Rolling Stone Magazine Article From 1982

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:49 pm

Tapping is Ed's signature, squealing is Zakk's signature...

Did Randy have a signature? I really don't think he did. He hadn't gotten to that point where he sounded 'comfortable in his skin' so to speak. Randy sounds to me like a man searching for his signature.

Back when Diary was released, not many people hailed it as one of the greatest metal albums of all time. Randy's style was much more subtle than Ed's. With Ed, he just came out and kicked you in the teeth with his playing. With Randy, he hammered you, but it took multiple listenings to really appreciate the nuances of what you were hearing.

I think that it was Randy's approach to constructing his solos that made him special. I'd love to hear the outtakes where he just blew things off the top of his head. It would be much easier to compare him to Ed in that sense. Ed usually did the "wing it" approach and it was brilliant. Randy constructed his solos and they were brilliant.

I think that the article in question from Rolling Stone has to be considered from the view of the time it was written - find a VH review from the same year and compare them maybe. Critics are renouned for "missing the point" of the music.

ken01fan · Post by **ken01fan** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:02 pm

Randy's signature

The greatest f@#%ing guitarist that ever lived

Jeepman · Post by **Jeepman** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:16 pm

Randy's signature was putting out great,well thought out music. Good enough for me.

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:21 pm

ken01fan wrote: Randy's signature The greatest f@#%ing guitarist that ever lived

Could you tab that particular lick out? If not, then let the grownups have the conversation...

Seriously, if you can think of a RR signature lick, please explain. Saying,"The greatest f@#%ing guitarist that ever lived " is just silly. A LOT of guitar players had/have Randy's skill level and creative musical ability. We here at UR prefer Randy to other players, but most of us understand that music is not a competition and that art is to be created and shared by everyone.

Compare Randy's playing to Segovia's who is the better guitar player and why? I expect your essay to be no more that 500 words and it's due by next Tuesday

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:24 pm

Manco wrote:Randy's signature was putting out great,well thought out music. Good enough for me.

Again, not a signature. The examples I gave for Ed and Zakk are musical examples of their respective playing styles. Why can't you people stay with me on this?

Post by **The Flying Dutchman** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:25 pm

deansolo wrote:The record company figured that since the original material was so new sounding, and the guitar playing so radically different, that they needed a familiar song for a single to sell records.

There you go!

This was The GREAT ED in 1978: EVH solo Paris 1978
Listen to that little nice electrified guitarsound ! Nobody, nobody played like that in '78......
Around '77/'78 Mr Ed was light years ahead of all the other guitarpplayers!

Within a few years Randy came close after and was as genius as Ed. Both were true innovators in their own right! Had Ed died after VH1 and Randy was still here I was maybe a member on an Ed board now. Some food for thought.

I like this thread!

Jeepman · Post by **Jeepman** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:26 pm

RockyRhoads wrote:
Manco wrote:Randy's signature was putting out great,well thought out music. Good enough for me.
Again, not a signature. The examples I gave for Ed and Zakk are musical examples of their respective playing styles. Why can't you people stay with me on this?

Gee bud...maybe you're just too smart for me.

Randy didn't seem to need a "signature" to put out great music.

Post by **The Flying Dutchman** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:27 pm

RockyRhoads wrote:Tapping is Ed's signature,

You forgot something...

CHI-TOWN2 · Post by **CHI-TOWN2** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:28 pm

Randy's signature was his live playing...you can argue all day long as to each's importance...but sorry, when it comes to the live stuff...Eddie Van Halen wasnt even close to Rhoads....looks or stage presence...Randy didnt need electric drills and stuff like that...

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:30 pm

Manco wrote:Randy didn't seem to need a "signature" to put out great music.

That's not the point of the discussion though, is it? The subject was about how Ed overused tapping and I said it was his signature. Then I stated that I don't feel Randy had found his signature yet.

Then again, bud, maybe I am too smart for you... that's a discussion for another day, however.

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:32 pm

CHI-TOWN2 wrote:Randy's signature was his live playing...you can argue all day long as to each's importance...but sorry, when it comes to the live stuff...Eddie Van Halen wasnt even close to Rhoads....looks or stage presence...Randy didnt need electric drills and stuff like that...

In your opinion. In my opinion, they were equals. And the drill thing was Paul Gilbert's idea, not Ed's (although Ed was impressed enough with Paul that he copied it).

Jeepman · Post by **Jeepman** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:34 pm

RockyRhoads wrote:
Manco wrote:Randy didn't seem to need a "signature" to put out great music.
That's not the point of the discussion though, is it? The subject was about how Ed overused tapping and I said it was his signature. Then I stated that I don't feel Randy had found his signature yet.

Then again, bud, maybe I am too smart for you... that's a discussion for another day, however.

I got the point of this discussion bud,and I feel bad for you that your arrogance isn't letting you hear others opinions. Your loss though. Good day.

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:38 pm

The Flying Dutchman wrote:
RockyRhoads wrote:Tapping is Ed's signature,
You forgot something...

What? Like the whole innovative whammy bar thing that nobody else could do before Ed perfected it and inspired Floyd Rose to create a locking nut?

I'd need a whole new thread to talk about Ed's innovations that changed guitar playing as we know it.

Post by **The Flying Dutchman** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:39 pm

Come on guys, yellow is the best color in the world!

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 8:42 pm

Manco wrote:
RockyRhoads wrote:
Manco wrote:Randy didn't seem to need a "signature" to put out great music.
That's not the point of the discussion though, is it? The subject was about how Ed overused tapping and I said it was his signature. Then I stated that I don't feel Randy had found his signature yet.

Then again, bud, maybe I am too smart for you... that's a discussion for another day, however.
I got the point of this discussion bud,and I feel bad for you that your arrogance isn't letting you hear others opinions. Your loss though. Good day.

Look, I've been studying Randy's music for 25 years. I completely understand your opinion. I also consider Randy to be my favorite guitar player. I am not "arrogant" for asking you to actually explain your point of view.

Notice that my posts are LONG and detailed. I am asking that others EXPLAIN their opinions and the reason for holding such opinions. One sentence comments about "Randy not needing a signature" aren't enough for me. I was asking for more. If you cannot give more, then, fine, walk away.