Andrews Rock Blog

Wow, that Rolling Stone list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Players from 2003 sure pissed a lot of you. I don’t blame you, either. It really seemed like something that was put together to cause a controversy rather than be an educated assessment of a guitar players impact. On that note, I thought I’d share with you my top ten favourite guitarists, along with what I consider to be their defining guitar moment. Remember, there’s nothing scientific about this one - just my own personal opinion. Take a look, give me your feedback and your own personal picks, and then use guitar as your weekend bonus code.

1) David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) - Comfortably Numb

2)  Eric Clapton - Layla

3) Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) - Heartbreaker

4) Keith Richards (Rolling Stones) - Jumpin Jack Flash

5) Steve Howe (Yes) - And You and I

6) Pete Townshend (The Who) - Who Are You?

7) Eddie Van Halen - Runnin’ With The Devil

 George Harrison - Wah-Wah

9) Pete Townshend (The Who) - Who Are You

10) Derek Trucks/Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers Band) - Rockin’ Horse

Yeah, I cheated on the last one Your turn.

Today Rolling Stone published their list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time. I haven’t seen the full list yet, but I’ve posted the top 20 at Breaking Rock News, which you can check out . From what I see,  so far their picks seem fairly reasonable. But that’s not always the case with Rolling Stone. In fact, sometimes their lists can be detrimental to your health.

 A few years ago my pal Timmy B and I were on our way to Columbus, Ohio for Farm Aid. Along the way we stopped off in Cleveland to hit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and enjoy a meal at Alice Cooperstown. Neither one of us were feeling particularly good after dinner  so we stopped off at a pharmacy to pick up some Advil. While in line I saw an issue of Rolling Stone with Jimi Hendrix on the cover and an article listing the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. I picked up the magazine, and as we got back on the highway I started reading off the list as Timmy drove. While few would argue with Jimi’s placement at number 1, there were some extremely suspect decisions on there. Eddie Van Halen at #70? David Gilmour only at #82? As I read through, I watched as my friend behind the wheel seemingly got more angry with every number. He was red-faced, and then sick to his stomach. Finally somewhere on the interstate we had to pull over. I waited patiently asTimmy B ran into the bushes and and was horribly sick.

Some may think it was a bad burger, but both of us to this day blame the ridiculousness of Rolling Stone on Timmy’s sudden and painful pitstop. Check out the original list below, leave your thoughts, and use “list” as today’s bonus code.

1Jimi Hendrix
2Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band
3 B.B. King
4 Eric Clapton
5 Robert Johnson
6 Chuck Berry
7 Stevie Ray Vaughan
8Ry Cooder
9 Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin
10 Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones
11Kirk Hammett of Metallica
12 Kurt Cobain of Nirvana
13 Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead
14 Jeff Beck
15 Carlos Santana
16Johnny Ramone of the Ramones
17 Jack White of the White Stripes
18John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
19 Richard Thompson
20 James Burton
21 George Harrison
22 Mike Bloomfield
23 Warren Haynes
24 The Edge of U2
25 Freddy King
26Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave
27Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits
28 Stephen Stills
29Ron Asheton of the Stooges
30 Buddy Guy
31 Dick Dale
32John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service
33 & 34Lee Ranaldo, Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth
35John Fahey
36 Steve Cropper of Booker T. and the MG’s
37Bo Diddley
38Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac
39 Brian May of Queen
40John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival
41Clarence White of the Byrds
42Robert Fripp of King Crimson
43Eddie Hazel of Funkadelic
44Scotty Moore
45 Frank Zappa
46 Les Paul
47 T-Bone Walker
48Joe Perry of Aerosmith
49 John McLaughlin
50Pete Townshend
51Paul Kossoff of Free
52 Lou Reed
53 Mickey Baker
54Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane
55Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple
56 Tom Verlaine of Television
57 Roy Buchanan
58Dickey Betts
59 & 60Jonny Greenwood, Ed O’Brien of Radiohead
61 Ike Turner
62Zoot Horn Rollo of the Magic Band
63Danny Gatton
64Mick Ronson
65Hubert Sumlin
66 Vernon Reid of Living Colour
67Link Wray
68Jerry Miller of Moby Grape
69 Steve Howe of Yes
70Eddie Van Halen
71 Lightnin’ Hopkins
72 Joni Mitchell
73Trey Anastasio of Phish
74 Johnny Winter
75 Adam Jones of Tool
76Ali Farka Toure
77Henry Vestine of Canned Heat
78 Robbie Robertson of the Band
79 Cliff Gallup of the Blue Caps (1997)
80Robert Quine of the Voidoids
81 Derek Trucks
82David Gilmour of Pink Floyd
83 Neil Young
84 Eddie Cochran
85Randy Rhoads
86Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath
87Joan Jett
88 Dave Davies of the Kinks
89 D. Boon of the Minutemen
90Glen Buxton of Alice Cooper
91Robby Krieger of the Doors
92 & 93 Fred “Sonic” Smith, Wayne Kramer of the MC5
94Bert Jansch
95 Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine
96 Angus Young of AC/DC
97 Robert Randolph
98 Leigh Stephens of Blue Cheer
99Greg Ginn of Black Flag
100Kim Thayil of Soundgarden  

