#the greatest guitarist you've never heard of

[allthedesiredusernamesaretaken]

...sound of rebellion ...

Rory Gallagher's Sunburst 1961 Fender Strat guitar

[maximuswolf]

Artists you've probably never heard about but are a few of the greatest

Artists you've probably never heard about but are a few of the greatest Paco de Lucía : Virtuoso Flamenco guitarist and composer. considered the best guitarist ever https://youtu.be/2oyhlad64-s?si=UQalymvHuihX3PcmCamarón de la Isla : Flamenco singer.Nino Bravo : Baroque pop and ballad singerJulio Iglesias(probably heard of him) : https://youtu.be/s_MexVOFApw?si=vjg9pVyLC5-bPalfJoselito : child singer and film star Rocío Durcal : https://youtu.be/8DE4H7bd0vs?si=a2YBaDGHdh6eZDBbCamilo Sesto: https://youtu.be/0xyfnlWs9QA?si=WpdzORYvaPP-QKE5Raphael : (Christmas carol) https://youtu.be/sIjRW60Fqyc?si=xv_mJJRSil84LXFn Submitted July 24, 2024 at 12:41PM by HeartDry https://ift.tt/BU1efnu via /r/Music

[crmsndragonwngss]

Can you share more of the Arch Enemy drama? Or did I miss a post you already did?

Oh no this happened a while back, long before I changed the direction of this blog. But sure, I’d be happy to! And I'm sorry this took so long! I wanted to get all my facts straight and cite all my sources, and then my brother called and I talked to him for like an hour lol

Anyway, here's a very lengthy rundown under the cut!

First, it’s fair to note that Jeff’s split with Arch Enemy in 2023 was amicable and he only had wonderful things to say about them. When the real drama went down with the photographer happened in 2018, he said absolutely nothing, which idk I think that speaks volumes. Jeff Loomis isn’t one to rock the boat and never really has been, so this wasn’t a surprising reaction at all. I’d love to hear his thoughts on it, but that will never happen. I'm not sure about whether the rest of the band weighed in on the controversy. I don't follow any of them and never have.

But anyway, basically what happened with Jeff was Michael Amott, founder, guitarist, and songwriter for Arch Enemy, essentially froze him out of the songwriting process. Jeff had expressed in 2018 that he had lots of ideas he really wanted to pitch to the band, but was always met with a firm pass because supposedly none of his ideas fit with the style Arch Enemy was known for. He went on to say that he had written several songs for Will to Power (2017), but they didn’t make it on the record, again because of style, but that he did get to do some solos that time around, which made him happy. He didn't get to write anything for Deceivers (2022) either.

Like imagine hiring Jeff Loomis, the lead guitarist and songwriter of Nevermore, one of the greatest bands that ever fucking existed, and then never giving him a chance to actually be Jeff Loomis. That’s not a coincidence. Alissa White-Gluz even said that she wanted to work with Jeff in her upcoming solo project, which has yet to happen because she's been too busy with Arch Enemy. She even noted in 2015, a year after Loomis joined the band, how good the band's chemistry is on stage, despite, y'know, the whole not allowing him to write anything part.

Now don’t get me wrong, Michael Amott is a genius and a legend in his own right, but holy shit, you call yourself the man’s friend and then let him stagnate in the band you asked him to join? The fuck? Also note that Christopher Amott and Nick Cordle were both credited as songwriters in albums they appeared on. Loomis is the only guitarist in their personnel history to only have one credit next to his name (not including a temporary touring guitarist). I guess we'll see how they credit Loomis's replacement, Joey Concepcion (who is Christopher Amott's... I guess you could say protégé, so do with that information what you will).

Also, as an aside, Michael Amott has a notoriously toxic outlook on the metal scene. He's stated that he doesn't listen to current metal, his reasoning being some better-than-you if you've heard it once you've heard it all bullshit. He's also said that he thinks metal should stay underground, stating that, "this is an alternative to the mainstream; it's an alternative to all that very premeditated, cynical approach to music. I mean, this is something that's from the heart and soul, and I want it to stay that way." Y'know, implying that only underground music can possibly be from the heart and soul, despite Arch Enemy themselves being one of the most mainstream death metal bands in the industry (which Blabbermouth hammered home in the lines below that particular quote). The dude has always read as an asshole to me, but that's just my opinion.

