Axemen...Iron Maiden's Dave Murray & Adrian Smith

Dave (left) and Adrian - this is after Smith's return to Maiden

In a slight twist on my Axemen posts, it became apparent that they tend to follow just those famous as 'front and centre' players. But there are plenty of great guitarists who possibly don't get the recognition they deserve as themselves, but have made a following as half (or less) of a partnership, as in the two above, the finest in this class in my mind. As I explore this side of music, it will become somewhat clear that twin attacks will be based mostly around heavy rock and metal.



Dave Murray, trademark Strat



Adrian Smith on Les Paul



Iron Maiden are in their own right a heavyweight in a heavy genre. While a lot of this is down to the mercurial Bruce Dickinson, it cannot be denied that the dual guitar attack of Murray and Harris (who grew up as childhood mates) has made the songs of Maiden, Eddie and Co the hits and crowd pleasers they have become.

While these two have played together in Maiden they generally share lead solos, however it would be fair to say that Murray is the stronger technically and more influential of the two. His guitar playing seems so fluid and his Strat has a clean and mellow sound compared to the high treble and enhanced sound of Smith, who is no slug on the six string himself! Together they seem to have a perfect harmony where there is no distinguishing one from the other which is a great sound when listening to heavy guitar based rock.

You could count through the night the number of hits where the rhythm and lead licks of these two are memorable especially when they list amongst my favourite bands, but here are a few video links of songs that best show their respective skills and sounds..head banging!

• Number of the Beast - a classic and their first mainstream hit (Murray playing what looks like a 'Fat Strat')
• Wasted Years - one of my favourite tunes, album cut
• Rime of the Ancient Mariner - die-hard fans know this well, and a great example of different styles of playing - this is the second part of the song (it's over 14mins!) but shows the two styles, and the 'Fat Strat' again.

Axemen...Joe Satriani

Satch...one of the true legends of guitar, and yet one of the newest you will see on my list.

Like everyone, I was introduced to Satriani with Surfing With The Alien which should surely be classed as an all-time classic, yet probably won't be. Joe plays all of the instruments and co-produces it too. From the title track to Satch Boogie and the heavy anthemic-like Lords of Karma this album became one of the largest selling instrumentals of all time.

I have seen him live three times - twice playing with Mick Jagger (duelling with Jimmy Rip) and then on his own world tour. I almost got to see him a fourth time when he replaced my very hero (and one of  Satriani's) Ritchie Blackmore on Deep Purple's world tour back in '93 but the show was cancelled here in NZ.

Satriani himself came somewhat out of nowhere - he was a guitar tutor, but when he is credited with teaching the likes of Stevie Vai and Kirk Hammett amongst others, he obviously was destined for stardom. Alien was his first album, and since then he has released another dozen, and in some of them he does sing (although playing is definitely his forte) but none have quite reached the dizzying heights of that first.

He has played for Deep Purple as mentioned (and turned down the chance to be a permanent replacement to his hero), Alice Cooper, Spinal Tap, Blue Oyster Cult, Ian Gillan, and even credited with singing with Crowded House! He also sued (undisclosed settlement) Cold Play for plagiarism on Viva la Vida...sacrilege!

He also has catchups with a few 'mates' on a tour called simply G3 - it always features him and two other guitarists and they duel away on stage to his and other artists songs. Amongst his cohorts on stage; Yngwie Malmsteen, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robert Fripp, Stevie Vai and Michael Schenker.

I would highly recommend either listening to watching live footage of Satriani, he is a genius and musically beautiful and catching.

Comic History Lesson - The Easy Guitar Book Sketch...

I'm sure its not the first time
Lemmy's been in court!

Now me being a person who loves both music and comedy, this here is the ideal fusion of both that brings together some of the biggest names in the guitar world; Moore, Knopfler, Gilmour join bassists Lemmy and King!

As an aside, Rowland Rivron, the comic genius behind this, used to play drums for Transvision Vamp (boy does that take you back!) and for Jools Holland.

So here it is ladies and gentlemen, The Easy Guitar Book Sketch

Axemen...David Gilmour

The lead guitarist for the timeless Pink Floyd is one of the most underrated guitarists there is. While he has the obvious talent to be considered amongst the Pages, Claptons, and Richards of the world, his relatively shy nature keeps him for the public spotlight.

Behind Blackmore, I find Gilmour the greatest guitarist of the last 40 years. His musical style covers blues progression, through jazz, rock, metal and even slide guitar. Further to this, he also plays keyboards and bass very well and has done on Pink Floyd albums.

Considered a 'slow hand' Gilmour uses techniques such as bending and sustain to great effect, and has had three solos listed in the top 100 - Money, Time and of course Comfortably Numb (which he actually wrote for his solo album but it ended up on The Wall when he thought he already had enough material! Would it have been as big??).

For me watching Live in Pompeii and Pulse really show Gilmour's ability on guitar - it's a shame that Pink Floyd has such a huge collection, as songs like Not Now John, Free Four, and Sheep really cover some fantastic riffs and styles. Thankfully One Of The Days, I'm Going To Cut You Up Into Little Pieces features on his live shows.

I cried when Pink Floyd reunited at Live 8 a few years back, and it seemed that maybe the impossible could come back - Floyd making a new album, however this time is was Gilmour (instead of the normally morose Waters) who squashed all chances. Either way, the death of Rick Wright (so soon after Syd Barrett) put pay to any chances of a reunion. Ah well, we still have the music!

Axemen...Ritchie Blackmore

Anyone who has read this blog, or at least knows me, is well aware of my love for the guitar. And in this feature I will point out some of those I consider to be the best there is, those who influenced me in playing and what I listen to, and those I always turn up on the stereo to make my hair stand on end.

It will cover a wide time span, from the early blues and jazz days, through the birth of rock n roll, pop, rock, metal, and classical.

Now there is no better debate than who is the best guitarist...well, being one to always add fuel to the fire, here is my number 1 to start it off, Ritchie Blackmore who was classically taught, and then played in bands such as The Outlaws and Screaming Lord Sutch before joining Roundabout in 1968. This band of course, became Deep Purple. From here on in, I won't rank my guitarists, but they are those who I follow, respect and idolise.

Deep Purple went through many personnel changes, but for the first four 'make ups' Ritchie was there as the driving force on music and direction before he left in 75 (replaced by Tommy Bolin) to form Rainbow. This band lasted (with many more personnel changes) through to 84, about which time Deep Purple MkII reformed, and Rainbow again in 94. In 1997 Rainbow became Blackmore's Nights which made a definitive turn towards a Renaissance type of rock, undertones that can be heard in the DP years, and more noticeably in Rainbow.

To me, Blackmore is the quintessential guitarist - talented and driven, with an ego and attitude, and his own man (see the interview about DP playing The California Jam where he refused to go on stage until the sun went down). I have included a couple of clips here, one from Rainbow (this is my favourite live performance Difficult To Cure, note Roger Glover playing bass) and a compilation from Deep Purple (covering MkII and III). I have avoided inserting the obligatory Smoke On The Water, because we all should know how great that is and it isn't the only song that sums the man up...just like Stairway To Heaven is not the only song Led Zep ever did!

Enjoy!