Welcome to the twisted world of Jekyl. A barfbag full of stories some news worthy some not. mixed with a dash of occasional rhetoric and the useless editorial bantor of a mad man. sometimes fact, sometimes fiction, always entertaining.
e-mail Jekyl with your comments

Jekyl’s World - Where have the Guitars gone?

I must be getting old. As an individual who grew wings and learned to fly in the 70’s and 80’s, I bore witness to some of the greatest music ever written and performed. Of course everyone thinks that, regardless of their age. As a lead guitar player since before I could drive, I’ve always thought that I had a handle on good music and bad music. This Christmas, in a bizarre testament to what I’m saying, my son and I both unknowingly gave each other the same CD. It’s Creed’s latest and I believe that this is one of today’s greatest bands. Their music reaches me, and apparently a lot of other people as well based on their sales. So maybe I haven’t qualified for codger status just yet.

Listening to this band and many others lately has caused me to notice something that’s missing. While they bang on their guitars pretty good and hard, I pause to wonder what has happened to the good old-fashioned guitar solo. Back in the “good old days” your rock songs had the basic: two verses/choruses, a guitar solo, another chorus and you’re outta there. I don’t think there’s an actual lead guitar solo anywhere on that entire Creed album, er, CD. I’m really sorry Eddie Van Halen has lived to see music digress to this point. Not that I would wish any ill on Ed, you understand. He is a master.

What happened to the sheer joy when jamming to the Freebird solos, the magical breaks Brian May in Queen did, or the absolute whoop ass the boys in Thin Lizzy pumped out? It may be the passing of an era, but I miss those monster solos. Angus Young, Mick Ralphs, Steve Howe. I had to explain to my son that the tune he found so cool from the movie “Godzilla”, performed by Sean Combs was actually Jimmy Page doing Kashmir with a violin bow on his Les Paul with some rap lyrics added. Neal Schon, Ritchie Blackmore, Randy Rhodes, Alvin Lee, Eric Clapton. . Who could forget Ronnie Montrose, after playing those killer riffs on Edgar Winter’s hit album “Frankenstein”, going on to play some of the best stuff of the time with Sammy Hagar singing? John Entwistle, who played a bass like a lead guitar. Tom Scholtz, Glen Tipton, Mick Ronson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Billie Gibbons (who studied under Hendrix), Mick Ralphs Ritchie Sambora is still going strong with Jon Bon Jovi and he KNOWS how to rock (plus he’s got Heather!).

There’s nothing wrong with the music being recorded now, but there is a definite absence of lead guitar work and I, for one, miss it greatly. If you know these names then you know what I’m talking about. Otherwise, you’ve missed something very, very special and I am sorry that you have. Where, oh, where have all the great guitars gone?

CHEERS Jekyl