Why the hate?

MicahC · #1 06-02-2008, 12:28 PM

Why the Herman Li hate? I was watching a Vai video on youtube and one of the comments said "Vai, Satch, Yngwie, and Herman are some of the best" and the guy got a million responses that threatened various ways that various objects would penetrate his anus. :P

I agree that he isn't the best guitarist ever, but he is quite good IMHO.

Why doesn't anyone like him?

chaos731 · #2 06-02-2008, 12:43 PM

I have strongly mixed feelings about Herman Li (mostly because his playing lacks soul, at least in the context of the admittedly limited exposure I've had to his Dragonforce material; their stuff is waaaay too formulaic and it all appears to follow the exact same structure), but technically, he's a pretty solid player. I will say, though, that anybody's scale runs will sound infinitely better when doubled/enhanced by keys and backed by merciless kick-drum droning.

All of that said, the hate for Li can be chalked up to the typical tropes; namely, a mixture of jealously, dislike and/or distaste for the core music and/or playing style, and the incontrovertible evidence suggesting that Li is basically a big ol' video game geek who happens to play the guitar pretty well.

Can't remember what mag it was, but I recently read an interview that Li conducted with his idol John Petrucci (it was a British mag, probably Total Guitar). Li was admirably humble and exhibited unabashed fanboy glee when talking to Petrucci. You could almost see the guy jumping up and down with excitement. That little interview actually improved my opinion of Li a great deal, though I'm not sure why. Maybe it was the humility.

MicahC · #3 06-02-2008, 12:55 PM

Thanks for replying

Yes, his playing does lack soul and stuff, but the style of music he's playing really doesn't need it. When you listen to it you want to hear speed and cool sounds, and you aren't really looking that much for the stuff that he puts into it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaos731

All of that said, the hate for Li can be chalked up to the typical tropes; namely, a mixture of jealously, dislike and/or distaste for the core music and/or playing style, and the incontrovertible evidence suggesting that Li is basically a big ol' video game geek who happens to play the guitar pretty well.

That's the vibe I get from most people. Now, I like pretty much every type of music there is, but my friends are mostly metalheads. I ask them why they don't like Dragonforce and they said because they're all nerds and the music sounds too happy. How can something be too happy? Then I gleefully pointed out that Cradle of Filth (one of my friends favorites) is composed almost entirely of Star Wars geeks. They said nothing after that.

I also read that interview and many others that had to do with him, and it was totally NOT what I expected. The guy is down to earth and not at all a gigantic idiot like many musicians today are. Then I joined Jemsite and found he posted here back in the day, and that just made him go up a notch. I mean, from what I've read from his interviews and whanot, he's the type of guy you'd wanna hang out with more than most people out there today.

If anyone reads this thread could you give your reasons?

CosmicDebris · #4 06-02-2008, 01:12 PM

I hate him for the fact he gets free guitars from Ibby and I don't. Its a jealousy thing other than that I know very little to nothing about him.

chaos731 · #5 06-02-2008, 01:20 PM

Funny that you should mention Cradle of Filth.

I've actually met Dani Filth a few times, and honestly? The guy's an egotistical jerk. I'm not a huge fan of Cradle by any means, but it's amazing how much egotism and general dickery can be crammed into such a teeny little guy. Even with his enormous platform boots on, he can be more than like 5'6" or so. Not that there's anything inherently wrong with being a teeny little guy, but seriously...I've met dozens upon dozens of celebrities and "famous" musicians in my life, and that guy is SERIOUSLY overcompensating for something...though I'm not sure what. Whatever. He comes off as a badass, and maybe he is, who knows, but the point is that Herman Li, whether or not you like his playing, seems at least to be a decent enough dude. So, that wins points in my book.

chaos731 · #6 06-02-2008, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmicDebris

I hate him for the fact he gets free guitars from Ibby and I don't. Its a jealousy thing other than that I know very little to nothing about him.

+1...
Yeah, there is that, isn't there?

Anybody who gets free guitars ibbys is worthy of pure, green-eyed hatred.

I'm with ya, man.

Jemwielder · #7 06-02-2008, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MicahC

Thanks for replying

Yes, his playing does lack soul and stuff, but the style of music he's playing really doesn't need it. When you listen to it you want to hear speed and cool sounds, and you aren't really looking that much for the stuff that he puts into it.

