I haven't posted here in a while, but I have something that may interest some of you.
As some of you may know, I'm a HUGE Zappa nut. I have a so called "shrine" of Zappa-related stuff such as magazines and newspaper clippings. One of which is the February 1983 issue of Guitar Player magazine with the man himself on the cover.
Looking through it once again I discovered a tiny little section of the magazine called "Spotlight: Showcase for new talent" This is like the section where local guitar wizard kids and such write in and send a tape or whatnot and the best get published in the issue. Guess who I found:
Paul Fucking Gilbert: Age 15
My camera is shitty as hell so I'll transcribe the article..
Guitarist: Paul Gilbert
Age: 15
Location: Greensburg, PA
Style: Heavy Metal
Influences: Edward Van Halen, Jimmy Kidd
Main Guitar: Custom-made Flying V
Paul Began playing guitar at age nine but didn't become serious until about two years later, when he received a Gibson Les Paul and formal lessons as a christmas gift from his parents. A fast learner, Paul began playing in locals groups soon afterwards, and his band Tau Zero currently plays in clubs between Pittsburgh and West Virginia. Paul specializes in two-hand technique and fast pull-offs, and he is able to pick harmonic overtones in rapid succession. His current project is a transcription of Vivaldi's Four Seasons for heavy metal guitar. Paul's original material ranges from bluesy, Pat Travers-like rockers to lush, chordal progressive compositions that remind me of Rush. I'm very impressed with Paul's playing and recommend him to any fan of Van Halen, Randy Rhoads and Michael Schenker. Give him a listen, because this kid's not too far behind! Paul adds: "The music I listen to ranges from the Ramones to U.K. I try to combine the best of both worlds, which is sheer power with killer technique." You can write to Paul c/o Box 299 RD3, Greensburg, PA 15601.
Now, if that isn't enough for the whole fucking magazine.. Right on the next page:
Jesus fucking christ it's Yngwie Malmsteen at 19 in the same Spotlight article!
Guitarist: Yngwie Malmsteen
Age: 19
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Style: Progressive Heavy Metal
Influences: Ritchie Blackmore, Ulrich Roth, Allan Holdsworth, Al Di Meola
Main Guitar: Modified Fender Strat
A Rocker from an early age, Yngwie began on guitar at seven and acquired his first electric guitar two years later. Ritchie Blackmore was his greatest early influence, causing him to learn "nearly every solo he ever played" and to buy a strat in 1975. He later carved and scalloped the neck in the tradition of Blackmore's guitar. During his developmental years, Yngwie practiced between six and eight hours a day in an effort to attain 100% control of his instrument. His musical influences broadened to include the classical works of J.S. Bach and Beethoven.
In 1978 Yngwie formed Rising Force. Currently the leader, he focuses on songwriting, singing, and flashy guitar playing. A recording enthusiast, he spends many hours in his home four-track studio, composing and recording tracks that feature him as a multi-instrumentalist. On his current demo, his guitar work shines in contexts ranging from heavy metal to progressive space rock, borrowing heavily from Ulrich Roth's groundbreaking diminished and harmonic minor scale work with the Scorpions. Yngwie has both speed and finesse, and could very well be one of the most exciting new rock guitarists around. He says of soloing: "Though it's much harder, I'm always improvising my solos because I think the present feeling in your mind comes into the guitar and the resultis more honest." Correspondence: Yngwie Malmsteen, Lundagatan 39, 11727 Stockholm, Sweden.
These two pages either predicted the future of guitar playing, or caused it. Either way, this is insanely wicked.
As some of you may know, I'm a HUGE Zappa nut. I have a so called "shrine" of Zappa-related stuff such as magazines and newspaper clippings. One of which is the February 1983 issue of Guitar Player magazine with the man himself on the cover.
Looking through it once again I discovered a tiny little section of the magazine called "Spotlight: Showcase for new talent" This is like the section where local guitar wizard kids and such write in and send a tape or whatnot and the best get published in the issue. Guess who I found:
Paul Fucking Gilbert: Age 15
My camera is shitty as hell so I'll transcribe the article..
Guitarist: Paul Gilbert
Age: 15
Location: Greensburg, PA
Style: Heavy Metal
Influences: Edward Van Halen, Jimmy Kidd
Main Guitar: Custom-made Flying V
Paul Began playing guitar at age nine but didn't become serious until about two years later, when he received a Gibson Les Paul and formal lessons as a christmas gift from his parents. A fast learner, Paul began playing in locals groups soon afterwards, and his band Tau Zero currently plays in clubs between Pittsburgh and West Virginia. Paul specializes in two-hand technique and fast pull-offs, and he is able to pick harmonic overtones in rapid succession. His current project is a transcription of Vivaldi's Four Seasons for heavy metal guitar. Paul's original material ranges from bluesy, Pat Travers-like rockers to lush, chordal progressive compositions that remind me of Rush. I'm very impressed with Paul's playing and recommend him to any fan of Van Halen, Randy Rhoads and Michael Schenker. Give him a listen, because this kid's not too far behind! Paul adds: "The music I listen to ranges from the Ramones to U.K. I try to combine the best of both worlds, which is sheer power with killer technique." You can write to Paul c/o Box 299 RD3, Greensburg, PA 15601.
Now, if that isn't enough for the whole fucking magazine.. Right on the next page:
Jesus fucking christ it's Yngwie Malmsteen at 19 in the same Spotlight article!
Guitarist: Yngwie Malmsteen
Age: 19
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Style: Progressive Heavy Metal
Influences: Ritchie Blackmore, Ulrich Roth, Allan Holdsworth, Al Di Meola
Main Guitar: Modified Fender Strat
A Rocker from an early age, Yngwie began on guitar at seven and acquired his first electric guitar two years later. Ritchie Blackmore was his greatest early influence, causing him to learn "nearly every solo he ever played" and to buy a strat in 1975. He later carved and scalloped the neck in the tradition of Blackmore's guitar. During his developmental years, Yngwie practiced between six and eight hours a day in an effort to attain 100% control of his instrument. His musical influences broadened to include the classical works of J.S. Bach and Beethoven.
In 1978 Yngwie formed Rising Force. Currently the leader, he focuses on songwriting, singing, and flashy guitar playing. A recording enthusiast, he spends many hours in his home four-track studio, composing and recording tracks that feature him as a multi-instrumentalist. On his current demo, his guitar work shines in contexts ranging from heavy metal to progressive space rock, borrowing heavily from Ulrich Roth's groundbreaking diminished and harmonic minor scale work with the Scorpions. Yngwie has both speed and finesse, and could very well be one of the most exciting new rock guitarists around. He says of soloing: "Though it's much harder, I'm always improvising my solos because I think the present feeling in your mind comes into the guitar and the resultis more honest." Correspondence: Yngwie Malmsteen, Lundagatan 39, 11727 Stockholm, Sweden.
These two pages either predicted the future of guitar playing, or caused it. Either way, this is insanely wicked.
