Several guitarists are heretofore underrated. This situation is what led Inside the Rock Era to come up with our own ranking of The Top 100 Guitarists*. It includes the players that should be in a ranking of this stature, such as #21.
#21: Paul Gilbert, Racer X and Mr.Big
Paul Brandon Gilbert was born November 6, 1966. He is one of the most technical of The Top 100 Guitarists*, having played with Racer X and Mr. Big, and has also released several solo albums and worked on projects with many other artists. GuitarOne magazine ranked Gilbert #4 on its list of "The Top 10 Greatest Guitar Shredders of All-Time) and was recognized on Guitar World's list of "The 50 Fastest Guitarists of All-Time".
Gilbert was raised in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. In the early 1980's, Paul contacted Mike Varney, founder of Shrapnel Records, looking for a tryout with Ozzy Osbourne. Gilbert was all of 15 years old, but after listening to his demo, Varney knew Paul had the skills. Gilbert was featured in Guitar Player magazine at age 15. Gilbert and Varney talked for the next three years, when Paul went to the Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles and formed the group Racer X.
Racer X was formed in 1985 by Gilbert, Juan Alderete on bass, Harry Gschoesser on drums and vocalist Jeff Martin. The group admired the sound of Judas Priest and Gilbert's playing reminded many of Yngwie Malmsteen, with his rapid solos with extreme technique. Gilbert quickly gained a reputation of one of the fastest guitarists in the world thanks to songs like "Technical Difficulties", "Frenzy" and "Scit Scat Wah".
Gilbert left the group in 1988 but reformed for the albums Technical Difficulties in 1999 and Superheroes the following year. The reunited group caught on in Japan and Universal Japan requested that the group record a live show.
On May 25, 2001, Racer X played live for the first time in thirteen years at Whisky a Go-Go in Los Angeles, and the following year, both the CD and DVD were released with the title Snowball of Doom. Racer X toured Japan and Taiwan and the final show in Yokohama, Japan, was recorded and released as Snowball of Doom 2. Later that year, the group gathered to record the album Getting Heavier. Racer X performed at the 2009 NAMM show at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.
In 1988, Gilbert and Billy Sheehan, ex-member of David Lee Roth's Band, founded Mr. Big with drummer Pat Torpey and Eric Martin on lead vocals. Mr. Big, too, was highly successful in Japan, and had their worldwide breakthrough with the album Lean Into It in 1991. That album featured the ballad "To Be With You", which became a #1 song. Gilbert continued to play with Mr. Big until 1997, when he left for a solo career.
In 2003, Gilbert joined a project called Yellow Matter Custard, a Beatles cover band that of course took their name from the lyrics in "I Am the Walrus". Yellow Matter Custard reformed in 2011 for three shows.
Gilbert, Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theatre member who also participated in Yellow Matter Custard), Dave LaRue and Daniel Gildenlow formed the Led Zeppelin tribute band Hammer of the Gods in November of 2003.
In 2005, Gilbert, Portnoy, Sean Malone and Jason McMaster continued the theme with the Rush tribute band Cygnus and the Sea Monsters. In 2006, Gilbert, Portnoy, Gary Cherone and Billy Sheehan formed Amazing Journey: A Tribute to the Who. This quartet did three shows, destroying all their equipment on the final night to pay homage to the Who.
GIlbert helped Neal Morse on his solo album and toured with Bruce Bouillet in 2007 to support Bouillet's first instrumental album, Get Out of My Yard. Gilbert then joined Joe Satriani and John Petrucci for the 2007 G3 tour, Satriani's ongoing project which each year featured three of the top guitarists in the world.
In 2008, Gilbert released his second instrumental album, Silence Followed by a Deafening Roar, as well as the album United States, a collaboration with vocalist Freddie Nelson.
In 2009, Paul joined Richie Kotzen and George Lynch on the Guitar Generation tour. Gilbert then reunited with the original members of Mr. Big for a worldwide reunion tour and recorded the album What If... The album was released in Japan in late 2010 and elsewhere in 2011. Mr. Big began a tour at the House of Blues in Hollywood, California and would play shows in Japan, China, Korea and the Phillipines.
