Pictures of Matchstick Men by Camper Van Beethoven? Never heard of those guys.

Cool find subby. I like how he would drop D for a few riffs then twist it back up to E. Impressive considering how seamless it was...

I like it. Some good choices in there. Particularly dug "Oh Well" by the '69 Fleetwood Mac line up.

Always liked that riff.

OK, I admit to being impressed.


_{/resisting urge to make one or two mild criticisms of his list selection}

TheCharmerUnderMe: I like it. Some good choices in there. Particularly dug "Oh Well" by the '69 Fleetwood Mac line up.

Always liked that riff.

Well, he does still live.

/had to go listen to "Jessica" from the Allman Brothers.

As a woman who loves music but doesn't know shiat about playing guitar, just let me say: that was pretty hot. What is it about men who play guitar? I want to say it's just some urban legend, but nope. Play guitar, get chicks. The end.

I wonder what kind of FX unit he was using.

That was definitely pretty good, but it was not "perfect". He made more than a few slight flubs and some of the riffs just sound wrong.

Not that he played them wrong, there are just some riffs that only sound "right" in the context of the song they are in and on the record they are best known on. Just because....

mat catastrophe: That was definitely pretty good, but it was not "perfect". He made more than a few slight flubs and some of the riffs just sound wrong.

Not that he played them wrong, there are just some riffs that only sound "right" in the context of the song they are in and on the record they are best known on. Just because....

And of course, having said that I should point out that I can barely pay thirty percent of them, correctly or otherwise.

Not how I expected to spend the last 12 minutes of my life but I can't say as I can regret it.

/WHARR FARK MUSIC TAB WHARR?

It was a fine job and all but I'm questioning how "classic" some of those riffs are.

Zombalupagus: Not how I expected to spend the last 12 minutes of my life but I can't say as I can regret it.

/WHARR FARK MUSIC TAB WHARR?

iz died now smooshed with entertaiment

I made it to 23... beat that!

Technically, he is ok, but he does not play with any soul.

/amidoinitrite?

Turfshoe: Technically, he is ok, but he does not play with any soul.

/amidoinitrite?

He seems to be a pretty good player, and there were a couple of times where he seemed like he wanted to abandon the whole 100 riffs thing, and just start playing.

michaelgvh: I made it to 23... beat that!

78 or so, then I realized it he started playing a bunch of hack bands so I stopped.

My only quibble -- and it's a petty one, I admit -- is with subby's term "picked perfectly." It's only my opinion, but I feel that no one version or performance is ever 'perfect,' or it's at least not possible to 'perfectly' render someone else's work, in the manner of what we might call perfect duplication. The reason I feel this way is that I feel strongly that in any kind of art, the artist closest to the work, whoever they are, must invest something of themselves in it, or it's insincere. A performance is never therefore 'perfect' in any objective sense, and never can be, but can be 'ideal' in the sense that it most honestly expresses that artist's feeling towards the work at that moment.

The latter 1/4 of the setlist definitely seemed to fall off a cliff both in terms of quality and recognizability, though that's probably just due to the less classic nature of the modern stuff and the guy's wanting to have all eras represented.

Pincy: It was a fine job and all but I'm questioning how "classic" some of those riffs are.

I was wondering that myself, but I think he means 'classic' in terms of 'recognisable'. I don't necessarily agree with that in every case, but it seems fair enough to me. He also makes no superlative claims, such as "most" classic, so I think he's also free from criticism on terms of some others being 'more' 'classic' (if such comparisons are even arguable in anything but drunk terms). For example, I'm a huge Yes fan, and I consider the entirely of '90125' barely Yes at all (I prefer to think of it as Trevor Rabin hanging with Chris Squire and some of his buds), but I freely admit that that's easily the most recognisable guitar riff of their entire oeuvre for most people. (Yes, even more than the opening bars of "Roundabout," difficult as that is to admit -- I think most people under 35 probably confuse that one with the long intro to Heart's "Crazy On You," and I don't blame them for it. There's only so much anyone can be expected to keep track of.)

