Rusty Cooley Video

[Johnny Mac]

I love shredding and all types of music but I must say cooley is absolutely pants at writing music. Someone mentioned that cooley is a genius, i don't see how playing a scale up and down really fast classes you as a genius.
I would class people like beethoven, Mozart and Jason Becker as real music geniuses, there are a million bedroom shredders out there who can play sextuplet semiquavers at 140bpm, but can any of them writing a meaningful song?

This whole speed issue is really sad I mean at the end of the day if someone wants to wank their guitar let them, its not gonna get them laid in fact quite the opposite. Guitarists are the most jaded people on the planet dunno whats up with that?

I haven't heard any of Rusty's music but I take your point on playing scales really fast ect doesn't make you a genius. Writing amazing music on the other hand does, like the examples you gave. Saying that though I'd still love to shred like that but I doubt vey much if that would happen. If I could though I'd put it in a great context. I think Zakk does a good balance of what he is capaple of. I suppose it all comes down to balance. Good word too!

[Muzzzz]

I've no idea how RC can play so friggin fast when he lifts his fingers so far from the strings! He's amazing, you can't deny him that.. But who cares, i wouldn't listen to him for more than 30 seconds.

But i don't hate aimless shredders as much as floyd rose abusers - people who run out of real musical ideas, so they pointlessly wank their guitars, thinking that someone might actually enjoy hearing the sound of a drowning duck blasted through a million watts of amplification. Every ten seconds.

I could give names, but it would be blood in the water for fans of this guy...

Back to the topic, in terms of balance between shred and real melodic playing, John Petrucci is the real winner, IMHO - check out the G3 dvd in Tokyo 2005, the guy is GOD, anyone who can shred like a demon AND sound like Dave Gilmour solo at the same time gets my vote.