"It's really not that complicated". But it is unique and highly creative and nobody else used it before you and everyone knows the song that follows it. It's fucking brilliant.
I thought it was me. I asked my wife if she could hear him...thought I needed a hearing aid just for his range of speech...definitely not for the guitar resonance frequency!
yup gotta echo - he said "I" very little, and almost never, and instead went through the experience of what actually happens - learning from what's there, going somewhere a bit new. That's probably the def of badass musicianry.
@@GEricG it's not that they don't know it. some people are just better at explaining things then others. it's like if somebody has to explain their daily job duties to somebody else. mostly it will be something like: "uh, ah, it goes like this, and then tdo it kinda like that yeah uh ah"
It's because these guys basically play by ear. So he plays it and he thinks he showing you everything you need to know because he assumes everyone can just hear it and understand it all.
This guy is a BEAST. The way he masters the guitar is amazing. He's got heart, the chops and helluva technique. The things he comes up with are awesome.
Man those Billy Idol songs bring back tons of great memories. And Stevens deserves much more credit as a guitarist. I have never seen someone play so effortlessly and so precise at the same time.
Steve is a true legend. This guy has written some of the most amazing riffs in pop, rock and metal - I still own a collection of all his albums and listen to them all the time. Just amazing talent hard to find.
Rebel Yell never gets old and Steve has always stood out to me. First time I heard this 30 something years ago I was impressed with his style, tone and the solo to this to this day is one of the best and most iconic of all. 🎸💥👍
I saw him play Rebel Yell in London in 2018. I’ve got to say they nearly took the roof off! The crowd went wild. I’ve seen hundreds of bands over the last 40 years, and they’re in the top 10. Astonishingly good!
Kardieschen it's mainly the sound and not so much the technical aspect of playing, get the right rig and it can make all the difference, unless you are trying to play stairway to heaven with a double neck SG with steel strings, then it gets pretty complicated, expensive, and painful
From a songwriter's perspective ... I LOVE his concept of creating a 'flag' riff at the beginning of the song. Thinking about the Idol library ... he uses this approach in several songs. Simple. Brilliant.
Saw Billy and Steve live in 2015. I was half expecting them to be old and over it but it they put out 110% and rocked the entire catalog from the 80's like they were still in their 20's. Legendary act.
Kudos to Steve, the fact he has managed to keep that magnificent bouffant of his looking so good after all the years of debauchery is a credit to his dedication.
Glad to see so many intelligent people commenting. I'd lost all hope on UA-cam. IMHO he belongs in any discussion regarding the guitar greats. Not only for his playing, but for his genius in composition. I've seen him live at least a dozen times and always walked away in amazement.
He's a great player. I don't think anyone has better taste or a better feel for rock 'n roll than him. In some ways I like Steve Stevens better than some of the better known guitar gods of our time, maybe because he is always a servant of the song, which kind of compresses the genius of what he plays and makes it really shine.
Thanks. On the technical side he's one of those players who really repays close attention to what he is doing. He's got great hands and plays complex speedy stuff very crisply and cleanly.
We'd be playing a cover of this song in a bar and MTV would be playing the video at the same time. It was the most exciting thing on the scene. I couldn't take my attention off of it. Steve is simply brilliant.
He’s got the Plexiglass sound perhaps with the early gain stage added? Pete Thorne has an excellent video explaining why loud amplifier distortion is still the best distortion… It’s all about transformer sag…
The older I get the more I love guitar.. unique and simple players like Steve are awesome that's how you make music, no overdone solos just sweet melodies and good riffs
Saw Billy Idol on the Devil's Playground tour. Stood on Steve's side of the stage and watched in awe. His playing is loaded with dynamics that add to the songs. As others have stated, his precision is incredible. Deserves a lot more recognition for playing and composing.
3:43 still one of the best riffs i've ever heard. can't believe it's so simple. as a child when i first heard it, it's definitely one of the sounds that led me to play guitar when i grew up...
I love how laid back he is and I find it amazing how he and Billy Idol, wild rockers, came up with one of my favorite beautiful slow ballad type songs (yeah, yeah, except for the middle bridge part), "Eyes Without a Face".
When I was playing top 40s song 2 decades ago,Billy Idols guitarist Steve Stevens fascinated me with his unique sound and technical approach...a very underrated musician/ guitarist 👍👍👍🍻🍻🍻
Simply Unbelievably Awesome. You Make It Look So Easy. But There's So Much More Going On. Thank You For This Supreme Anthem And For Many More Majestic Tracks You Have Given Us All.
