Surprize [to me] douche alert...

[Red_Label]

but just look at the way he shakes his head after every blazing phrase, like he's fabio the magic italian stallion shaking his imaginary mane full of gold powder in the wind, and his expression is so "that just happened you lucky mortal"--even when he's looking at paco and mcglaughlin, it's kind of a crack up--

LOL... I'm gonna have to check out some vids of the trio.

 

[JTyson]

but just look at the way he shakes his head after every blazing phrase, like he's fabio the magic italian stallion shaking his imaginary mane full of gold powder in the wind, and his expression is so "that just happened you lucky mortal"--even when he's looking at paco and mcglaughlin, it's kind of a crack up--

 

[Sierra Voodoo]

Several years ago at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY my friend that I tech for - Chris Mahoney - opened for Al. I remember watching Al sound check and he really seemed to be quite arrogant and douche like, especially in the manner he was addressing the other musicians. A short while later, as I was tending to Chris's guitars, Al walked by, looked at what I was doing and went downstairs. A few minutes later he comes up stairs, walks over to me and asks me my name. I told him who I was and that I was preparing Chris's guitars for the show. Al tells me that he wished his tech was doing the same thing that asked for my number. Long story short, I never ehard from him but remember thinking of the whole experience in two ways........one of him as a douche and another as an approachable, somewhat pleasant guy. His show that night was incredible!

I agree that it is unfortunate that a guy of his amazing talent needs to rip on other great and influential guitar players. Each is influential in their own way and I think Al would be well served to worry less about them and more about his thing.

 

[hawkeye17]

Look at this way....in 100 years there will probably be more people who know Van Halen's music than Al DiMeola's. Al always comes off as an arrogant holier than though musical cork sniffer. He can sure play though!

 

[Milerky2]

why can't we all just get along?

 

[joepete77]

I wouldn't give a fuck less if any of those guys really were so far beneath "AL" technique-wise. Let's see, when was the last time any of his tunes were pounding through my car stereo?....hmmm.....never! Yeah, the guy can play but I really couldn't give a shit because I don't dig his music, that doesn't mean it's bad, it's just my opinion, much like how he's expressing his; although I really don't give a fuck what he thinks.

my thoughts exactly!

 

[Lution]

He has the monster chops and the dues paid to back up his mouth. . . enough said.

Now if he had the chops and were a wonderful pleasant humble guy, that would also be nice too.

 

[oldmanmetal]

Al has always been an ass, always been condescending, and is arrogant as hell. He also is a monster, with chops to spare. Many peple with insane abilities, are quirky and self absorbed. Al is one of the few that lives up to the hype.

 

[JJGray]

You know, after watching that live clip, I could only imagine that afterwards they all went back to the dressing room where they gave each other rusty trombones, complete with reach-arounds.

 

[stephen sawall]

I agree with Al .... I do not see any of them near Paco de Lucía or John McLaughlin in most ways. But I do not think it was all that great he would say this in a interview, that's just stupid ....

 

[university81]

Totally agreed.

Though I've certainly been guilty of taking shots at Kirk Hammett over the years. But I'm an anonymous internet poster and no one really gives a damn what I think. And Kirk is... well... Kirk.

lars at 1:40 thinks the same thing =0

 

[Red_Label]

Totally agreed.

Though I've certainly been guilty of taking shots at Kirk Hammett over the years. But I'm an anonymous internet poster and no one really gives a damn what I think. And Kirk is... well... Kirk.

lars at 1:40 thinks the same thing =0

LOL... that was some funny insight there. The solo that Kirk eventually played certainly fit the song, and obvsiously I can't really imagine it in any other way at this point... but yeah... Kirk definitely is sitting in a pretty sweet spot considering his level of talent.