Hidden Treasures - Natural Born Leaders

[Scott]

This week’s Hidden Treasure is focusing on those players who are the Lead Singer and Lead Guitarist. These guys are the core of the band, they seem to do it all! And to watch them actually do it live is a special experience and totally captivating. I first took notice of this when I saw Myles Goodwin lead April Wine as the headliner of a triple bill (Doc Holiday and Loverboy opened for them). It was their "Nature of the Beast" tour, and the band was at its peak. What I didn’t expect was how ridiculously good he was at his craft. I found myself focusing in on him and how he managed to lead the band, sing and play lead geetar so seamlessly.

 

So here are 4 guys who I think are great at this. I'm presenting a couple of not-so-obvious choices and I've intentionally left off some obvious ones as well, you need to fill in the blank... who else qualifies for this topic? And who is the best at it?

 

PLAYLIST --> http://snack.to/adhmg9jc

	PAT TRAVERS Crash and Burn 1980 1 - Born Under A Bad Sign Pat Travers was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. Soon after picking up the guitar at age 12, he saw Jimi Hendrix perform in Ottawa. Travers began playing in bands early in his teens; his first bands were the Music Machine, Red Hot, and Merge, which played in clubs in the Quebec area. While performing with Merge, he was noticed by rock artist Ronnie Hawkins, who invited Travers to perform with him. In his early 20's Pat Travers moved to London and signed a recording contract with the Polydor label. His self-titled debut album was released in 1976, and featured bassist Peter "Mars" Cowling, who would become a mainstay in Travers' band for several years. An appearance on the German TV show Rockpalast in November 1976 was later released on DVD under the title Hooked On Music. This performance showcases an early version of Travers' band featuring Cowling and drummer Nicko McBrain.
	Y&T Black Tiger 1982 3 - Barroom Boogie Meniketti began playing guitar at the age of 16, in his third year of high school. After playing guitar for only two years he formed his first band called, "Skin Tight". Dave Meniketti was born and raised in Oakland, California. His influences are Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane, Leslie West, James Brown, Jeff Beck, Michael Schenker, Neal Schon, Gary Moore, Led Zeppelin, The Allman Brothers Band, The Who, Deep Purple, and Montrose, to name a few. As the lead singer/lead guitarist with Bay Area band Y&T, he has recorded 17 albums, toured across the United States and around the world. Y&T has sold over 4 million records worldwide.
	APRIL WINE First Glance 1978 2 - Roller Myles Goodwyn (born June 23, 1948 in Woodstock, New Brunswick) is a record producer, guitarist, lead vocalist, main songwriter, founding member of the veteran Canadian hard rock band April Wine. As the longest serving (and only original) member, Goodwyn has led the band from its modest garage band roots to multi-platinum sales. Following the band's peak years during the 1970s and early 1980s, Goodwyn disbanded the group to pursue a solo career. After a brief relocation to the Bahamas, Goodwyn returned to Canada and reformed April Wine in 1992. He continues to lead the band to the present day. In January 2003 Myles Goodwyn received an ECMA Lifetime Achievement Award for his impact on the music industry of Atlantic Canada.
	TED NUGENT Cat Scratch Fever 1977 4 - Wang Dang Sweet Poontang Nugent was known throughout his early career in the 1970s for using Fender amps, a large part of his signature sound, and for playing the hollow-body Gibson Byrdland guitar. Performing since 1958, Nugent has been touring annually since 1967 On July 4, 2008, at the DTE Energy Music Theater in Clarkston, Michigan, Ted Nugent played his 6,000th concert. Derek St. Holmes, Johnny Bee Badanjek (drummer for Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels), and Nugent's guitar teacher from 1958 Joe Podorsek all jammed on stage with Nugent for various tunes.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Travers - Not really familiar with his work, although I have certainly heard of him.  There is no question concerning his playing.  This song really showcases it.  However, his voice is just so-so.  I wouldn't say bad, just not great.  I've never seen him perform either so this is about all I can offer.

Meniketti - Much better voice.  I'm a little more familiar with Y&T, but certainly no expert.  His playing is also top notch.  Again, never seen 'em live, so I don't know about stage presence.  I'm not crazy about the song here, but he fits the subject matter.

Goodwyn - I'd say the best voice so far.  Also the best song to this point.  And that's some outstanding guitar work as well.  I'm giving the edge to Goodwyn to this point.

Nugent - In my book, the weakest of the four on vocals.  But we all know he's a great guitar player.  Luckily for him, his  tendency to be so outspoken doesn't affect his appearance on this list.  Again, I'm not a fan of this song, although as a kid I'm sure I liked it.  

