Guitar rock then. . . and now.

Cafe Society
21

Check out some of the new Scandinavian bands.

The HELLACOPTERS and GLUCIFER are awesome guitar rock bands in the tradition of MC5, Blue Cheer and the Stooges.

TURBONEGRO mixes Alice Cooper, punk, glam and metal with faux homo-nazi-sailor imagry and makes some of the most ass kicking guitar rock EVER.

THEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANT is a cool band from Japan who have a sound all their own.

As for American bands, you HAVE to check out ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN, possibly the greatest american band ever. Check out The Supersuckers and Murder City Devils too.

A good series of modern guitar rock is the FISTFUL of ROCK N ROLL comps put out by Sal of ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN on various lables.

As for the Classics, You cant forget about THE STOOGES, MC5, THE DICTATORS and the NEW YORK DOLLS.
The Dictators (whose guitar player also was a founding member of the mighty MAN O WAR) have a great new album out called DFFD, and its as great and heavier than anything they’ve done since 1975. This band is one of those unknown American treasures. The singer owns a bar, MANITOBAS in NYC. Check it out if your ever there.

While you won’t hear any of these bands on your local classic rock stations (they only have a playlist of like 20 songs) Most of these bands would be more than happy for you to check out their music through various ways that are frowned upon on this forum, and Electric Frankenstein has TONS of MP3s available for free at http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/11/electric_frankenstein.html

Jon

22

If you want a great new band continuing the tradition (IMHO), check out Queens of the Stone Age (or even their predecessor, Kyuss).

23

Some of the older stuff worth checking out besides what’s already been mentioned:
Quicksilver Messenger Service, especially “Happy Trails.”
Early Savoy Brown
James Gang / Joe Walsh
Santana

Newer stuff:
Gary Moore

24

Good luck finding them, I don’t even know if they are still in print, but any one of the first three Wishbone Ash albums.
Wishbone Ash
Pilgrimage
Argus

I don’t know if it is true or not but I recall hearing once that they were the first band to use twin lead guitars.

25

Hmmm…if he’s into more riff-driven, album-oriented rock, then among the oldies that haven’t been mentioned yet is: Montrose, especially the self-titled album. Also check out The Tubes, Kiss, and Loverboy are worthy additions as well.

Now, if we’re talking contemporary guitar rock (90s-present), I’d recommend bands like The Pixies, Rocket From the Crypt, Sonic Youth, Fugazi, Dinosaur, Jr., Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Smashing Pumpkins.

Most of the above lean more towards a punk aesthetic and veer away a bit from the blues-based guitar rock tradition. Great guitars, but might be a bit outside his tastes for now. I think Dave’s suggestion of Queens of the Stone Age is pretty on-the-mark. Pearl Jam’s first album “Ten” was totally 70s-based rock reinterpreted for the 90s. Oh, for that matter, try The Black Crowes, especially “Southern Harmony Musical Companion.” Yes, I’m pretty sure he would dig that.

26

I love this board.

I’m gonna direct him to this thread. It will be my thanks to him for directing me to Hoobaskank, The Misfits and The Offspring-- me being stuck in the '70s and '80s as I am.

He surprised me by really liking Loverboy’s Working for the Weekend and The Byrds’ Eight Miles High. He must be going through a mellower stage right now.

27

Have him check out Guns N’ Roses
Appetite for Destruction is a classic!!

28

Some notable exceptions to this point would include Robin Trower, The Outlaws (3 guitarists), and Uriah Heep.

29

If he likes Loverboy, then he’s sure to like Survivor (Eye of the Tiger).

When I think of guitar rock, I don’t think of the '80’s too much. However, if he’s into the '80’s, some other bands he might want to check out include:

Guns n Roses (already mentioned). Slash and Izzy are very inspriational players. Appetite for Destruction is definitely a classic, but I prefer the more mellow, versatile songs from Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II.