Zombalupagus: Not how I expected to spend the last 12 minutes of my life but I can't say as I can regret it.

/WHARR FARK MUSIC TAB WHARR?

I know, seriously. I'd happily kick them the regular fiver if they'd bring that back.

TommyymmoT: Turfshoe: Technically, he is ok, but he does not play with any soul.

/amidoinitrite?

He seems to be a pretty good player, and there were a couple of times where he seemed like he wanted to abandon the whole 100 riffs thing, and just start playing.

Yeah, I tend to agree, though it might not be entirely fair. This was a medley, and I think it's hard to invest yourself in that many different songs over such a short period. It's like trying to attend every different church in one hour. He seems to have really good chops, though, and I bet he could play most of these pretty well given more than a few bars -- the ones he likes, anyway: He played some only a bit, others longer.

Di Atribe: As a woman who loves music but doesn't know shiat about playing guitar, just let me say: that was pretty hot. What is it about men who play guitar? I want to say it's just some urban legend, but nope. Play guitar, get chicks. The end.

Gotta admit - it's the reason I started playing...

/some 45-ish years ago...

Complete list, in order, at original site. (Can't C&P, sorry, cuz looks like crap.)

penguin31: though that's probably just due to the less classic nature of the modern stuff and the guy's wanting to have all eras represented.

I think we can all be thankful that he completely skipped everything from the "nu-metal" era of the late 90s/early 00s.

Now editated just for youse..


1) Mr. Sandman - Chet Atkins -1953
2) Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash - 1955
3) Words of Love - Buddy Holly - 1957
4) Johnny B Goode - Chuck Berry - 1958
5) Rumble - Link Wray - 1958
6) Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran - 1958
7) Pipeline - The Chantays - 1962
8) Miserlou - Dick Dale - 1962
9) Wipeout - Surfaris - 1963
10) Daytripper - The Beatles - 1965
11) Can't Explain - The Who - 1965
12) Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones - 1965
13) Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix - 1967
14) Black Magic Woman - Santana - 1968
15) Helter Skelter - The Beatles - 1968
16) Oh Well - Fleetwood Mac - 1969
17) Crossroads - Cream - 1969
18) Communication Breakdown - Led Zeppelin - 1969
19) Paranoid - Black Sabbath - 1970
20) Fortunate Son - Creedence Clearwater Revival - 1970
21) Funk 49* - James Gang - 1970
22) Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin - 1970
23) biatch - Rolling Stones - 1971
24) Layla - Derek and the Dominos - 1971
25) School's Out - Alice Cooper - 1972
26) Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple - 1973
27) Money - Pink Floyd - 1973
28) Jessica - Allman Brothers - 1973
29) La Grange - ZZ Top - 1973
30) 20th Century Boy - T. Rex - 1973
31) Scarlet Begonias - Grateful Dead - 1974
32) Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd - 1974
33) Walk This Way - Aerosmith - 1975
34) Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen - 1975
35) Stranglehold - Ted Nugent - 1975
36) Boys Are Back in Town - Thin Lizzy - 1976
37) Don't Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult - 1976
38) Carry on My Wayward Son - Kansas - 1976
39) Blitzkreig Bop - The Ramones - 1976
40) Barracuda - Heart - 1977
41) Runnin' with the Devil - Van Halen - 1978
42) Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits - 1978
43) Message in a Bottle - The Police - 1979
44) Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) - Neil Young - 1979
45) Back in Black - AC/DC - 1980
46) Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne - 1980
47) Spirit of Radio - Rush - 1980
48) Pride and Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughan - 1983
49) Owner of a Lonely Heart - Yes - 1983
50) Holy Diver - Dio - 1983
51) Beat It - Michael Jackson - 1983
52) Hot For Teacher - Van Halen - 1984
53) What Difference Does It Make - The Smiths - 1984
54) Glory Days - Bruce Springsteen - 1985
55) Money For Nothing - Dire Straits - 1985
56) You Give Love a Bad Name - Bon Jovi - 1986
57) The One I Love - REM - 1987
58) Where the Streets Have No Name - U2 - 1987
59) Welcome to the Jungle - Guns N' Roses - 1987
60) Sweet Child 'O Mine - Guns N' Roses - 1987
61) Girls, Girls, Girls - Motley Crue - 1987
62) Cult of Personality - Living Colour - 1988
63) Kickstart My Heart - Motley Crue - 1989
64) Running Down a Dream - Tom Petty - 1989
65) Pictures of Matchstick Men - Camper Van Beethoven - 1989
66) Thunderstruck - AC/DC - 1989
67) Twice as Hard - Black Crowes - 1990
68) Cliffs of Dover - Eric Johnson - 1990
69) Enter Sandman - Metallica - 1991
70) Man in the Box - Alice in Chains - 1991
71) Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana - 1991
72) Give it Away - Red Hot Chili Peppers - 1991
73) Even Flow - Pearl Jam - 1991
74) Outshined - Soundgarden - 1991
75) Killing in the Name - Rage Against the Machine - 1992
76) Sex Type Thing - Stone Temple Pilots - 1993
77) Are You Gonna Go My Way - Lenny Kravitz - 1993
78) Welcome to Paradise - Green Day - 1994
79) Possum Kingdom - Toadies - 1995
80) Say it Ain't So - Weezer - 1995
81) Zero - Smashing Pumpkins - 1996
82) Monkey Wrench - Foo Fighters - 1997
83) Sex and Candy - Marcy Playground - 1997
84) Smooth - Santana - 1999
85) Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers - 1999
86) Short Skirt, Long Jacket - Cake - 2001
87) Turn a Square - The Shins - 2003
88) Seven Nation Army - White Stripes - 2003
89) Hysteria - Muse - 2003
90) I Believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness - 2003
91) Blood and Thunder - Mastodon - 2004
92) Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet - 2004
93) Reptilia - The Strokes - 2004
94) Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand - 2004
95) Float On - Modest Mouse - 2004
96) Blue Orchid - White Stripes - 2005
97) Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day - 2005
98) steady As She Goes - The Raconteurs - 2006
99) I Got Mine - black Keys - 2008
100) Cruel - St. Vincent - 2011

