Loudwire - Thrash Guitarists Play Their Biggest Influences
The discussion features various musicians sharing the pivotal moments and influences that inspired them to pick up the guitar. Scott Ian mentions Pete Townshend's windmill move as a visual inspiration rather than a specific riff. Others cite specific songs or riffs, such as "Electric Eye" by Judas Priest and "Electric Funeral" by Black Sabbath, as their initial motivators. The conversation also touches on the impact of bands like Metallica, with "Ride the Lightning" being a significant influence for one musician. The musicians emphasize the emotional connection and the powerful imagery associated with rock and metal music, which drove their passion for learning guitar. They also discuss the technical aspects of learning riffs and the evolution of their musical tastes, from classic rock to death metal, highlighting the role of bass lines and guitar patterns in shaping their musical journey.
Key Points:
- Pete Townshend's windmill move inspired Scott Ian to learn guitar.
- "Electric Eye" by Judas Priest and "Electric Funeral" by Black Sabbath were key riffs for starting guitarists.
- Metallica's "Ride the Lightning" was a major influence for aspiring guitarists.
- Musicians emphasize the emotional connection and imagery in rock and metal music.
- Technical aspects of learning riffs and evolving musical tastes are discussed.
Details:
1. 🎸 Guitar Inspirations: Legendary Influences
1.1. Visual Performance as a Guitar Influence
1.2. Diversity in First Songs Learned
2. 🎶 Early Influences: Iconic Guitar Heroes
- Richie Blackmore and Ted Nugent are pivotal guitar influences, admired for their exceptional guitar skills, distinct from their political views.
- The motivation to learn and play the guitar can be significantly driven by the admiration of guitar heroes.
- Specific guitar techniques and styles from these legends have been crucial in shaping personal guitar playing.
- The influence of these guitar heroes extends beyond just music, impacting personal dedication and approach to learning the guitar.
3. 🎵 First Riffs and Songs: Beatles to Creedence Clearwater Revival
3.1. Influence of Ted and Early Rock Bands
3.2. Learning Beatles Songs
3.3. Transition to Creedence Clearwater Revival
4. âš¡ Metal Journey: From Metallica to Judas Priest
- The speaker's musical journey began with learning 'Proud Mary' by Credence Clearwater Revival, highlighting the importance of walking bass lines in guitar-driven songs.
- The first complete song played on guitar was Metallica's 'Ride the Lightning,' an album noted for its memorable riffs and significant influence.
- Judas Priest's 'Electric Eye' was pivotal in inspiring the desire to play guitar.
- Initially a bass player, the speaker's transition to guitar was driven by learning songs by ear, demonstrating adaptability and aural skills.
- Specific challenges in transitioning from bass to guitar included adapting to different playing techniques and developing proficiency in guitar riffs.
5. 🎼 Evolution of Playing: Black Sabbath to Rainbow
5.1. First Song Learned: "Electric Funeral" by Black Sabbath
5.2. Early Influences and Aspirations
5.3. Inspiration from Angus Young
5.4. Admiration for Richie Blackmore
6. 🤘 Metal and Thrash Evolution: Iron Maiden and Beyond
- Steve Harris of Iron Maiden revolutionized metal music by making the bass guitar a central force in song composition, as demonstrated in tracks like 'Killers' and 'Wrathchild'.
- This shift inspired guitarists to adopt more intricate bass lines and heavy down-picking styles, which became a defining feature of metal music in the late 80s and early 90s.
- Iron Maiden's influence extended beyond their own music, impacting other bands in the genre to explore similar complex techniques and compositions.
- The evolution of guitar riffs in metal was marked by a transition from simpler riffs to complex single-note techniques, a trend significantly driven by Iron Maiden's innovative style.
- Bands following Iron Maiden began to focus on heavy down-picking and intricate guitar work, contributing to the characteristic sound of thrash and metal in subsequent decades.
7. 🎸 Thrash and Death Metal: Exodus, Destruction, and Cannibal Corpse
- Exodus's 'Lesson in Violence' showcases speed picking techniques that became a hallmark of thrash metal, influencing numerous bands in the genre.
- Destruction's 'Invincible Force' exemplifies German thrash metal, characterized by its aggressive guitar work and fast-paced rhythms.
- Sabotage, with early albums, influenced metal through innovative use of octaves by guitarist Chris, impacting future metal guitarists.
- Cannibal Corpse's 'I Come Blood' is notable for its memorable verse riff, often used in live soundchecks, highlighting the band's influence in death metal.