Iconic riff - awesome parts to it and Steve is totally a tasteful and top player. Definitely underrated as far as 80s guitarists go and he's still going! A lot of people don't realize that that the (also iconic) intro and theme riff to Top Gun is Steve - one of my favorite soaring melodies to play on a guitar to this day with some nice trem bar action
Isolating and modulating a blues idiom (by the way of modern prog rock) as to change intent and feel to serve a musical purpose. Excellent insight to an artist plying his craft.
I saw him few years ago. His is an incredible guitar player, one of the best I have ever seen. Iconic, rockstar at 100%, he has a great sense of music.
He says a lot through his guitar voice, what an awesome sound. It's the little things that count and he puts it together brilliantly to make his signature sound. I dig it!
It’s amazing to me how he came up with that popping repeating riff that goes through the song. It perfectly fits the song and makes it so unique! Their collaboration was brilliant! And Rebel Yell is a classic rocker now! Steve Stevens is half the equation as far as I’m concerned. Billy Idol is so lucky to find him. They fit together so well! Rock On, Steve Stevens! 👏🏻🎸😎
My favorite guitarist hands down. I seen him and Billy Rock the MTV 20th anniversary party and Steve killed it for a young 12 year old that was mind-blowing been hooked ever since! Thank you
The individual parts of the song seem simple but the way that it’s constructed to complement Billy’s singing and propel the song forward with such drive is the genius. If it was so simple someone else would have already done it. His playing is so perfect for the groove and mood of the song plus he’s able to create a signature sound with not a lot of playing. Other than the intro and the short solo bits there’s not a lot of parts but yet you remember them for your whole life, they’re instantly recognizable.
1:28 - Steve finally plays the actual intro riff and whomever edited this thought that would be the perfect time to put a title card over his hands and the guitar...
It's not just his chops, it's also his compositional abilities along with his command of effects. The Rebel Yell CD has more guitar on it than people realize. What some would consider to be keyboards are actually guitar.
David Lee Roth wanted Stevie for his solo band. Stevie was not only legally contracted to Billy Idol but devoted too him. Of course, David went with Steve Via and us rock fans won twice. Read it in the most popular guitar magazine. I like the Wolfgang guitars.
I always thought he was so underrated. If you really want to hear the true versatility of Mr Steve Stevens - listen to his Solo Albums where he Rips on Acoustic. He is the Real Deal. Love Steve Stevens.
![Billy Idol - Rebel Yell [LIVE at SiriusXM]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/vGNdeLo4-jU/mqdefault.jpg)
Billy was lucky to have collaborated with such a talented guitarist.
@Vernon Wallis check out his other stuff man. He’s a great guitarist
Perfect match, both are geniuses
"It's actually really simple. "
Goes on to play something very nuanced & complex.
@Vernon Wallis XD
He also played on Ric Ocasek's solo album This Side Of Paradise
"It's really not that complicated". But it is unique and highly creative and nobody else used it before you and everyone knows the song that follows it. It's fucking brilliant.
It was unique and creative before 1978 when evh first created that sound. By the time he did it he was merely a bad Van Halen spin off
Playing it just right takes real talent, though.
It's brilliant because it's not complicated. It's just good.
@@timothyh6670I could be wrong but when does Eddie use the pick for the bass line and hybrid picks the lead?
@@sdmdrums9275 yeah... I think the dude's a bit full of bs
I can't like this guy more. Brilliant player and seemingly super humble.
Agreed
I just watched a 30 second short and thought the same, dude seems cool as hell.
I think this guy is so innovative. He really deserves a lot more credit for what he's contributed to music
100% Agree!
It’s literally impossible to get his voice at a listenable volume without waking up the family when the guitar starts.
Lmao having the same problem too!!
opposite happens with C.C Deville. Well maybe just the voice.
Got the same problem. Kept turning the volume up and down
I thought it was me. I asked my wife if she could hear him...thought I needed a hearing aid just for his range of speech...definitely not for the guitar resonance frequency!
Still having this problem. They’ve had plenty of time to fix it
His playing is so brilliant. It's so crunchy and precise, yet full of soul. He deserves more recognition. Go Steve!
He have all the recognition..."fingers of rock"...tge legend...yet a very down to earth person!
Too bad the audio of him taking was recorded very low. :/
@@BillAnt There's the irony...in Steven's awesome studio but the audio sux balls!!! Mind you, Stevies rig sounds fantastic!!!
