Holly2003 14.03.2012 11:55 |
So I've been listening to the Starfleet Project for the first time in many moons, in particular "Let Me Out", and "Blues Breaker". Brian has said "Electric blues is where I came from originally" and these songs are probably as close as we'll get to hear Brian playing the blues spontaneously. However, apparently Brian sent a copy of the album to Eric Clapton thinking Clapton would be flattered but in fact EC wasn't impressed by it and supposedly sent the record back. If this is true it is a bit surprising as EC is a fan of Gary Moore (he played "Still Got the Blues" in Belfast last year as a tribute to Moore) and the blues tracks on Star Fleet are similar to Gary Moore's approach. Anyway, my question is, can Brian play the blues? I'm not overly impressed with either "Let Me Out", and "Blues Breaker" but I think "See What A Fool I've Been" and "Sleeping on the Sidewalk" are amongst his best work. "Lost Opportunity" is a bit so-so, but I've often thought that of a lot of Eric Clapton's songs. I don't think Brian's ever been that great when asked to be "spontaneous" and he produces magic only when he uses a structured approach. Views? |
BradMay 14.03.2012 11:57 |
Well, the most scales Brian uses are the Major/Dorian scales, i think he càn play the blues, because Pentatonic is very easy, and you can get a lot of tonal variations out of it, but i just dont think he will play it. He had some bluesy licks on Voodoo though |
brENsKi 14.03.2012 12:51 |
i think blues are very much about "feel" and your comments about structure more or less sum Brian's playing up you only have to listen to his BR solo - not much deviation down the years... so i'd say no he isn't and never will be a blues player - SWAFIB (much as i like it) is a pastiche and nothing more if Clapton did send the record back (cruel as it may have seemed) it's probably a very accurate ajudication - pretty much amounts to Simon Cowell pressing the "RED X" button why did Brian send it to EC? i know there was graffiti round that time saying "EC is God" - but did Brian really think he'd get approval for his pseudo-blues from above? |
Russian Headlong 14.03.2012 14:22 |
eric crapton most overated geetar man ever! |
john bodega 14.03.2012 14:47 |
It was probably the EVH bits that made him send it back. Christ knows I get tired of hearing it. |
MartynTS 14.03.2012 16:27 |
Clapton is a "Purist" According to him theres a specific way to play the blues. If you venture to far out of this it's not good anymore. |
MERQRY 14.03.2012 16:46 |
There's many ways to play blues... is this a blues? link |
Montreux 14.03.2012 16:48 |
I think the answer gives the Queen + Paul Rodgers track called "Voodoo" - such amazing guitar work... |
MadTheSwine73 14.03.2012 17:23 |
I think so. Star Fleet was kinda bluesy. |
MERQRY 14.03.2012 17:33 |
brENsKi wrote: i think blues are very much about "feel" and your comments about structure more or less sum Brian's playing up you only have to listen to his BR solo - not much deviation down the years... so i'd say no he isn't and never will be a blues player - SWAFIB (much as i like it) is a pastiche and nothing more if Clapton did send the record back (cruel as it may have seemed) it's probably a very accurate ajudication - pretty much amounts to Simon Cowell pressing the "RED X" button why did Brian send it to EC? i know there was graffiti round that time saying "EC is God" - but did Brian really think he'd get approval for his pseudo-blues from above?ha ha you're cruel as damn.... but maybe you're a bit right... i like the Bri's solo on some live songs like Son And daughter but yeah mainly is always the same... anyway brian have his "feel" way to play guitar... have you ever seen his strange (some womens say it's cute) face when he's playing? he must feel something ha ha |
ActionFletch 15.03.2012 00:59 |
Stealin' is a nice little blues number, well played by Brian. |
jpf 15.03.2012 02:30 |
Russian Headlong wrote: eric crapton most overated geetar man ever!I saw EC on the "Journeyman" tour. Most boring concert ever. All of the songs sounded the same. All of the solos sounded the same. |
BradMay 15.03.2012 05:09 |
I saw him 2 years a go on his tour with winwood, didnt like the sound of the backingband and his sound.... |
Óli Gneisti Sóleyjarson 15.03.2012 06:46 |
I haven't heard the "Clapton sent it back" story before. Where does it come from? |
A Word In Your Ear 15.03.2012 08:22 |
"Lost Opportunity", "Sleeping on The Sidewalk", "See what a fool I've been" & even the begining to "Last Horizon" have that Blues-y feel to them. |
master marathon runner 15.03.2012 13:13 |
quote from Clapton back in the late 70's/ early 80's; 'I dont see myself as a really great guitarist,i mean that guy out of Queen does things i can only dream of' |
brENsKi 15.03.2012 14:04 |
A Word In Your Ear wrote: "Lost Opportunity", "Sleeping on The Sidewalk", "See what a fool I've been" & even the begining to "Last Horizon" have that Blues-y feel to them.blues-y is not blues and SWAFIB is definitely a parody/pastiche call it what you will much like when queen did vaudeville, rockabilly, hip-hop, funk etc....that may have actually been queen's problem - no real identity - which explains the lack of critical acclaim |
john bodega 15.03.2012 16:02 |
I maintain that it was EVH that scared off Clapton. |
The Real Wizard 15.03.2012 16:19 |