Aerosmith. Yes, they have been making music since the seventies. It’s strange that I am witnessing a second generation say they can’t believe how long Aerosmith has been around. Personally, I feel their best stuff is featured on the album Gems. My personal favorite is a lesser known single called “Nobody’s Fault”. However, most people are familiar with the timeless hits “Dream On”, “Last Child”, “Sweet Emotion”, “Back in the Saddle”, and “Walk This Way”…not to mention the stuff they have produced in the '80’s, '90’s, and '00’s.

Motley Crue. They have a lot of satanic undertones (overtones?) in some of their early stuff, but the claim to this day that they were actually trying to make fun of Satan.

Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band: Classics such as “Main Street” and “Turn the Page” will live forever.

AC/DC: Always need to be mentioned when it comes to guitar rock.

Alice in Chains: Their music is oftentimes dark, but the harmonious quality of the singing combined with the spooky element of the guitar creates unique music.

Stone Temple Pilots: These guys have been called rip-off-artists their entire career, but true fans know how gifted they truly are. Their music always seems to be a couple of years ahead of its time. However, the awesome guitar riff that leads into “Interstate Love Song” will live in my heart forever.

Finally, for some variety, you should have him check out Primus. Les Claypool gives the bass guitar an entirely different name. Pork Soda might be a good place to start…or perhaps the classic “Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver” from the album Tales from the Punchbowl would be a better place.

30

King Crimson: Discipline (1980). Absolute monster of an album, by the ever-revivable prog rock group helmed by Robert Fripp. This lineup consisted of Fripp (gtr.), Adrian Belew (vocals, gtr.), Tony Levin (bass), and Bill Bruford (drums, percussion). I promise you that this album will blow your boy’s mind. Very hard-rocking (but smartly so, with wit and other nice qualities), polyrhythmic, even sensual music.

XTC: English Settlement (1982). The music on this one ranges all over the musical map, from hard-driving to the folkish & elegaic. In addition to the usual electic guitar work, there’s some very nice acoustic 12-string parts. I guarantee that your son will find that some of the deceptively “softer” songs are among the hardest to learn (or so I’ve read), and that the album as a whole will open his eyes to new musical frontiers. If you buy this, get the recent digital remastered version.

31

The Who: Live at Leeds.

32

What? No Nazarath? No ** Boston**?!

C’mon, guys! Where’s “Turn On Your Reciever” or “Smokin’”

I’m gonna go turn on Rock 101.

33

These are not really oldies, as such, but anyway:
I’ll quickly be the first to mention Motorhead. They rock. Start with Ace of Spades.

Also, 80s Metallica. Ride the Lightning, which has already been mentioned, and Master of Puppets.

I’ll also second (or third or whatever), Guns n Roses: Appetite for Destruction and AC/DC.

34

Bowie! Survived by Placebo and Suede

The Velvet Underground and Lou Reed, survived by every guitar band in America.

The Clash, survived by Rancid and The Libertines

The Who, survived by Pearl Jam.

35

Who’s Next is a good choice, but get the just-released ‘Deluxe Edition’. It has the original album, other studio tracks that would’ve been in ‘Lifehouse’, and live stuff from the group’s performances at the Young Vic theater. Good snapshot of The Who in what many consider the high point of their career.

36

I would add Jethro Tull and Billy Squire. Although many consider them a ‘big hair 80s band’ I would also add Def Leppard as a great guitar band.

37

I just cannot believe no one has mentioned…The Good Ol’ Grateful Dead!!!

Jerry Garcia could play the old gee-tar as well as anyone. And, Bob Weir is pretty good as well. Phil Lesh does some amazing things on the bass guitar to boot.

Try any of their live recordings. There are lots to choose from. Many have been officially released on CD, and just about every concert they ever played can be found on tapes made by people in the audience.

38

Terry Kath wah-wah solo in Chicago’s 25 or 6 to 5 is a great one.

Queen’s first album is their best, especially Liar and Keep Yourself Alive

Yes Going for the One

39

Nitpick: “25 or 6 to 4”.

:slight_smile:

40

Its because the Dead suck!

Hey…somebody had to say it :stuck_out_tongue:

Jon
(Who knows he’s going to get yelled at for that!)