Sylvia_Bandersnatch: My only quibble -- and it's a petty one, I admit -- is with subby's term "picked perfectly."

The "picked perfectly" part of the headline was supposed to be a passing reference to his skill in (finger) picking.

/subby

i recognized over 90 of them. pretty the stuff after 2000 was getting into the "never heard of them" area. The Darkness? St. Vincent?

but i was really impressed that Mastodon made the list.

/still wish Monster Magnet did

The Flexecutioner: i recognized over 90 of them. pretty much the stuff after 2000 was getting into the "never heard of them" area. The Darkness? St. Vincent?

but i was really impressed that Mastodon made the list.

/still wish Monster Magnet did

FTFM

Sylvia_Bandersnatch: Complete list, in order, at original site. (Can't C&P, sorry, cuz looks like crap.)

Thanks for the list. I'm considering trying to copy that performance just for sh*ts and grins.

TommyymmoT: Sylvia_Bandersnatch: Complete list, in order, at original site. (Can't C&P, sorry, cuz looks like crap.)

Thanks for the list. I'm considering trying to copy that performance just for sh*ts and grins.

If you do, I'd suggest not duplicating the same list, but one of your own. That's all he did, I'm sure: went year by year and picked ones he thought were 'classic' for whatever reason. But there are so many to choose from, many people could do this, all with different lists, and they'd all be just as good, and more interesting for the variety of perspectives.

Slightly more obscure, but some part of this should have been included.

Yet he left out Guitar Man, even if just for the novelty.

like the wah effect on Man in the Box... anyone know what unit?

Damn. And wow.

How I wish.....

I wonder how he was able to change through so many different tones so quickly.

96 wan't the Raconteurs, It was Joe Jackson's "Is She Really Going Out With Him?"