brENsKi wrote:Bingo. Writers are generally myopic, and need to categorize you somewhere. Queen's sound was just too unique and widespread, so befuddled reviewers usually didn't know what to make of them.A Word In Your Ear wrote: "Lost Opportunity", "Sleeping on The Sidewalk", "See what a fool I've been" & even the begining to "Last Horizon" have that Blues-y feel to them.blues-y is not blues and SWAFIB is definitely a parody/pastiche call it what you will much like when queen did vaudeville, rockabilly, hip-hop, funk etc....that may have actually been queen's problem - no real identity - which explains the lack of critical acclaim In fact, most of their good reviews were on the Hot Space tour, when they did a straight-ahead rock show with big lights. |
AlbaNo1 15.03.2012 16:23 |
brENsKi wrote:They have a sonic identity in that they usually sound like Queen no matter what style they are attempting. Lack of critical acclaim probably comes from lack of complexity of lyrics or serious subjects. The last thing critics seem to care about is the sound of the music.A Word In Your Ear wrote: "Lost Opportunity", "Sleeping on The Sidewalk", "See what a fool I've been" & even the begining to "Last Horizon" have that Blues-y feel to them.blues-y is not blues and SWAFIB is definitely a parody/pastiche call it what you will much like when queen did vaudeville, rockabilly, hip-hop, funk etc....that may have actually been queen's problem - no real identity - which explains the lack of critical acclaim |
ole-the-first 15.03.2012 16:52 |
Listen to Brian's 1998 BBC Radio 'Multi-Track' Session. You'll find some blues there. Especially the blues rendition of Tie Your Mother Down. Some of his solo songs, such as Why Don't We Try Again and Nothin' But Blue, are definitely blues-based. Same with 'Come to Your Senses' solo demo — it's somewhat close to those tracks (though it's more dynamic). |
Micrówave 15.03.2012 17:15 |
I'm surprised no one has mentioned this... Brian does not play the right guitar for blues. Something about that treble boosted sound just kills it. Kinda like Carlos... before he started playing that PRS, the early days, he had a good blues tone (on some tunes). The guitar solo on CLTCL is about the only "blues" I've heard in his repitoire. |
BradMay 15.03.2012 20:23 |
Funny to mention that, that solo was played on a Telecaster, but.. as a former Brian May Guitars Signature i can tell you that you can damn well play blues on a RS!, the RS can sound like an RS anytime you want it to, if you want the BohRap solo, no problem.... if you want to sound it a bit countryish, no problem.... the guitar can sounds amazingly Fender! It has the sort of twang tele's have!, but it depends on your amp, cuz it is an astonishing dynamic guitar. |
Graeme Arnott 16.03.2012 00:19 |
I get the blues hearing clapton. |
Bo Rhap 16.03.2012 05:05 |
I think that Brian can play the blues,although Brian seems to think he cant.You see,Brian plays from the head,not the heart. |
Voice of Reason 2018 16.03.2012 07:12 |
Does this belong in the Personal section? I thought 'Queen - General Discussion' was reserved for Queen and Adam Lambert topics? |
Holly2003 16.03.2012 13:19 |
Voice of Reason 2012 wrote: Does this belong in the Personal section? I thought 'Queen - General Discussion' was reserved for Queen and Adam Lambert topics? Maybe I should have entitled this "Can Brian Play the blues, with or without Adam Lambert" ... Any road up, quite a number of you have misunderstood my point: of course Brian has played blues -- I even listed some blues songs! -- my question really is "can he play the blues well?" He has stated his roots are in electric blues, but his song output in the blues style (in my view) isn't that great (with the exception of "See What a Fool I've Been" which has some great moments, and the excellent "Sleepin on the Sidewalk"). |
Micrówave 16.03.2012 15:48 |
Graeme Arnott wrote: I get the blues hearing clapton. That's crazy. You should listen to Robbie Robertson's new album... Eric is playing and singing some great stuff. It's a really good record. |
jpf 17.03.2012 02:31 |
Zebonka12 wrote: I maintain that it was EVH that scared off Clapton.EVH has mentioned Clapton was the only guitarist that influenced him (I call bullshit right there). I believe there was some comment made by Clapton where he said that he didn't like EVH's playing. Anyone have that quote? |
john bodega 17.03.2012 03:02 |
A quick google suggests that EVH doesn't have much love for EC. |
jpf 17.03.2012 23:48 |
Zebonka12 wrote: A quick google suggests that EVH doesn't have much love for EC.That's incorrect. EVH has stated that the only guitarist he liked was EC. EVH may have stated that he didn't like what EC became when EC went pop. |
john bodega 18.03.2012 11:31 |
Another google seems to suggest he was probably drunk when he said what I read. |
mooghead 18.03.2012 13:58 |
"Listen to Brian's 1998 BBC Radio 'Multi-Track' Session. You'll find some blues there. Especially the blues rendition of Tie Your Mother Down." And this only backs up the Brian can't play blues argument. This version is utterly cringeworthy, maybe the worst thing he has ever done. Strangely enough I was listening to John's bassline from TYMD in isolation just now and parts of that are pretty bluesy. |
jpf 19.03.2012 01:08 |
Zebonka12 wrote: Another google seems to suggest he was probably drunk when he said what I read.You don't need google to know that EVH was definitely drunk when he said that. |
BradMay 19.03.2012 07:19 |
Brian May mostly plays Major/Dorian scales, so YES he can play them, but i dont think he WANTS to, he only played one or 2 licks, Voodoo is a good example. |