For real. If you ever met or meet him, you just stated fact. It's weird. He's more interested in talking about YOU than himself. He's a wicked cool dude, I was pleasantly surprised how real of a dude he is.
He and I are close in age & have been musicians about the same length of time, with similar interests. When I watch him play, I feel like a kid watching my idols again. I still aspire to be better because of people like him.
@@vodkaa1 I must say, quite a couple of very talented people have been keeping shit bearable via podcasts or vlogs. Just hearing someone like Devin talk riffs, or Ricky Gervais laughing at how Hollywood hates him now.... Just that little bit of humanity in a very lonely, stressed out time. Thank God for these people being on the internet!
It's so grounding to hear that he still struggles with guitar techniques. As a player of almost 10 years myself, it makes me feel a lot better knowing that even greats like Devin aren't masters at their instruments and it's totally okay to not be great at absolutely everything on guitar.
@@eurosnuke1678 To me, the point is that true mastery doesn't exist. There are those who are humble enough to stick with that moving target, and those who think it's still behind them in their pursuit of skill, standing evermore in the past with every moment they spend there, gathering increasingly less utilized tools for their bags, perpetually stuck in the day when they realized they were a 'good' guitarist... living out their bonus rounds... or those who haven't passed the right sign yet, expelling every resource and purging all strength, thinking the earth they run on is flat and finite and they will be rewarded for reaching the edge... only to wind up in the same places over and over again. It's kind of like how to find enlightenment, step one is to give up on chasing it, as you must commit yourself to a total separation from desire. If you want it, if you envision it that way, you can paradoxically never hold it for yourself because of how that desire skews your perception. The real problem is thinking it is even something to be held by you, or anyone. To advance past a certain level in both playing skill and expression, you eventually have to stop worrying about being the best and push forward with more openness and curiosity for whatever comes of the challenges you face, because that's where the deeper learning happens. This is how these guys are able to develop approaches that make them stand out so much from just about everyone else doing it. There is a grand canyon of difference between how you and me see/categorize them, and what they make of how they're doing. Which is why I think the former thinking actually completely eschews understanding what really makes them so good and unique when it comes to what they can do. So long as you draw those lines, you can never see what a guy like Devin Townsend, or any other 'elite' guitarist sees. And that thing is that being 'elite' is a lie, not a real thing. Reasoning is pretty simple there actually. Chasing that ever moving target will burn you out, it will crush you and pin you like a boulder until you can fully let it go. You will eventually run out of energy to keep learning if you allow that learning to become a mere means to an end for your ego, instead of a form of steady enrichment. It loses meaning, you feel like you'll never get there, question if getting there even matters to you, if your art matters to you. "If I wanted it, I'd be doing it - the steps are right there, and I do the work, so what's wrong with me?" No accomplishments will ever satisfy, and you'll live in doubt. Because there is no end to pursuits of skill in creative expression. You'll grind your whole nose off and find yourself feeling like you're back at square one, with a lot less passion for it. There are those for whom gathering skills becomes a min-max game, that leaves them with far less joy for what they do. You see em in guitar communities all of the time. The community as a whole isn't all that open to different goals and approaches. There is just what it says you should do to be a good guitarist, and people who discuss/compete-over that. But ask yourself if you think any of em are ever hitting it big, skilled as they are. Or are they maybe climbing to the top of THAT molehill? THAT community, and what IT values. Ask yourself if it even matters to you in the big picture. It's so important, and a lot of them aren't even close to doing it. To say there are masters is to imply there is a ceiling. I promise you, no real master of anything thinks like this. They don't think about who the master is, or how to compare themselves. They typically don't even appear to worry at all about how good they are, like it's not even on their lexicon. If they do, they tend to presume people will think they are bad, no matter how much praise they've gotten... because they know they haven't pursued those comparisons, though others will make them and it creates this insecurity about not measuring-u[ in even the most talented artists. And that way of dealing with it is what enables them to transcend expectations and shock people with what they are able to do. That they can carry that insecurity, and do it their way anyway. One thing you will notice about virtually all of those whom people call 'masters' is how they do not seem to think of themselves as remotely such. Sometimes I really think the thing that separates the 'masters' from the 'rest' is that openness to what it is they are doing/pursuing. By not locking themselves down with such notions, they are permitted to enter territory where only those who are called 'masters' go. That access is not granted by obsessing over who and who is not a master by such and such metric. Rather holding those metrics makes it forbidden territory, a place on a special few can go. But even the metrics are in steady flux, with such wild swings that past masters even get demoted. The thing these 'masters' all have in common is recognizing that and setting it all aside, being fully immersed in what THEY themselves are