Zakk Wylde on RollingStone's Top 100 Guitarists: "Eddie Should Be Number One!!"

[FH]

ZAKK WYLDE Weighs In On ROLLING STONE's 'Top Guitarists' List - Jan. 9, 2004

OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Zakk Wylde recently spoke to Sleaze Grinder about Rolling Stone magazine's much-criticized list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

"Put it this way," Wylde began. "When Eddie Van Halen is number 70 and Randy Rhoads is number 85, I mean, bottom line is I have to play Randy Rhoads' shit every night. I idolize Randy Rhoads. I still got posters of Randy Rhoads in my garage right now, in my weight room. I carry them on the bus. I love Randy Rhoads to death man, so I mean, the whole thing is just like, I've got to play Randy's shit every night. Last time I checked, Joan Jett can't play fucking 'Mr. Crowley', you know what I'm saying?

"You've got to laugh at the thing," Wylde continued. "I mean, Joe Satriani isn't in there. Steve Vai isn't in there. Yngwie Malmsteen isn't in that fucking list. Slash isn't in there. They are some of the sickest guitar players that have ever walked this planet. I mean, I'm a guitar player. Do you know how good fucking Yngwie is? It's beyond fucking sick. The fact that Yngwie isn't in it is just fucking mind-boggling to me. People can say what they want about Yngwie, but it's just like naming the 10 greatest singers of all time and not putting Pavarotti in it, you know what I'm saying? Yngwie is a virtuoso.

"Obviously Jimi Hendrix is going to be the patron son of guitar, like Babe Ruth. No matter who hits more home runs than The Babe, The Babe is going to be, you know, The Babe. But the thing is, Jimi Hendrix couldn't play 'Spanish Fly' or 'Eruption'. Technically. I'm telling you. Flat out. Just couldn't do it. Jimi got a bunch of gear that nobody ever had before, you know what I am saying? So, he was able to do it before anyone else, and I understand that, but Eddie brought it to a whole other level technically.

"As far as I'm concerned, Eddie Van Halen should be number one. And then Randy Rhoads would have to be in the top three or top five. He'd have to be."
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[ericgtr]

Man, I can't get enough of Zakk. He's got a great attitude and tells it how it is not to mention he is a fantastic player. Good for him for speaking up about that fucked up list.

[wahwah]

Zakk is a hero of mine because of his no shit attitude. He says when he joined Ozzy in 1989, he was a boy. Nows he's a meat eating, beer guzzlin'200lb grizzly. He takes no prisoners and has WAILED since day one. The first time I heard Miracle Man, I had to stop the fucking car to hear the solo-it was so tight playing wise, it was like a fuckin' sequencer was playing it. I'm not a huge Ozzy fan but his guitarists have always stood out...Jake E Lee was a great player as well and Randy was light years ahead. Incidentally, has anybody heard Zakk's solo on the live Ozzy video? He does 'Eruption'! Top player...

[wahwah]

...oh and haven't seen poll but I'm reckoning Hendrix, Clapton, Page in top 10?

[wahwah]

I've posted the full list in The Lounge. Figured it's social as well as guitar and we should see it. Hope you don't mind but it's a good thread! [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img]

Zakk is awesome for saying tha about eddie and randy rhodes.

[classalpha]

Zakk Wylde = [img]images/smilies/rock.gif[/img]

Zakk & EVH = all must [img]images/smilies/icon_bowdown.gif[/img]

[eternal]

EVH at the top of the list? are u kidding! LMAO Michael Romeo from Symphony X destroys EVH. there is so many guitarists that aint on that list that are better then any of them. Marty Friedman, Jason Becker, Emmpu from Nightwish, Olaf from Labyrinth, Michael Angelo, Vinnie Moore, Chris Impellitteri, George Bellas etc etc etc

[SuckaInA3Piece]

You have to be kidding me man. EVH is one of the greatest song writers in the history of music. Forget just rock and roll. The guy is one of the best song writers and guitar players EVER. No disrespect to those guys you listed, but in my book there's only Eddie and Jimi. Everybody else is great in their own right, but nothing like those too. And nobody can take away from all the accomplishments and innovations these gentlemen brought to the table.

[eternal]

Dude Becker was only 18 when he wrote his stuff for 1.....check out Marty Friedmans solo albums Scences, and Introduction.....thats Real song writing and Real composing

[SuckaInA3Piece]

I dig Marty, and Music For Speeding is a good album as well, but he's no EVH. You have to conisder everything that EVH has done for music in general. It's not all about the playing. The guy's innovations alone make him number one in my book.

[SuckaInA3Piece]

By the way, do you think there would have been a Jason Becker or Marty Friedman without Eddie Van Halen being the pioneer first? I really dont think so. You can clearly hear an EVH influence in both of their styles, and I've heard Marty sing praises about Ed. So take all that into account when you're speaking of Ed. If there's no Ed, then alot of guitar hero's might be working at Burger King today.

[ericgtr]

[ QUOTE ]
eternal said:
EVH at the top of the list? are u kidding! LMAO Michael Romeo from Symphony X destroys EVH. there is so many guitarists that aint on that list that are better then any of them. Marty Friedman, Jason Becker, Emmpu from Nightwish, Olaf from Labyrinth, Michael Angelo, Vinnie Moore, Chris Impellitteri, George Bellas etc etc etc

[/ QUOTE ]

Ahh.. Masters of the never ending scale at Mach II. No doubt these are great players but most of the ones you mentioned play with the stale feel of a rice cake.

[SuckaInA3Piece]

Exactly Eric. I have nothing against those guys you listed Eternal, but come on. This is Eddie Van Halen we're talking bout here. His rhythm skills alone make him better then most of those guitarists that Rolling Stone listed.

[eternal]

if i was to put EVH at any rank it would be in the top 10, but i would not give him the Number 1 spot. u cant just think about his little taps and fills that stuff aint hard, gotta look at his overall playing. All im trying to say is there is many Guitarist's better then EVH plain and simple and u know it.