Eddie was a mad scientist, inventor and innovator. Randy was a highly skilled music student and teacher.....I have great respect for both. Comparing them is like apples and oranges. Both possessed prodigious talent, but approached the guitar differently
highly skilled and talented, No comparing them is apples to apples, two guitar players Randy more educated and Ed chasing tone. Randy brought more to metal,, Ed changed things for rock.
@@user-qw7dn1et8d Yngwie fans should look for their seat at the kids table.... Ritchie and Uli were bringing classical into hard rock and metal, Rainbow did help user that in But Randy was bringing in a style of playing guitar classical guitar playing...and his writing was more advanced
My favorite Randy moment is his solo on Mr. Crowley...Get rid of Ozzy's manic depressive whining vocals and its just about perfect@@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle
@@vinasel96 Agree 100%. And any half-way serious guitar player knows they had two TOTALLY different playing styles. Randy was known for incorporating classical music scales and arpeggios into his solos which was a distinct difference from Eddie's signature sound and innovative techniques, such as tapping, whammy bar dives, and harmonics. Two of the greatest guitarists in the biz but worlds apart in style.
Agreed. I'm only now getting back into playing music again and learning more than ever that EVH was the best guitarist (instrumental inovator) ever. He turned it into a completely different instrument. It made different music. But he was a shockingly hateful guy. Unpleasant and absolutely self absorbed. But I still love watching that kid play music with his brother and know that love is genuine. Talent and virtue are present mostly in inverse proportions.
Yeah, Eddie had been finished since Women and Children first. The alcohol stole his creativity. I don’t know where you’d rate him during Van Hagar, mediocre? Wolfgang will destroy his dads limits if he stays sober. Randy wouldn’t have that problem. I wish I’d known he had been drinking for so long. I met him after a show in 78/79? He had that accent that sounded like a fat tongue. No, he was wasted.
says no one who plays guitar and actually listened to Fair Warning and his incredible virtuosity and tone going forward- most pros mention how incredible Ed's playing was on Fair Warning- those that are real players and not typing nonsense@@scottsharp3356
Ace Frehley was doing tapping on Kiss Alive Two and he never claimed Eddie stole the idea from him. Billy Gibbons also did the bend/tap technique but never acted like he "owned" it. Frankly Eddie had a mean streak, saying that stuff so soon after Randy's death was in really poor taste.
@@Drummerjeffkazee Eddie talked trash about Ace, saying something like "How could anyone see that guy as an influence," Ace was always chill. I really wish all these guys would just admit there was a mutual respect, they all did so much tor guitar playing in general . . . made the world a better place.
I think maybe due to the alcohol, drugs and adulation, Eddie became pretty protective of his "brand". Understandable when you look at it all unfolding from his perspective. I mean, within a year or two of VH1 dropping, we all had a strat with humbuckers and were tapping like mad. He was probably feeling ripped off and worried about losing his hard-earned status. I agree that he could have exhibited more class when talking about Randy Rhoads, it seemed he really had trouble giving credit where it was due. By the time Blizzard of Ozz came out I had pretty much lost interest in Van Halen's tunes. Not Eddie's playing, but the band as a whole. Always been way more of a Rhoads head myself 🤘
@@MrZardoz777Ace and all of kiss are at the bottom of the pile of talent-less garage bands. The public for some reason loved Kiss and the System (music payola ) brainwashed through repetition (radio) a lot not all consumers . Bad makeup and hair do not mask the lack of musical talent . This is all just my opinion as record and concert ticket sales are the actual votes and Kiss wins on a consistent basis 😮 i as a struggling musician (guitarist,musician) am on the final chapter of a book i never intended to write . After 50 plus years of playing guitar i have to admit i am not a rock star i am not a overnight sensation . I am however a decent self taught self employed guitarist. I am a true legend in my own mind in my own time.🎉❤😮😊🎉😊.
@@jimb7816 evh a joke anywhere on the planet just shows stupidity and jealousy. I think the idiotic metal heads shaking their head up and down knocked their marbles loose
Both great guitarists. Completely different types of players. There’s no such thing as the best. . It’s whose style you prefer. They were both great at what they did. All the people that say Eddie is the best. Instead of saying he’s the best, I will say he was the most innovative player of all time. To me VH has always been an incredible rythym player, more so than a lead player. I always felt that Rhoad’s lead playing was his biggest strength.
two all time great players but think of the incredible confluence of events to get those guys to be where they were with their talents, to grow up in the same area, one born in the hospital the other died at. Incredible time to be alive. There is better of course there is, but at the level of these guys it really comes down to preference. We can tell Randy was a better player than George Lynch...and his peers. Randy also had a brother who played drums and was an incredible rhythm player He did not even learn lead playing until he was 13. Randy was a naturally gifted melody writer and his solos demonstrated that especially his scratch solos on DOAM. But his rhythms are incredibly underappreciated the fills on DOAM the album are amazing given how little time they had to write and rehearse it
I agree completely with that .i believe also that Eddie's rhythm playing was a aspect of his playing thats been under-rated forsure .your right they both were legendary and they both inspired millions of young teens to pick up the guitar for the first time .i think Eddie focused more on his tone and sound from his amps and guitars more so than his songwriting .think Randy had a better knowledge of music theory that go's into creating compositions through phrasing and structures more so than Eddie but im not gonna sit here and claim Eddie Van Halen wasn't the one that set the world a blaze first with the releasing of their debut album cause they did and his playing was at the center of their music .i saw them both play live and think Randy was the better live player but his unbelievable stage presence was a huge take away from his life proformances also
They were both great. The sad thing is Randy was taken from us way too soon. Can you imagine if we had had this rivalry for 40 more years? The music that would have been made…
Randy was determined to leave the rock scene and get into classical music. Randy was a pure musician. Eddie, while being one of the greats, let his ego get in the way destroying a band in their height of fame. Many of interviews over the years uncovered eddies true personality. Not a guy I’d have a beer with and more like the guy I’d crack a beer bottle over his head.
I love both Randy and EVH. They’re not the same and they had their own style of playing. They changed the way we approach Rock Music. My hats off to them!
Not really. There's two players who did most of these changes to the approach, namely, Ronnie Montrose and Tom Scholz. Without them there wouldn't have been an Eddie or Randy.
@@apollomemories7399 There would be no Van Halen without Montrose and Scholz?😜😜🤣🤣Those guys could play but that don't mean there would be no Eddie or Randy. Eddy's demo(Songs from 1st album} was floating around probably a little before Boston's first album came out. Eddie did like Montrose and Clapton, but he does not remotely sound like them.
@@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle You reckon EVH came up with all that all by himself with zero reference to all the innovators who came before him? How did you arrive at such a conclusion?
