"Legends" that should cease to be?

chaos731 · #1 06-12-2008, 11:37 AM

Ok...sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, I'm not trying to be a troll or to start a flame war (though that could conceivably happen anyway, I will admit)...let's just get that out of the way from the start.

I seriously want to know everybody's response to this.

Here's the question...is there a guitarist (dead or alive) that has achieved "legend" status, and whose "legend" status you feel is undeserved? In lay terms, whose legacy do you wish would just go away, never to be heard from again?

And here's the part that's likely to piss some folks off (though again, not on purpose). My choice would be one "Dimebag" Darrell. Alright...I get it...he was a very serviceable guitarist, and he may have captured (in some small way) the zeitgeist for a lot of folks, but seriously...does the really deserve to be canonized to the same degree as, say, Hendrix or even Randy Rhoads? I'm so godawful sick of seeing this guy on magazine covers and stuff. Just how many Special Double-Sized Super Mega Ultra Tribute Issues does Guitar World really need to run?

I'm sure he was a lovely guy, and it's tragic that the guy's life was cut short by so asinine a series of events, but really...someone please explain this to me...why has he become this patron saint of metal guitar? It's almost as bad as all the misplaced Kurt Cobain-worship in some circles. Again, not trying to offend...just to start a considered, adult discussion of this phenomenon.

Nevertheless, I'm going to go ahead and duck so as to dodge the salmonella-tainted tomatoes that some people are going to want to throw in my direction.

Robotalk · #2 06-12-2008, 12:18 PM

You make a great point. I haven't heard much by Pantera, but I never thought of Dimebag as a "guitar god." I'd been scratching my head at all the marketing he's received. But, you're right, plenty of people will be upset by our balking at this trend...

SeanB · #3 06-12-2008, 12:40 PM

I've never thought of him as a guitar god.
But I think he was so highly considered because of his personality, the fact that he was much better at guitar than he needed to be for the music he played, he wrote phenomenal riffs and gave SO much inspiration to kids to start playing guitar. I am however sick of all HOW much I see him on magazines etc...a lot of people INCLUDING Dean guitars seem to be cashing in on his death and it saddens me.

But yeah, awsome dude, I personally think he is worthy of the guitar legend title.

I don't know who should have their status taken away........if I was forced...I would probably say Eric Clapton but that is purely because I don't enjoy his music.

southpaw_lefty · #4 06-12-2008, 12:41 PM

Personally I always liked Dime's style and abilities but 'legend'? I think alot of the attention he gets now is due to the circumstances of his death. Anyway I miss him.

This argument could be turned around too. What about guitarists that haven't been placed as high as they should be. Shawn Lane comes to mind.

chaos731 · #5 06-12-2008, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southpaw_lefty

This argument could be turned around too. What about guitarists that haven't been placed as high as they should be. Shawn Lane comes to mind.

Yeah, it could be turned around. There are probably hundreds, if indeed not thousands, of guitarists who are better players, and have equally affecting personalities and/or brightly-dyed goatee-braids. But for the sake of the argument, let's assume that most musicians will never, ever, ever not even by a long shot get even a fraction of the recognition and/or adoration that they may or may not deserve. What I'm talking about is everyone's opinion of who, in their opinion, SHOULDN'T get that adoration or recognition.

ken_r152 · #6 06-12-2008, 12:56 PM

Personally, ...I think the trouble is with the magazine(s). They tend to go with the flow and parrot back what we want to hear rather than trying to find new, amazing artists. The better magazines don't do this as much, but they tend to be a bit more expensive. It's probably a matter of budget. If a magazine doesn't have a large budget, they're more likely to "go with the flow" and talk about a guitarist who they know is already a winner.

Scali · #7 06-12-2008, 12:58 PM

I would say that many (if not most) 'guitar heroes' were actually propelled to a godlike status for all sorts of reasons that don't have much to do with their guitarplaying at all...
For example, the popularity of the band they were in, or the fact that they died in an unusual/memorable way...

zEr0 · #8 06-12-2008, 01:30 PM

EVH

Every note that guy has ever played sounds like cr@p to me............

chaos731 · #9 06-12-2008, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zEr0

EVH

Every note that guy has ever played sounds like cr@p to me............

Now you're just talkin' crazy...
just kidding...to each his own...that's the whole point...keep 'em coming.

**Ayrton** · #10 06-12-2008, 01:43 PM

It really does not matter what you or any of us think, magazines are going to do what they can to sell more magazines.

I have pretty much given up buying Guitar World anyway, because it is such a steaming pile of poo.

Scali · #11 06-12-2008, 02:01 PM

I can just say that Youtube was a real eye-opener for me.
Over the years I've found quite a few guitarists that are REALLY good, better than many of these well-known 'guitargods', but they aren't that popular.
And I suppose on these forums we have certain 'underground' guitarheroes aswell... as in heroes that us forumers know, but most other people probably have never heard of, because they've never really been in the top 40 or a popular band or anything...
Then I think of guys like Andy Timmons, Guthrie Govan or Greg Howe for example.

MicahC · #12 06-12-2008, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayrton

I have pretty much given up buying Guitar World anyway, because it is such a steaming pile of poo.

Same here. Although, I did buy one when they reviewed the Allender sig. I like purple guitars :P

Anyway, the magazines and guitar makers are there to make a profit. If they started putting random unknown guitar players on the front of their magazines(or made their sigs) then the average person walking by the magazine wouldn't pick it up because they don't care about the kid on the front, and the sig guitar would never sell. There are hundreds of people that do not get the recognition that they deserve, but that's the way it goes.

And in the case of Dimebag, I read somewhere that he had never even played one of his Razorback guitars.....but they're selling them in his name. That kinda annoyed me even though I have no interest in the guys music at all.

Scali · #13 06-12-2008, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MicahC

And in the case of Dimebag, I read somewhere that he had never even played one of his Razorback guitars.....but they're selling them in his name. That kinda annoyed me even though I have no interest in the guys music at all.

Isn't it the same with Randy Rhoads though? I believe he only ever played that white Jackson prototype, still with the Strat-style tremolo on it. But if you look at all the Rhoads guitars that Jackson put out over the years... and then other guitarists making their own siguature out of it...
It's bad enough that Gibson's Les Paul signature got so carried away, and the original artist for whom the signature was originally created has little or no control over it anymore.

marianozz · #14 06-12-2008, 02:15 PM

LOL, when i read the thread title i thought this was about legends that should stop playing, "quit while theyre ahead" sorta, instead of keep putting stuff out that will never match their former glory...

(and i think 99% of our guitar idols are at that point now)

MicahC · #15 06-12-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scali

Isn't it the same with Randy Rhoads though?

No, I believe that Rhoads actually helped in the design and played a few. As always, I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure. And I'm not gonna start on that Les Paul junk....