Growing up I frequently saw an ad in Guitar Player magazine for Project Driver, a metal "supergroup" with Rudy Sarzo of Quiet Riot, Tony MacAlpine - some crazy speed guitarist I'd heard lots about but never checked into, and two other guys names Tommy Aldridge and Robert Rock (there's a name for ya) whose credentials didn't mean much then and don't now.
The other day I saw this CD at the library. Was it worth the wait? Um... no.
It's typical 80s hair metal. Loads of screaming lead guitars that run through scales almost as fast as politicians run through your money, big double kick drums, bigger choruses, biggest operatic vocals... you can almost hear the even biggerest hair on these guys. Plus there's some keyboards now and then but never at the same time as the guitars 'cause, like, MacAlpine does the keys and everyone knows you can't play guitars and keyboards at the same time or do multitracking. It is quintessential 80s metal and there's an 80% chance I'll listen to the whole thing before I take it back to the library and return with ABBA's Goldest Greatest.
MacAlpine, Malmsteen, Vai...
ReplyDeleteThe list of 80s era guitar players who were so great that they could never keep a role in a hair band.