@@attilathehun0 For some reason my first reply zapped into thin air. Scholz had a demo tape in `75, ''Mother's Milk'. Clapton hasn't anything to do with this. EVH copied bits and pieces from a whole load of other guys and was a frankenstein.
I know that Randy was much more interested in classical/ flamenco guitar than most people realize. I do not hear similarities in their playing. Randy wrote guitar parts that enhanced Ozzy’s voice and had a darker sound to fit their image.
@@MrChopsticktechi think both would be very hard to work with. Just how they both act today. I think David was difficult after wctf. And ozzy was difficult the minute Randy sign on .
Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhodes, Dave Murray, Angus Young, Jimmy Page, Tony Iommi, Eric Clapton, Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing 💥🎸💥🎸💥 Now that's my TOP 10 🎶
Agreed, and that (classical influenced hard rock/ metal) was the product of Randy playing with Ozzy. Randy had the musical knowledge to fit into any situation, so doing his homework about Ozzy (Sabbath up to that point) he realized minor key power chord riffs with a flatted 5th preference was prevalent, so that just REALLY allowed him to exploit alot of his classical guitar technique's and tonality (Minor, diminished, harmonic minor, etc). If Randy had teamed up with say Stewart Copeland and Sting, he would have been just as good and effective imo, albeit more jazzy.
Hold up, Randy is on youtube playing the blues, he grew up playing the blues, Jazz and classical But towards the end he was really into classical guitar and that came through on Diary of a Masterpiece
Eddie was heavily influenced by flamenco guitarists actually and fast blues playing. It was the flamenco players that first started tapping (on flamenco guitars!) although they didn't call it that and it wasn't done often because of the low volume! They just considered it legato playing! They were also known for their fast tremolo picking (with fingers) and melodic shredding! You can hear the flamenco influence on Eruption, Spanish fly and Little Guitars and some of his solos in his earlier works!
I saw both EVH & RR in concert, to me they are equal. They gave this world & us everything they had. They were gifted, talented & special❤️ They made an impact on the music world ❤️
Randy was a teacher, Eddie was an innovator. Randy's playing was more theory based while Eddie's was more patterns and technique. While Van Halen was getting popular, Randy was teaching and had students ask him to show them Van Halen licks. So he had to learn them
Randy was an innovator, too. Saying it was all theory is a ridiculous take. Mr Crowley was assuredly very classically influenced but you take many other songs of his and you would be hard pressed to say it's all about theory. Geez guy, your ignorance is showing.
@@christebo7305 people should watch The original charvel gang doc...it pains a pic of how Randy changed the fortunes of Grover Jackson with a cocktail napkin and 12 hours of his time nearly 43 years ago
@@christebo7305 Point to the part where I said Randy was all theory? Calling Eddie an innovator doesn't mean that Randy wasn't a trailblazer himself. You either read too much into my comment or too little. But your ignorance is definitely on full display. Geez man, if you're going to play "I know more about Randy than you do", you may want to play it with someone who hasn't idolized both guitarist for forty years.
I missed the whole Eddie train growing up. Hendrix was played in my house constantly by my older brother , Sabbath / Iommi as well … so it was simply a natural progression for me to gravitate towards Randy Rhoads playing as a kid. Obviously this was before RU-vid and iTunes / Spotify so the only music I really listened to were albums that I had purchased … and I was much more into the “Heavier” stuff. It wasn’t until decades later when I joined a local cover band and they started throwing in Van Halen into the sets that I realized what a phenomenal player he was, especially his rhythm guitar parts. Happy I eventually was able to catch that Eddie Train.
@@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle i don'think it would have made him better if that's your point, think about it, people have it now and all they are is technical players, for one thing people would have copied him, he would have had access to tons of lessons, sometimes limitations are good, perhaps you meant he would be bigger though? i could agree on that..
You actually didn't miss anything. Hendrix had more ideas than these two combined ever had. Just one single example of that would the track (the relatively unknown) Peace In Mississippi instrumental, recorded on 24th Oct 1968 and as found on the 2015 reissue of The Jimi Hendrix Experience 'purple' 4CD box set. Enjoy!
@@apollomemories7399 Hendrix did not ...he is a B leaguer who simply came earlier on in history. As a guy once told me: if your first exposure to guitar heroes were Randy and Ed, it is much tougher to appreciate a guy like Jimi, who just did not have that talent.
I was raised musically by this genre and these two dudes were the biggest talks abouts in L.A. As far as I'm concerned, they're both guitar genius'. I can't say who's better than the other. I love both of them. Randy and Eddie for ever. 🤘😌👍
I haven’t met either one of them but I just get the feeling that Randy was a very nice guy while Eddie was kind of an arrogant snob. Like I wrote in another comment I saw both play live and I was more impressed with Randy’s technical virtuosity. Randy could play things with only his left hand on the fretboard that Eddie probably wouldn’t even attempt without using his right as well.
I can remember an interview with Randy where he said he learned a lot of Eddie's links from students asking to learn EVH. The thing is, he used stuff EVH did; but he also was very unique. He had that classical influence that many didn't have.
he never said that, he said he used licks people associate with Ed during his spotlight solo because he felt the kids in the audience wanted flash. Randy was his own guy.
@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle He definitely was his own guy. He took the techniques he learned from helping his students learn the EVH material and incorporated it into his playing; but his style was very distinct. I personally found even his solo spot in Suicide Solution was still uniquely him even if he did incorporate some EVH style passages. EVH's style is more bluesy while Randy came from a more classically influenced direction.
Eddie encompassed the whole package which was massive. He had the licks, the look, the vibe, and most importantly, the unreal song writing. That said, a kid from Sweden was just about to touch down in the States and he also shook the landscape. They all acted like he didn’t exist, meaning Yngwie. Of course Randy didn’t get the opportunity to comment on Yngwie.
That was cool that he went. What’s funny is that the vintage young Yngwie might have made the whole who’s the best argument pretty moot at that time. It was so damn different and unique and really no bones in your face technically. I remember being a kid and hearing Marching Out and my reaction was silence.
Literally my two favorite guitarists. I miss them both. I've already read or heard everything discussed here except the section that mentioned Eddie buying an Ozzy record! That was a lttle too much to believe! Ha Ha. Nice video!
never has a guy been so highly regarded or as influential with that limited body of work, him making the top 25 of all time great players for a back mag like Rolling Stone is impressive.
@@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle Hold on there, not so fast. That Rolling Stone isn't worth toilet paper. Any major dude will tell you Tommy Bolin tanked him in that respect.
Knowing what I do about both of these guys, I would say that Randy was a super humble, quiet individual and Eddie was definitely more outspoken with an incredible Ego! I’ve heard others say that if you can’t get along with Randy Rhoads then you don’t like Anyone! Eddie along with his brother Alex forced Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar out of the band which tells me a lot! Both Sammy and Michael are known for being easy going, Great Guys unlike Eddie and Alex! I think Eddie’s drug and drinking problems changed his personality and led him to the “Dark Side”! Very Sad!
