Presidential Medal of Freedom for bluesman BB King

DarcyPerry · Post by **DarcyPerry** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:22 am

Presidential Medal of Freedom for bluesman BB King

Blues legend BB King is to be awarded America's highest civilian honour at a ceremony hosted by US President George W Bush

http://www.blues.co.nz/news/article.php?id=601

sambrowne · Post by **sambrowne** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:57 am

Is it just me or is there a few guys around - Santana definitely being the worst offender - who are considered these massive guitar legends but other than being quite distinctive in their playing, don't really have anything special to bring to the table. Both these guys have been doing the same sound for at least the last 30 years, and haven't actually progressed as players in that time, and the fact is that 90% of us on these boards could do what they do without breaking a sweat. So what's the big deal? Am I missing something?

foal30 · Post by **foal30** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:13 pm

red rag to a bull.

fark BB is the Man. "sound not changing in 30 years".

It's HIS Sound , not anyone elses despite the clones , copycats and Johnnycomelatelys. Thats exactly the point, not he only did one thing , it's thats he actually did somehting of merit that is his, that positively benifitted Mankind, and more importantly Guitar Players.

I remember one of your idols, Reeves Gabriels saying exactly the same thing ten years ago, then saw the Great Man, and became a true believer.
In fact went awat from BB's gig crying. "the Vibrato, the sound, the feel!"

I know "Completley Well" is 35 years old but shit if theres a better Blues Album I want to hear it. Lovelle/Jemmott Rhythm section is defiently touched by the hand of God.

and no you , and 90% of this board can't sound like BB. but if you come up with your own thing even 1/100th as influential I will eat my limited edition foal30 baseball cap.

and that is why he's getting a medal and why He is known and loved worldwide by thousands of MUSIC fans.

shit every day i am thankful for Blues Boy King's contrubution to Popular Culture, A Giant in every sense of the word.

of more concern is a 80yearold Catholic Vegetarian accepting anything off a Terrorist , let alone a supposed Medal of Freedom.
I trust BB will take the oppourtunity to vocalize his position on Bush's many crimes and hopefully the "FREE PRESS" might even show it.

Post by Bg » Tue Dec 19, 2006 9:48 pm

sambrowne wrote:Is it just me or is there a few guys around - Santana definitely being the worst offender - who are considered these massive guitar legends but other than being quite distinctive in their playing, don't really have anything special to bring to the table. Both these guys have been doing the same sound for at least the last 30 years, and haven't actually progressed as players in that time, and the fact is that 90% of us on these boards could do what they do without breaking a sweat. So what's the big deal? Am I missing something?

its just you, yes you're missing something, foal summed it up concisely

DarcyPerry · Post by **DarcyPerry** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 10:11 pm

Fox will show 30 minutes of Bush, 3 seconds on BB, then a Fox presenter will say something like, "And there's another black man who can't swim".

BB King deserves better press but hey, the food will be great!

Terexgeek · Post by **Terexgeek** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 10:36 pm

DarcyPerry wrote:Fox will show 30 minutes of Bush...

Oh dear, that's the first thing I read off this page and had to double take...

Key-rist foal30 I agree with you...not that you need my approval

slash-ed · Post by **slash-ed** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 10:38 pm

sambrowne wrote:Is it just me or is there a few guys around - Santana definitely being the worst offender - who are considered these massive guitar legends but other than being quite distinctive in their playing, don't really have anything special to bring to the table. Both these guys have been doing the same sound for at least the last 30 years, and haven't actually progressed as players in that time, and the fact is that 90% of us on these boards could do what they do without breaking a sweat. So what's the big deal? Am I missing something?

For once, I kinda agree with him... Santana hasn't learnt any new licks in the past 20 years. I dunno much about BB King though so he hasn't really worn me out yet.

I'll say this - That fat black man sure knows how to vibrato and not play notes

DarcyPerry · Post by **DarcyPerry** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 7:27 am

I would say BB King is loved by millions. He has influenced too many guitar gods to mention. In turn, his influence can be heard in music today. If you diss him, you show your ignorance, or perhaps your youth and inexperience.

Oh, the statement about Fox was purely from watching too much of it on YouTube

Go search for yourself and be amazed at the redneck, anti-semetic, racist, warmongering, "fair and balanced" news they put live to air.

