That's thinking outside of the box, and in that vien, go and rent the Ken Burns special on Jazz. Some of those cats were crazy, tearing it up on a variety of instruments.
A rather obscure name, but one that might pre-date Uli Roth as far as shredding goes: Jan Akkerman of Focus. Jan definitely does some shredding on "Hocus Pocus," Focus' heavy-rocking hit from 1973.
Alvin Lee of Ten Years After could fly on the fretboard.
Everyone is pretty familiar with "Going Home" from the Woodstock album and movie, but try to listen to "Woodchoppers Ball" which is actually from theBe-Bopp era.
Don't forget about Les Paul the guy was doing some amazing shit on the electric guitar long before most guys even new there was such an animal, and long before distortion. The guy was lightning fast and very inovative. And to go a different way Chet Atkins was also a player from hell.
paul wrote:Don't forget about Les Paul the guy was doing some amazing shit on the electric guitar long before most guys even new there was such an animal, and long before distortion. The guy was lightning fast and very inovative. And to go a different way Chet Atkins was also a player from hell.
Good call, If we go that direction, Roy Clark was doing on Hee Haw in the early 60's. Look for Roy in an old "Beverly Hillbillies" episode. He was shredding in black and white television.
Jim Price wrote:A rather obscure name, but one that might pre-date Uli Roth as far as shredding goes: Jan Akkerman of Focus. Jan definitely does some shredding on "Hocus Pocus," Focus' heavy-rocking hit from 1973.
Jan was the 1st that came to mind, although all this talk about Uli prompted me to get out my old Scorpions vinyl and rock out.
There is shredding throughout that Focus album, including the 1st "Eruption".
Another guy from the early 70s who comes to mind is John McLaughlin.
And what about Roy Buchanan? Not exactly what you'd expect, but he was as fast as anybody listed here.
...Oh, the freedom of the day that yielded to no rule or time...
313 wrote:Schenker (and I'm not referring to Rudolph
Not sure if I would categorize him as a "shredder", but Ronnie Montrose was doing his thing in the very early 70s too.
Both these guys were big influences on me and they were 1st to cross my mind. I wouldn't call Ronnie a shredder, but a very tasteful guitarist and great hard rock songwriter. If Michael is considered a shredder, then he predates everybody else except Buchanan. I always thought of him as the world's fastest stylish guitarist, which rates above shredder in my book.
...Oh, the freedom of the day that yielded to no rule or time...
Disagree NS, Santana, while he is my favorite guitarist he is not at all what I would call a shredder. Maybe I'm wrong, but to me a shredder plays solos with a certain amount of abandon, speed, volume, and fury. Carlos is way too smooth & controlled to be called a shredder. I stand by my original post of Jerry Lee Lewis. A shredder has to play WILD. You know, E_Ner_gY! Lasers coming out of their eyes!
If music be the food of love, then play on...
William Shakespeare