Sammy is a chode. A complete narcissist. It's always about Sammy, always will be about him. According to Sammy there were countless stories about so many musicians being a jerk, hard to work with etc. No, it's the conceited Sammy Hagar that is the common denominator every time there is conflict. Sammy still talks sh*t about Eddie, Alex and Dave today.
Personally, I'd have forced Sammy Hagar out of the Sammy Hagar Band just because he was Sammy Hagar. What a prized jerk that tool was. He was in love with himself and his hairdresser. Just effin' ghastly.
I don't blame Eddie for kicking Sammy out of the band --- just listen to songs like "Can't Stop Loving You" and "Big Fat Money" and it's painfully obvious that Sambo is an awful vocalist and lyricist --- Van Halen lost all their mojo with Sammy and he shoulda been booted out after the OU812 album
@@fredwerza3478 Indeed. But, surely their lowest ebb was that Cherone guy? What were they thinking? As Frank Zappa so coyly named it,..."Cocaine decisions".
@@fredwerza3478 you make a fair point, like Sammy as a person, but i agree that after ou812 there were not really any great/hit/catchy songs from 'Van Hagar' . Roth era had many classics. Hagar had 3 .
I never got to see Randy live, but I never really thought they sounded that much alike back in the day. At least not based on the albums. I loved both of them, but I guess I was more into Eddie. His tone and style were incredibly appealing to me. That said, some of Randy's leads seemed even harder to play than Eddie's stuff. They were both great players.
I think you have to look at this in context at that point in time. I don’t think they actually disliked each other, but they were definitely locked in a competitive headspace with each other. This was early on when the whole guitar hero thing was still pretty new. One thing I will say, I do believe that had Randy lived, he would’ve surpassed Eddie Van Halen, maybe not in popularity, but he would’ve surpassed him in terms of guitar playing. Even with the whole mid to late 80s neo classical shred guitar thing with Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, Michael Angelo Batio and the rest of them, Eddie’s playing had peaked and plateaued with eruption, granted he was His own thing with Van Halen, and an amazing songwriter, but there’s no way he would’ve competed with that next generation of shredders. Had Randy lived and was a part of that, Randy would’ve definitely had his moment in the spotlight, where I’m sure even Ed would’ve been impressed.
I agree they did not dislike each other. A lot of people think he was going to surpass Ed, but we will never know, sadly. The growth between BOO and DOAM is insane
They were both fantastic, we should all be happy they were here and gave us the music they did. I’m happy if either are on the stereo, and when they do pop on I CRANK THE VOLUME ALL THE WAY UP AND SMILE!!! RIP EDDIE AND RANDY
It is hard to believe that George Lynch is the only one left. George has such a unique sound and style too. It is always enjoyable to watch him play. The bridge/solo section on the song "Tooth and Nail" by Dokken remains one of my favorites. All three guitarists are icons.
George is part of the holy trinity but he is a notch below.....great player, just not Randy nor Ed The tone on Tooth and Nail sounded like it was recorded in a garage
Don't forget Warren TORCH Demartini, he was one of the best of that era. Warren and George were both assassins on guitar. Warren is my favorite guitarist of all time next to EDDIE. Peace...........
Apples to Oranges.. different flavors. Loved all 3 of those guys. Wept for days when Randy and Eddie passed. George is as different as Randy is to Eddie. That’s the problem today. No one sounds original. All those guys in the ‘80’s WERE original and had a SIGNATURE sound. Not the case nowadays.
You’re right, all the guitar nerds are more concerned with sweep arpeggios/technique over style & most have learned from RU-vid, so they all sound the same. Plus, they all have the same processed/digital tone, which is awful!
Don't forget WARREN TORCH DEMARTINI, He had his own aggressive, crunchy, scratchy sound. Warren is a guitar god absolute LEGEND....... Lynch and Demartini were asassins on guitar. Where does the time go😮😮😮. Peace..........
Such an awesum comment! Eddie Van Halen & Randy Rhoadz, were both true originalz, with their own seperate stylez. Playerz afterward, started imitating & getting really technical, @ da xpense of emotional nvolvement/feeling, n da playing. LOVED Van Halen. Came 2 Randy, later, BUTT wuz curious about him. I prefer his blending of Classical n2 Hard Rock, 2 Yngwiez. LOVE Yngwie.... Itz just Randy wuz VERY tasteful & didn't overdo it. Wish he had mo time 2 dvelop. He wuz probably da kick n da azz, Eddie Van Halen needed, 2 keep progressing. Eddie had Allan Holdsworth, azz nspiration, after Randy passed, BUTT Holdsworth, wuz n an ntirely different genre 2 EVH & so Eddiez feet, were not held 2 da flame, so 2 speak. I wish I could make a practical bet, dat Eddie woulda progressed azz a Guitar player, way mo than he did, if Randy had of stayed around. Still - ERUPTION...... WHUT A BLAST!
@@tommcdonough6086 They played more Ratt videos on MTV than Dokken. Saw both groups live, Dokken opened for Loverboy, and Lynch did not disappoint. But they seemed lifeless at times during that concert. Burnout? Fatigued? Fighting? Perhaps all three things. Ratt was their Reach For The Sky. The concert was too damn quick. Can't remember if they opened for someone. The only question I have is the fact that the police never had any roadblocks to check if someone was unfit to drive. They always had those cones set up after a Van Halen concert, but not Ratt, or Dokken. I guess it depended on what city it was. I saw all three in different cities. My favorite Demartini album was Invasion Of Your Privacy. Ratt played I think none of those songs at the concert. Mostly first album, and Reach For The Sky. lol! The time did go, about as fast as that Ratt concert!
Something I found interesting. As great as Eddie was, I read somewhere online not long ago that he tried a few times to get lessons from Glenn Campbell, because he was a big fan of his playing. So it had me thinking, no matter how good you are, there will always be someone else who is better at a particular style than you are. The guitar is an instrument, we truly will never master.
Glenn Campbell could play virtually anything in a variety of styles (of course, nor necessarily heavy metal) and simply wasn't show-offy about it. He'd been a very successful session guy in the 60's. Rhinestones optional.
Excellent point. Steve Lukather also mentioned that Campbell was a huge influence on his playing, and was “mesmerized” by his playing, and tried to learn from him as much as he could.
