| philip storey 25.10.2012 13:08 |
Hi follks been listening to a lot of Deep Purple recently and i wondered who you guys thought was the better guitarist in their prime? |
| brENsKi 25.10.2012 13:24 |
i will get flamed to f*ck on here...but i've always (just) preferred ritchie blackmore brian's playing always sounded a little too "clean"... think i like blacker's because of the interplay between him and jon lord ...and later in rainbow with don airey... also...as mentioned on another thread....i love the arabic scaled playing he deploys.... fnally, good as brian is - i don't hink i've heard a whole queen album where i love his guitar-playing on every single track. but that is the case (for me) whenever i listen to "machine head"...fantastic playing throughout |
| Holly2003 25.10.2012 14:27 |
I suppose I'm the opposite. Richie has moments of absolute genius but I don't think he's consistant. However, I would probably prefer to hear Richie playing improvised solos rather than Brian as Richie can't play a solo the same way twice so is always improvising whereas Brian isn't the most spontaneous guitarist (hence same-ish Brighton Rock solo for 30 years). |
| Bad Seed 25.10.2012 15:14 |
Brian is my favourite guitarist and the reason I first picked up a guitar over 20 years ago. For me though Blackmore wins hands down as the better guitarist, he's up there with the very best. |
| winterspelt 25.10.2012 15:41 |
You cant compare them cause both are very different musicians. In order to compare their works you also need to compare the bands around them: Brian just played with Freddie, John, Roger and Paul as a band and, even when he has been playing with lots and lots of awesome musicians, he havent developed more than just a few songs with them so he has been unable to take a direct influence from other musicians (except, perhaps Cozy Powell, who was known for keep pushing all the time) Ritchie has been playing with lots and lots of other musicians but he pretty much use all those musicians to fulfill his own musical ideas... Except in Deep Purple when he got a lot of Lord's and Paice's classical and jazz background to improve his skills. There are many other differences, like the fact that Blackmore is just moody and he can be the most amazing musician or just a lazy asshole... While Brian keeps things very much in order. Also they play different kinds of music (specially Blackmore in his 3 different bands) and both have an amazing guitar technique in their own fields. Brian and Roger's cover of Smoke on the water is a proof that they are different and should not be compared. I play guitar so as a guitar player, if I have to choose one it would be Blackmore but as a music listener and someone who loves not just a great guitar player but a great band, I think I would choose Brian... Both of them are in my all tive fav top 10 |
| LAP 25.10.2012 17:08 |
Both are similiar in style and sound but May could kick ass live and when he let himself just go he would sound menacing and frantic! Live Killers shows this. |
| winterspelt 25.10.2012 18:03 |
Really? Brian and Ritchie similar in style and tone? This guitar (0:04 - 1:13) doesnt sounds like Brian's tone: link In which album/bootleg Brian played something like this?: link Perhaps you talk about songs like Rainbow's cover of Since you've Been Gone... If that's the case, then I must consider that Russ Ballard also is very similar to Brian and Ritchie, let's listen to Russ Ballard version... link |
| waunakonor 25.10.2012 20:10 |
winterspelt wrote: Brian and Roger's cover of Smoke on the water is a proof that they are different and should not be compared.Oh, I love that cover (though it's more than just Brian and Roger. Ritchie was also involved). Brian's guitar solo starting at about 2:26 is superb, my favorite solo of the five on the track. Looooove that Red Special tone. brENsKi wrote: brian's playing always sounded a little too "clean"...There's some dirty-sounding stuff on the debut album, though that's probably just a result of rawer production more than anything. Anyway, um, in general I prefer Brian May, although I pretty much agree with all of brENsKi's points. |
| matt z 27.10.2012 03:55 |
Brian May clearly has the better hair HANDS DOWN. Are you kidding me??! cheesus cripes, man. I do love Ritchie's Hats though. |
| Holly2003 27.10.2012 04:07 |
Yeah but Richie has a better top hat. |
| georgs1963 27.10.2012 06:03 |
Although i am very fed up with Brian May since about 03 my opinion of him as a guitar player hasn't changed. Of course May is better than Blackmore. First of all listen to Good Company, that is his masterpiece not Brighton Rock. May succeeded in many genres , his solos are very well known not just one. May also is the best pop/rock player there is , Queen was able to arrange pop songs like a rock song, very tight and fast that made their pop songs different from others. Wasnt it Stevie Ray Vaughn who once said not sure about the wording " i can copy the style of any guitar player but Brian May, thats how good he is " Heck even i can play Smoke on the Water, nuff said about this nonsense. |
| Sheer Brass Neck 27.10.2012 09:34 |
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| Sheer Brass Neck 27.10.2012 09:34 |
It was Steve Vai who said that about Brian, not SRV. |