doing, the way they're going and what it means for them, and not worrying about what other people are doing (or have already done.) No substitute for that focus. Point is, I think the way people look at master musicians kind of results in this aura of defeatism and inflexibility that keeps folks out there from finding THEIR mastery, appreciating these people we call masters as humans like us and sharing a connection like music was built to do, fully understanding why all of these guys are so chill about how good they are... what that mindset actually entails and what it does for you, where it really comes from. We guitarists can be a particularly unreflective bunch, which can make us a little sweaty and stuck in a box. One thing that really stands out about Devin Townsend is how much his entire existence opposes that, without him having an oppositional bone in his body. There are guitarists, and then there are those who transcend that and become musicians instead. I can't help but notice that most people trying really hard to be good at guitar develop an ego about it that none of their idols seem to have, and it makes me question their whole approach. Devin Townsend doesn't give half as much of a shit and still blows them out of the water. And they may in fact have the better chops overall! Does that make any sense? Only if ego and notions of greatness are the root of the problem. That's the issue I have with putting these people on a pedestal, and why I leave it at "There are a lot of really exceptional musicians out there, and a few of them are even known!" I don't question whether or not greatness motivates people... clearly being like Van Halen is a strong motivator. I just don't think Van Halen himself thought like that about HIS idols, and that's what made him EVH and not his idols. Making these guys gods makes adopting the ego mandatory. And then that ego just clips your wings, and you fight off the disappointment with nothing to show for it but a bunch of dazzling playing that nobody ultimately cares about - they can only compare you to people who also play exactly like you, because you play just like them... and chances are one of them is always gonna be better at it than you. The losses are inevitable. You start to doubt. Players of 10 years plus quit over it. Others get really close and undo it all with their own hubris. Most bands come and go with trends. As long as you need to borrow reference points/milestones from others, you can never become a master yourself. The masters we see have walked their own paths further than us ours and that is what allows them to go beyond where grass grows. That's why they are masters, and the rest are just thin blades in that endless field blowing in the wind, no matter how much effort and heart they pour into being like them. Masters are the greatest experts in their own journeys, they care for little else, put maximum investment into THAT. To become like them, you have to immerse yourself in your own path, never define it by what others say you should be doing, or cool stuff your peers are doing. That last part is why almost everyone does the same exact shit when they pick up a guitar, and never do anything else. True mastery is knowing your full strengths and weaknesses, accepting them, and capitalizing with full grace. Look at all of the masters out there with different strengths and weaknesses. It is precisely their individual mixes of strengths and weaknesses that allow them all to stand out individually, as masters of their own domains. That is the only true mastery you can have as a musician... self-mastery is the real final boss. What is a master if not someone who went where nobody else would or could go? Right? So the appropriate question to ask would be "Where can *I* go that nobody else will? What does the music we're not hearing sound like?" And if you don't know, keep searching. The one thing all guitar gods have in common is idiosyncrasy. Another way of putting it is there is a virtue in being able to swim upstream, but you go further when you swim with the current, finding the river with currents and winds in the direction you want to go... not to mention, salmon who swim upstream die at the end. Picking up an instrument is a long-haul game with a lot of drastically different options. Devin understood that well in his comments, and I don't think anyone would say he wasted his time by not pursuing alternate picking. Again, the humility is just vital to growing for that long. You have to stop deifying others, and in doing so give up on becoming god yourself. Only then can you advance beyond being "That guy who sounds like that guy who sounded like that band." and hear people say "Wow, what even is that? How did he do that?" Regular people are the only ones who see masters. The masters only see people with different distinct strengths.
Its a lyric from Planet Of The Apes, he also used some of their EZ Drummer stuff when he and Messugah were working with Toontracks. For a while their careers ran somewhat parallel to each other, and he has always thrown in references to other things. 'Bend it like Bender' literally quotes Bender from Futurama several times.
Motörhead - Motörhead Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues Van Halen - Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love Sweep picking/solos/tapping Twisted Sister - We're Not Gonna Take It Judas Priest - The Sentinel Fastway - Say What You Will Iron Maiden - 2 Minutes To Midnight Random strum Another random strum 3rd random strum 4th random strum with feedback I think Still Life by Iron Maiden he said something but I couldn't figure out what he said Fist - Thunder and Rock Judas Priest - Victim of Changes Iron Maiden - Back In The Village Devin Townsend - Vampira I'm not quite sure but I think it's deadhead, I could be wrong Truth From Infinity Evermore
I like that when he solos in his own music he goes for a unique more simple melodic approach but he CAN shred but just doesn't use a lot of the more typical shred techniques. I didn't realise he was so good at sweeping.