So far this week I’ve enjoyed two nights out - Monday, I was at the Sheryl Crow show, which was very good (going backstage was a treat). Tuesday, I sat in a chillier Amphitheatre to watch Eric Clapton perform a solid but not spectacular set (”Cocaine” was the highlight, followed closely great versions of “Little Wing” and “Tell The Truth”).

There was some talk that either EC or Crow would drop by at each other’s gigs, but alas it wasn’t to be. A little dissapointing to be sure, since they’ve performed together in the recent past. Maybe Clapton’s wife doesn’t like him hanging around Sheryl, since the story goes she wrote “My Favourite Mistake” about Slowhand. On that note, use Sheryl as today’s bonus word and then check out an onstage collaboration between the two from a few years ago.

Tonight will mark the 4th time I’ll be in the presence of Eric Clapton, and I’m totally psyched. Over the past 4 years I’ve managed to catch him in concert and every time I’ve been blown away.

The first time was back in 2004, when he hit the road in support of his “Me and Mr.Johnson” album, dedicated to the Robert Johnson back catalogue. It was great seeing Clapton on stage, playing the songs that first inspired him so many years ago. A jam with opener Robert Randolph at the end of the night was a highlight.

My next Clapton experience came the following year, when my pal Timmy B and I travelled to New York City to see Cream reunite. Our seats were behind the stage, but that didn’t lessen our enjoyment of the show. Not only were we were able to watch Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker interact with one another, but we had a bird’s eye view of a shouting match between Baker and Bruce that would put the nail in the Cream coffin for good.

After the Cream reunion, I didn’t really feel like I had to see Clapton in concert again. Not that they weren’t great experiences, but I wasn’t sure how much more the guy could give me. Of course, that all changed in 2006 when Clapton announced that the amazing Derek Trucks would be touring with him. As one of the current guitarists in the Allman Brothers Band, Derek is a favourite of both me and my wife, so seeing him and Clapton on the same stage was a no-brainer. And what an amazing show “that” was. I heard tunes from all eras of Clapton’s career, including stellar versions of “Pretending”, “Cocaine”, along with lots of Derek and The Dominoes tunes, during which Trucks embodied the spirit of the legendary Duane Allman.

Which brings us to tonight. I don’t know what to expect, and EC has a lot to live up to. I’m sure he won’t have any difficulties. Check out the video below for the song I hope to hear (again) the most. And then use Clapton as today’s bonus code.

I love the ‘Net.

I know that’s a fairly simple sentence for the 21st century, but  it works for me.

I love the ‘Net.

What brings on this sudden declaration of devotion to the web? Simply the discovery of “Project Smile”. This is a CD-ROM created by fans for fans of the legendary unfinished Beach Boys album “Smile”. It features mp3’s, film footage, articles, fan writings, photos from the era, along with an updated section that covers the albums completion by composer Brian Wilson in 2004, 37 years after he first started it. ”Project Smile” is a free program that I downloaded yesterday using Bit Torrent, and which has blown my mind since I started playing with.

I’m a huge Beach Boys/Brian Wilson fan, and I like to think I’ve got a handle on the whole “Smile” thing, but combing through “Project Smile” I’m discovering things I’ve never heard before. And it’s all because of the world wide web. In this particular instance, it’s brought fans from all around the world together to create something totally unique. By the fans, for the fans, and totally free. 

So in honour of “Project Smile” (which is out there if you’re interested in tracking it down; for you music buffs it’s a treat), use Project Smile (all one word) as your bonus code. And check out a live clip from one of the finished album’s highlights below.

I can’t begin to tell you how tired I am of the Led Zeppelin rumours going around. I realize that they are one of the biggest bands in the history of the known universe and that millions of people are itching for another live show. But there’s just been so many false rumours out over the past year that considering anything credible just seems pointless.

Remember Giants Stadium being booked for an extended run? 

Remember when Ian Astbury implied to a crowd that he and the Cult would serve as opening act on the Led Zeppelin world tour?

Remember when members of Velvet Revolver said the same thing?

Or how about David Coverdale, who apparantly said he was just waiting for the call from Jimmy Page to have Whitesnake open the tour? Luckily it only took Coverdale a few days to clear this one up.

I don’t mean to be a buzzkill. I hope Led Zeppelin do play some more shows, and if they choose to come to Toronto, even better. 4 nights at Rogers Centre, 60,000 fans a night - that would make a lot of people happy. But even if this will happen, I wouldn’t count on August being the date. As I noted on Breaking Rock News, Robert Plant is on tour with Alison Krauss through July. I don’t think the band wouldn’t spend months preparing before performing in front of North American audiences, just like they did for their O2 show last year.