Now on to the meat and potatoes of why I strongly dislike Arch Enemy, which is what I have a feeling you're actually asking about. This is where the band outed itself as a vitriolic hit team, and the entire reason I will never listen to their music again. As a photographer myself who has had my work exploited because the thieves didn't value or respect my copyright, this hit real close to home for me, so I admit that I may have taken and continue to take this a little more personally than perhaps I should, but I digress.

The controversy centers around the tremendously talented J. Salmeron, a Dutch concert photographer and journalist for Metal Blast Magazine. He's also an attorney, and is no stranger to issuing take down notices. Essentially, one of his photos was reposted by Thunderball Clothing, who designed Alissa White-Gluz's stage outfit, in a misguided effort to use the image as advertisement. They reposted it from Alissa's instagram, who had reposted it from Metal Blast. Salmeron, and indeed many togs who do this sort of work, often allow artists to repost pictures of themselves without asking for permission first. It's... really not polite to do that, but it's usually not commercial in nature so most folks'll let it slide. People often wrongly assume that they are allowed to use photos of themselves for free and for whatever they want just because they're in it, and metal frontwomen are no exception. The photographer is the sole copyright owner of any image they take, full stop. If you wish to use a picture of yourself that a photographer took, you'll usually have to pay for it.

So Salmeron sent the clothing company a take down notice that you can read in full here, but this is the part that pissed everybody off:

In general, I charge a fee of at least €500 (five hundred Euro) to businesses that have posted my work in an unauthorized manner. In this case, however, I would be willing to forget about this problem and let you keep up the above post in exchange for a donation of €100 (one hundred Euro) to the Dutch Cancer Foundation. This is an organization that seeks to benefit cancer research as well as improve the quality of life of cancer patients. I can send you a link for the donation (which would be direct to the foundation, not through me) if you accept this method of payment.

Instead of responding to the take down notice, the designer of the clothing company decided to email Angela Gassow, former frontwoman and current manager of Arch Enemy, accusing him of threatening her. I really, really recommend reading Salmeron's article, because he gives a brief once over of what exactly is and is not legal regarding photography copyright, as well as highlighting the truly shitty and grossly exploitative behavior many musicians aim at photographers, who are fellow artists and who are just as essential to the music industry as actual musicians are. Also, keep in mind that the designer did apologize to Salmeron. She admitted to her mistake and attempted to rectify the situation, which Salmeron privately and later publicly accepted in an effort to shield her from a lot of really undeserved hate overzealous supporters lobbed her way. This hate was NOT a result of Salmeron's article, it was a result of Angela and Alissa straight up lying about everything.

Long story short, Salmeron ended up getting banned from all future Arch Enemy concerts for life, and so did his publication. Then Angela and Alissa both attempted to slander him all over the industry by copying in the label reps and booking agents they work with, whom Angela promised would alert promoters to the falsehoods she invented to demonize him in a blatant attempt to destroy his career. She ended up destroying the clothing designer's career instead, but she'd never admit to that. The best part? This isn't even the first time this has happened. Another Dutch concert photojournalist, Anouk Timmerman, was blacklisted from shooting Arch Enemy shows for life in 2009 after she asked Angela Gassow to take her photos off of her personal website, lest she be invoiced 75,000 euros per photo, for a total of eight photos.

So yeah, they're just really toxic, shitty people and I'm glad Jeff Loomis finally decided to ditch 'em lol

[metalhead-brainrot]

[Album of the day] Phantom Spell - Immortal's Requiem

Murcia, Spain // 2022 // Wizard Tower Records / Wizard Tower Recordings

[Genres] classic prog rock

[Themes] immortal wizards have problems too

[FFO] Seven Sisters, Iron Maiden, prog rock/proto metal, chiptune, classic fantasy à la David Eddings.

[Thoughts]

You may have heard of Seven Sisters, a UK-based heavy metal band from that NWOTHM revival in the late 2010s;* Kevin McNeill is the frontman, guitarist, vocalist, and occasional producer. During the depths of COVID, the band (like many) was unable to record, and Kevin McNeill started this personal project, Phantom Spell.

Immortal's Requiem is simply infectious. As prog rock goes, it's not quite interested in playing the technical game, like Rush or Emerson, Lake, and Palmer,** opting instead for a more relaxed approach to progressive (McNeill lists more of his inspirations below).