I'll definitely give the edge here to Goodwyn.  My ranking for these four would be Goodwyn>Meniketti>Travers>Nugent.

I probably place a little more emphasis on vocals, which is why my list appears this way.

The one I can think of immediately, but may not qualify because he's not the only singer in the band, would be Lindsey Buckingham.  

Oh yeah, the player works fine.

[Gordon Williams]

Classic blues rock track from Travers. My best friend in the whole world and I used to play guitar together in the mid-80's in a garage/basement cover band. We argued constantly over which one of us was playing the main riff right, and which one was wrong (I'm right!! ).

But PT is one of the greatest "riff writers" of all time, in my book. The hooks he can come up with are outstanding. I also gotta give him major props. He always...I mean always...let his other guitar player play many, many leads, and let them shine as much as he does.

I am not familiar with this particular Y and T. I became a fan in the late 80's of this band. But I've heard many people mention they really like the "Black Tiger" record. I probably need to get it. Very good lead guitar on this track.

"Roller" is just killer...plain and simple. Great riffage in the rhythm parts, strong vocals with a great sing-along chorus. It's a party tune...if it does n't get you pumped, perhaps your doctor should check your pulse. I love how the lead guitar in the middle of the song starts off with one guitar, then becomes a twin lead, before returning to guitar "trade offs". With 3 guitar players, this song still kicks ass live in concert. "People try to tell her she's crazy..." indeed!!

Finally, one of my favorite Nuge tunes of all time. No, Nugent is not a great singer, but this tune just flat out cooks. The intro hits you like a sledgehammer. The "rap" Ted does before the middle lead section is just hilarious ("I got it right here in my hands baby...I think I'm gonna yank on it one time..."). Then a smoking lead. Ted has...and has had...more energy than legions of bands put together! Great performer!

This is a 4 for 4 SHT!

[Scott]

Thanks guys!  Your quick today!!!

Crash and Burn has always been a highly regarded geetar album for me and Travers a cult like hero for me as well.  So wish his career had gone differently so we could hear more from him, but alas!  Quality versus Quantity!

 

I actually got a chance to work a Y&T concert and met the band briefly.  They were decent with me.  Meniketti was flawless, commanded the stage like he was born to be there.  No fear! And his playing was intense, heres another case where these guys should have gone bigger (IMO).

 

And Goowyn, same story, commanding presence, flawless musicianship and the interplay the band came up with using a triple geetar attack was unique and brilliant!  No studio tricks with these guys, what you hear on the album is what you get live!

 

And Nugent, while not the best singer, he is the epitome of commanding an audience with his words, music, and geetar.  Ive seen him on 3 occasions, always on, always 100 mph, always solid! 

[RJhog (Admin)]

So, what about Buckingham?  

[Scott]

He's awesome!  But he shares the leadership and vocal duties with Nicks and McVie (when she was in the band), so I cut him off my short list...  Also Pete Townshend for the same reason.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Understood.

[Scott]

Using my logic, I should've cut Nugent as well!  Oh well!!  For whatever reason, I thought he fit better.  hahaha...

[Gordon Williams]

I did not add anyone to the "subject" of this post. But, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth SORTA fits the bill. But he has shared lead guitar over the years, so he's not quite a "definition" of the post.

Hendrix definitely fits, since he was the only guitar player, and the lead singer. And Jon could throw in the dude from Angel Witch that he posted a while back. And let's add in the Reverend Billy Gibbons of ZZTop. Dusty Hill, the bass player, sings lead on a track here and there, but it's mostly Billy Gibbons.

[RJhog (Admin)]

I wish I could add Dave Grohl to this list.  He's a great vocalist and the undeniable leader of Foo Fighters, but he's nowhere near the league of any of these guitar players.

And there's Tommy Thayer.  Great vocals on the two songs he sings on as well as the heart and soul of Kiss.  And he copies Ace Frehley's solo's very, very well.  

Now I'm gonna go vomit.

[Scott]

Seen the Foo's live in the past year, and he was impressive on the geetar!

 

Regarding your Thayer note...  at first I was like, "No freakin' way!, and then you puked and that made me laugh...

[RJhog (Admin)]

And how 'bout Jeff Lynne?

And of course, Jimi Hendrix.

Rickey Medlocke (Blackfoot).

Mark Knopfler.

[Scott]

Knopfler's a great addition to this topic!  Lynne, and Medlocke are worthy as well.

 

And though Hendrix is clearly a master and belongs in the discussion, I'm not that familiar with his full body of work, nor do I own any...