He is one of my favorite players ever !!
I couldn't agree more. Highly highly underrated guitarist
what a cool fucking guy. That Rebel Yell opener is iconic and creative af. he's so chill and humble about his stuff....
I was thinking the same thing
yup gotta echo - he said "I" very little, and almost never, and instead went through the experience of what actually happens - learning from what's there, going somewhere a bit new. That's probably the def of badass musicianry.
I wish they had dine five albums that good… it was an extremely creative moment with the right musicians and ideas and producer…
Right
The really great guitarists can never explain how they do it. They just say, "it's kind of like this" and the talent takes over.
The key to music is melody. Simple riffs can sound better than overly technical music
Absolutely spot on - I think that this is true of people with talent generally - they don’t know how they can do it, they just can.
To them it all seems really easy ,they did it all their life thousands of times !
@@GEricG it's not that they don't know it. some people are just better at explaining things then others. it's like if somebody has to explain their daily job duties to somebody else. mostly it will be something like: "uh, ah, it goes like this, and then tdo it kinda like that yeah uh ah"
It's because these guys basically play by ear. So he plays it and he thinks he showing you everything you need to know because he assumes everyone can just hear it and understand it all.
Super underrated guitar master.
Jc333 master of the baters
Lmao
Icarus333 So True. I Love Steve. Steve can play with The Best, Ever.
Thank you for acknowledging his Greatness.
I was just thinking that!
Me too! He gets what he wants !
Always been great at interviews!
This guy is a BEAST. The way he masters the guitar is amazing. He's got heart, the chops and helluva technique. The things he comes up with are awesome.
A low-key, quiet, seemingly humble guy that plays like a beast. The best combo.
Man those Billy Idol songs bring back tons of great memories. And Stevens deserves much more credit as a guitarist. I have never seen someone play so effortlessly and so precise at the same time.
Steve stevens is a killer guitarist. Love his sound
Steve is a true legend. This guy has written some of the most amazing riffs in pop, rock and metal - I still own a collection of all his albums and listen to them all the time. Just amazing talent hard to find.
Rebel Yell never gets old and Steve has always stood out to me. First time I heard this 30 something years ago I was impressed with his style, tone and the solo to this to this day is one of the best and most iconic of all. 🎸💥👍
I saw him play Rebel Yell in London in 2018. I’ve got to say they nearly took the roof off! The crowd went wild. I’ve seen hundreds of bands over the last 40 years, and they’re in the top 10. Astonishingly good!
i love it when superstar guitarists say: "it's really not that complicated" lol 1:33
Kardieschen it's mainly the sound and not so much the technical aspect of playing, get the right rig and it can make all the difference, unless you are trying to play stairway to heaven with a double neck SG with steel strings, then it gets pretty complicated, expensive, and painful
I love it when you have to end EVERY comment with "lol"
Not complicated for him.
@@ebisu8824 You are aware... "lol' is a symbol for _The Scream_ (Edvard Munch).
@@commentatron No, no its not.
Fucking kick ass, classic, awesome legendary guitarist and musician.
Trop cool
I only wish he didn't use nail polish.
@@BozJust why
@@gabeh1839 Because it's gay and I don't like it.
Can't figure out why anyone would give this a thumbs down. This guy is a is legendary. 👊🏻
Individuals who give thumbs down literally don't know how to play guitar, or just plain jealous that he has a hot wife!! L OL
@@marshallohio5512
Or, maybe they were expecting a guitar lesson?
Love that Steve never changed his look and I hope he never does. Guitar hero for sure.
I really like the fact that his studio has a lot of natural sunlight
....and a sex doll!
Yeah the light helps the sound cuz it travels faster than sound and is like a super sonic jet giving a freight train a lift.
@@timothyh6670 When Science explains it all 😉
His sound, technique and style are so unique. SS is one of my all time favourite guitar players
Schutz-Staffel?
From a songwriter's perspective ... I LOVE his concept of creating a 'flag' riff at the beginning of the song. Thinking about the Idol library ... he uses this approach in several songs. Simple. Brilliant.
Such a great idea. Trust people will steal this flag idea and call it their own
Saw Billy and Steve live in 2015. I was half expecting them to be old and over it but it they put out 110% and rocked the entire catalog from the 80's like they were still in their 20's. Legendary act.
Kudos to Steve, the fact he has managed to keep that magnificent bouffant of his looking so good after all the years of debauchery is a credit to his dedication.
