| nybody who the greatest guitar players in the history | | | | almost melodic. Since the Go-Go’s Valentine |
| of rock music are, and you’ll likely get the | | | | has gone solo, along with a side project called the |
| standard answers. The big three, Clapton, Beck and | | | | Delpines. I would strongly urge you to check out |
| Page; certainly Eddie Van Halen; maybe Stevie Ray | | | | Valentine’s appealing mix of rock and punk on |
| Vaughn. The metal-heads will cite Randy Rhodes and | | | | her “Light Years” album. |
| George Lynch. These are all valid answers, but if you | | | | Slash (Guns ‘N’ Roses/Velvet |
| would put forth names like Elliot Easton and Andy | | | | Revolver): Guns ‘N’ Roses now |
| Summers, you might be likely to get a blank stare in | | | | Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan once claimed |
| return. Too often great guitarists are overlooked | | | | that Slash had “the fastest right hand |
| simply because they lack the flash of a star like Eddie | | | | I’ve ever seen.” While it may be |
| Van Halen or because they are part of a group that | | | | argued that the left (fretting) hand is more important |
| simply has an overabundance of talent and they tend | | | | for a guitarist, after hearing Slash play, there can be |
| to be moved to the background. Take Andy | | | | no discounting the value of a fast right hand. |
| Summers, guitarist for the Police. Everybody knows | | | | “Sweet Child of Mine”, |
| who Sting is, and there is no doubt that he is | | | | “Paradise City” and “Welcome |
| tremendously talented, as is drummer Stewart | | | | to the Jungle” received more radio play, but |
| Copeland. As part of that unit, however, Summers | | | | to hear one of the best examples of Slash’s |
| was often overlooked. What is so amazing about | | | | work, check out “Mr. Brownstone” on |
| Andy Summers is not only his command of the | | | | “Appetite for Destruction”. |
| instrument, but his overwhelming versatility. From ska | | | | Steve “Steamin” Clark (Def Leppard): |
| to punk to reggae to straight ahead rock and roll, | | | | It seems that all great artists have their demons and |
| nothing is outside of his ability. His style has been | | | | Steve Clark was no exception. Before alcohol claimed |
| described as minimalist, but that minimalism is a plus, | | | | his life at too young an age, Steve Clark had built up |
| and he is to be credited for not falling prey to his | | | | a legacy of fine work that will live on. Steve’s |
| critics and trying to overplay to compensate for a | | | | gift was an ability to build spatial separation into his |
| lack of complex layers of sound. Below, in no | | | | phrasing. It was almost as if he was playing in a huge |
| particular order, I’ve listed some of my | | | | empty amphitheater in which each note rang out |
| favorite underappreciated players, and the reasons | | | | perfectly and separately and yet, along with the |
| why I consider them to be great. | | | | complimentary work of bandmate Phil Colin, fit tightly |
| Elliot Easton (The Cars): Elliot Easton is probably the | | | | together like pieces in a puzzle. The song |
| greatest reason for the success of The Cars. | | | | “Love Bites” from the |
| Without Easton’s accessible rock guitar | | | | “Hysteria” album perfectly illustrates |
| cutting through the synth driven Cars sound, they | | | | this point. Unlike previous member Pete Willis, Colin |
| never would have found the mainstream acceptance | | | | provided a perfect foil for Clark to play off of. |
| that they did. Imagine the spacey pair of Ric Ocasik | | | | Unfortunately, Def Leppard seemed to be associated |
| and Greg Hawkes playing over an equally new-wave | | | | more with the fact that drummer Rick Allen played |
| influenced guitarist and you have a style of music | | | | with one arm, the result of a 1984 auto accident, |
| that would not appeal to people on a large scale. | | | | taking some of the attention away from the fact |
| Easton’s Buddy Hollyesque sound, however, | | | | that Clark’s playing made Def Leppard one of |
| served to make The Cars commercially viable. | | | | the finest pop metal bands of the 80’s. |
| “My Best Friend’s Girl” from | | | | Howard Leese (Heart): Fated to share the stage with |
| their debut album is an excellent example of how | | | | two of the most beautiful and talented women of |
| Easton’s contribution was essential in creating | | | | the rock era, Howard Leese continued to lend his |
| hit records for The Cars. | | | | creative talents to Heart long after its other founding |
| Warren DiMartini (Ratt): What impresses me most | | | | members had departed. It was Nancy with her |
| about DiMartini is that fact that despite being known | | | | beautiful blond tresses that stole the spotlight, but it |
| as a speed demon who is content to throw a | | | | was Howard’s guitar that powered the group. |
| startling flurry of notes at the listener, is that he | | | | Secure in the knowledge that he was a key |
| knows the value of a rest. Too many metal artists | | | | component in Heart’s driving guitar based |
| try to play as fast as possible, and DiMartini can keep | | | | sound, he was never bitter about the fact that his |
| up with the best of them, but I’m more | | | | name was only recognizable amongst true fans of |
| taken with the fact that on songs like “Lay it | | | | the group. Listen to “Barracuda” or |
| Down”, “Wanted Man” and | | | | “Magic Man” or “Even it |
| “Round and Round”, it’s | | | | Up” and you are instantly struck by the |
| DiMartini’s artful use of pauses and mutings | | | | inherent “coolness” of the opening |
| to lend depth and character to what would otherwise | | | | riffs, and his mastery of harmonic overtones is |
| be just another ripping metal tune. | | | | second to none. |
| Kathy Valentine (The Go-Go’s/solo): The | | | | Mick Mars (Motley Crüe): Mostly thought of as a |
| Go-Go’s will never be known for stunning | | | | fair to middling heavy metal guitarist, Mick Mars |
| musicianship, but Kathy Valentine’s reputation | | | | phrasing is perfect for the Crüe’s sound. |
| suffered from being thrown together with a group | | | | Chunky, dirty and staccato at times, it still manages |
| of girls who were far less proficient in their playing. | | | | to be melodic. Upstaged by Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx and |
| Not to say that the Go-Go’s were not any | | | | Tommy Lee and their bad-boy images, Mick stays |
| good. Their style of music was based on catchy | | | | cool and aloof behind his powerful music. Despite the |
| beats and fun lyrics, so being technically perfect was | | | | darkness inherent in some of their tunes, you cannot |
| not a requirement. Unfortunately, the fact that this | | | | fail to be uplifted by Mick Mars’ musical skills. |
| was an easily exploitable fault that the critics could | | | | Really there are so many worthy players that I could |
| grab a hold of, the band was unfairly criticized for | | | | go on and on, but this is just a listing of those few |
| being “a bunch of girls who could barely play | | | | that have bugging me for years. It’s true |
| their instruments.” If they had bothered to | | | | that people have their own tastes, and for some, |
| check, they would have found the Valentine was | | | | these guys wouldn’t even make the top 10, |
| actually an experienced and talented guitarist, making | | | | but it makes me feel better to have my sentiments |
| the switch to bass to fill the spot with the | | | | known. If I’m lucky there may be a few of |
| Go-Go’s. Actually, a casual listen will show | | | | you out there – just a few – who will |
| that Valentine’s bass playing stands out more | | | | say, “Man, I’ve been saying for years |
| that Charlotte Caffey’s or Jane | | | | that he (or she) has never got enough credit. |
| Wiedlin’s guitar work. At times it’s | | | | |