Randy Rhoads vs. Eddie Van Halen

[emunder]

Rhoads for me.....technically he was a way better player but that's a given because of his backround in theory and growing up in his Mom's music studio. Way better writer too than Ed IMO. As discussed though very different styles. Ed is more of a feeling player and spontaneous where as Rhoads was probably pretty methodical with his writing. I do believe that Ed had more of an impact on changing the way guitar was played and breaking new ground. To me he is equally as influential as Hendrix in taking the guitar to a new level. Love em both but I just prefer Randy's style better......Rhoads is my all time fav player and it would be scary to see what he would have accomplished if he didn't die so young.

 

[guitarmike]

Both were game changers each in his own way. People were tapping and putting classically inspired riffs into rock for years if not decades before these guys but together they defined how the next 15 years of popular guitar rock would sound. You can hear bits and pieces of Eddie and Randy in countless recordings since then. I call it a tie.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

I thought about that, but there are no guarantees that he would have done anything more impressive. Part of the "wow" factor is the newness of what he was doing. After a few years it would just be the same ol' RR. Not that that wouldn't be incredible, but the way the public is they would just want something more. How many bands/guitarist are revered by their later work as compared to their early? Would his Metal fans accept him if he went the way of Yngwie? Maybe, but chances are we wouldn't be talking about him the same way if he was here, in his 50s, and dealing with addictions and band squabbles. Everyone would talk about the old days and how his best work was with Ozzy, etc.

A hard truth to swallow but I agree. Checking out early solidified his legacy without any of the complications associated with aging in the public eye.

Not that I wouldn't have wished he lived on of course, just saying...

 

[thiswaythatway]

Neither was an influence, I can tell you that.

Randy's solos were worked out and basically repeated verbatim live, even the Sabbath covers.
EVH improvised more but his G-string dive bombs while thinking of what to play next was grating.

Both awesome in their own right, I'd rather listen to Richie Blackmore, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Hendrix, etc

Randy never played a Sabbath solo note for note. HE improvised his own solos on those songs live.

Never said he played Iommi's solos note for note, did I? I said he played the same worked out solos in the Sabbath covers.

There's really nothing wrong with that since most of Randy's solo's had a decent amount of melodic content. I think the crowd expected him to play the solo's as they were on the record since those solo's were pretty memorable.

A lot of Eddie's solo's he could do whatever and the crowd wouldn't care. I mean, a dive bomb, a harmonic squeel, a chromatic tap, followed by another dive bomb and squeel and that's was what plenty of his solo's consisted of. Smoke and Mirrors.

 

[Greazygeo]

A lot of Eddie's solo's he could do whatever and the crowd wouldn't care. I mean, a dive bomb, a harmonic squeel, a chromatic tap, followed by another dive bomb and squeel and that's was what plenty of his solo's consisted of. Smoke and Mirrors.

All fluff and no substance!

 

[stephen sawall]

Randy ....

 

[hellaboogie]

Man that's a toss up eddies body of work speaks for it's self but, Diary of a mad man is really special to me

 

[fishyfishfish]

Doug Marks......Tough call but Ed's rhythm playing is what wins it for me. I hated listening to 2:30 of Ozzys singing for the solo.

 

[mojotone]

To this day I can go months just listening to classical music and violin music. I can't listen to 3 Blues songs without getting tired quickly and being able to predict the next note played. I can play the blues but really grown to hate it with a passion.

To this day, I can't make it through half of Yngwie's "Marching Out" CD without changing it for old AC/DC. Classical rock guitar can only go so far as to inspire me. Yes, the technichal aspect is awesome, but the feeling is dull. As far as any player being predictable, that is in the players hands, and not the musical style.

Someone trying to play the blues without any "feel" is even more wretched.

 

[TrueTone500]

These guys have completely different styles of playing - yet equally talented. Edward is more of a "street fighter" type player. Randy was a more structured "martial-artist" type player.

 

[Michi]

Randy for me. He's inspired me many a time to pick up the guitar and jam and/or may be write new material, EVH not so much.