Glad to see so many intelligent people commenting. I'd lost all hope on UA-cam. IMHO he belongs in any discussion regarding the guitar greats. Not only for his playing, but for his genius in composition. I've seen him live at least a dozen times and always walked away in amazement.
One of the most underated guitarists in ROCK! Brilliant musician
So underrated and probably one of the best rock songs ever
He's a great player. I don't think anyone has better taste or a better feel for rock 'n roll than him. In some ways I like Steve Stevens better than some of the better known guitar gods of our time, maybe because he is always a servant of the song, which kind of compresses the genius of what he plays and makes it really shine.
That's one of the best descriptions of Steve's genius that we've ever read. So true!
Thanks. On the technical side he's one of those players who really repays close attention to what he is doing. He's got great hands and plays complex speedy stuff very crisply and cleanly.
gimmie a break. he looks great. he's a ROCK STAR for goodness sakes
A 'servant of the song'. Well said.
@@stephenlennartz3466
Exactly what I was thinking. And what a great musical quality to have.
My hero since white wedding in 1982..i was only 9.. 38 years later..i couldn't be more proud of Steve Stevens..
Steve is absolutely one of the best guitarist in the world. He deserves to be recognized more in the music industry.
We'd be playing a cover of this song in a bar and MTV would be playing the video at the same time. It was the most exciting thing on the scene. I couldn't take my attention off of it. Steve is simply brilliant.
Steve is just so freaking cool and a wonderful player. Everything he does is so smooth. Plus he plays and EVH.
Not just a great guitar player but a composer thinking in terms of all the moving parts that make a good song. A true musician.
And that's really where it's at. Good call, bud.
That, "Eyes Without a Face" bit could have been a Van Halen song with that tone. Awesome! 🤘👽
He's got the Wolfgang guitar for it!...
EVH's frankenstrat had humbucker pup(s) ;)
@@courtney5796 Google, "EVH Wolfgang"...
Or a Ratt song.
He’s got the Plexiglass sound perhaps with the early gain stage added?
Pete Thorne has an excellent video explaining why loud amplifier distortion is still the best distortion… It’s all about transformer sag…
The older I get the more I love guitar.. unique and simple players like Steve are awesome that's how you make music, no overdone solos just sweet melodies and good riffs
Steve Stevens is one of the great guitar player in the world! I salute you! God bless you and idol Billy!😊❤🎸
Saw Billy Idol on the Devil's Playground tour. Stood on Steve's side of the stage and watched in awe. His playing is loaded with dynamics that add to the songs. As others have stated, his precision is incredible. Deserves a lot more recognition for playing and composing.
He wrote some killer riffs, love that dude.
3:43 still one of the best riffs i've ever heard. can't believe it's so simple. as a child when i first heard it, it's definitely one of the sounds that led me to play guitar when i grew up...
Yep, but they put the wrong title,the riff is from the song / eyes without a face/
Always loved Steve’s playing. Amazing guitarist!
Being a teen guitarist in the early eighties, this guy ruled. I still remember seeing them on SNL and being blown away.
Thanks for everything you have given us throughout the years, great memories
So humble, and such a talented musician. Love Steve Stevens!
He is 100% ready to be filmed at all times. Hair, nails, shaved chest, the whole shot.
He really is a masterful guitarist. So precise and his riffs are beautifully varied.
The good ones make it look so easy. Thank you, Steven, for being you.
All the the guitar parts on this song are just magical. Steve Stevens, you rock!
Steve Stevens. Such a Talented musician, with a capital T.
I love these guitar parts so much, they are to me the musical incarnation of coolness
Two amazing talents making it work. Just an awesome team!!!
I love how laid back he is and I find it amazing how he and Billy Idol, wild rockers, came up with one of my favorite beautiful slow ballad type songs (yeah, yeah, except for the middle bridge part), "Eyes Without a Face".
One of my absolute favorites, absolute monster player
When I was playing top 40s song 2 decades ago,Billy Idols guitarist Steve Stevens fascinated me with his unique sound and technical approach...a very underrated musician/ guitarist 👍👍👍🍻🍻🍻
I could listen to Steve all day, timeless
Such a great tune. I remember the first time I heard it on the radio when I was 12. An outstanding track in 1983.
Simply Unbelievably Awesome. You Make It Look So Easy. But There's So Much More Going On. Thank You For This Supreme Anthem And For Many More Majestic Tracks You Have Given Us All.
Steve Stevens one of the greatest guitar players of all time!! 80´s forever!!