Listened to Van Halen first,just thrashed the shit out of their albums until one day my mate had a cassette tape of the Ozzy Tribute album and put it on in his van. My mind was blown when I heard Randy's playing. For me Randy was a way better guitar player,he was amazing. Gone to soon
We are talking stories between 2 kids playing bars in the late 70's at around the age of 21/22. Stories that have been retold and remembered decades later. I am sure there has been some artistic 'additions and omissions' in these stories over the years as well and lets not forget alcohol and other influences. Great video, great stories, in the end, we as musicians should be thankful we have had these two wonderful musicians to learn from.
two all time great heroes, but the title is absolutely misleading, they did not NOT get along, they just never hung out and we creating differnet career paths to get to the top. Ed was a rock a star who indulged in excess, randy was a reluctant rock star who decided to focus on getting better
@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle Not entirely correct....yes Ed had substance abuse issues. But you talk to ANYONE who knew him and from the man himself. He never loved the "rock star" thing and was probably as reluctant to wear that tag as Randy. Both guys were 100% true musicians 1st above & beyond the rest of that rock star crap.
The comments on these videos are always fun to read. I suppose it's natural, particularly in the US to compare the two of them, but I don't really think it means much. For what it's worth, I think Randy was more like Michael Schenker than anyone else, but because Schenker was never really a big name in America, Randy got credit for a style of playing that had been around for a while in Europe. From a European perspective, Blackmore, Schenker and maybe Gary Moore were probably more significant than Eddie Van Halen or Randy Roads.
Let's not forget the competition was fierce and evh certainly was the front runner but Randy was definitely the more competent and well rounded player, especially with his knowledge and classical background.....Great video Karl
And that story about Randy wslking in on Eddie in the record store in the mall holding a stack if records was told in a Hit Parader and Guitar Player magazines before Rany died cause i read them so it wasn't something made up after his death. And if im not mistaken Michael Anthony did confirm Eddie did in fact go out and buy the Diary Record for one reason .and that reason was Eddie was driving down the road one day and turned on the radio at the same exact time "Flying High Again" was playing and it was right as the solo started not hearing Ozzys voice at first and thought who is this not knowing until Ozzy voice came in after the solo but Eddie told Michael that he thought that solo was very close to part of Eruption which it very well is just in a different key and the tapping was done with a pick as everyone knos .but Eddie went straight out and bought the record cause in his mind Randy had ripped off his solo and wanted to listen to the whole record to see if Randy had ripped off anymore of his solos .now that is what Michael Anthony said was the reason Eddie went out and bought the Record. Which sounds like something that could have very well happened .plus Randy wasn't the one that told that story it was whoever was with him either Jody or Kevin possibly even Rudy .
He Eddie wanted to listen to the whole album to see if Thee Randy Rhodes had ripped off anything else from him did he buy the other ozzy record and scan it for any suspicious guitar solos ?
@@jamie-iy5tl some people prefer Eddie over Randy and others prefer Randy over Eddie .it's just whatever you think think .forget about the records.but I saw both live Eddie 3 times Randy 1 time and IMO Randy was the much better live player .and it's kinda wild that everyone that saw both seems to feel the same way .seriously I've yet to hear even one person that saw both say Eddie was the better "Live" performer .not that someone that had might have it's just I've yet to here someone say it publicly
This channel's Terry Kilgore video shows randy resnick ripped off bt harvey mandel, who got ripped off by Chris Holmes and Terry Kilgore.. who the were all reipped off bt Ed. @@jamie-iy5tl
The quote I read on Eddie Van Halen's thoughts of Randy Rhodes when he died. Was that he is still playing guitar. But now he's playing with John Bonham.
Ed played notes you can't put into sheet music. It's off the charts Randy told a story from beginning to end, left nothing out, but the listener wanting more We play it again, year after year. For life
Shawn, would you upload some videos of your own playing (like the audition tape for Ozzy)? It seems you were steeped in the LA scene in the 80s, and it would be cool for us to hear some of it, especially the ones who have been following the channel for a while.
Hi, I'm Kar. Thank you guys for checking out, I appreciate! Check out Shawn's youtube channel - www.youtube.com/@ShawnStaplesFreeGuitarLessons . He uploads his guitar lesson videos and music videos from his albums to his channel. Awesome stuff, check it out 🎸
@karsguitarchannel6088 sorry, I though Kar was maybe the name of your first band or something along thise lines. My bad, but my comment stands, only I'm asking you for your - Kar's - music and personal experiences in that scene. I'm sure you have loads of both that you could share. [I thought you were Shawn because I probably wasnt paying close enough attention - but when you spoke about your playing and showed pics of Shawn twice it's a bit of an understandable mistake]. Love the channel mate.
I do have videos of me playing the Sunset strip clubs and will post some of that someday but right now I am releasing my 3 solo albums on my RU-vid channel. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tihRsyI7a6w.html
I really enjoy the content, Kar. Love these stories and the fact that you were around in that time. Just bought an RG550 Genesis because I had one in 1990. Of course, it got sold for some other piece of gear, lol. Subscribed and please keep it up.
I heard it that EVH was # 1 in LA, then Randy, then George. But those 3 were tops. Another comment: EVH circa 79-80 was the best live guitarist i ever saw. But I would have liked VH even more if they played the darker stuff Randy played with Ozzy.
I just love both. Great story Kar. Seems to be recently, that there has to be some sort of personal beef created between these guys, which was never really mentioned back in the 80's (yes, 40 years ago). And neither are around to confirm or deny it. Though it can be reasonably certain the meow reaction by Eddie in the interview after Randy's death (Jas Obrecht in GP?) is a fair indication Eddie at least kept abreast of what Randy was doing. If that means he felt threatened by Randy, well that's for others to judge...... my own thoughts on the matter think RR worried Ed with his potential. Those that can't hear the difference between Randy's and Ed's playing might be listening with their eyes, not their ears. Other than a bit of tapping and the live solo with Ozzy, it's Randy's darker compositional approach vs Ed's flashy off-the-cuff hyper-Clapton and Page. Eddie's was already the finished product when Ted Templeman found him - his playing had peaked at VH1 (short of a renaissance for Carnal Knowledge and Balance where he really started to play again), and we only got two developmental albums from Randy (listen to the progress from the early QR stuff to DOAM and BOO) where Ozzy and Sharon probably had the shackles on. So can't see how we'll ever make a fair comparison (if we should at all). Another thing. Did Floyd Rose have a locking nut available of even the FR trem back in the late 70's? Don't think so. Eddie couldn't keep the standard Fender trem in tune either, and did he use the FR before Women and Children First?
