September 04, 2008
Frankenstein Replica
OK. Too much politics yesterday. Now for something completely different, Eddie Van Halen's guitar...or actually guitar replica. I'm not into the whole artist endorsing instruments crap but this short film on the replica of Eddie's famous Frankenstein guitar is pretty cool just for getting some of the history of the real guitar from the artist himself.
Old Eddie looks and sounds about like a bum who lives under the bridge after years of smoking and alcohol abuse but there is no taking from him the influence he had on rock. In fact, in my opinion Van Halen is one of the last three great game changing American rock bands along with the Ramones and finally Nirvana being the last.
VH had such an influence on my youth that I can actually remember where I was the first time FM 104 in Toledo played the entire Women and Children First Album. I also remember where I was the first time I held the vinyl and saw the WACF album cover. In fact, I was at the house of one of the readers of this blog when I first held that vinyl. (hint hint Matt) I might also mention that the first time I heard Michael Jackson's Thriller album was with that same individual. :-)
Eddie Van Halen Frankenstein Replica Film
It was great having older brothers, sometimes! We were able listen to all their cool albums without having to buy them ourselves. Life was easy when we were young!! Let me take us back.... we were listening to Van Halen, ACDC, Judus Priest or whatever down in the "slave quarters" taking turns banging on my brother's drum set drinking ice cold pepsi and mello yello. Those were the days!!
Posted by: Matt at September 4, 2008 02:07 PMChris--
You named the last three. I'd be interested in hearing which rock bands you consider to have been the first three, and the middle three...
I can't do three. I have to go with 4 for the first and the middle. I just have to and mind the fact that this is rock, just rock. I am not factoring in any strains of related R&B, country, or other very influential and related genres
First Four:
Little Richard, Elvis, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly
Middle Four:
Bob Dylan, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin
Final Three
The Ramones, Van Halen, Nirvana
That's painful having to do that. There are so many greats missing but if pressed...
All good choices. I think that you need to have The Velvet Underground in there somewhere, though. Everything "alternative" stems from there.
Posted by: Rodak at September 4, 2008 06:10 PMYeah, I agree with that. The challenge is in that middle. That is the top of bell of rock music creation and where all the branching happened. I have been torn ever since I wrote this about my picks in the middle. For example, how could I have not included Hendrix or Clapton and Cream whose influence would be evident in so many after them.
Posted by: keesey at September 4, 2008 08:08 PMYeah. I, too, was going to mention Cream. But, then, if you mention Cream you kind of have to mention The Yardbirds, and/or John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers.
I think that the VU is essential, however, in that they really were quite unique in a lot of ways, and they really did inspire a whole vein of the rock music that followed them.
David Bowie needs honorable mention, as well.