your first guitar hero?

[simbasa]

Richrath.

Gotta love the "Turkey Trot"

Richrath had some cool licks. I love REO in the late '70s early '80s.

 

[Tnjpekar]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmY89NKkl5w
and a classic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVs7ZLas5bI

as a kid, roy clark in the 60s was smoking, it was either him or jeff beck in our house, but the old man preferred country

was exposed to some smoking players thru country, they pretty much dusted the rock guys for a while

the first revelation i had regarding the fact that rock players weren't as "cultured" musically as jazz and country cats occured the night i saw this on TV:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJzqOi2Abjc

this was my first guitar-aware period exposure to the "mighty" carlos santana.

GB played CIRCLES around CS and sounded so much more musical...i particularly love the dueling shred moment where benson seems to purposely dumb down by sliding around on the string atonally just to soften the blow and simultaneously mock homeslice.

GB is another guy that doesn't seem to get the props he deserves outside of the jazz world. great musical phrasing.

 

[simbasa]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmY89NKkl5w
and a classic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVs7ZLas5bI

as a kid, roy clark in the 60s was smoking, it was either him or jeff beck in our house, but the old man preferred country

was exposed to some smoking players thru country, they pretty much dusted the rock guys for a while

the first revelation i had regarding the fact that rock players weren't as "cultured" musically as jazz and country cats occured the night i saw this on TV:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJzqOi2Abjc

this was my first guitar-aware period exposure to the "mighty" carlos santana.

GB played CIRCLES around CS and sounded so much more musical...i particularly love the dueling shred moment where benson seems to purposely dumb down by sliding around on the string atonally just to soften the blow and simultaneously mock homeslice.

GB is another guy that doesn't seem to get the props he deserves outside of the jazz world. great musical phrasing.

I saw George Benson play at Expo '86 in Vancouver. Great player but he just seems so.....scripted. I love Santana's '70s and '80s music and playing more even though George is a much better technical player.

 

[Tnjpekar]

I have to agree with you on that when it comes to GB in recent years, but if you could have caught him in the 70's and early 80's I personally think it was a different story. He was still coming up with some very cool Jazz and commercial riffs then, and he was more into taking chances.
Not that I think he playing is too mechanical mind you, but it does seem to be in recent years that his phrasing has a kind of "been there, done that" feel to it.
I know this may get me fragged, but kind of like Blackmore last time I saw him play live. before the whole "blackmores knight" thing
still, the man is kickin

 

[simbasa]

I know this may get me fragged, but kind of like Blackmore last time I saw him play live. before the whole "blackmores knight" thing
still, the man is kickin

I agree the Blackmore of the '70s is a different man than today. He's whipped now. Can't blame him. We should all be so lucky to get a hot young wench when we're his age.

 

[jkdsteve]

Blackmore by a mile...had the look, the sounds...just pure evil in those early Rainbow days

Later on Page and then Brian May.

 

[mctallica1]

James Hetfield was THE reason I picked up a guitar. Still one of my biggest influences.

The short list of players who had/have huge impact on my playing:

Hetfield
Dime
Tipton/Downing
Roy Buchanan
Gilmore
Jon Schaffer
Iommi




Notice, there isn't a shredder on the list (maybe some classify Dime as a shredder, but I don't)... All those guys know how to stick in the pocket and make GREAT music.


If I had been asked this same question in my 20's, Hetfield still would be number one, but there would have been a few shredders on the list. Now, I much prefer a solid groove and a tasteful, song serving lead over playing a lot of notes. Guys like Malmsteen etc, etc...while I truly appreciate their talent...bore me to death.

 

[bill]

Country guys rock and I hate them all because they bought all the old Martins up in the 50s and 60s. Phil Keaggy is also one of my heros and under rated as a player due to his market place in Christian music.

 

[racer_j]

Ace was the man, my first hero and the reason I play guitar then probably Randy.

J.

 

[rupe]

Elvis: piqued my interest in rock and roll

Peter Frampton and Ace: made me want to be a rock star

Randy Rhoads: made want to become an accomplished guitarist and remains my biggest inspiration to this day

 

[Drew]

Richrath.

Gotta love the "Turkey Trot"

Richrath had some cool licks. I love REO in the late '70s early '80s.

+1 for Gary from '74 to '78. After the '77 live album, Gary's playing lost the appeal for me. But from '74 to '78 it was a tie for me between Gary and this guy, Scott Gorham:

 

[EvilBatman]

I initially got interested in playing from Phil Collen and Steve Clarke when I was about 7.

The real start and inspiration though was Rhoads when I was about 12. Followed by Hetfield and Hammett.

 

[A-T]

Satriani as i was 10 years old

 

[raiken]

Michael Schenker. I wore the grooves off of "Force It" and "Phenomenon" as a teenager. I haven't been the same since.

Randall Aiken

 

[Shiny_Surface]

Can't name just one but a threesome that all had a major influence on me around the same time frame, EVH Lynch and Rhoads

 

[Strat+Marshall]

Jimi Hendrix by a long shot, I am still finding things about his playing that amaze me.

 

[generalgrievous]

1. James Hetfield/Kirk Hammet.
2. Jimi Hendrix/Stevie Ray Vaughn.
3. John Petrucci.

In that order(earliest to latest). Still like them all today (even the Hammster!)

 

[Inca Roads]

Hands down for me!
The whole reason I picked up the Guitar,
The METAL RIFF GOD!!!

Then I discovered a Young Guitar player in Zappa's Band.

 

[MARK1970]

Mr. EVH that first VH record when I first played it. WOW! The picture of Ed in the back looked so cool. I stiil have the original record.

 

[iplayloudly]

Tom Scholz