Being a great guitarist, what do you think of the outro of the Meat Puppets song Backwater Or Shine by Collective Soul?
I am what's called a "virtuoso" type of guitarist. A neanderthal. Archaic.
There was a day when all we did was 'wait' for the guitar solo. Those days are gone.
We are talking 80's "hairband" that type of shit. Scorpions (duel guitarists) Iron Maiden, Megadeth... all those, and then the single virtuosos like SRV, EV, Vai, even though AC/DC had two guitarists, really it was Angus doing all the lead playing (or a majority of it, his M
all of the virtuosos could be picked out of a crowd: Randy Rhoades, Yngwie Malmsteen, Jake E. Lee, Brad Gillis, Jeff Watson, Jeff Baxter, Joe Walsh... etc, etc.
That being said, Meat Puppets and Collective Soul are bands that are known for writing good songs. There is a lot to be said for that ability. For example; back in the day, a virtuoso guitarist would make the song to back his solo, as if the solo were the focal point. Many times the lead singer (vocalist) and the guitarist would be at odds for attention.. competition, as it were.
This wasn't always the case. There were great bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet who were all team-players. Their sound would only make it the way they did it.
So, in my long-winded summation (which you guys are used to by now) I am basically saying that there is a huge difference between song writing, and solo- backing.
If you could put the two together, well then, you would truly have a band that just might have what it takes... but of course, there is much more to it than that.
Some bands "had what it took" to make it... sort of. They wanted to be close to home, drug problems prevalent, couldn't travel with dope, didn't want to 'jones' out on the road, etc.
So, bands like the L.A. Guns stayed in Hollyweird. Oops... Hollywood.
Guns n Roses tried to do the road thing, but it takes its toll and it brought them back home and eventually disbanded them. The drugs... were just too much.
It makes you wonder about all the hype that went along with the Rolling Stones, who are still at it today. How can this be? Maybe all that hype about their drug usage was bullshit? Some of these guys have been going forever. Even bands that didnt make it so big but should have, for example; The New York Dolls, or Hanoi Rocks (Motley Crue and many others stole that "look" from them)... and Hanoi is still going today under the lead singer "Michael Monroe's" name. I just saw them in San Jose. Small venue, fantastic show. Mike seems clean and sober...
so, my point is this: These bands you mention are handling everything... still: Travel, songwriting, album making, getting along (don't even get started on the Aerosmith type drama).... these bands are so underrated because they didn't make a BIG BANG like everyone else did. Even Led Zep held on for a LONG LONG time... and how many albums? Like them or not, they withstood the test of time.
How about Lemmy Kilmeister? Ozzy Ozbourne? Do these guys ever say die?
I think not.
You gotta give kudos to these guys for more than just their great songs. They are bands that withstand the test of time.
Not many folks know this, but being a "rockstar' is probably about the most dangerous profession out there. Who woulda thunk it?
The drugs (death) the women (STD's, morality, broken marriages) the families (you never see your kids grow up) the travel (trust me, it takes it's toll, just like a long-distance trucker)... jet lag... on and on.. motels, shitty food, no sleep, your internal clock not having anything to reset itself.
Look how many "rockstars" have fallen by the wayside vs. the ones that are still here.
mad respect for the Meat Puppets. They still gig. Albeit on a smaller level, they are still truckin' along. They have a "cultish" fan base. Some folks give these bands kudos for not taking the "commercial" way out to stardom and fame. They stuck with what they loved even if it meant less money, worse traveling conditions, more time away, less sales.... they do it for their fans.
Being in a band to most people is considered a hobby. I'm talking "bar bands" who play "cover tunes" ... so many guys still have their "day jobs" (as do I)
Give Respect, get Respect.
If you like someone's music it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, right?
Did I just write a book?
Prolly...
Audioslave, NIN... so many great bands that just keep on truckin....
