Adrian Vandenberg and Randy

[tedeeoo]

The thing that I've always tried to carry with me from Randy's approach, is the way he multi-tracked his guitar parts. He is probably the best ever at doing that and not only double and triple tracking parts but layering parts that seem to be contrary to each other to make a bigger guitar sound. He was so good at that, the only other player that did that kind of stuff back then was Tom Scholtz from Boston, now everybody does it. I love the interviews with Max Norman where he talks about Randy in the studio, I learn so much from stuff like that. I always thought it was interesting that Jake said Max always wanted his parts to be super-tight wheras Ron Nevison (producer TUS) thought they were okay at times when Jake thought they should be tighter. I would guess after working with Randy that Max wanted everyone to be that way. I know I've said this any times but it bears repeating, Randy just had that little extra that made you want to watch and listen, you can't teach that, the great players are born with that.

John Sykes is somewhat of an enigma to me, his reputation is largely built on one record and he is held in God-like regard (for good reason). I can say without question that he has the best vibrato of any rock guitarist I've ever heard and maybe the best of all time. Amazing player, great writer, great singer and great stage presence, he really had/has it all and I can't wait to hear his new band with Mike Portnoy.

Another guy that I have always thought was just a great player from a lesser-known band is Dave Meniketti from Y&T, I saw them open for Motley Crue in 85/86 and he just smoked. He is a very tasteful player even when he is blazing and I know he was one of EVH's favorites back in the club days. It would be interesting to hear Dave's take on Ed,Randy and the whole scene back then, he was there for it, maybe somebody will ask him one day.

Sweda was the only thing about the Bullet Boys that I cared for, he had a very distinctive lead tone (I'm sure the p-90's had something to do with that). DLR knows how to put on a show doesn't he? I've got a show from Van Halen's 82 Diver Down tour that shows you why they were so untouchable back in the day, VH had it all!! Ed was so brilliant back then and live they were just on a different level than everyone else, can't wait to hear their new record to!!

[shred1]

Tedeeoo. Agree with all points above. Meniketti rocks. I was crushed when Haze was punted from Y&T. His story is similar to Lee Kerslake's, in that he didn't look the part in the mid-80s. Awesome drummer.

I read that BBoy Marc Torien actually auditioned for the slot in Kiss, eventually filled by Vinnie Vincent in 82. He rolled through town here twice in the last two years. Once with a watered down BBoys line-up with himself on guitar, and then later fronting/subbing for Lynch Mob. The guy can play.

Vinnie Vincent..... that is a whole other thread! What a train wreck. The guy is a great writer, but never have so many notes been heard by so few!

And VH..... yep, untouchable back then, and, in my opinion the catalyst for RR getting the Ozzy gig, and Lee and Bob getting dropped, as Sabbath got thumped nightly with VH opening back then.

Ozzy was determined that his 'next' project had elements of the then 'new' Van Halen/Sunset Strip approach within it.

[Axian]

Its almost like Vivian just quit playing, I saw him on the 87 Whitesnake tour and he just annihilated Adrian, I mean just mopped the floor with him, and then I saw him with the Lep's on the Euphoria tour and I couldn't believe the change in him. He was the only reason I went to that show and it was such a let down, he doesn't seem very likable either but who knows.

I know alot of people think of Jason Becker as a "shredder" but let me tell you he had a PILE of grease all over him. I saw the un-editted video from his seminar at AIM that became his instructional dvd and he was just NASTY (in a good way), all the technique you could want with just tons of r&r swagger. And the guy didn't give up either, most people who have ALS are dead within 5 years and he's still finding ways to put out music, its sad but inspirational at the same time. Jason was part of the reason I started playing seriously again after 8 years of not playing, when I saw that footage I remember thinking, "you know there's a guy that would give his left arm to be playing and here I am sitting on my ass".

It's hard to dis Steve Vai (and not saying anyone is), he really didn't fit WS, and sometimes he's a little "quirky" for my taste, but you can't question his dedication to the instrument. He has just mind-blowing touch on the guitar, super intonation, never get the feeling that he's ever anyplace uncomfortable on the fretboard. Sometimes I love his tone and sometimes not, I remember seeing him on the "Eat Em and Smile" tour and just being in awe of him and Billy Sheehan, they just killed.

Yeh I saw him playing with def leppard at donnington and his solos (when phil obviously allowed them) were very restrictive repetitive pentatonic licks here and their, stuff he could play in his sleep. I wonder if phil ever said to him something like "you can play but just remember im the lead guitar player here, i wrote the songs". Its a shame really because he was very creative on holy diver. Maybe he dident like the attention or was overwhelmed by the great guitar players of the 80's.

[electricmombie]

Mick Sweda is cool. I dig what he did on the first album as well as on 'Freak Show'. Cool to see him mentioned.

[Axian]

Talkin about tasty guitar players what you guys think of slash, yeh his technique might not be up to the players mentioned but I love his playing style and the sound he gets.

[Cpt Matt Sparrow]

Talkin about tasty guitar players what you guys think of slash, yeh his technique might not be up to the players mentioned but I love his playing style and the sound he gets.

I think he is one of rocks most gifted melodic guitarists - not to mention his playing oozes rock n roll sleazyness and he understands the blues too; yeah I like him!!

[electricmombie]

Slash is great, man. A true rock 'n roll guitar player.

[Axian]

Yeh people think hes overated but no one sounds like him because of the sound he gets, I loved his solo album to, I think its one of the best rock albums that has come out for a long time. Hes currently writing and recording his second solo album one with myles kennedy on every track which I think is an amazing vocalist and probably one of the best to come along for a while.

[Cpt Matt Sparrow]

A pupil I teach played me bits of Slash' solo album and I was pretty impressed. I wasn't expecting it to be quite so good to be honest and was quite taken aback. It sounded very melodic and what I really liked, was that it sounded song orientated and not just an excuse to show off his chops.

Matt

[AndrewT1976]

While the performances are pretty solid on that Slash solo album, I think the songs are seriously "under cooked."

The album gets a C- in my opinion.