| john bodega 27.10.2012 10:43 |
It's important to remember that Steve Vai was talking out of his arse when he said that. For better or worse, he sounds like Steve Vai. I think that statement is just a bit of hyperbole to illustrate how highly he thinks of Brian's style. Blackmore might have more 'chops' (although that's a vague determination). But I have a lot more respect for Brian, mainly because he's not in Blackmore's Night. What a pile of vomit. Thanks Yoko. |
| GratefulFan 27.10.2012 11:08 |
I don't think I would characterize his words that way. Vai's comments as I recall related to the Red Special and the extent to which it's unique tone lay so thoroughly in Brian's fingers. Neither's words about the other as glowing as they are seem to be anything but genuine expressions of true mutual respect, both in fact and degree. |
| brazilian_1977@hotmail.com 27.10.2012 11:25 |
Undoubtedly Ritchie Blackmore is better guitarist than Brian May. Both in technique in studio, and in live performances. Brian is only better in relationship with people ... He's very kind person. |
| winterspelt 27.10.2012 14:42 |
georgs1963 wrote: (...) Of course May is better than Blackmore. First of all listen to Good Company, that is his masterpiece not Brighton Rock. May succeeded in many genres , his solos are very well known not just one. (...) Wasnt it Stevie Ray Vaughn who once said not sure about the wording " i can copy the style of any guitar player but Brian May, thats how good he is " Heck even i can play Smoke on the Water, nuff said about this nonsense.Why do people insist in compare such a different guitar players? Good Company its the best example: Blackmore never played anything like that because its not the kind of music he plays. In the same way, if a Blackmore fan claims that Ritchie is better than Brian because Brian never played something like Gates of Babylon they would be wrong cause its not the kind of music Brian plays. It would be like comparing Frank Zappa and BB King. And about guitar solos, Blackmore is well known for lots of solos (and riffs) not "just one": Lazy, Highway Star, Stargazer, Gates of Babylon come to my mind immediately. It was Steve Vai who said that, not SRV, but it doesnt matter if it was Vai or SRV, the fact that he cant "imitate" somebody doesnt mean anything. You know, Vai cant copy Michael Angelo Batio and it wouldnt mean that Batio is "better" And yes, its easy to play Smoke on the Water, so what? I can play Tie your mother down, AOBTD, IWTBF (among other Queen songs) those songs are really easy too, and if you are able to play Smoke on the Water, then you are able to play those and lots of other Brian/Queen songs too, which makes your last point invalid... |
| mooghead 27.10.2012 14:59 |
I hate the internet for 2 reasons: i) arguments about what is 'funny' and what isn't ii) Fucking guitarist comparison 'debates' Is it 1999 or something? |
| brENsKi 27.10.2012 16:47 |
waunakonor wrote:wow. thanks.winterspelt wrote: Brian and Roger's cover of Smoke on the water is a proof that they are different and should not be compared.Oh, I love that cover (though it's more than just Brian and Roger. Ritchie was also involved). Brian's guitar solo starting at about 2:26 is superb, my favorite solo of the five on the track. Looooove that Red Special tone.brENsKi wrote: brian's playing always sounded a little too "clean"...There's some dirty-sounding stuff on the debut album, though that's probably just a result of rawer production more than anything. Anyway, um, in general I prefer Brian May, although I pretty much agree with all of brENsKi's points. also quite refreshing to note that on a queen board...people are so objective as as many for brian as for ritchie....that makes ritchie and even bigger rock guitar god in my book |
| brENsKi 27.10.2012 16:51 |
winterspelt wrote: Why do people insist in compare such a different guitar players? Good Company its the best example: Blackmore never played anything like that because its not the kind of music he plays. In the same way, if a Blackmore fan claims that Ritchie is better than Brian because Brian never played something like Gates of Babylon they would be wrong cause its not the kind of music Brian plays. It would be like comparing Frank Zappa and BB King. And about guitar solos, Blackmore is well known for lots of solos (and riffs) not "just one": Lazy, Highway Star, Stargazer, Gates of Babylon come to my mind immediately. .have to disagree with this. you need to listen to mkII purple - there's plenty of variance in what blackers plays...and also many rainbow tracks..and laterly blackmore's night songs - show the depth and versatility of ritchie's playing |
| waunakonor 27.10.2012 21:43 |
winterspelt, I think you're kind of missing the point of discussing people's opinions. If Brian and Ritchie played the exact same styles, then it would be fairly clear which one is better at that style because there's little variation. It would be kind of like saying one number is bigger than another number. There's very little to discuss; everyone knows that two is bigger than four, so trying to discuss that would be pointless. Since Brian and Ritchie play different styles, that's what makes them interesting to discuss. If they were the same, they would be boring to discuss; since they're not the same, they're interesting to discuss. People have these things called opinions. |