Both of them are awesome in my book and big influences to me but for some reason EVH doesn't make me want to play nearly as much as RR does.

 

[Motorpud]

This is a sore topic for me since my best friend loves VH and I'm forced to listen to them daily.....

I HATE VH. From the first time I heard him till when I heard the same happy go lucky, party boy, pop crap panama riff yesterday. I don't understand how every other thread here could possibly be about this guy, really. I hate his riffs so bad I can't explain it. He's out on stage playing the EVH amps and people are buying up old Marshalls trying "get his tone". Comical at best.

Randy was so much better to me. Just his technique, and maybe I prefer the classical style in itself. Also, actually approaching his music like a composition and not just jumping around playing sped up blues with some tapping thrown in is a plus for me.

Ok, let me end that by saying sorry for the outburst but that was a lot to get off my chest. Why I keep coming back for more punishment is beyond me

 

[craftm1]

Depends on the day, for me it's kinda like comparing apples and oranges. Today I'm going Randy, just because I have Diary blasting in my car!

 

[ejecta]

I mean, a dive bomb, a harmonic squeel, a chromatic tap, followed by another dive bomb and squeel and that's was what plenty of his solo's consisted of. Smoke and Mirrors.

 

[TrueTone500]

Why I keep coming back for more punishment is beyond me

This last pic reminds me of "Beef" from the movie "Phantom Of The Paradise".

 

[Bob Savage]

There's really nothing wrong with that since most of Randy's solo's had a decent amount of melodic content. I think the crowd expected him to play the solo's as they were on the record since those solo's were pretty memorable.

A lot of Eddie's solo's he could do whatever and the crowd wouldn't care. I mean, a dive bomb, a harmonic squeel, a chromatic tap, followed by another dive bomb and squeel and that's was what plenty of his solo's consisted of. Smoke and Mirrors.

I disagree completely. The solos through even 1984 were very memorable to my ears and while I loved VH live I always wished Eddie had "stuck to the script" a bit more.

Your description of a dive bomb and squeal became true later on but that's if we're talking late 70's or early 80's then you're revising history.

 

[King Crimson]

A question for the ages...who do you prefer and why? Figured I'd start the weekend off with a bit of contentious fun

There is no question (contention). Eddie Van Halen is "Van Halen". Randy Rhodes is "Randy Rhodes".

You must be bored . . .

 

[Rogue]

1) You will never sound as cool as Eddie Van Halen playing guitar.

2) You will never look as cool as Eddie Van Halen playing guitar.

 

[King Crimson]

A lot of Eddie's solo's he could do whatever and the crowd wouldn't care. I mean, a dive bomb, a harmonic squeel, a chromatic tap, followed by another dive bomb and squeel and that's was what plenty of his solo's consisted of. Smoke and Mirrors.

Hey daneyo, can you spell "imastoopid"?

 

[MisterBulbous]

Where would Randy have gone with his music if he didn't die? He wasn't anywhere near fully developed as a player yet. He was just beginning. We all know where Ed went.

I thought about that, but there are no guarantees that he would have done anything more impressive. Part of the "wow" factor is the newness of what he was doing. After a few years it would just be the same ol' RR. Not that that wouldn't be incredible, but the way the public is they would just want something more. How many bands/guitarist are revered by their later work as compared to their early? Would his Metal fans accept him if he went the way of Yngwie? Maybe, but chances are we wouldn't be talking about him the same way if he was here, in his 50s, and dealing with addictions and band squabbles. Everyone would talk about the old days and how his best work was with Ozzy, etc.

What if Vito Bratta died after the 3rd White Lion album?
What if Jake E Lee died after the 2nd Badlands album?
What if Zakk Wylde died after his first Ozzy album?
etc, etc, etc...

Even some of the more talented guitarists who became icons in the '80's like Steve Vai, Yngwie, Satriani, etc., have not necessarily advanced the instrument or their playing beyond what they became famous for...I kinda think that Randy had already peaked...