Fox is a Rebublican Propaganda Machine. Even they won't deny that. They'll just replace the word Propaganda with Patriot.

Show some respect for BB King. He's earned it.

Post by **GrantB** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:05 am

I saw BB at the u2 concert years ago. His tone was superb. And what a showman. Great backing band.

You don't have to innovate to be great. Fender Strat, Les Paul, Valve Amps, the wheel....etc etc. He does what he does best and although I never listen to him I have very mucho respecto.

lionking · Post by **lionking** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 11:47 am

congrats to him, he deserves it. :DWonder what Little Richard thinks about it.

slash-ed · Post by **slash-ed** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 12:20 pm

*UNIQUE* wrote:I saw BB at the u2 concert years ago. His tone was superb. And what a showman. Great backing band.

You don't have to innovate to be great. Fender Strat, Les Paul, Valve Amps, the wheel....etc etc. He does what he does best and although I never listen to him I have very mucho respecto.

When Love Comes to Town, na na na, something train!

slash-ed · Post by **slash-ed** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 12:22 pm

DarcyPerry wrote:If you diss him, you show your ignorance, or perhaps your youth and inexperience.

I dunno. What about opinion then. Maybe some people just don't dig his kind of music. Or won't. Just like one of my mates who will NOT listen to Yngwie Malmsteen just because... it's Malmsteen. "No feel", apparently. Has anyone listened to that tone?!?!

Yes yes, someone bring up the same runs over and over. Well considering I only have like, 3 tracks, I'm not that bored yet

DarcyPerry · Post by **DarcyPerry** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 1:57 pm

slash-ed wrote:
DarcyPerry wrote:If you diss him, you show your ignorance, or perhaps your youth and inexperience.
I dunno. What about opinion then. Maybe some people just don't dig his kind of music. Or won't. Just like one of my mates who will NOT listen to Yngwie Malmsteen just because... it's Malmsteen. "No feel", apparently. Has anyone listened to that tone?!?!

Yes yes, someone bring up the same runs over and over. Well considering I only have like, 3 tracks, I'm not that bored yet

Hell, you got me there. Well, this is a forum not a classroom. I'm not here to school you

In your opinion BB King's not worthy? In your opinion Malmsteen is a guitar hero? Sweet. I think both made their mark in their day and were innovative enough to inspire people to emulate their respective styles. BB King has done over 10 000 shows, has fans worldwide and still plays his trademark licks. Malmsteen has played considerably less shows, has fans worldwide and still plays his trademark licks.

I have a friend who went to Malmsteen just to get a pick. If you know his stage act, you'll know my friend had a good chance of getting one

In my opinion sambrowne is missing something. Son House, BB King, Santana, Green, Beck, Hendrix, Vai, Malmsteen, et al. have all brought something special to the table. And they have given this gift to the next generation of guitarists. BB King cites Bukka White (his cousin and legendary blues slide guitarist) as a huge influence on his vibrato. So many cite BB King as an influence I would find it impossible to list them all in a lifetime of research. You can count me as one though

So... what was my point?

Oh, here. let me put it another way. If you went to see Malmsteen at a show and he came out with an acoustic guitar and played neo classical gypsy folk tunes all night, with a tabla player and some throat singers from Tibet, because he had "progressed" as an artist... would you feel just a small amount of regret that he didn't play some of his 80's style speed metal?

Sometimes it's better to be yourself.

slash-ed · Post by **slash-ed** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 2:15 pm

Nah, I'm just being pedantic. I like BB King really sorta, the way I like a whole lot of other guys... I have Riding with the King, listen to that U2 duet occasionally. Hell for the guys I DO like I usually only know a few songs (It's embarassing, but hardcore GNR junkies start going on about obscure songs and I have no clue wtf they're on about).

What is my point??

Uh, I dunno.

Oh yeah. Just because it's cliche doesn't mean it's not cool. Hassn't any single blues / rock lick already been used in some way?

I went through the whole "This guys sucks, pop is crap, Rock/Metal/etc rules" phase, but now I just think... you can learn a lot from everyone.

Although, some guys really do just suck. Don't listen. Corrodes your frontal lobe.

DarcyPerry · Post by **DarcyPerry** » Wed Dec 20, 2006 3:35 pm

Ok, now we agree? That sux

Um, how do we get some tension back to this thread...

Malmsteen is a classical hack

No, its no use. The thrill is gone