Guitar Hero: Metallica

[Mxr5150]

Originally Posted by Thegide

Uh oh, here it comes. See now you've just mistaken your opinion for fact and now you'll have to endure the wrath of all the other opinionated musicians on this board, including myself.

On what criteria do you consider EVH to be the best [mainstream] player of the 80s? And moreover, why do you feel the need to restrict this ranking to mainstream music? In my opinion, EVH had nothing on players such as Paul Gilbert or Steve Vai, and many others, except for maybe a nasty drug habit. As far as technical ability goes, there were faster players, and more creative players... both harmonically and melodically speaking. Eddie's biggest "thing" was popularizing - not inventing - two handed tapping.

On the criteria that Eruption was popular because of it's classical elements - do you even know what you're talking about? It was popular because it was a couple minutes of guitar ******y, nothing more. I would suggest you listen to Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force if you need examples of classical playing in 80's rock/metal, because they certainly aren't part of Eruption. Perhaps blues or pentatonic licks is more what you were thinking?

Next, you've contradicted yourself claiming in the same post that Eddie was the best player, then changing your opinion to SRV being the best player. Again, I disagree. SRV was perhaps an exceedingly talented blues player, with more technical ability than other blues players of his time - but certainly not the best guitar player period.

I do agree with you, however, regarding the Dragonforce comment. Unfortunately, merely describing them as overrated, is about as underrated of a comment as I can think of. Herman and Sam are sloppy players who hide behind Digitech Whammy pedals among a panel of other mistake-covering effects to give the illusion that they can play faster than anyone has ever played. On top of that, their songwriting ability is mediocre at best - largely ripoffs of 80's power metal riffs with some monotonous scale-running for solos. On top of that their maturity level seems about on par with your average 8-year-old, so no, I don't quite care for them either.

How can you love Paul Gilbert and Malmsteen and bash EVH? You know that Eddie is a huge inspiration for PG right? If Euruption is guitar "******y" what do you call what they do? Don't get me wrong, Yngwie and Gilbert are two of my favorite players but if Eddie never came along, those guys would be a whole world of different in their composition and playing styles, even with respect to Richie Blackmore's influence on Malmsteen and his to Paul's.