Randy Rhoads vs. Eddie Van Halen

  • Thread starter Thread starter rupe
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Eddie will always be the king to me. But Randy was a breath of fresh air. Dark and calculated, like others said. The perfect medicine after overdosing on loose and flashy Eddie for as long as I did.
 
If you meant to say that Randy's leads and songwriting more predictably follow diatonic harmony as used by people who understand western musical theory and that aren't just hot rodding a ZZ Top riff, than I would say yeah, RR was predictable.
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THIS

I love both guys but have to give the nod to EVH. His phrasing, timing, and rythms were just more off the wall and raw. Randy's leads follow a more logical path. fun to listen to and aweseme from a composition point of view but never really found them as challenging to play as VH's stuff.
 
Potentially contentious indeed...

RR for me 100% of the way. Predictable? Not a chance... In fact, the one thing I always back MY opinion up with when saying I'm just not that big a fan of EVH is that I found/find his playing, and the music of VH overall, too predictable.

Secondly, tough to compare, as RR's longevity in music and therefore his potential was cut short - sadly. EVH is still out there...sadly :D

Ya, sorry - RR for sure. One thing I gotsta say about EVH is that he was a natural talent and exploded with this new take on playing and style which was a totally refreshing vibe at the time; but as far as making music to my ears? Randy all the way - RIP!!

Mojo
 
Love Randy, but Eddie all the way(with special mention to Ted Templeman & Don Landee for adding the awesome Reverb to the records!!!).

Ed is a guitar genius either way, but if you think that iconic 'Verb doesn't add at least 50% to how we all respond to those early records & tones you're crazy. The riffs & solos are great of course, but the way they recorded his guitar took everything to the next level!!
 
Like many guitarists before and since, RR is an extemely good player. Technical prowess and the ability to write great songs. I liked RR a lot.

That said, EVH anf Jimi were of a different breed. They didn't just play guitar, it was an extension of themselves and their method of expression that didn't appear to obey any rules.

EVH for me.
 
I would go with Eddie. I dig eddies playing style way more and find it more enjoyable to listen to. I would also say that evh's guitar sound is WAY WAY better then Randy's which never did much for me. I never really cared much for the classicly influenced style though respect the amazing talent it took to play it.
 
Rogue":badevt6d said:
Like many guitarists before and since, RR is an extemely good player. Technical prowess and the ability to write great songs. I liked RR a lot.

That said, EVH anf Jimi were of a different breed. They didn't just play guitar, it was an extension of themselves and their method of expression that didn't appear to obey any rules.

EVH for me.
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This exactly, u can't really learn it.
 
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.
 
RR! i prefer darker music & its a little more educated // composed..... RR is the deal
 
glip22":1ism2p2f said:
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.
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I wonder that about Rhodes. And if he was not with Ozzy, too. If Randy could have found his way into a Dream Theater type band it would have been something to behold.
 
Heritage Softail":z9bs68j1 said:
glip22":z9bs68j1 said:
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.
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I wonder that about Rhodes. And if he was not with Ozzy, too. If Randy could have found his way into a Dream Theater type band it would have been something to behold.
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He would have been as or more influential than Eddie. He was studying classical and would have gone even further. Who knows where he would have wound up. I bet there would have been some amazing music in his wake. What he did do before death would have been nothing to compare. :yes:
 
glip22":2rnfx083 said:
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.
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He'd be trying to figure out Unchained and Lay it Down.
 
Personal preference is Randy. Better skills and technique. Shame he is dead, and we will never know where he could have gone.
EVH hit a ceiling quickly and could not move beyond it, and still has not (IMHO).
 
Heritage Softail":2sl6h13j said:
glip22":2sl6h13j said:
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.
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I wonder that about Rhodes. And if he was not with Ozzy, too. If Randy could have found his way into a Dream Theater type band it would have been something to behold.
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From an article i read, Randy was getting tired of playing in Ozzy's band and he wanted to do a classical inspired solo album. He also wanted to go and study classical more.
 
mdc1mdc11":z0692pu4 said:
Personal preference is Randy. Better skills and technique. Shame he is dead, and we will never know where he could have gone.
EVH hit a ceiling quickly and could not move beyond it, and still has not (IMHO).
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How do you know that Randy had not hit his ceiling with "Diary of a Madman"? Since he is gone we will never know. An argument could be made about the "ceiling" of other great deceased players. Jimi Hendrix-Electric Ladyland, SRV-Couldn't Stand the Weather, etc....

The thing about Randy is that he went out on the top of his game, while Eddie is just now returning to that "ceiling". Speculation is tricky, what if Randy had never met Ozzy?

The two players are not comparable, as they each have much different playing styles that I like very much.
 
Take a look at my sig and you know who I really dig. Having said that, I played the heck out of the RR/Ozzy Tribute album; still love Randy's tone and playing on it big time. The outro solo on Tonight off another album with Randy...come on!! Killer stuff.

I do recall Lynch saying quite a while back when Ed and RR were starting out that he felt RR was more the real deal and that Ed was mostly smoke and mirrors. I kind of get what Lynch meant, you know what I mean?
 
I'm not a rabid fan of either, but my vote goes to Eddie; best rock rhythm player, ever. :thumbsup:
 
Randy. Never cared much for VH when I was growing up.Songs about chicks and partying and Dave humping microphones and the crotch grabbing and guys doing flying splits seemed really lame to me at the time. Now, Diary of a Madman and Blizzard of Oz,that had my full attention.
 
Randy was the typical guitarist of the era with pretty much routine chops and riffs around a scale and a lot of distortion. EVH was a game changer, no doubt.
 
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