Yes happy birthday Ed. Saw you several times back in the 80's and it was quite the show. Hope your health improves.

Fascinating thread title. Will the general public ever fully embrace another guitar player like they did EVH?

Guitarheads loved Vai and Malmsteen; plenty of very wise and attractive people (that's us) dig Derek Trucks; John Mayer has gathered a crowd of admirers; Prince got recognition for his guitar chops.

But will we see a guitarist who really achieves mass popularity for his guitar innovations again, the way EVH did?

Fascinating thread title. Will the general public ever fully embrace another guitar player like they did EVH?

Guitarheads loved Vai and Malmsteen; plenty of very wise and attractive people (that's us) dig Derek Trucks; John Mayer has gathered a crowd of admirers; Prince got recognition for his guitar chops.

But will we see a guitarist who really achieves mass popularity for his guitar innovations again, the way EVH did?

Sorry …..I was just quoting a Billboard mag that came out a few yrs ago. 😉

I remember when that issue was released. I thought, WOW, that's a pretty heavy, bold statement.

The era we live in today "guitar player/god" is not as celebrated to the degree as it once was 30,40,50yrs ago.

That was a different time and place where guitar based rock was the "thing". The style/genre was being born out of the 60's and bloomed full in the 70's for sure, and kept going well into the 80's. Thats where it all started with Clapton,Page,Beck,Blackmore,Peter Green,Townshend,Angus,Richards,Iommi,Allman,Betts etc...where do I stop. Bands like Zep,Bad Company,Free,Purple,Sabbath, KISS , Cheap Trick,Skynyrd ruled the radio with that type of music. And like I mentioned, others well into the 80's. Those guys invented a style/genre of playing that went on to influence many.

Like I mentioned above the time we live in now, and the type of music we love, is not what it use to be. We all know that. It has not been the predominate choice for quite some time. The last few decades other genres of music have garnered the attention of the masses. Yes "our" music is still around, but the "guitar god" status is not bestowed and handed out to the degree it once was. Maybe its the society we live in,a generational thing...times change and so does the trends of different music that is favored. Guitar music is not as prevalent to influence the younger generation to go grab a six string and write those classic riffs. How does that turn around and bounce back? I'm trying!!!

Back to EVH. But the more I thought about that cover and statement....yeah,to this date.....yeah its pretty true. No doubt there has been great players since he came on the scene, but nowhere near the impact that he had. He was an innovator, influenced multi generations, over flowing with talent that few had, he could write, bounce between lead and rhythm playing seamlessly(not to many can/could be as fluid as him in that regard.)

I wont debate that there have been very important players over that last 40yrs,because that would be ignorant on my part. But to do what he did and what "ALL" embodies EVH as a guitar player? No one comes close in my mind from him on.

I was listening to a podcast recently where they were talking EVH and said in reference to Eruption: " Is there a more important 1:42 seconds in Rock?" I would have to agree.

[Edited on 1/27/2020 by jszfunk]

[Edited on 1/27/2020 by jszfunk]

[Edited on 1/27/2020 by jszfunk]