Philosophy Discussion Forums

Leonard Cohen wrote:I said to Hank Williams "how lonely does it get?"
Hank Williams hasn't answered yet,
But I hear him coughing all night long,
A hundred floors above me in the tower of song.

Leonard Cohen's swansong "You want it darker" is a masterpiece, just as Bowie's "Blackstar" is.

Happy 25th anniversary "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?"
Mad fer it.

That time when Oasis taught me a new word - supernover!

It appears that the boys from Oasis were getting high. Don't know why, just a hunch.

Rather than post a Van Halen song as a tribute to the late Eddie, I think some musical insights from Rick Beato could do a better job:

When I was a teenager in the 80's Van Halen appeared to me to represent everything I hated about cliched 80's rock. It's only now that he's died, and they start talking about his guitar technique, that I realize one of the reasons why there was a particular guitar sound that I associate with the 80's. So even if I'm not a fan I've got to appreciate that he did add something genuinely new and era defining. Always a good thing for an artist.

Steve3007 wrote: ↑October 7th, 2020, 4:26 am When I was a teenager in the 80's Van Halen appeared to me to represent everything I hated about cliched 80's rock. It's only now that he's died, and they start talking about his guitar technique, that I realize one of the reasons why there was a particular guitar sound that I associate with the 80's. So even if I'm not a fan I've got to appreciate that he did add something genuinely new and era defining. Always a good thing for an artist.

I think the key to how posterity will judge people like him is how they inspired others to get into music, cultivate similar styles, and even redesign instruments and other gear. A legion of imitators followed as soon as he arrived to the music scene. His modified guitars are now in museums. One more thing is that even though his individual playing could raise eyebrows, he did focus in making good songs and contributing as a member of a band, something that Malmsteen forgot somewhere along the way.

Count Lucanor wrote: ↑October 6th, 2020, 9:43 pm Rather than post a Van Halen song as a tribute to the late Eddie, I think some musical insights from Rick Beato could do a better job:

I love that guy, Beato.

I read that Eddie was voted number 8 on the Greatest guitarists list, and I thought, hhmmm who are 6 guitarists better than him?

LuckyR wrote:hhmmm who are 6 guitarists better than him?

If we widen it to include the banjolele (banjo/ukulele hybrid), my vote goes to George Formby.



A great innovator and pioneer of the use of the hybrid stringed instrument, paving the way for the likes of Eddie Van Halen and Brian May.

"Oh, Mister Wu, what shall I do?
I'm feeling kinda Limehouse Chinese Laundry Blues."

Inspiration for Steely Dan's "Doctor Wu".

LuckyR wrote: ↑October 8th, 2020, 2:07 am I read that Eddie was voted number 8 on the Greatest guitarists list, and I thought, hhmmm who are 6 guitarists better than him?

Steve Vai is the most technically-perfect guitarist I have ever seen, and Robert Fripp is pretty close to unbelievable. I'm not as focussed, these days, on lead guitarists, as I listen to a lot more jazz than I used to. So I'll leave it to others to identify the others.

Count Lucanor wrote:I think the key to how posterity will judge people like him is how they inspired others to get into music, cultivate similar styles, and even redesign instruments and other gear. A legion of imitators followed as soon as he arrived to the music scene. His modified guitars are now in museums. One more thing is that even though his individual playing could raise eyebrows, he did focus in making good songs and contributing as a member of a band, something that Malmsteen forgot somewhere along the way.

Yes, so it seems. But when I was a kid I couldn't see past the frizzy haired rock cliche.