Many thanks! I read somewhere that Eddie learned how to keep his guitar in tune without a locking nut for his tremolo from Jeff Beck. Jeff Beck had showed him.
think about it at the same ages, Ed was writing shorter flashier poppier songs 3 minutes in length. Randy was more prog and writing longer songs with solos that fit within the song no matter where they went, think of Revelation, great solo at the end of the song. As George Lynch implied Randy simply had a greater level of knowledge than others, he said Randy's reservoir of knowledge was incredibly deep
@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle Spot on. They were on different trajectories. Eddie became a rock star; Randy was still a musician. Doesn't get mentioned much but Randy stepped out of his comfort zone from QR to revive Ozzy (Ozzy was not getting DOAM and BOO without Randy and Bob Daisley), grew musically, excelled and was set to continue to do so (was he quitting the Osborne deal after the BOO tour to study Classical at UCLA?). Whereas Eddie never had to stretch until Roth left the band, and he had to work with Sam. The gaping difference sonically between Van Roth and Van Hagar screams how much Eddie relied on the singer in the band. Dave and Sam never get their dues regarding how important they were to VH. When Ed tried to make it his own show with Cherone, it all fell apart. George is underrated reckon. Kept getting better, wrote great songs and still kills it now at about 70. Instantly recognizable sound.
I'm pretty sure a few tricks EVH used to stay in tune (tried to at least) with the old Fender bridge prior to the FR tremolo. One was a "brass nut" then applied a "dry graphite lube" on the nut. And the trick with the bridge was adding an additional "springs" or different springs altogether that had a heavier or lighter tensions to them. Now, IDK if the knowledge & tricks to this setup came from Jeff Beck, Fender, another guitarist or not, maybe it did. I could see Beck showing Eddie a few of his own tricks. Or if Eddie figured it out on his own just knowing Eddie was always tinkering around with his gear trying to invent something new to create a better sound & evolve the world of guitar. 🤔. +Peace Rock n' Roll 4 Your Soul My Friends+ 🤘😜🤘
Don't feel bad about the Ozzy gig Bro. I just watched a video where Sharon talks about the couple hundred audition tapes/photos and said Ozzy was completely overwhelmed....he reached into a pile and pulled out Zakk. That was the end of it right there, according to her. The rest is history, obviously.
Interesting, thanks for posting that but I believe to this day he got the right guitarists. Zakk was a Black Sabbath fan and I was not. Sabbath is a good band and I saw them with Ozzy in the late 70's.
Over the Mountain was recorded befrore Fair Warning. Diary depending on which drunken Sharon memory was recorded 6 week to 6 months after Blizzard. After the Euro tour. So Eds weird Vibrato was not copied or mimicked. I told Mrs Rhoads that there are ... people who make noize and play On guitar.... Guitar players, Guitarists... Musicians who play multiple instruments and have a good grasp on Music theory. And then their are Composers, Randy, Like Page.. etc Diary was one of R R compositions. Ed, really ! simple songs. Ed is like VP who said he invented the Internet Al Gore. There is a Video that is dated may 77 Zappa on Mike Douglas fully developed 2 handed Tapping, so Frank must ripped Edmond Von Holy off as well.
Randy was an exceptional guitar player. With Eddie, the guitar was an organic extension of him. Completely different thing. Plus Eddie was building, modifying, innovating, and tweaking every detail of the instrument.
Really? It takes at least 6 months, usually around 9 to make a decent guitar. I don't think Eddy was doing that. Besides, every decent pro player was tinkering about with modifications and tweaking and EVH was by no means any kind of leader in that field. He'd used up all his chops by the second album, afterwhich he bored me to death. I can't think that the likes of Jump, Panama, Why Can't This Be Love, When It's Love etc ad infinitum, were anything to get excited about and nothing more than teenage girl's radio favourites. By 1981's Fair Warning, in the UK, had anyone the temerity to walk into a friend's house carrying a new Van Halen album, they'd have been laughed all the way back home.
@@apollomemories7399 Looks like you’ve listened to quite a bit and are knowledgeable of Eddie’s music. From the very first album forward, you hear one note and you know it’s Eddie. Randy, as exceptional as he was, never produced anything close to that effect. Putting aside the obvious (his stellar worldwide professional success as a player), Eddie’s lesser-known successes (his technical innovations, insights, and inventions), all coming one player alone, is unmatched.
@@scottstedeford7575 I'm more of an appreciator rather than a 'fanboy' per se. It's plain silly to take 'sides' on an issue so subjective. I think it's a fair observation to say that Randy didn't quite ever get to EVH's stature for the good reason that because EVH was the band leader and everything else was behind him. Whereas, Ozzy's band did not operate at all on that level. But, I always wondered... if you take away EVH's box of tricks, what are you left with? He was no Jimi Hendrix, who could have strangled a solo out of a one-string broom handle. In fact, I never heard EVH without the trick boxes, so it's nigh on impossible to gauge in terms of 'natural ability' - yes, I'm aware it's a worn out cliche - and compare against other real talents that preceded such as Del Bronham (of Stray) and Gary Moore. Tbh, I think it's a mistake to not consider real guitar instrument makers/innovators such as Andy Manson and Gordon Smith. These people aren't credited because they don't flounce about upon a stage. Suffice to say, without them and the likes, there simply wouldn't have been any EVH.
@@apollomemories7399 I agree that taking a side (this guy strangles a solo, these other guys are true innovators) would be completely subjective. You can make a case that one’s personal preference in music is always correct because there is no accounting for taste - it’s in the mind of the beholder. A fair objective observation, however, must rely on facts that stand on their own outside of personal preference, would you not agree? And a cumulation of objective facts could lead to a fair ranking, even in a field so subjective as music, would you not also agree? So, we could take any number of players and stack up objective facts to see who cumulates the most hits in different categories, not to designate one as better than the other but to classify one as more unique or influential than others. If Eddie only flopped around on stage, or was just better at flopping than others, he wouldn’t deserve much mention. But if he was an outstanding flopper plus a technical master of the instrument it might move the needle. But if he was a master flopper, master player, master technician, inventor (D-Tuna), innovator (wax coated pickup coils), master of insight (string cross tension affects intonation), guitar and amp builder, had an unmistakeable and instantly identifiable sound, influenced generations of guitarists even outside of his genre, defined an entire decade in history just with his style and music, generated an interest in playing guitar that propelled sales of the instrument never before seen, and many other things, then we can objectively elevate him above others without offending subjective tastes. The “box of tricks” argument has been made again and again. But some of his most memorable songs and solos include none of his so-called tricks (tapping, whammy dives, etc.). For example, listen to “Right Now,” one his biggest and lasting hits. The solo (and entire rhythm playing, for that matter) contains none of the “tricks,” yet is one his most inspired, memorable, and briefest of solos.
