Was 1979' to 1989' the best decade for the shredder ?

[Samhain]

Go ...

 

[Findthetone1]

It certainly spawned the movement. That's for sure. The only downfall of it from my perspective is that is became less about the song and more about the fretboard acrobatics.

 

[maddnotez]

Absolutely was in my opinion.

It was a new Era, something fresh and cool. EVH kinda changed the world with his fingers. There were some highly skilled guitarists having a blast and it seemed to be the in thing.

I will say today with the internet tools available and younger kids growing up and starting out with these crazy shredders to learn from people have surpassed the skill level of most 80s guitarists in general sure, but to me many of them are lifeless. I will refer back to the old cliche "there's no soul" and I find it to be true.

Some of the older cats are still around like Paul Gilbert for example who is somewhat untouchable but the aura of guitar shred is gone in my opinion. People don't care as much unfortunately. It is not as wide spread and it is definitely not something new anymore. It all just seems so robotic to me.

I would love a resurgence but I just don't think the general media or the population as a whole will allow it.

 

[marvcus]

Everything comes back around. Look at mom jeans. It may look different, but it will come back in fashion eventually.

 

[controlled_voltage]

it was a great era but yeah i just hear the same shit only sped up and it's a cliche at this point.
the big boys have a cult following and can eat from it but does anyone remember the reaction to the new liquid tension track i posted ?
crickets

 

[thiswaythatway]

It went on into 92-93. Grunge didn't take over overnight. The hair scene was very strong still in 1991-92 but yes it was quickly fading.

 

[thedeadzone]

It was unique to be sure, even beyond guitar. Just the right things converging at the same time, with cable TV become more ubiquitous, changes in music distribution and radio. Everything was more accessible. The video aspect of the music industry seemed to be a catalyst of a lot of what followed.

 

[paulyc]

It went on into 92-93. Grunge didn't take over overnight. The hair scene was very strong still in 1991-92 but yes it was quickly fading.

90-93 was the pinnacle of that. Lynch Mob and Don Dokken’s solo record were great, as well as many others by then. The production guys got the records so punchy and hard hitting, it was all very slick. I still love all that stuff.

 

[MrDowntown]

i think the decade, consumer, music fan, music in general was ready for something like that... it was all ripe for the picking. a lot of those guys could've played anything and been "successful"...but the time for the shredders was that decade, no doubt.

i'm sure there are many other examples of a great guitar player, musician and song-writer, that evolved with the landscape, but i'll use Dan Huff as my example (band Giant). Crazy talented guy...moved to LA late '80's to dip from the magic waters of what had become "hair-metal or glam-metal' by that point. by 89-90 it was a dying genre, grunge was moving in. so he moved back to Nashville, and became (and still is) one of the more successful session guitarists, writers, producers in the business.

 

[Findthetone1]

i think the decade, consumer, music fan, music in general was ready for something like that... it was all ripe for the picking. a lot of those guys could've played anything and been "successful"...but the time for the shredders was that decade, no doubt.

i'm sure there are many other examples of a great guitar player, musician and song-writer, that evolved with the landscape, but i'll use Dan Huff as my example (band Giant). Crazy talented guy...moved to LA late '80's to dip from the magic waters of what had become "hair-metal or glam-metal' by that point. by 89-90 it was a dying genre, grunge was moving in. so he moved back to Nashville, and became (and still is) one of the more successful session guitarists, writers, producers in the business.

Dann Huff was an absolute monster on the Giant records and one of my all time favorites of that era.

 

[Speeddemon]

90-93 was the pinnacle of that.

Well for some yes, but in that time from '89 onward, a lot of lesser gods (think Danger Danger) came out too. And there was a reason Winger was bashed so hard on Beavis & Butthead.
I'd say '84-'89 was the peak for hair/shred... coincides with Dokken's best period. ;-)

 

[Samhain]

 

[Speeddemon]

basically the jest of it is, they were considered 'too safe'*... as were more bands in that vein at the end of the decade, given that the big corporate cats wanted a slice of the pie too, and started churning out all these records/bands, that were just not as good.
Commercial qualities, an overall glossy polish & good looks were (becoming) all more important than quality songs, and that defines for me at least that '89-'93 period...and sure, there are some gems to be found in that time, but a lot...I mean a lot of drivel too.

*=Incomparable with say, Mötley Crue's first 2 albums, or Dokken's "Tooth and Nail", that were way more rough around the edges, heavy and powerful.

From '89 Toxik - Think This was also quite shreddy and a good album. Sure, it ain't hair metal, but they showcased awesome guitar work, and they lack that over the top sheen, that IMO was put into overdrive with bands like Poison.

 

[stratjacket]

Yes, probably the best era for shredders. But really no different than today or any other time, you had to search for good music. For every shredder making great tunes we know and love there were 15 wannabe/poser/whatever you want to call it that made bland music.

 

[paulyc]

Yes, probably the best era for shredders. But really no different than today or any other time, you had to search for good music. For every shredder making great tunes we know and love there were 15 wannabe/poser/whatever you want to call it that made bland music.

My issue with stuff recorded after the heyday is that the quality control has gone down the toilet. The recording budgets are minuscule, there are no big name producers working with those bands, no great old analog gear, no great studio recording spaces, etc..., it’s all done in a computer somewhere. Just because people CAN make a record “in the box’ doesn’t mean they should. Some succeed, most do not. FWIW.

 

[maddnotez]

My issue with stuff recorded after the heyday is that the quality control has gone down the toilet. The recording budgets are minuscule, there are no big name producers working with those bands, no great old analog gear, no great studio recording spaces, etc..., it’s all done in a computer somewhere. Just because people CAN make a record “in the box’ doesn’t mean they should. Some succeed, most do not. FWIW.

Agreed. They maybe over did it on the snare in these days but it fit the vibe. Definitely a good era of production.

 

[Speeddemon]

Agreed. They maybe over did it on the snare in these days but it fit the vibe. Definitely a good era of production.

Yep, I'll take the huge Priest-Freewheel Burning snare sound over todays' "is it a thin, punchy triggered kickdrum or is it the snare?"-loudness maximized, grid-based sounds any day of the week. Priest's "Heavy Duty" was maybe...maybe a bit much tho'...

Same goes for Tommy Lee's cowbell sound on "Come on and Dance"...it puts a smile on my face every time I hear it, due to the ridicoulousness of it.
The magic happens at 0m28s ?:


I have this little Zoom RT-323 Drum computer, that I spent quite a few minutes on to match the cowbell sounds from Mötley Crue and Guns n' Roses (in "Night Train", which is of course not as rude, low and big sounding as MC's...)