Randy Rhoads vs. Eddie Van Halen

[Tone Zone]

EVH....just prefer his style more.

 

[Greazygeo]

Without VH there would be no Poison.

 

[Ventura]

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.

Agreed.

 

[dstroud]

Cool thread! Thinking back when I was a kid and was just starting to play, I was exposed to both these guys at the same time, so I wasn't analizing anythying other than as a listener. I was immediately interested what Randy Rhoads was doing more than Eddie, so my 1st couple years playing I was working on those first 2 Ozzy albums. I picked up a few VH things, but Randy sounded more intersting for some reason. As I got older, and realized all the intricacies of Eddie's playing and how difficult it was to reproduce his feel, which I still can't do - I gained a huge appreciation for what he does. But if someone put a gun to my head and told me I had to pick, I'd have to go Randy based on the fact that as just a listener, he caught my ear more.

 

[steve_k]

EVH. RR is too predictable. Great guitarist, but the EVH style is so off the wall.

If you tell me you felt RR was "predictable" when you first heard that stuff in 1981 and 1982, I will probably fall off my chair.

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.

My favorite between these two depends on the day. Most would guess I would say Rhoads and 2 out of three times I would say Rhoads. But not today. I'm going with Eddie today.

Chubs makes a very good point here too. RR was probably ahead of his time and back at that point in time in the early 80's his work would stand out. I do remember trying to fast forward the 8-track tapes in my Camaro to get to the good stuff. But, still I think EVH was way ahead of the game on something new. I don't gush for either at this point though. Both are (were) outstanding guitarists with two totally different styles and musical persona's.

 

[tripstan]

It's a tough one. So similar yet so different. Ed's rhythm playing was second to none. In fact I was just praising this to my drummer buddy today. RR's soloing is so legendary it was a song within it self, memorable and moving. But Ed's improve at the live shows and his general groove and feel are sooo tasty. Both were Beethoven's or Mozart's of our musical era. Neither is better so don't compare on a technical scale. Pick on a taste scale. For me EVH from 78'-84'.

I do agree tho that where RR would have gone would have been amazing. I consider him the God father of shred.

 

[bubbastain]

EVH. Not really 100% fair because I heard EVH a few years before I heard RR on the first Ozzy album. Still, I was more inspired to play hearing EVH for the first time. I love Randys stuff too. Doesn't matter to me who is a technically better player. It's the person that inspired me to want to play. Same goes for Ace Frehley before I ever heard VH.

What would it take to get you to retire your avatar and never use anything similar again?

Steve

One Henning Cherry Bomb.

 

[zepland73]

Eddie, He is the reason I picked up a guitar (other than Page).

 

[Mr. Willy]

It's impossible to compare the two (but that doesn't stop us, does it? ).

Apples vs. Oranges, Football vs. Basketball, Blonds vs. Brunette

Totally different styles, approaches, songwriting, etc.

Both were innovative and ahead of their time. Not only were both setting new bars in guitar techniques, but both wrote great songs. In the end, that imho is the true reason they will forever be immortalized as guitar legends even outside of guitarist circles.

That being said, today my favorite is Eddie, tomorrow it'll be Randy. Love them both for various reasons. I've stolen many, many licks from both.

 

[soc_monki]

Randy, bar none. i never listened to Ozzy or VH back in the early 80s. hell, they both came out when i was a baby! but in my teens i listened to both. i really tried to like Van Halen, and i love the music. and some of the songs are awesome...but it just didnt move me that much. i heard Randy and i literally almost passed out. and this was when i was around 12-13 and had just picked up the guitar. his playing blew my mind. Diary of a Madman became one of my all-time favorite songs, not to mention Mr. Crowley, Over the Mountain, Revelation...of course, you have to realize that i was also huge into classical music as well. so hearing classically inspired heavy metal just threw me over the edge. i loved everything, his tone, his playing...so Randy wins it for me.

Eddie was great, but he never moved me like RR did. predictable...i dont care. he did enough flash here and there, improvising certain things, but i love good arrangements and good compositions. its not a matter of who is better technically...its who makes you feel something.

 

[steve_k]

EVH. Not really 100% fair because I heard EVH a few years before I heard RR on the first Ozzy album. Still, I was more inspired to play hearing EVH for the first time. I love Randys stuff too. Doesn't matter to me who is a technically better player. It's the person that inspired me to want to play. Same goes for Ace Frehley before I ever heard VH.

What would it take to get you to retire your avatar and never use anything similar again?

Steve

One Henning Cherry Bomb.

Deal. Send him an amp, Steve!

 

[jcj]

I've actually given this some more thought...Randy was great, but at the end of the day, I can play Randy's shit without much problem...Eddie is a different story

 

[guitarnie]

EVH only because he was the first to "WOW" me, Randy was the shit and my jaw dropped again.

Then I think about "what if, Jimi, SRV,, RR, Dime, even Cobain, etc. were all still making music?

 

[petejt]

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

I've always preferred Randy Rhoads. Character, musicality, instrumentation, riffs, solos, melody, mood, intensity.


While I've respected Eddie's musicality, to me Van Halen in general has always been just a "LA beach party rock band". That kind of scene has never really appealed to me, even though I grew up by the beach! But as well, I never grew up with bands like Van Halen back in the early 80s, or the shredder stuff where they all try to copy Eddie Van Halen.
I like more of the New Wave-type of bands from the early 80s, as well as the thrash metal and punk bands.

For the rock bluesy & "party" type of stuff where you crank it up, get the drinks flowing and let rip, I prefer the "70s party/pub rock bands"- probably AC/DC most of all. Always have. In fact I prefer their stuff from the 70s more than the later decades.

 

[guitarnie]

Eric Johnson, wait what was the question?

 

[steve_k]

Eric Johnson, wait what was the question?

Justin Bieber or Clay Aiken...who's your favorite?

 

[veji]

For me Eddie!! tone/style etc... Eddie has his own unique style/tone.

 

[carlygtr]

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

 

[megamike]

Eddie hands down,he has it all. I love the Hagar stuff to . If you ever sat down and really listened to him and try to figure out what the hell he is playing, it's just so weird . For me it's like how the hell did he think of that. Randy is great but I don't like his tone,his playing doesn't surprise me like EVH. They are both great but for me EVH wins.

 

[loudgtr]

EVH. Not really 100% fair because I heard EVH a few years before I heard RR on the first Ozzy album. Still, I was more inspired to play hearing EVH for the first time. I love Randys stuff too. Doesn't matter to me who is a technically better player. It's the person that inspired me to want to play. Same goes for Ace Frehley before I ever heard VH.

What would it take to get you to retire your avatar and never use anything similar again?

Steve

One Henning Cherry Bomb.

Deal. Send him an amp, Steve!

Yes please!