Post by audiophilePost by PicassoWhat is the best solo on any maiden song...
I'm trying to find something that stacks up against the solo in Judas
Priests Painkiller
Nonetheless, maiden is still my favorite band
Trying to compare the solos as virtuoso showpieces is kinda ludicrous,
as Glen and KK totally blow Maiden's guitarists away on that front.
It's interesting to hear people say that because I've never really rated
Judas Priest's solos, particularly the ones on Painkiller. I find the
solos on that album, while technically competent, seem a bit too over
the top and lack purpose. It's like they set out to try and impress.
I say technically competent (as opposed to possessing virtuosity)
because they sound like they were done in various takes and patched
together, whereas Maiden's solos sound like they use the best take. (I
know Janick Gers insists on doing his solos in one take.) It's not that
difficult to patch together a solo from different segments, and I don't
really rate guitarists who do that. (I don't know for sure that's what
Priest did on that album but it sounds that way. Also, with the live
stuff I've heard from Painkiller, the solos weren't played at anywhere
near the same level).
Maiden's solos (generally) always fit the song perfectly, often
complementing the song by telling their own story, as it were. That's a
rare trait that you don't get with true virtuosos (like Yngwie
Malmsteen, perhaps, who is incredibly boring after 30 seconds).
If I had to pick a few solos to compare to the ones on Painkiller, I'd
choose Somewhere in Time, Alexander the Great, Seventh Son and Ghost of
the Navigator (because I really like that one).
Post by audiophileBut Maiden has plenty of really memorable solos, regardless of how
"technical" they are.
Adrian in particular has really interesting timing and choice of notes.
You can practice tapping, sweep picking and all the modern 'shred'
techniques but having something natural that is part of your playing is
worth far more than all the technical prowess in the world, imo. I
think that's why I didn't like the soloing on Painkiller all that much -
they went too far into the clinical realm of technique over substance.
Post by audiophileGers' solos, like his playing, are useless.
I really like Janick Gers :)