@@scottstedeford7575 Need you list other subjective scenarios? No need really as I'm sure we both got that bit immediately. But, I could not be less impressed in "rankings" as they flutter in the wind and totally fickle. I'm not entirely (and never have been) sure about this guys credibilty. Firstly, by no means was he the first guy to tinker about with guitars and their mechanics. Hendrix did all that working with an ex-royal navy tech guy who made a load of pedal devices. Secondly, his band churned out some of the most turgid nonsense I've ever heard, ultimatley very immature with "Hot For Teacher" and such. Realistically in terms of actual artistic integrity combined with his not unsurmountable technical ability his act and entire gambit was pretty much over by the second album. Thereafter, it was more of the same with diminishing returns. Unfortunately, he didn't possess the gumption to put a bad boy to bed, so to speak and should have closed shop with that particular group when DL Roth left. Hager subsequently lost quite a bit of credibility. The less said about the Cherone period the better. I've checked out "Right Now", track 9 on their 9th album. What about it? It's not in the least bit special and so unspectacular that I didn't notice the guitsr solo for the relentless whack-whack over dramatic drums. I also can't be doing with that assorted body of chorus support with shouty call and response. Released during a February, which is "low season" and virtually anything if played enough on radio has a chance of making it as the competition is so low. I think we're at polar opposites of the spectrum in terms of musical maturity and good taste. And I really have to whack this straight back into your court with your utter nonsense with your belief that he was responsible for "sales of the instrument never before seen.". You forgot the caveat to that... "since The Beatles in 1964." Nothing and nobody ever came close to the explosion caused by The Beatles. Swiftly followed by The Rolling Stones and The Kinks.
When Eddie said "Everything", I think he was talking about his techniques that Randy was using. Not every aspect of playing guitar. Just the "Flash" stuff. You left out the story of Eddie and DLR harassing Randy and Randy's GF in a parking lot one night.
Randy seemed more from the classical school while Eddie was balls to the wall feeling school. But both were great. So many great rock guitarists from that era that still inspire to this day.
Top Tier: Hendrix, Van Halen (Total innovative game changers) Second Tier: Page, Iommi, Blackmore (Major architects in sound and playing ) Third Tier: SRV, Malmsteen, Rhoads (Significant players schooled from above artists) So many other great guitarists but this is my list of the most influential and historically significant.
@@karsguitarchannel6088 Malmsteen is Blackmore on steroids. His influence was technical dexterity. Hendrix and Van Halen changed the way people wrote and played music.
So many great guitarists from 70s-80s: Eddy, Framton, Blackmore, Shanker, Rhoads, SRV, Satriani, Vai, Lynch, Malmsteen, Vincent, Impelliteri,...etc. MAN! Just too many to list! Probably the most underrated guitarist of the 80s was Mark Kendall of Great White: He had such a SMOOTH style that sounded different with every song (you could tell it wasn't about being a hero, or outshredding anybody; he just ALWAYS made each song sound PERFECT!). Great White's Debut album was a bit primitive but when they released Shot In The Dark album; I became an instant fan. Face the day, Run away, Lady Red Light, ROCK ME, All over now, Mista Bone, Step on you, Lady Love...etc. DAYUM! Unlike Van Halen, Ozzy or even Yngwie; I could listen to Great White all day without feeling burned out. Yea, somebody's gonna flame me fore it but I don't care: I ride a 2017 V-ROD Muscle which shouts to the world; "I'm a Lone Wolf who doesn't give a rat's ass about popular opinion, and if you don't like you can KISS MY ASS!!!"😊
@jeanluc1313 I hear ya; "Classify Vinnie Vincent with guitar giants like Eddy, Rhoads & Malmsteen? God forbid!" I just like his unique choppy style of shredding & heavy rhythm he contributed to KISS ("Not for the innocent"; DAYUM!) and the few gems he cranked out with VVI; Boyz are gonna Rock, Ashes to ashes & Twisted. O.K.; He's not Class A, but surely Class B like Chris Holms of W.A.S.P., and his style makes the songs.
Music is in the ears of the beholder. Those who say Eddie was the best?... Rightfully so. Those who say Randy was the best?... Rightfully so. That's the beauty of music... someone could totally fall in love with songs that a number of people absolutely detest
"We plsyed every Black Sabbath song"- Eddie Van Halen, Formerly known as Rat Salad wich is a track on Peranoid album, Black Sabbath 1971. Randy said he didn't like Sabbath yet he join Ozzy to make Blacl Sabbath style music. 🎸
A key detail you missed. In the year between the release of Van Halen's debut and Randy getting hired for Ozzy, Randy was still teaching guitar lessons at his mom's studio. His student frequently brought in the Van Halen record asking him how to play the songs. There is even a video out there of Randy playing along with "Running with the Devil" to teach a student. So Randy naturally picked up elements of Eddie's playing teaching his music to his students. Randy was frustrated because students didn't want to learn music theory or the whys after Eddie came out, just how does he play that lick? And I can buy the Eddie bought Diary for this simple reason, Eddie was a huge classical music fan and tried to incorporate it into his music. Everyone noticed the transition between "Blizzard" and "Diary" when Randy brought the classical element to the forefront in songs like "Over the Mountain" and the title track. While EVH's ego would never let him publically admit it, there was probably great interest and respect for how Randy as a guitar player and composer weaved metal and classical together in a way that was never done before.
Very nice piece! Anyone that was around listening to the radio in the early 1980s hearing Randy couldn't help but compare him to EVH at that time. Prior to Randy and EVH, most rock guitarists played a lot of cliches learned from Clapton, Hendrix, Page, Chuck Berry (why is he never mentioned?) and the other icons of the 1960s/70s. In hindsight, now that the EVH influence on guitar has been absorbed, it's easy to hear the differences in the styles - certainly the note choices, but the overall approach of Randy really followed Eddie. The fast runs, fast hammer/pull-off licks, big stretches, weird noises and two-handed stuff all came from EVH. Eddie's playing got weirder and weirder over time. One friend of his noted that he got bored a long time ago (in the mid-1970s) of playing with the rhythm and started just playing in-between it. Some of Eddie's runs slowed down sound disjointed, but when played up to speed sound great, so I can see a little bit where the "smoke and mirrors" bit comes from, even though it is unfair and unwarranted. All in all, the early 1980s was an interesting time for lovers of the guitar. I saw Randy play in Rochester NY in April of 1981 (a day within when "After Hours" was filmed.) My one takeaway from watching him in person, was just how effortlessly he played. It was like a Lamborghini in 2nd gear. He never looked strained at all and was playing at this incredible level. We didn't know who he was at the time - he was Ozzy's guitarist, but we all talked about how great he was after the concert, which was way too short by the way! A month later EVH came to town on the Fair Warning tour, and Rush came through on the Moving Pictures tour. It was a great time to be a teenager loving going to concerts.