All music requires soul to be played. Anything that lacks soul sounds uninteresting and is often quickly forgotten. That's why I don't lose sleep over Dragonforce becoming a lasting phenomenon. As for Herman himself, I get the distinct impression that he's a relatively solid player but mainly just a guy who happened to get lucky and no better, and likely far less deserving than a lot of the folks on this forum. I can't help but feel that he lacks knowledge of the instrument. Mainly where the notes are. Mainly on that you tube video where it takes him quite some time to recognize that his in his opinion brilliant "A major arpeggio with a little extra bit thrown in" was in fact just an A major 7 arpeggio. The fact that there are guitar players who lack that core knowledge and are revered as great guitar players is what keeps me up at night. Especially because I borrowed enough money to jump start a third world economy so I could go to Berklee and am in fact struggling to even find a band to play with.

Rachmaninoff · #8 06-02-2008, 01:33 PM

I don't hate him, I just don't like him.

But he receives free ibbys... and I don't...
Yeah, I do hate him.

MicahC · #9 06-02-2008, 01:40 PM

Heh, it's almost common knowlege now that Dani Filth is a jerk. But, for being so small, he sure can get some crazy vocals. But, if I like that band then I like the band. It doesn't matter if the members are idiots if the music is good. But, if that members are cool, then it just makes the music all the better imo.

And Jemwielder, isn't getting into the music industry mostly luck anyway? That's what you hear all the time from alot of people, the "I just got lucky" line. It's either that or they were playing and some record guy saw them play and liked it. It seems like it's just luck and being in the right place at the right time. SOme people actually work really hard to get in, sending demos to companys and such but those people usually get in after enough perseverance.

And I agree with the free Ibby thing.....

**Ayrton** · #10 06-02-2008, 02:39 PM

I don't know Herman, (seems pleasant enough when he post here), so I have no opinion on him. I just don't care for his band is all.

Scali · #11 06-02-2008, 03:15 PM

I think it's funny how people are quick to point out that Herman Li "is not the best guitarist in the world".
Perhaps not, then again, he's still better than most... he's much better than I am, for starters.
Oh, and the E-gen is a fantastic guitar, thanks Herman Li!

Silver Sable · #12 06-02-2008, 03:30 PM

I like Herman a lot. Sure he plays a lot of noodly noodly real fast, but then again so does Petrucci and Malmstein. None of it is stuff I want to just sit and listen to at length, but of the three, I enjoy Li the most. The stuff he and his bandmates play is happy and fun, and full of energy. Makes me want to go jump around in one of those big blow up jumpy things or play lasertag. He is still quite young and my guess is that he'll continue to develop into a solid all around player. And yeah, he can play licks that most people wouldn't even think of... not to mention he loves experimenting with ways to get new weird sounds from his instrument.

As a person he seems funny and laid back. He has taken a TON of mocking and laughed it all off. Not many people could be thrust into the spotlight like that and completely ridiculed and still come out laughing.

Anyway... most people dislike anyone who gets a modicum of fame even if they don't know anything about them. That's just pure jealousy. And yeah, becoming a hit in the music biz is all about luck. Seriously, there is no set formula for how to get there. There is a ton of music out there that is excellent stuff... but no one listens to it. Why is that? We could go on infinitly about how unfair things are and who deserves what and music labels blah blah blah... but in the end, those who are meant to be famous end up famous. Those who are driven to create beautiful pieces of artistic expression continue to make it even if no one is listening.

So stop haterizing yo!

MicahC · #13 06-02-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scali

Oh, and the E-gen is a fantastic guitar, thanks Herman Li!

This is quite true. Purple+flamed maple= sex in guitar form. And all those configuration options! Good lord.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver Sable

The stuff he and his bandmates play is happy and fun, and full of energy. Makes me want to go jump around in one of those big blow up jumpy things or play lasertag. He is still quite young and my guess is that he'll continue to develop into a solid all around player.

I can't disagree with anything you just said, but I agree with that the most.

**jim777** · #14 06-02-2008, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaos731

Funny that you should mention Cradle of Filth.

I've actually met Dani Filth a few times, and honestly? The guy's an egotistical jerk. I'm not a huge fan of Cradle by any means, but it's amazing how much egotism and general dickery can be crammed into such a teeny little guy. Even with his enormous platform boots on, he can be more than like 5'6" or so. Not that there's anything inherently wrong with being a teeny little guy, but seriously...

James "7 Dying trees" was in Cradle for a while, tours and albums and all that. He could probably tell you some stories

Ibateur · #15 06-02-2008, 04:27 PM

Re the music, I find it boring and extremely repetitive. All the doublebass constantly just really rips my eardrums to shreds. There's a fan base there so great for him and his band.

Re him personally, I think he's cool. He posts here.

I respect people who are passionate about what they do. He seems passionate about it. What I would like to see more is that passion flowing through to what Dragonforce records as a band. And, a bit of diversity.