| tomchristie22 28.10.2012 04:41 |
As much as I want to be able to contribute to this, I really can't, having hardly ever listened to Deep Purple or Blackmore outside of that. Shows how knowledgeable I am, I guess. It's nice that people are being objective about it though, rather than completely shunning the prospect of anyone being possibly better than Brian. |
| matt z 28.10.2012 05:04 |
Everybody else hit it on the head. They're drastically different playing styles, you'd have to be crazy or seriously naïve to think that they were somehow similar. Brian favors G and Open A, D with an ocassional Bm7. (Ala Brian may's initials) Ritchie was studiously in his own world re disgesting old school technique and probably baroque music. I chimed in the bit about their hair cause this is a QUEEN fansite... And also cause I haven't loved nearly as many Deep Purple albums as I have had Queen albums (yes I'm aware he left long ago to do his medieval thing- god allah buddha, trog bless him) The point is there is no point in comparing them. Its ridiculous. Each was/is an ARTIST and not a chart-reading session musician... If they were both the latter and RE DIGESTING OLD SHIT AND OTHER PEOPLE'S MUSIC.... THEN you would know the "greater" player. But since they are both ARTISTS they are different. Therefore NO COMPARISON... IF YOU HAD SAID RITCHIE BLACKMORE OR BILLY JOE (GREEN DAY)... Then(!) You might be onto something because the latter can hardly play (but Does "write" effectual songs) |
| e-man 28.10.2012 08:20 |
brian and ritchie are my favourite guitarists of all time so to me, a comparison is almost pointless. I will say this though; brian is the father of guitar orchestration and harmony blackmore brought classical influences to rock what's not to like? |
| Q NUT 28.10.2012 08:47 |
I don't see why one can't compare techniques. At least to some degree isn't technique independent of style? |
| Sebastian 29.10.2012 05:24 |
Brian's better than 99% of guitarists. Ritchie's on the remaining 1% IMO. |
| brENsKi 29.10.2012 06:33 |
what he said ^^^ thing that sets brian apart is his "fireplace"....once you listen to him playing on "brand name" electrics...he could be anyone.... ritchie could not be anyone |
| winterspelt 29.10.2012 14:51 |
waunakonor wrote: winterspelt, I think you're kind of missing the point of discussing people's opinions. If Brian and Ritchie played the exact same styles, then it would be fairly clear which one is better at that style because there's little variation. It would be kind of like saying one number is bigger than another number. There's very little to discuss; everyone knows that two is bigger than four, so trying to discuss that would be pointless.A number its just a number unless you place them in a context: If you talk about how much you need to pay for something, a lower number would be better than a bigger number. If you talk about how much money you have, a higher number will be better. If you are doing benchmarks for a computer, sometime a higher number will be better, sometimes lower will be better. Bigger doesnt mean better. waunakonor wrote: Since Brian and Ritchie play different styles, that's what makes them interesting to discuss. If they were the same, they would be boring to discuss; since they're not the same, they're interesting to discuss.Yeah, different styles which place them in different points of music that cant be compared. Rembrandt cant be compared to Picasso, a Freightliner to a Ferrari, a Boeing 747 to an Eurofighter Typhoon etc: None of them are better than the other. waunakonor wrote: People have these things called opinions.And I respect people's opinions. Sadly an opinion its subjective and both Brian and Ritchie are totally different, that's a fact that even you accepted in the first quote of this post. |
| The Real Wizard 29.10.2012 22:59 |
No doubt Ritchie has better chops. Both are brilliant composers, but I give Brian a slight edge in that department. Brian beat out Ritchie and Les Paul, but lost to Eddie van Halen in the final. It's criminal that Les Paul lost to anyone except Hendrix, Chet Atkins or Scotty Moore. |
| Holly2003 30.10.2012 04:53 |
Scotty Moore is often cited as a bit of a hero to the 60s and 70s generation of guitar players. Jimmy Page was a big fan but there's not much evidence of that in his playing i Led Zep. All 3 you mentioned have their own very distinctive styles. But then again, so do Blackmore and May. All of them are easily recognisable in that you can hear a song on the radio and immediately know who's playing guitar. You might add Billy Gibbons, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler and even Stuart Adamson to that list (and many more, of course). Much preferable to the generic guitar shredders of the 1980s who nearly killed off rock music, but even those guys have their moments. Then there are unheralded guitarists who produce moments of genius, for instance, Berton Averre's amazingly melodic solo on The Knack's "My Sharona". Steve Jones' playing on Never Mind the Bollocks sounds great -- raw and energetic and somehow new, even though it was anything but. Simple stuff like The Ramones also sounds great (if a little repetitive). In other words, if you love the sound of a guitar, it's all good :) |