As far as the two handed tap technique, Ritchie Blackmore was doing it long before Eddie ever picked up a guitar. Those are the facts, Eddie enhanced it and took it to another level... But in my opinion it was just flash ya know smoke and mirrors 😂
@@atomovedin3970 I hear you. A lot of guys did occasional "taps" here and there. Nobody that I'm aware of made it a big part of their vocabulary apart from Harvey Mandel - who Eddie got it from and to a lesser extent Steve Hackett of Genesis. But yeah, Billy Gibbons, Ace Frehley and even the guy in Ram Jam are amongst the many that would do an occasional tap. Hendrix would tap on the side of the neck and do other things to get weird sounds as well. I don't hear any tapping on DP "Made in Japan" and I saw Blackmore with Rainbow in 1982 and DP in 1987 and he didn't do any tapping.
@@karsguitarchannel6088 Many of the replies would beg to differ with that. If Eddie died when the band was called 'Mammoth' somebody else would probably get the credit.
I lived off the same street as randys grave in san bernardino ca..a few blocks away.I used to go visit randy at lunch sometimes...sit and say hi...R.i.P.
Eddie used to go to see Randy playing and Randy used to go to see Eddie. Burbank and Pasadena were on fire. The rivalry was inevitable because both kids were hungry for fame and recognition. They were both talented and serious about their music. They pushed each other and that happened so rapidly that they left an entire generation of guitar players behind, however George Lynch created his own unique and solid style, and then Satriani and Vai, who were living in San Francisco, came to the spot light with their virtuosity and dedication to the instrument. One of the rumors we heard was that Eddie learned a lot from his friend Terry Kilgore who lived in Sierra Madre, near Pasadena and north of Arcadia, where a kid from Chicago named Michael Anthony used to live and play bass. It's funny that Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Brian May, Alan Holdsworth and Ritchie Blackmore didn't have any idea that they were influencing those California kids who later became guitar masters.
Remembering such a childhood Dutch legend of mine Jan Akkerman ! Most underrated ,unappreciated, ecclectic player on the planet 🌏 He once eclipsed Clapton and Page ! Eddie was also half Dutch I do believe?
@@sammyrothrock6981Akkerman is a virtuoso that most people don't remember these days. He was one of the inspirations for Brian May. And yes, Eddie was half Dutch and half Indonesian.
I miss em both. Apples and oranges honestly. I doubt either one wasted time "worrying whos better". Both were made of something different. If you love music. Do yourself a huge favor and go directly to EITHER catalogs and enjoy. RIP beloved legends. Your songs live forever in our hearts.
What a ridiculous statement to make. In the world?! What world do you live in? Is it the size of your bedroom? You really need to get out more and educate yourself.
I know that they didn't get along, but you know they are my best guitar players, you know, they're both legends, both had passed away, but they still gave us joy in their music and guitar playing
I suppose it is really difficult for young guitar players to appreciate what it was like in the mid-1970s trying to access information about playing techniques, or modal tunings, signal chains, or even amp settings compared to today. I remember being so floored by Eruption having no idea - none - how Eddie achieved that. But later, when in a discussion about what amazing tones Eric Johnson had, I was introduced to harp harmonics and Lenny Breau and Ted Greene. So all these years later it seems pointless to still be having this “who was the greatest” argument. EVH forever changed how guitarists of a certain style approached playing the guitar. He enlarged the sonic pallet in a quantum leap. Does that make him “better” than Yngwie? Is a Pear better than an Apple? Randy Rhodes was a complete student of the instrument, as are players like Joe Satrinani. Does that make them better than SRV (who was almost 100% feel) on Riviera Paradise?
I like your 'guitarists of a certain style'. SRV is far more influential to me than Eddie or any of those rock players. I'm sure thousands of people were inspired to learn guitar after hearing SRV, eve after 33 years without him (my daughter's birthday is 3 days before he died). If EVH is someone's hero, that's fine. But when I read crap like 'Eddie was the best player on the planet, no one will ever be as influential as he is, ever', I think that's going overboard.
The feel of a song like Riviera Paradise or Lenny is just a completely different vibe but, in my opinion, produced by no less of a guitarist in SRV…@@MrChopsticktech
The cold hard fact is NOBODY has been more influential than Edward Van Halen in over 45 years since VH1 graced our ears! not a single person...he literally changed everything. @@MrChopsticktech
I love the "TRUTH" about this video! I have been trying to tell people for YEARS that it was Eddie that started everything! Randy was just a quick understudy, and the release of their albums proves what I was saying. I am also a guitarist, and when Eddie came out with Eruption, it knocked EVERY GUITARIST ON THEIR A$$. A friend of mine said, "Mike, can you play that?" I wanted to kill him! Truth was, I couldn't even begin to comprehend what Eddie was doing, let alone try to play it. When I heard that Randy called Eddie's playing a lot of "Flash" I thought okay, let's put that to the test. I could already play a few of Randy's tunes now it was to learn some of Eddie's stuff or "Flash" as Randy put it. Well, well, well, what I found out from learning some of Eddie's stuff was Randy calling it "Flash" was really Randy's jealousy shinning through, because this would keep people focused on Randy and NOT Eddie! NO! It was all Eddie! Eddie started it all! Don't get me wrong, I love Randy's playing, but it was Eddie that started it all! And all that flash Randy was talking about? Was really Pure Skill That Master Edward Van Halen released from his fingertips to our ears! Love them both and may they both rest in peace. God Bless!
Randy said the kids preferred flash in the spotlight solo, and he used some of the licks associated with Ed, Ed did not invent anything. Was Ed jealous when he completely made up a quote that Randy never said saying he learned everything from him? Ed comes across as insecure, whereas Randy was very complimentary of Ed in that guitar seminar. People could easily think the finger tapping was flash. It is not an insult. Showing off techique does not make someone a great songwriter.
@@Dave_Wight_The_Rock_Oracle Hi Dave, do you play guitar? Eddie did invent a lot! You need to STOP LYING! Who created the whole "Veriac" thing? Eddie did! Who created doing deep dives with the whammy bar that he could pull off and have his guitar still stay in tune without a lock nut? Eddie did! Randy couldn't do it! Who invented "distorted" hammer ons and pull offs? Who invented heavy, distorted fast playing with screaming emotion? Eddie did! So take your nonsense somewhere else! Dave! Their records prove what I'm saying! Van Halen's 1st record came out in 1978. Randy & Ozzy came out 2 YEARS LATER! In 1980! That tells you right there ( Historically "DATED" Proof ) that it was the one and only Edward Van Halen that knocked the guitar world on its a$$! If you thought you were hot hands behind guitar, back then all someone had to do is walk over to a radio play Eruption and say can you play this? And you were done! Eddie and NO OTHER GUITARIST SENT EVERY GUITARIST BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD BECAUSE THEY HAD A LOT MORE TO LEARN! Randy was just a quick understudy who produced a warmer sound than Eddie, as Eddie could hit sub-zero temperatures with his playing. Plain and simply stated by Randy nonetheless, "I do NOT want to be in competition with someone like that!" That's because Randy couldn't compete against Eddie! Nobody could! Eddie's sound was too wild for most people to even comprehend. Even to this very day, there's like one person other than "Wolfie" that can play Eddie's style so well that you wouldn't be able to tell if it's Eddie playing or this other guitarist named Harold Trucco. Here's Harold. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8A0prZ4hLmw.html So Dave, before you talk your foolish nonsense, grab a guitar and learn! Then you'll see and witness for yourself first hand who the greater Guitar God really is! I know because I have put this to the test! And being a HUGE Randy fan that I am, it's still Eddie that is KING!