Contemporary prog rock is a strange and altogether different discussion from its founders. Prog rock founders in the 70s existed in an artistic space predating metal, often cited as the inspirations for bands in the First Wave of heavy metal.*** 70s prog rock was the heaviest music of its time, the most recent innovation from the rock scene. But contemporary prog rock (and hard rock) exists in a world where metal already exists; choosing to make contemporary prog rock isn't part of the innovation game, it's revisiting an older style. And while I spend a lot of time keeping up with the innovations and trends, I think it says more about the artist in particular when they time-travel to a particular era of the past.

Phantom Spell labors over the floor with chalk in hand, taking its time to craft the perfect summoning circle to facilitate your time-travel to an era of the past. The songs are filled with sorcerous inspiration; the dramatic fantasy sung in McNeill's powerful vocals remind me of listening to Seventh Son of a Seventh Son for the first time. "Black Spire Curse" is an instrumental chiptune track (i.e. chiptune methods to prog rock ends) that serves as an ode to another musical trend from the era, shaking hands with the fantasy-focused videogames of yesteryear.

I've pretty mush said enough at this point, but I would like to highlight that when you purchase Immortal's Requiem on Bandcamp, you get access to two hidden tracks: a cover of "Moonchild" by Rory Gallagher (i.e. the greatest guitarist you've never heard of) and an alternate release of Phantom Spell's first track, "Keep On Running" (I prefer the alternate, both are good).

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* If you haven't, go listen. The instrumentation is all solid, the music inspiring, and the album artwork great.

The band name is most likely a reference to the Pleiades, seven stars that, in ancient Greek mythos, were the (cough) companions of Artemis. The Seven Sisters are also referenced as the seventh song on The Sword's 2012 album, Apocryphon.

I somehow missed the Seven Sisters on my big heavy metal kick through the late 2010s, but I'm glad I eventually found my lighted by their stars. It can be difficult to reliably encounter heavy metal of quality; heavy metal junkies seem equally enthused by every heavy metal band, an attitude that does not adequately reflect the variance in musical talent in the genre. I won't punch down on the acts that I think are overrated here (unless you ask, and then I'll share my opinions free of charge), but I'll make an effort to promote acts that should survive the NWOTHM trend.

** Which is where I typically lean within the realms of prog rock, my synaptic pathways having been thoroughly rotted out by technical death metal.

*** To this day, Iron Maiden opens all of their concerts with their cover of UFO's "Doctor Doctor." Phenomenon (1974) has been one of my favorite albums since I was a teen, a statement that is also true for my father. For me, it was the beginning of my exploration into heavy metal; for him, it was the end.

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[From the band/label] Wizard Tower Records / Wizard Tower Recordings

Phantom Spell is the brainchild of Kyle McNeill. Frontman for London based classic metal stalwarts, Seven Sisters. Having established his command of songcraft over several albums with the UK's twin-guitar renegades, McNeill has decided to add a second string to his bow. Delving heart-first into a musical love letter to his favourite prog rock artists of yesteryear. As McNeill elaborates: "Musically, this is an area I've wanted to explore for a very long time. The classic prog records have truly captured my imagination and continue to inspire me. I hope that in some odd way, this can be seen as me trying to repay the favour to those bands for enriching my life – a tribute to the dorkiness and grandeur of prog rock!". A tribute, it may be. However, this is more than a mere copycat experiment. Those who have followed McNeill's work over the years have come to expect a certain level originality and attention to detail. This new project promises to follow in that same tradition. After releasing the single, "Keep On Running", in July 2021 to much praise, the stage is set for Phantom Spell's debut album. Through "Immortal's Requiem", Phantom Spell presents a spellbinding sonic journey. A journey in which fractured thoughts of a deteriorating clairvoyant are given form as cascading guitar harmonies and weaving mellotronic passages. Songs like "Dawn of Mind" and "Seven Sided Mirror" effortlessly navigate shifting sonic textures with purpose and unabashed curiosity. Akin to the theatrical majesty of those dear Kansas and Yes gatefolds tucked away in record collections worldwide. You would be forgiven for thinking this facade of shimmering synthesizers is a means of escapism from what we face in the real world. However, amidst the grandeur is a stark vulnerability on display. The driving electrified rhythms of "Up The Tower" clear the heady smog of spell-craft and make way for a direct message. After all, Phantom Spell was born in isolation. A child of the plague years and a necessary catharsis. As the project creator, Kyle McNeill, explains: "At the core of these songs are insecurities and emotions we'll all encounter in our time. Even if you're an immortal wizard". This sincerity makes for a compelling juxtaposition against the baroque instrumental passages and fleeting guitar work. The album's only instrumental track, "Black Spire Curse" showcases McNeill's aforementioned guitar work perfectly. Navigating complex melodies and Hackett-like dreamscape soloing with equal dexterity. Culminating in a grand cacophony of marching rhythms and hedonistic simplicity before gently easing in to the lull of an acoustic/hammond organ combination. Foreshadowing the awakening that is the slumbering beast, "Blood Becomes Sand". The dynamic peaks and troughs that give the album such life are on full display here. A quality that brings the listener back time and time again. With "Immortal's Requiem", Phantom Spell present a complete work. Rounded and satisfying enough within itself while presenting avenues of exploration for a later date. A fitting opening chapter to a new story!

