Speaking to Waste Some Time With Jason Green, guitarist George Lynch discussed an issue he has with some of the legacy bands of rock music.
He said:
“I think about any of these legacy bands like Whitesnake, Judas Priest. All along the past years, I’ve had few incidents of opportunities or discussions of being in other bands.
“But what I never got was why these guys would want to go with a newer cat. ‘Yeah, you’re shredder and all this, you can do all that and play over the top and play 19 fingers and billions of notes…’
“But if you’re a classic, legacy, blues-based, hard rock band, that’s what you want, you want that guy. And whether it’s me or somebody else, I don’t understand why these older cats go for the young guys.
“It’s just very disingenuine to me. Like Ozzy, or Ronnie James Dio hiring an 18-year old guitar player, and he’s like 70 – that doesn’t make any sense.
“Dude, get guys your age that comes from the same place. And that’s what people want to hear too. I want to hear, like, Deep Purple, I don’t want to hear some shred guy in Deep Purple, I want [Ritchie] Blackmore, I want to hear those songs, and I want to hear that.
“That’s the thing. If you’re Bon Jovi – I’m speculating, nothing about Bon Jovi’s business, but I’m sure Richie Sambora was getting a giant percentage as a founding member versus whoever they could hire.
“I mean, paying 10k a week, that’s nothing compared to what a founding member is getting off a band that’s making those guarantees.”
33 comments
Look at the Judas Priest recent “performance”, horrible. Faulkner is overplaying adding in a bunch of fills and Halford is speaking lyrics instead of singing.
I can’t argue with what George is saying. He is pretty much spot on. As for Judas Priest bring KK back that’s hat the diehards want.
Lynch is an idiot. When did Dio hire an 18 year old guitar player? He did hire a guitar player who could play circles around little Georgie (Tracy G) but George should just shut up and try to write some decent music. Dokken was a weak band.
He did for the Lock up the Wolves album.
Who cares just enjoy the music live while we still can life is short even for us metal heads!$
Thanks for the advice Greg the hammer Valentine
Rowan Robertson
Check your facts, Dio hired Rowan Robertson when he was 17.
I agree Lynch should shut up but you clearly know nothing about guitar playing!!! Lynch is one of the best ever so it’s fair to say that no one will be “ player circles “ around him!!
I don’t think much of George’s opinions on anything (especially politics) but while he may not be the greatest guitar player ever he has an amazing sound and style. Just listen to the guitar work on The Hunter or Here Comes the King (Dirty Shirley).
Haha Jim Reyes doesnt know but speaks .. thats funny.
In 1989 Dio hired Rowan Robertson for 1990’s Lock Up The Wolves album. Everything about your comment is rather dumb so take note of who you point to in calling someone an idiot.
Geez Jim, a simple google search would reveal a certain 17yr old guitar wiz from G.B. played for Dio @ one time.
Jim your a total idiot go back to listening to the band Ghost or some other lame new band
Ozzy is literally about to retire. He is giving guitarists a chance to make their way up the ladder. So what if he hires 18 year old guitarists. It should be non of George’s problem. Let Ozzy do what he does and let him at peace u MF!!!
Rowan Robertson was 17 when he started playing with Dio.
And Vivian Campbell was 20 when he joined Dio.
He hinted at it later in the interview… it’s about money. The young cat asks/requires/demands less than the long-time industry vet does. Not saying it’s right or wrong but the audience doesn’t care who’s playing, just that the parts are played right/close to the original. If the artist/band/owner of the name can get it done for less money he will. That’s why it’s called show “business”…
Anyone saying Faulkner is just adding a bunch of notes is a fool with no ears. Faulkner is doing double duty, jumping between KK and Tipton parts and actually pulling it off. There’s always some tone deaf clown that wants to crap on things they dont understand. And it just makes them look ridiculous.
Agreed. I saw Priest a few months ago and Faulkner not only played extremely well, but is probably the most charismatic and fan-interactive guitarist I’ve ever seen live. Additionally, less than a week later the man finished a set while blood was basically pooling in his chest from an aortic rupture. Even if I agreed with everything George said, Faulkner has definitely earned my respect.
100%. I saw Faulkner first time on the epitaph tour. Was bummed abaout the whole KK thing. But within a few songs I was thinking wow, this guy it good. He just started killing it and when Tipton stepped down he’s covering so much ground for one guy. Faulkner is a monster guitar player and he fits in. So I wanted to hate him, but he earned respect.
So, is Lynch slamming the very band that is giving his daughter a good lifestyle? She’s married to Richie Faulkner.
I love george but I disagree with some things. Whats wrong with dio wanting an 18 year old guitar player? You can make a case of “thats not what the old school fans want” but what do the musicians want? Its their music afterall . Richie faulkner is a great player, not my fave but i can see why priest wanted him. It doesnt ruin the old music. It adds a fresh taste to it live .if you dont like they way. Band sounds live then watch an old show on yourube or just blast the albums
DISINGENUOUS?
he’s making his case with the wrong examples. Everyone wants to see the founding members play, but most of the time there was a reason why they left or had to leave, and it has nothing to do with being older or younger. At 70 you also don’t want to make new friends, you just want the thing to carry on as long as you can do it (yourself) and need people to play with on stage. And you certainly don’t want to waste time with someone who will come with their own story and ego, it’s probably harder to change after decades.
Maybe he should try working in a company. Things are exactly the same, you can have a sh*tload of experience, they want the young guy because he will work hard, has everything to prove and will come with newer ideas. Of course, being paid less is also a consideration. And let’s not forget the elephant in the room: they’re less likely to kick the bucket before you do…
First of all, that’s not a word.
Second of all, I don’t think that word means what you think it means.
Richie Faulkner from Judas Priest is married to George’s daughter.
George and Richie jam together. Wonder who the source was for this article?
Rowan Robertson was 18 years old when Dio hired him, and Dio was planning on hiring him before, Robertson was just not allowed since we was still not 18, anyway, this is not a discussion about Dokken this is a discussion about dinosaurs hiring cheap $$ and young musicians when they could hire musicians that are more contemporary to them and sound more contemporary with them
Funny that he is knocking his son in law. I think he’s jealous he didn’t get the Priest gig
OZZY has always had younger guitarists & many different ones on different albums ,🙄 Randy Rhoads was way younger than him for example &;Motley Crue just hired that John5 , obviously waayy younger than them , he has a # in his name
Motley Crud is a fine example.
I think Ozzy is being artificially kept alive.
George you should know why bands (founding members) are hiring these younger kid’s to your. $$$$$$$ it’s plain and simple hypothetically you’re getting 10k you pay these younger guy’s $500-$1000 and you get the lion share all to yourself. The younger guy get to tour and say he played with a legend.
George is jealous he doesn’t make anywhere near $10,000 a week!