the right time. Many wrote a catchy hook one time in their early careers, and then made a lifelong career out of milking that early creativity. Many didn't even write the hook, but were just smart enough to keep their pieholes shut that the writers and/or producer did all of the creating (and even much of the tracking).

The point is, that for various reasons, many forumites have not been fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time with the right group of people. But don't mistake that to mean that few are creative and/or skilled. There are SO many amazingly talented people slogging it out in their basements and clubs. Many of whom have been recorded over the years, but who for various reasons never found their way to mamoth rock stages on world-wide tours. Based on my short time here, I tend to think that the members of Rig-Talk are more talented and experienced than your average music forum populace. In this place, most of the guys with walls full of rack gear and stacks seem to be able to lay it down well. That's not my experience on other forums. There, it seems like the more the gear the guy has, the more of a hack or "wanna-be" they are.

Anyways... I agree with those in this thread who are less than impressed with Phil's solo riffing. It's not like he can't play, but his playing is really amateur sounding. Which came as a surprize to a guy who grew-up listening to the cool stuff that he laid-down on Pyromania (I'm thinking of the solo to Stagefright right this very moment). I dunno, maybe he didn't do that lead. But I always thought it was him. And that's a tasty, yet "shreddy" lead. Evidently, he's a studio cat only for the most part, which is surprizing in this day and age of players who make their recordings sound restrained by comparison when they really open it up live...


BTW... Phil started his big time career doing Pyromania with Mutt Lange at the helm. How many thousand players could also springboard themselves to greatness with a leg-up like that? Probably more than you think. Probably more than you think. He's an average player and musician. Especially in this guitar-centric day and age...

I don't disagree with your point. Some of the best musicians I've ever heard, never got out of the basement. A few by choice, and others by circumstance. However, outright bagging on players and saying they suck based on personal opinion is immature and petty. I'm no angel, and have done this myself in the past, but I'm trying to be the change I'd like to see on the internet.....

 

[Red_Label]

I don't disagree with your point. Some of the best musicians I've ever heard, never got out of the basement. A few by choice, and others by circumstance. However, outright bagging on players and saying they suck based on personal opinion is immature and petty. I'm no angel, and have done this myself in the past, but I'm trying to be the change I'd like to see on the internet.....

We do agree on that. I certainly wouldn't say that Phil "sucks". I prefer sneakier terms like "amateur" or "over-rated".


BTW... my "hot button" player has mostly always been Kirk Hammett. I don't think I've ever stated that he sucks... but I have used those other terms freely when describing him. Oh... and "LUCKIER THAN HELL" too!

 

[yngzaklynch]

Feel anyway you want. You're as intitled to your opinion as much as I am. I thought his playing on the show was laughable. I'll never have his success but I can still listen to him and form an opinion.

 

[bigdaddyd]

You know what. Why exactly was Phil Collen on The Metal Show? They were never a metal band, and they stopped being a rock band when Hysteria came out in the late 80's. Since then they've had more in common with Air Supply or Michael Bolton.

As odd is this my sound, The Metal Show isn't strictly about metal. Jim and Don are into all kinds of music that you might not classify as "metal" from that era including D.L and Van Halen. I hung out with them backstage at a comedy/metal show they hosted and was wearing a David Lee Roth shirt and Jim loved it. He started to go to list a ton of bands he really dug and we had similar tastes. They are very cool guys, and I miss that show since I no longer have cable, but I wouldn't be shocked to see anyone on it, whether it was Steel Panther, ACDC, Def Lep, Maiden, Pantera, well...pretty much anyone that had anything to do with rock guitar. As a side note at the concert they hosted, Twisted Sister performed if I remember correctly. So there you go.