[sun-daisies]

I've been listening to maggot brain by funkadelic a lot lately. the full album is wonderful but it's the title track, the first on the album that I've had on repeat.

the first time I heard the song I was working at a coffeeshop a couple years ago. I was in a tough place mentally, the pandemic had taken a toll on everyone and I had never felt so alone in my life. the girl I was working with was a huge p-funk fan and played the album while we were closing - and if you've never deep cleaned a milk fridge at 6 pm on a rainy thursday evening after an 8 hour shift to the song maggot brain, you haven't lived.

I love this girl with my whole heart. we were twin flame friends for the time we worked together. she's the most vibrant human I've ever met. always laughing, always smiling, just all joy and positive vibes. we were only friends for about a year or so - she went back to school, I left the coffeeshop, and naturally we grew apart. but im endlessly grateful for the time I had with her and I've been thinking about her a lot lately.

maggot brain is often considered one of the greatest guitar solos of all time, recorded in one take when george clinton, under the influence of lsd, told guitarist eddie hazel to play like his mother had died. I remember the first time she played maggot brain and she gushed about how she notices something different in it every time she listens to it (and how it sounds best when she's stoned at 3 am). she's right. I hear something different every time I listen too, and every time I pick up on something new, it reminds me of one of my other friends who I've lost touch with. he plays guitar and I think he'd have so much fun learning different sections of the song, listening to all the different layers and recording his own cover of maggot brain. he'd probably make that face he makes when it's a really good riff, scrunched up like he'd smelled something bad. that's how you know it's good.

I don't know why he stopped talking to me. I wish I knew. I miss him. I hope he's doing well, even though I can't help but feel a little bitter.

I don't know why all my friendships are ephemeral, why every year I seem to lose one or two of them. I don't know why people don't stick around.

I wonder if all the people I've ever been friends with think of me, too.

I'm listening to maggot brain for the first time since those coffeeshop days, as the year is dwindling away and I'm facing 2024 without a single person I feel close to. I'm back in a really lonely place, and realizing that it's true what they say; you don't know what you have until it's gone. I don't think I appreciated maggot brain back then in the same way I do now. it feels existential, desolate, ethereal. it's nostalgic and melancholic but comforting in some strange way. it makes me feel less alone, somehow.

[reggiejworkshop]

"Eddie Hazel"

Here's something I haven't done in a long time, actually redoing some of my older work!

This is tribute piece to one of the greatest guitarist who ever lived, and best one Parliament-Funkadelic ever had. I said it once there, and I will say it again here! If there's one guy I know who could have gave Hendrix a run for his money, it's definitely this guy.

If you've heard the classics such as 'Red Hot Momma', 'Standing on The Verge of Getting It On', and the 10 guitar solo jam, 'Maggot Brain', you've heard Eddie Hazel.  It's a real shame he passed away so young. Aside from the work he did with P-Funk, he only released one solo album. But the little stuff he did left did left huge impact on the group and others to this day.

There are three words I feel perfectly describes Eddie Hazel's guitar work. Heavy, Passionate, and very Emotional.

Some of you might instantly recognize this guy from my "Black Rockstars" series I did earlier this past February: Black Rockstars (Day 12): Eddie Hazel by ReggieJWorkshop on DeviantArt

While I like how the original turned out, I was never fully satisfied with how obviously rushed it looked. While the first one took about 2 hours to do, this one took just over 3 hours.

I'm honestly elated at how well this one turned out!

[brn1029]

On this date in music history…

August 8th

2019 - The Beatles

Thousands of Beatles fans made a pilgrimage to London's Abbey Road 50 years after the group walked over its zebra crossing for the cover of the last album the band recorded. Transport for London said two bus routes were briefly diverted as queues to cross the road blocked access.