Devin is by far one of the most fascinating musicians I've had the pleasure to stumble upon. And I never expected to be as blown away by a modern release as I was when I listened to Empath, his latest album. It's overwhelmingly rich! Also, his introspective approach to mental health is inspiring for self acceptance and forgiveness. I've fairly enjoyed reading his interviews and now listening to his own podcast. He's a visceral musician and the level of commitment and connection he has with his music is beyond my understanding. I admire him so damn much...
We all know the drill, a couple of bands get a sound, then a lot of others get in the same train. Nothing wrong with it, but Devin is so fucking awesome, he does pretty original music, high skilled melodies and weird ass concepts and i love it.
Devin has tons and tons of great riffs, but for me the album that comes to mind first is 'Accelerated Evolution'. Depth Charge, Random Analysis, Deadhead, Suicide (possibly his best riff ever), all have amazing riffs.
Watching Devin play 'Victim of Changes' just gave me the biggest smile! Very cool to know that one of his favorite songs when he was a teen was also one of my favorite songs when I was a teen. Oh my... now that I think about it, I would love to see Devin do a full cover of it, vocals and all! 🤞 Whatever Devin does, I'll keep listening... such an amazing musician and inspirational human (although, sometimes I think he might actually be from another planet 😆)!
@@JobForAMaxboy he's not bipolar. Being a emotional human being is not bipolarity. It might seem like it is from a outsider's perspective but it's perfectly normal to be emotionally a bit extreme without having any actual medical conditions
First time I saw him live was with Steve Vai on the Sex and Religion tour. I’m pretty sure he was around 19 years old. His energy was off the charts. There were moments where he and Steve played guitar together and it was absolutely magical
If Devin ever reads this, he's the reason why I really invested in my first good guitar and learned a few of his riffs and songs. Love his older work, like Vampira, Ocean Machine, Stand, and some Ziltoid stuff. Thank you for all the good music so far in your career. May you have many more for me to play.
I toured with Marty Friedman once, I was so sick in Vancouver once so I was chillin in my bunk. I peak out and hear Marty and Devin Townsend just trading licks and playing holy wars and shit. My own private show with two great musicians. Damn I miss that. I think he taught him that cool acoustic solo lick in Holy Wars, Devin got it pretty fast haha
I just started listening to DT a month ago. I'm blown away by "Empath" and "Ocean Machine" and now I see him in this video. He's SO down to earth and humble. Love it!!
I highly recommend the album Accelerated Evolution, and in particular Deadhead and Suicide from that. But you can't really go wrong with any of his stuff.
He should have played the intro to "Life". First time I heard that riff, (and still when I hear that riff), it's like flickering beams of sunlight through the foliage of a tree.
I owned masters of metal when it came out years ago and for the life of me I could not remember that title. I have been searching for that one for a while. So from out of the blue Devin mentions it. Wow, thankyou very much for that Devin. You have made my day 🤟🤟
Just wanted to comment that Vampira was the very first song I heard of Devon's and it's *still* one of the absolute greatest songs to me. It's just fun as hell, groovy, and has great energy/vibe.
One of the few things this year that have been a good is the devin townsend podcast. Such a great talent. Glad I'm alive to have been a witness and fan of this man. Keep up the positivity devin you have literally saved my life this year and can't thank you enough for shining even a dim and distant light in this hellscape that is my mind.
Brooo. I found this channel from a comment on one of zillakamis songs. Not to mention I find your comment in literally every comment section lol. Great channel.
Those opening notes on Truth are absolutely phenomenal! I love them so much. For some reason those notes make me think of the anime Gurren Lagann, when everyone’s battling in space.
Can anybody tell me what the name of the Judas Priest song riff from 6:30 is? He says Fast Way and they don't have a song by that title. It sounds amazing and I love the way Devin plays it so I want to find the original.
Devin has several very cool riffs, I think his mind went blank when he had to give examples of his riffs. It has happened to me several times when someone tells me, "play something" the mind goes blank even tho I know several songs. He could have played anything from SYL and Deconstruction, those riffs are really cool. But this made me realize that he indeed, either does something extremely simple, or ridiculously complex for his riffs, there is no in between.
