Guitar Heros - Different Angle

[mbgreene]

With the latest guitar hero thread and the others that have popped up in the past I could never narrow anything down about who I considered the ultimate hero. I enjoy differnet styles for different aspects of what I am in the mood for at the time. Therfore, I thought I might pose the question a different way.

If you could choose ONE guitar hero and take his/her career, which ONE would it be.

This way you need to weigh not only style and ability but everything else involved in an all around career. In addition to style and ability, this includes composing vs. just playing, solo or studio work vs band associations, steady longevity vs. temporary stardom, peer respect vs. popularity, Monetary reward vs. historical perspective, personal demons, extracurricular "life experiences" etc...

Just curious as to whether people's influences on a playing level are consistent with who they would want to emulate on a career basis, would fame and fortune out weigh some other aspects of your choices or would you just want to be that good and give up some of the glory, to a point.

With all things considered (at least so far as it took me to write this post) I'd have to vote

Jimmy Page
(but reserve the right to ament to any guy that has played in the Yardbirds)

 

[Monster]

Stevie Ray Vaughan ( man could he play some great guitar)

 

[Norrin Radd]

Stevie Ray Vaughan ( man could he play some great guitar)

Yeah, but you'd be dead now!

 

[NorM]

I spoke at length on this very subject.
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/showthread.php?p=127433#post127433

 

[Beth]

then its Elvis Costello, hands down

 

[kbaim]

I spoke at length on this very subject.
http://www.ernieball.com/forums/showthread.php?p=127433#post127433

I fell asleep reading that post, Norm.

 

[Luiz Gustavo]

Steve Vai.

Just to write that crazy kind of stuff and even dont need a guitar at hands.

 

[Norrin Radd]

Wilt Chamberlain.

Oh wait, you said guitar hero. I'll have to think about it.

 

[NorM]

I fell asleep reading that post, Norm.

On a scale of 1 to 10 I give your post a W







Whatever

 

[shamus63]

then its Elvis Costello, hands down

Nevermind my bass status (this is a guitar hero thing); I'll side with Beth on this one. Elvis' career has all the positive elements that MBG mentioned, and that I'd want for my musical career!

 

[Beth]

yaaay!!!

 

[blackspy]

Probably a fairly typical response to a question like this, but I'd say EVH. He changed the way people played and sounded. I don't think there's been a bigger influence on the sound and style of rock guitar since his debut. After Eddie, everything was different. That's the kind of impact I'd like to have if it were my career. Regardless of all the other 'drama'.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I would have to say Brian May. Despite being a rock star, being very rich and having played and written in one of the greatest bands of all time, still seems to be a nice guy.

Not sure I could have lived with his hair for that long, but its a concession I would be willing to make!

 

[Beth]

Speaking of hair...


http://www.smh.com.au/ftimages/2005/10/13/1128796645049.html

 

[blackspy]

Speaking of hair...


http://www.smh.com.au/ftimages/2005/10/13/1128796645049.html

WTF? That's insane. How many drugs does one have to do to end up thinking that looks, in any way, cool. ??

 

[SteveB]

I'll take Les Paul for his longevity, great chops, worldwide fame & respect, and his non-guitar contibutions like inventing muti-track recording.

 

[fogman]

WTF? That's insane. How many drugs does one have to do to end up thinking that looks, in any way, cool. ??

seeing the picture in Beth's post was funny enough! Then I saw this reply and spit on my screen!!!!

I want to say EVH because I really dig his abilities, but I wouldn't want his teeth or his demons.

So I will say Ritchie Blackmore. He's the reason I love guitar so much!!
I was a Deep Purple freak like no other.


.

 

[Raz]

Hmmmm this is a tough one, and I don't know if I can seriously answer this one. I've been influenced by many great (and deserving) guitar players..ok I'm gonna go with the one guy who started me off, with my very first album I ever purchased...the first and still one of the greatest solos that ever floored me...Mark Knopfler...

 

[kbaim]

I'm gonna go against the grain a little here and say

Paul Reed Smith


I wouldn't mind having a fledgling but consistent music thing happening while spending 30-40 years competing toe to toe with gibby and fender who had like a 30 year head start.

Hard not to admire that. One hell of a legacy if you ask me.

I still prefer to play EB's though.

 

[Dodgeball]

Some may giggle but I would have to say Richie Sambora. Great chops yet very soulful, always plays for the song, gets to travel the world in a mammoth rock band that is still going after a very long career. Great sense of humour, down to earth, has plenty of input in the songwriting process, beautiful wife and family...

He one lucky mother!