2017 - Glen Campbell

American singer, guitarist, songwriter, television host, and actor Glen Campbell died in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 81. He became a patient at an Alzheimer's long-term care and treatment facility in 2014. Campbell released more than 70 studio albums and sold 45 million records worldwide. His hits include: 'By the Time I Get to Phoenix', 'Wichita Lineman', 'Galveston' and 'Rhinestone Cowboy'. His guitar playing can be heard on ‘Strangers in the Night’ by Frank Sinatra, ‘You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'‘ by The Righteous Brothers and ‘I'm a Believer’ by The Monkees.

2016 - Led Zeppelin

The judge overseeing Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway To Heaven' trial ruled against the band and their publishing company's attempts to recoup nearly $800,000 in legal fees. While a federal jury determined that Led Zeppelin were not guilty of plagiarizing Spirit's 'Taurus' in a copyright infringement trial, judge R. Gary Klausner ruled that, since the lawsuit itself was not frivolous and meritless, the estate of Spirit guitarist Randy (California) Wolfe and their attorney Francis Malofiy were not obligated to repay the defendants' legal fees.

2010 - John Lennon

John Lennon's killer, Mark David Chapman, had his parole hearing delayed until early September so that officials could gather additional information. The 55-year-old Chapman became eligible for parole in 2000 after serving 20 years, but had been denied his freedom five times.

1996 - Kiss

Kiss appeared at the Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, Ohio on their 192 date Alive World Tour. During this show a fan threw his fake leg on stage, which all the members signed and handed back to him.

1986 - Crosby, Stills and Nash

David Crosby of Crosby, Stills and Nash was released from prison after serving three years for drug and weapons possession. His conviction would be overturned by a Texas appeals court in November 1987.

1981 - MTV

MTV broadcast its first stereo concert with REO Speedwagon who performed in Denver, Colorado, having just released the album Hi Infidelity and the hit singles, ‘Keep On Loving You,’ ‘Take It On the Run’ and ‘Don’t Let Him Go.’

1980 - Plasmatics

The Greater London Council banned The Plasmatics from blowing a car up on stage during their UK live debut at London's Hammersmith Odeon.

1970 - Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin bought a headstone for the grave of her greatest influence Bessie Smith at the Mount Lawn Cemetery in Philadelphia. Blues singer Smith died in 1937 after being refused admission to a whites only hospital.

1969 - The Beatles

The photo session for the cover of The Beatles Abbey Road album took place on the crossing outside Abbey Road studios. Photographer Iain McMillan, balanced on a step-ladder in the middle of the road took six shots of John, Ringo, Paul, and George walking across the zebra crossing while a policeman held up the traffic. The band then returned to the studio and recorded overdubs on ‘The End’, ‘I Want You (She's So Heavy)’ and ‘Oh! Darling’.

1966 - John Lennon

In response to John Lennon's remark about The Beatles being bigger than Jesus, The South African Broadcasting Corporation banned all Beatles records. Also on this day The Beatles LP Revolver was released in the US, the bands seventh album featured: ‘Taxman’, ‘Eleanor Rigby’, ‘I'm Only Sleeping’, ‘Here, There and Everywhere’, ‘She Said She Said’, ‘And Your Bird Can Sing’ and ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’. It spent 77 weeks on the Billboard chart peaking at No.1.

1964 - Ringo Starr

The single by The Young World Singers called 'Ringo For President' was released in the US. Such was The Beatles drummer appeal that fans launched a “Ringo for President” campaign in the midst of the Johnson/Goldwater race. A well-organized contingent – most of whose members were below the voting age of 21 – banded together to enter the drummer as a third-party write-in candidate for Commander in Chief.

1963 - The Beatles

The Beatles arrived in Guernsey in The Channel Islands, where they played two shows at Candie Gardens. They arrived in a 12-seater plane after making the 30 mile trip from Jersey, (their equipment was sent over by ferry). The Beatles would receive the sum of £1000 (approx.$1,600) for the two shows.

1960 - Brian Hyland

16-year old Brian Hyland went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini' it made No.8 in the UK. Also a UK No.1 for Bombalurina featuring TV presenter Timmy Mallett in 1990.

1960 - Ray Peterson

Decca Records scrapped 25,000 copies of Ray Peterson's 'Tell Laura I Lover Her' because they felt the song, which recounts the last thoughts of a teenager dying from a car accident, was "too tasteless and vulgar". A cover version by Ricky Valance, went to No.1 on the UK chart a month later.