#21: Paul Gilbert, Racer X and Mr.Big
30 years as an active guitarist
(Gilbert playing "Scarified")
(Gilbert playing "Scarified")
Paul Brandon Gilbert was born November 6, 1966. He is one of the most technical of The Top 100 Guitarists*, having played with Racer X and Mr. Big, and has also released several solo albums and worked on projects with many other artists. GuitarOne magazine ranked Gilbert #4 on its list of "The Top 10 Greatest Guitar Shredders of All-Time) and was recognized on Guitar World's list of "The 50 Fastest Guitarists of All-Time".
Gilbert was raised in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. In the early 1980's, Paul contacted Mike Varney, founder of Shrapnel Records, looking for a tryout with Ozzy Osbourne. Gilbert was all of 15 years old, but after listening to his demo, Varney knew Paul had the skills. Gilbert was featured in Guitar Player magazine at age 15. Gilbert and Varney talked for the next three years, when Paul went to the Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles and formed the group Racer X.
Racer X was formed in 1985 by Gilbert, Juan Alderete on bass, Harry Gschoesser on drums and vocalist Jeff Martin. The group admired the sound of Judas Priest and Gilbert's playing reminded many of Yngwie Malmsteen, with his rapid solos with extreme technique. Gilbert quickly gained a reputation of one of the fastest guitarists in the world thanks to songs like "Technical Difficulties", "Frenzy" and "Scit Scat Wah".
Gilbert left the group in 1988 but reformed for the albums Technical Difficulties in 1999 and Superheroes the following year. The reunited group caught on in Japan and Universal Japan requested that the group record a live show.
On May 25, 2001, Racer X played live for the first time in thirteen years at Whisky a Go-Go in Los Angeles, and the following year, both the CD and DVD were released with the title Snowball of Doom. Racer X toured Japan and Taiwan and the final show in Yokohama, Japan, was recorded and released as Snowball of Doom 2. Later that year, the group gathered to record the album Getting Heavier. Racer X performed at the 2009 NAMM show at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.
In 1988, Gilbert and Billy Sheehan, ex-member of David Lee Roth's Band, founded Mr. Big with drummer Pat Torpey and Eric Martin on lead vocals. Mr. Big, too, was highly successful in Japan, and had their worldwide breakthrough with the album Lean Into It in 1991. That album featured the ballad "To Be With You", which became a #1 song. Gilbert continued to play with Mr. Big until 1997, when he left for a solo career.
In 2003, Gilbert joined a project called Yellow Matter Custard, a Beatles cover band that of course took their name from the lyrics in "I Am the Walrus". Yellow Matter Custard reformed in 2011 for three shows.
Gilbert, Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theatre member who also participated in Yellow Matter Custard), Dave LaRue and Daniel Gildenlow formed the Led Zeppelin tribute band Hammer of the Gods in November of 2003.
In 2005, Gilbert, Portnoy, Sean Malone and Jason McMaster continued the theme with the Rush tribute band Cygnus and the Sea Monsters. In 2006, Gilbert, Portnoy, Gary Cherone and Billy Sheehan formed Amazing Journey: A Tribute to the Who. This quartet did three shows, destroying all their equipment on the final night to pay homage to the Who.
GIlbert helped Neal Morse on his solo album and toured with Bruce Bouillet in 2007 to support Bouillet's first instrumental album, Get Out of My Yard. Gilbert then joined Joe Satriani and John Petrucci for the 2007 G3 tour, Satriani's ongoing project which each year featured three of the top guitarists in the world.
In 2008, Gilbert released his second instrumental album, Silence Followed by a Deafening Roar, as well as the album United States, a collaboration with vocalist Freddie Nelson.
In 2009, Paul joined Richie Kotzen and George Lynch on the Guitar Generation tour. Gilbert then reunited with the original members of Mr. Big for a worldwide reunion tour and recorded the album What If... The album was released in Japan in late 2010 and elsewhere in 2011. Mr. Big began a tour at the House of Blues in Hollywood, California and would play shows in Japan, China, Korea and the Phillipines.
In 2010, Gilbert released the album Fuzz Universe, another instrumental album.
Gilbert gives credit to many artists for influencing him, including the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, the Beach Boys, Eddie Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, Randy Rhoads, Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore, Gary Moore, Ace Frehley, Michael Schenker, Alex Lifeson and Robin Trower.