I think it's absolutely wrong to call Eddie's playing "Just flash" because yes it looks cool but it also sounds amazing. Eddie's tone is brilliant and every note sounds tasty. And Eddie played effortlessly and made it look easy. Now I think Randy talked about his own solo and called it "Just flash" which he performed to impress the kids in 1979. He just played a bunch of fast licks to impress the kids, it didn't sound too musical. And Randy was honest about it. And musically Eddie Van Halen's Eruption sounds just perfect and seamless. And that's the difference. Love Randy, he did fantastic with Ozzy but Eddie was like Hendrix. He set everyone on fire in 1978!
@@karsguitarchannel6088 Randy did call Eddie's playing "Flash!" Randy's siblings even mention it in an interview. However, that was Randy's jealousy shinning through. I play guitar and can play both Randy's and Eddie's tunes, and I can tell you Eddie's playing was/is anything but "Flash!" The man was BRILLIANT, as hot liquified metal poured out of his fingertips! It was like he was melting notes together! So why would Randy be jealous of Eddie? Simple! Endorsements! Endorsements, equal hefty pay checks! I Love Randy's playing, but Eddie is still king!
Tapping is easy as hell...sounds awesome but it's not at all hard to do. I just remember Slash saying in an interview that he "wouldn't be caught dead with both hands on the neck" LOL
Who gives a F what george has to say. And evh turned green with envy after listening to B.O.O. and D.O.A.M.M. Guaranteed. I'll explain it to you and everyone else who doesn't have a clue. Anyone can go out and buy an instrument and learn how to play it. That doesn't mean you should be a musician. There was only one Mozart. It's like one in 100.000. You can't be taught to be a great musician. evh was not a great musician. R.R. was way better and evh knew it.
One thing about Rhoads was his solos were like a song with in a song . Randy wrote with Daisley and had to play minor keys in ozzy which was not what he was doing in QR .so he stepped into an experimental realm with his scale knowledge.
@apollomemories7399 playing minor is way different than major, it is not what randy was doing in Quiet Riot the songs on metal health were NOT written by Rhoads he played everything major like Slick Black Cadillac. he did not like Sabbath his mother Dee basically wanted him to get the experience of being in a major production Bob Daisley was the music director of Ozzy and was in Rainbow with Blackmore and wrote with Iommi also . Rhoads was put in a position where he was challenged to play ideas he may have not used on his own in that collaboration
@@johnmcminn9455 Obviously it's different, but it's still playing a guitar. I'm very familiar with Daisley's entire history as I'm British. This challenge you perceive to be so important is an every-day situation for any guitar player who does not write or create the music he has to play. What about it?
SO we have now an interview with George Lynch that came out last week, with final resonance TV van Halen stories #34 , where George says: In Ozzy, Randy blossomed, those two records were just F me..that was a whole other dimension.still to this day could just take a deep dive and try to learn from, his compositional skills and his classical influences that went into his writing...his choice of notes were so articulate and on point. He created something new that was important."
He said, they said. After all’s said/done RR and EVH are of Blessed Memory. They’ve paved the way for all of us, have passed into history. Their work will be studied for generations. Thanks Maestros…
Eddie was the king of sounds like Jimi. Randy was the king of technique. Both were innovators. Eddie was changing rock by the sounds he brought, and Randy was changing rock by the technique he brought.
Randy Rhodes did have nice things to say about Eddie, Eddie is a great player, I do a lot of the same licks as Eddie Van Halen, because I don't have my own style yet, Eddie called Rhodes, He was good and honest.
Eddie felt intimidated, otherwise why trash someone where Rhodes was comfortable with what he knew and honest about learning from others , Eddie not acknowledging learning from others is coming from inferiority complex . Same as the guy who always has to tell everyone what a great guy he is
The great pyramid of guitar players. Eddie is at the top , then next row is George Lynch and Randy Rhodes. 3rd row is Warren DiMartini , Mick Mars , and Vito Bratta .These are the 80s most influential guitar players. We were so lucky to have these six.
As George Lynch once said, "Everybody wanted to be Eddie. Just like later everybody wanted to be Yngwie". Yes many amazing players came out in the 80's.
Let us not forget, Van Halen opened for Black Sabbath, Van Halen stole the show every night. Ozzy leaves Black Sabbath, ozzy goes and finds the next Best thing to Eddie and Rest is History.
I believe Randy became the better guitarist when he joined Ozzy & Bob Daisley encouraged Randy to play more classical modes. Eddie had one mode. I remember the first time I heard the middle break in "Panama" & I thought Wow! Eddie knows some blues. It was a different emotion than his usual party all the time mode. I would rather listen to Mr Crowley over anything Eddie played or even the outro for Tonight. Randy played with a more emotional range. To show my age I had Fair Warning & Diver Down in 8 Track.
No one could match Eddie's live tone. Especially George Lynch. I found it interesting that George mentioned envy over tone, not licks. Tone is crucial, and Eddie is still King.
There we are back to Eddie's tone like this hasn't been beaten into the ground a million times .Eddie's tone and playing in the studio was far different than it was live .he got a little sloppy live but see I'll argue Randy's live tone and playing over Eddie's all day every day .and I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess you never saw Randy live right ? Only say that cause I've never met or heard someone that did say he wasn't the best live player. Yes Eddie will always be the king no matter wat for one thing ERUPTION IN 1978 enough said .that is enough to give him the crown .not just the tone but the precise note for note clarity and speed in with that solo was played with especially at that time was just like nothing that had ever been heard before and you add the tapping technique in there (even though several rock players were doing it just not that well ) and that's it game over ! was like hearing the Elvis and Beatles and Stones on a regular basis than hearing Jimi Hendrix lol that's exactly the same kind of difference in playing that Eddie playing was to everyone else that was playing up to that point. That's wat will always define Eddie Van Halen and rightfully so .
I think everyone forgets how young both these guys were back then. With youth comes ego and they both had a touch of it. Let's face it, Ed really did change the game and it was very tough to be original at that time and for Randy to say Ed was smoke n mirrors, I think it was a jealousy he had. Had Randy lived, I think over the years the 2 would have possibly been friends.