So, while we wait with baited breath for more rumours about the return of the Mighty Led Zeppelin, use the bonus code “wait” and check out footage from the band’s show last year. Have an excellent weekend!

UPDATED: Check out the excellent Robert Plant interview clip underneathe the Zep performance. It really says it all. Thanks to our friend IAMCANADIAN for sending it over.

Last night my wife and I froze our butts off at the Molson Amphitheatre watching Kanye West’s “Glow In The Dark” tour. It was our first hip-hop show and was totally enjoyable. Unlike most Toronto rock crowds these days, everyone was on their feet for all four artists on the bill (rapper Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D., Rihanna, and Kanye).

Kanye’s stage was what a rock show should be about - it was made to look like a desolate, rocky planet that he’d crashed a spaceship onto. There were lights, smoke, screens, and a hydraulic lift. While I thought all the bells and whistles were very cool, what I found most impressive was the fact that Kanye West was really a captivating one man show. I don’t know if the music was programmed or if there was a band underneathe the stage; either way, Kanye was the only person that appeared during his set. He’s a solid rapper and an energetic peformer who easily managed to keep all eyes on him for over an hour. I think that’s the sign of a great artist.

Bob Dylan had the same qualities for all those years when he’d stand in front of a crowd with just a guitar in hand. Neil Young is the same. In many ways, with his latest tour, Kanye West could be looked at as carrying on those traditions. Granted, Neil and Bob are two icons with two of the greatest canons of songs in the history of the world. Kanye West only has three albums to his credit so far. But given time and his ambition to be the brightest star on the planet, maybe one day West will follow in their footsteps. In the meantime, use West as your bonus code for today.

The other night the missus and I watched the glam rock flick “Velvet Goldmine” for the first time. Have you heard of it? I missed out on the movie when it first hit theatres nearly 10 years ago, so I was happy I finally discovered it. The story is a bit convoluted, telling the tale of a singer played by Jonathan Rhys Myers clearly patterned on David Bowie,. In fact, some would consider the flick “anti-Bowie”, including the Thin White Duke who wouldn’t allow any of this songs into the film.

One guys whose songs are featured is Iggy Pop. Iggy’s a character as well, though his name is changed to Curt Wild. Wild is played by Ewen McGregor, who is absolutely amazing. I’d post a clip in here, but the best one is WAY to risque and revealing and I’d really like to keep my job. But Ewen totally captures Iggy in his performance, especially his manic mannerisms on stage.

However, the movie is good, not great. The director is Todd Haynes, who was also behind the Dylan flick “I’m Not There” and is clearly not a fan of linear storytelling. That being said, the performance are all solid, the in-concert scenes are electric, and if you’re a fan of the glam you’ll probably get a real buzz from the movie. On that note, you might be interested to know that Iggy and the Stooges are coming to town August 6th to play Massey Hall. I’m assuming it will be pretty mind-blowing.

Use Iggy for today’s bonus code, and let me know if you’ve got any favourite glam rock artists or songs.

There are more than a few good novels out there that capture the spirit of rock and roll, but few do it as well as “The Armageddon Rag”, by George R.R. Martin. I picked this up a few weeks back at a book sale and didn’t know what to expect, seeing as how Martin’s work is more in the fantasy realm, which I’m not a big fan of. I was more than pleasantly surprised at how involved I became.

“The Armageddon Rag” takes place in the early 80’s and is the story of reporter Sandy Blair, who was a 60’s activist and journalist who begins investigating the murder of the former manager for a band called The Nazgul. The story finds Blair reconnecting with his old hippie friends and the former members of the band as he uncovers a plot to bring about the end of the world via a Nazgul reunion.

I’ve pretty much just done a cliff notes version of the story for you, but if you’re into rock (especially 60’s and 70’s) I heartily recommend “The Armageddon Rag”. The author spins a pretty clever mystery, but more than that, he captures the idealism of the 60’s and the feeling that music really can change the world (remember when people believed that?). And while the Nazgul never really existed, it’s hard not to think of the Mighty Led Zeppelin while reading about the past antics of the band. Once you finish the book, you may even wind up combing the cd stores looking for one of the Nazgul’s albums.

On that note, use Armageddon as today’s bonus code.

This week, original Rush drummer John Rutsey passed away at age 55 following complications from a lifelong battle with diabetes. Though there’s no footage out there of the original Rush line-up, I thought I’d post a video of Lee, Lifeson, and Peart performing the defining song from John Rutsey’s time with the band. Take a look, and why not raise a glass this weekend to Rush’s original stickman. You can use the song title as your bonus code (enter it as one word). Have a great long weekend!