Gilbert has played rock, metal, blues, funk and classical music during his career, displaying his great versatility. He is known for his tendency to pick many notes rather than relying on legato for fast passages. He can tear up a fretboard as one of the faster guitar payers of the Rock Era. Not only that, he's also technical, a very clean player.
Gilbert had a column in Total Guitar magazine in which he demonstrated his guitar techniques in the magazine and accompanying CD. Paul teaches at the Guitar Institute of Technology on a regular basis. Gilbert has taught Buckethead among others, and most recently wrote a column for Premier Guitar.
Gilbert primarily plays Ibanez PGM signature guitars. He stopped using whammy bars in the early 1990's and his main Ibanez PGM300 has been modified to accommodate a fixed bridge. Gilbert also played the Ibanez RG750 in addition to several other Ibanez solid body and semi-hollow guitars. Recently, Gilbert has been playing a reversed-body Ibanez Iceman with single-coil pickups, which he designed himself.
In 2009, Ibanez released a new Paul Gilbert model, the PGM401, with an ash body, Trifade Burst finish, Cosmo Black hardware and regular headstock and in 2011, the FRM100.
Paul used A/DA MP-1 amps and rack effects units early in his career before switching to the Laney amps. After 2007, Gilbert found the Marshall Vintage Modern 2266c combo amps more to his liking and added the Marshall JMD501 amplifier as well.
Gilbert uses many effects to achieve his desired sound, including the Ibanez AF2 Airplane Flanger, the Robert Keeley Nova, several from Home Brew (Bajo Mos, the Detox EQ, the Nova Delay, the Compressor Retro and the THC Chorus), the TC Electronic Nova Delay, the MXR Phase 90 and 100, the Boss DD-3 Digital Delay, the Robert Keeley Nova Wah LE, the Jim Dunlop 535Q Crybaby and the Magik Box Fuzz Universe.
Many of the lists which claim to rank The Top 100 Guitarists* vastly underrated this guy. Ignorance is bliss. What makes the Inside the Rock Era list different is we actually listen to the music, study the solos, look at technique, gauge influence, and recognize success and talent. Paul Gilbert is underrated no more. He ranks #21 for the Rock Era...*
Gilbert had a column in Total Guitar magazine in which he demonstrated his guitar techniques in the magazine and accompanying CD. Paul teaches at the Guitar Institute of Technology on a regular basis. Gilbert has taught Buckethead among others, and most recently wrote a column for Premier Guitar.
Gilbert primarily plays Ibanez PGM signature guitars. He stopped using whammy bars in the early 1990's and his main Ibanez PGM300 has been modified to accommodate a fixed bridge. Gilbert also played the Ibanez RG750 in addition to several other Ibanez solid body and semi-hollow guitars. Recently, Gilbert has been playing a reversed-body Ibanez Iceman with single-coil pickups, which he designed himself.
In 2009, Ibanez released a new Paul Gilbert model, the PGM401, with an ash body, Trifade Burst finish, Cosmo Black hardware and regular headstock and in 2011, the FRM100.
Paul used A/DA MP-1 amps and rack effects units early in his career before switching to the Laney amps. After 2007, Gilbert found the Marshall Vintage Modern 2266c combo amps more to his liking and added the Marshall JMD501 amplifier as well.
Gilbert uses many effects to achieve his desired sound, including the Ibanez AF2 Airplane Flanger, the Robert Keeley Nova, several from Home Brew (Bajo Mos, the Detox EQ, the Nova Delay, the Compressor Retro and the THC Chorus), the TC Electronic Nova Delay, the MXR Phase 90 and 100, the Boss DD-3 Digital Delay, the Robert Keeley Nova Wah LE, the Jim Dunlop 535Q Crybaby and the Magik Box Fuzz Universe.
Many of the lists which claim to rank The Top 100 Guitarists* vastly underrated this guy. Ignorance is bliss. What makes the Inside the Rock Era list different is we actually listen to the music, study the solos, look at technique, gauge influence, and recognize success and talent. Paul Gilbert is underrated no more. He ranks #21 for the Rock Era...*
Posts are not running as scheduled but have to be manually forced.
ReplyDelete