Not a bad top 100 list, though.

/ If the Stones were on there twice, then Rush should have been as well. Lotta memorable stuff from them.

I mean no. 98, not 96.

SomeTexan: If the Stones were on there twice, then Rush should have been as well. Lotta memorable stuff from them.

Actually, that's true several times over. Gun's 'N' Roses twice?

65 (Pictures of Matchstick Men) should have been 14 and attributed to Status Quo, but other than that . . . \m/

rcf1105: I wonder how he was able to change through so many different tones so quickly.

Foot pedal.


Also: He's like a real-guitar version of Guitar Hero.

so 1991 rocked, apparently

rcf1105: I wonder how he was able to change through so many different tones so quickly.

I assume foot pedal(s).

/Should have had "Come Out And Play" by The Offspring

Is it just me, or did he manage to suck the life out of so many of those riffs, in the process of fitting them into that one performance? Some of them he pulled off, but some are so dead that it's hard to really enjoy the whole thing without going "why did he speed up/slow down the tempo for that one" or "why in the hell did he play that one that way?"

Here's a guy who knows a lot of his chased repertoire; impeccable or not, bully for him (I didn't listen the whole way through)!

On another note, why is it that players of fretted instruments (guitars, banjos, mando) hafta look at their left hands all the time, but players of bowed strings (i.e., no frets to tell you where your fingers go) almost never do? (Same argument could be made for trombone players too, I suppose.)

Or, to put it another way, can someone post a video of a fretted player who changes positions frequently, but doesn't look at his/her "fingering" hand?

^^^^^^"chosen" repertoire--my mistake!

Why does Z.Z. Top always get the credit for John Lee Hooker's signature riff? Fark them AND their beards.

kenny's mom: Here's a guy who knows a lot of his chased repertoire; impeccable or not, bully for him (I didn't listen the whole way through)!

On another note, why is it that players of fretted instruments (guitars, banjos, mando) hafta look at their left hands all the time, but players of bowed strings (i.e., no frets to tell you where your fingers go) almost never do? (Same argument could be made for trombone players too, I suppose.)

Or, to put it another way, can someone post a video of a fretted player who changes positions frequently, but doesn't look at his/her "fingering" hand?

It's because alot of players remember the notes, and chords visually, hence, guitar tablature, which many use to learn songs, and chords.
Also, guitar necks, string spacing, frets, the number of frets can vary from instrument to instrument, whereas a piano, or a cello will require your fingers to be in the same place on every instrument no matter the make, which greatly aids muscle memory.

You can look at a cello neck all day long, but it still won't give you any hints as to where to put your fingers.
Also, string players will often be reading music, which rarely gives you the opportunity to look away.

kenny's mom: Here's a guy who knows a lot of his chased repertoire; impeccable or not, bully for him (I didn't listen the whole way through)!

On another note, why is it that players of fretted instruments (guitars, banjos, mando) hafta look at their left hands all the time, but players of bowed strings (i.e., no frets to tell you where your fingers go) almost never do? (Same argument could be made for trombone players too, I suppose.)

Or, to put it another way, can someone post a video of a fretted player who changes positions frequently, but doesn't look at his/her "fingering" hand?

Any video of Eric Clapton ever made.

FormlessOne: Is it just me, or did he manage to suck the life out of so many of those riffs, in the process of fitting them into that one performance? Some of them he pulled off, but some are so dead that it's hard to really enjoy the whole thing without going "why did he speed up/slow down the tempo for that one" or "why in the hell did he play that one that way?"

If you say so. Personally, I think any guitar player here (raises hand) will readily concede that learning a 100-riff medley is quite a trick to pull off, at any level of quality. For him to reach such a high level of quality on so many of the riffs is pretty impressive.

I enjoyed that, and as for silly minor gripes: it seems like at least 75% of people who learn Black Sabbath riffs don't know to play them on the sixth string.

terrific work adding in some drop d, slide, wah, and whole bunch of tones.
I really enjoyed that.