| brENsKi 30.10.2012 17:02 |
i also like blackmore's "attitude"....he seems more real (to me) he says what he feels...and is rarely contradictory of his own comments i suppose, once you hate ian gillan then you always hate him? his comments about the RnR hall of fame were typical of him and at least he's consistent. those he respects/loves always get genuine heartfelt comments...jon lord, jim sullivan, scotty moore, dio, cozy here's some of the great man's quotes: - the last couple re: fenders say as much about him as the guitar itself "Learning to play with a big amplifier is like trying to control an elephant." "But seriously, the older I get, the more I want to hear melodies." "I was never sure what I wanted to be." "I had classical lessons for a year. That helped, because I learned how to use my little finger." "I've always played every amp I've ever had full up, because rock and roll is supposed to be played loud. Also, that's how you get your sustain." "There's a lot going on today that disturbs me-so much derivative music. Where are the progressive bands like Cream, Procul Harum, Jethro Tull or the Experience? We have to live with it." "I play best if we're having a jam session. The stuff we do on stage is always basically the same, so I like to jam now and then to keep in shape." "I'm not good enough, technically, to be a classic musician. I lack discipline." "I'm very moved by Renaissance music, but I still love to play hard rock - though only if it's sophisticated and has some thought behind it." "It was difficult, because it's much easier to flow across the strings on a Gibson. Fenders have more tension, so you have to fight them a little bit." "Playing a Fender is an art itself. They're always going out of tune." |
| alBHMfan 30.10.2012 22:27 |
I have to say My favorite guitarist & the one who made me take the guitar seriously was brian may but i'd have to say ritchie is technically better than brian. Also ritchie's not a god just one of the best guitarists ever. |
| brENsKi 31.10.2012 06:38 |
georgs1963 wrote: Of course May is better than Blackmore. First of all listen to Good Company, that is his masterpiece not Brighton Rock. May succeeded in many genres , his solos are very well known not just one. May also is the best pop/rock player there is , Queen was able to arrange pop songs like a rock song, very tight and fast that made their pop songs different from others. Wasnt it Stevie Ray Vaughn who once said not sure about the wording " i can copy the style of any guitar player but Brian May, thats how good he is " Heck even i can play Smoke on the Water, nuff said about this nonsense.there's so much wrong with this post ^^^ 1. you're citing "good company" as the definition of Brian being better than RB? jeez...listen to ritchie's playing on weiss heim, makin' love, anyone's daughter, lazy, space trucking, when a blind man cries, holy man, soldier of fortune, ariel, 2. purple beat queen to the making "pop songs sound like a rock song"...or haven't you heard "love don't mean a thing" "hold on" "you can't do it right" "what's going on here" "you fool no one" "lay down stay down" 3. "smoke" is a poor analogy - it's the first intro every schoolkid learns. it's a very simple track - because it was designed that way. apart form the basic guitar riff, the song is really about the keyboards/drums - bu then YOU did know that didn't you? |
| The Real Wizard 01.11.2012 00:29 |
It's not the playing on Good Company - it's the arrangement. Dixieland jazz band arranged for guitar ... trombone, trumpet and clarinet. I've been listening to rock guitar for decades, and nothing comes close to matching its brilliance in the arrangement department. |
| john bodega 01.11.2012 04:41 |
"it's the first intro every schoolkid learns" This is a particular bone of contention for me, especially as I get older. Every schoolkid learns it *wrong*. I used to get really shitty about it at my music college. The young kids would have their guitars, and after mangling the intro to "Sweet Child O Mine" for the 80th time in a row, one of them would get a clever expression on his face and start playing "Smoke on the Water" with as much irony as their little minds could muster. And never - never once - have I ever seen them play it properly. It's just fucking upsetting (as someone who cares about music) to see generations of shitheads playing a simple riff, joking about how simple it is and how advanced they are in comparison - and they're playing it wrong. |
| brENsKi 01.11.2012 12:26 |
i didn't say they play it right....in fact when you see the "thing" that schoolkids learn it's similar to sabbs' paranoid, hawkwind's silver machine and quo's whatever you want for the extremes of incorrect playing that the "simplistic workaround" creates |
| john bodega 01.11.2012 12:30 |
"i didn't say they play it right..." I know, but it just brought up a lot of bad memories. Haha. |
| brENsKi 01.11.2012 12:41 |
it would. i remember some kid at grammar school (yes i know, leave it) "showing off" that he could play cream - sunshine of your love (intro) and it was hysterical but traumatic to witness |