An Observation

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:44 pm

So I was watching some videos with my son the other day and noticed something that I have thought about in the past - I'd like your opinions.

We were watching After Hours and Van Halen from Largo, Maryland in '82. What I noticed was the difference in body language between Ed and Randy. Eddie appears loose and carefree while Randy appears a bit stiffer and seems to be focused and concentrating. I then watched Quiet Riot from the Starwood and Randy didn't look as loose as Ed, but a lot looser than during the After Hours video.

I'm wondering if Randy's body language is a reflection of his attitude towards his playing. I've read that he had to work at his playing, lots of natural talent, but he had to work at channeling that talent into what we all know and love. Eddie on the other hand shows a body language very much in line with his 'wing it' attitude. In addition, I've never heard of Eddie working hard at playing - 'if it sounds good it is good.' In addition, Ed's confidence (at least since the first record) was always high, Randy mentioned doubts in his ability more than once.

Hopefully this won't turn into an Ed bashing Randy worship thing, it's just something I noticed and thought I'd comment on.

Ritchie · Post by **Ritchie** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:08 pm

no doubt Ed was probably drunk

Cpt Matt Sparrow · Post by **Cpt Matt Sparrow** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:27 pm

Brian May and John Petrucci both compose their solos, like Randy, and also remain concentrated when playing too.

I suppose their could be something in it Paul

Matt

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:28 pm

I think, honestly, Ed has more natural talent than Randy had. It comes easy for Ed and Randy had to work at it. That's not to say Eddie is/was better than Randy.

Look at golf, there are many great golfers who have worked hard at their game. Then there is Tiger who looks like golf is the simplest thing in the world to do. Does Tiger always play perfect? No, but he always looks like he is playing as opposed to working.

Cpt Matt Sparrow · Post by **Cpt Matt Sparrow** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:34 pm

That may be true,

Vaughan Williams, one of my favourite composers fought with orchestration. He was not gifted at it and had to work damn hard to get it to a level that expressed his ideas. Walton's harmony caused him to twice fail his music degree, yet both these men were absolute genius'

I suppose everyone is different.

Matt

Post by **The Flying Dutchman** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 6:50 pm

Interesting question!
I remember one comment from Ed when he said that while it maybe looked it was all very easy for him he really had to 'work' to get all that stuff out of his guitar.

NoQuattro · Post by **NoQuattro** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 1:48 am

Ritchie wrote:no doubt Ed was probably drunk

I like this theory.

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 3:27 pm

NoQuattro wrote:
Ritchie wrote:no doubt Ed was probably drunk
I like this theory.

All Ed bashers like that theory... it's funny, though that even drunk Eddie was better than 99% of the guitarists out there in 1982.

Ritchie · Post by **Ritchie** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 4:20 pm

it's NOT Ed bashing , it's how he was for many years . FACT !!! you can analise shit all you want .. if that's what turns you on .. but the fact still remains Ed was a drunk . I really like his playing and i'd never discredit him for his talent , but the reason you see Ed jumpin all around and goofin off and looking loose is he was 3 sheets to the wind the majority of the time .

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:29 pm

So if I point out your faults, Ritchie, and talk negative about you, would that be bashing? Yes, sir, it would. Turning your venom at me is bashing as well.

Ed was able to move around like that because he had the ability. If it was just alcohol, he'd have fallen down and stayed there. Randy did a lot more moving that appeared natural with Quiet Riot. I think it's probably because he was more comfortable playing that stuff - it was easier for him. With Ozzy he may have been playing a style and at a level he wanted to play at, but it looks like that isn't what came as naturally to him.

Ritchie · Post by **Ritchie** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 8:39 pm

Paul Wolfe wrote:So if I point out your faults, Ritchie, and talk negative about you, would that be bashing? Yes, sir, it would. Turning your venom at me is bashing as well.

Whatever Paul .. i really honestly don't give a fuck what you have to say any longer . You come across as an insecure argumentative little man . now do ME a favor and fuck the hell off !!!!!!

Ritchie · Post by **Ritchie** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:28 pm

You really are a weak pathetic person Wolfe , you could'nt handle the fact that in the reply i gave you after your initial post , i did'nt want to put as much wasted time into thinking about such a pointless topic .. really dude who gives a flying fuck at this forum if EVH moved better than RR .. i'm telling you now pal that i am NOT alone in thinking you should move along and post your pointless crap on another forum . All the time i have been at this forum , i have seen you argue over and over again with various members here for absolutley no reason becuase of your own weak pathetic insecurities .

Post by **The Flying Dutchman** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 9:59 pm

Paul Wolfe wrote:Randy did a lot more moving that appeared natural with Quiet Riot. I think it's probably because he was more comfortable playing that stuff - it was easier for him. With Ozzy he may have been playing a style and at a level he wanted to play at, but it looks like that isn't what came as naturally to him.

What I read from Randy himself (I think it was the John Stix interview) is that in his QR days they moved a lot more to get the audience crazy, but one thing he said he learned from Ozzy is that you don't have to move that much if you are good.
To me the QR stage act always comes over a bit childish and he wasn't as much into his playing as with Ozzy. (imo)

Paul Wolfe · Post by **Paul Wolfe** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 7:11 am

To clarify, the initial post was comparing Ed and Randy in 1982, not any time after EVH moved on.

The Flying Dutchman wrote:
Paul Wolfe wrote:Randy did a lot more moving that appeared natural with Quiet Riot. I think it's probably because he was more comfortable playing that stuff - it was easier for him. With Ozzy he may have been playing a style and at a level he wanted to play at, but it looks like that isn't what came as naturally to him.
What I read from Randy himself (I think it was the John Stix interview) is that in his QR days they moved a lot more to get the audience crazy, but one thing he said he learned from Ozzy is that you don't have to move that much if you are good.
To me the QR stage act always comes over a bit childish and he wasn't as much into his playing as with Ozzy. (imo)

I see your point. To me, though, it seems that he was enjoying himself in QR - look at the video from the Starwood of Back to the Coast (at the 45 minute mark here for example. In the '70's he was heavily influenced by the glam stuff and guys like Mick Ronson and Glenn Buxton did a lot of strutting onstage.

By the time he was with Ozzy he probably had grown up a bit and his tastes had changed. Thus less 'bouncing around'. Plus, in Rudy's book there is a comment that 'the boys' were told to move less so as not to upstage Ozzy.

In addition, I was watching that Largo VH show again and noticed Ed moved more on the older songs he could play with his eyes closed. On the newer material he was looking at the neck of his guitar more. Here is Ed in '79 a few months before the QR clip from the Starwood to compare where each was at around the same time.

Different points of view will look at the same thing differently I suppose.

Post by **The Flying Dutchman** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 4:02 pm

Paul Wolfe wrote:Here is Ed in '79 a few months before the QR clip from the Starwood to compare where each was at around the same time.

That's not difficult, Ed (but also VH as band) was the king!

Nice clip!

Why VH never released a good vid of that '78-'80 period is beyond me, also Ed says "there is no footage".