This guitarist not only plays with the guitar very well , but plays it even better. Much love for your style and sound of music.
Without a doubt one of the greatest, Steve Stevens!
Simple, exquisite, and perfect. Hats off to one of the top 10 in my book. And my book is big.
Iconic riff - awesome parts to it and Steve is totally a tasteful and top player. Definitely underrated as far as 80s guitarists go and he's still going! A lot of people don't realize that that the (also iconic) intro and theme riff to Top Gun is Steve - one of my favorite soaring melodies to play on a guitar to this day with some nice trem bar action
Always loved this guy, fantastic musician! :)
Rebel Yell is a classic rock staple that I never get tired of hearing.
Man Billy was genius in getting Steve Steven's on his band. So talented and unbelievable
Isolating and modulating a blues idiom (by the way of modern prog rock) as to change intent and feel to serve a musical purpose.
Excellent insight to an artist plying his craft.
I saw him few years ago. His is an incredible guitar player, one of the best I have ever seen. Iconic, rockstar at 100%, he has a great sense of music.
He says a lot through his guitar voice, what an awesome sound. It's the little things that count and he puts it together brilliantly to make his signature sound. I dig it!
Would love to just hangout with Steve Stevens. He seems like a really down to earth kind of guy
One of the best and unique guitarists of all time!!! - Keep Rockin!!! :)
Agreed!
It’s amazing to me how he came up with that popping repeating riff that goes through the song. It perfectly fits the song and makes it so unique!
Their collaboration was brilliant! And Rebel Yell is a classic rocker now!
Steve Stevens is half the equation as far as I’m concerned.
Billy Idol is so lucky to find him. They fit together so well!
Rock On, Steve Stevens!
👏🏻🎸😎
steve is very much under-rated, he's one of the best ever, bar none, can't get enough of his incredible playing and music, go steve go!!!
I didn’t realize this guy was so good. His technique is very very clean
SOOOOOO many people don't, and it's a shame.
He plays on the top gun anthem. check out the solo on that! Sounds like EVH.
That eyes without a face on the end is timeless.
you got that right ------ could check it out time after time
Saw Steve with Billy Idol at the Cow Palace, 30 years ago this year! Awesome show with Faith No More opening! Grateful
My favorite guitarist hands down. I seen him and Billy Rock the MTV 20th anniversary party and Steve killed it for a young 12 year old that was mind-blowing been hooked ever since! Thank you
Wow this dude really know his shit,Steve is the man.
What a tone!
Wish I knew what amp that was
So creative and inventive, and his rhythm playing is just ridiculously good.
SS made Billy Idol famous. I am a rock guitar loving music fan from those days and LOVED SS’s style.
Stevens is a beast. totally under rated.
Saw him third row last night at Jones Beach.. Amazing simply amazing
The individual parts of the song seem simple but the way that it’s constructed to complement Billy’s singing and propel the song forward with such drive is the genius. If it was so simple someone else would have already done it. His playing is so perfect for the groove and mood of the song plus he’s able to create a signature sound with not a lot of playing. Other than the intro and the short solo bits there’s not a lot of parts but yet you remember them for your whole life, they’re instantly recognizable.
One of my favorite guitarists. Really lights it up!
1:28 - Steve finally plays the actual intro riff and whomever edited this thought that would be the perfect time to put a title card over his hands and the guitar...
really like wtf
It's not just his chops, it's also his compositional abilities along with his command of effects. The Rebel Yell CD has more guitar on it than people realize. What some would consider to be keyboards are actually guitar.
odyssey6684 exactly!!! Creativity and song writing
Steve you are just an iconic player!
A genious artist!
LEGEND. I was lucky enough to see him at the House of Blues, front row, with Billy in the early 00’s. What a show!!!!
David Lee Roth wanted Stevie for his solo band. Stevie was not only legally contracted to Billy Idol but devoted too him. Of course, David went with Steve Via and us rock fans won twice. Read it in the most popular guitar magazine. I like the Wolfgang guitars.
I always thought he was so underrated. If you really want to hear the true versatility of Mr Steve Stevens - listen to his Solo Albums where he Rips on Acoustic. He is the Real Deal. Love Steve Stevens.
He is the coolest guy!!! Humble and so freaking talented
Hes such a talented player and loved him with Billy. Loved Billy since i was young
amazing guitar rock star
Steve Stevens = VERY very Cool Guitarist !!
One of my favorite guitarists of all time.
One of my all time fav guitarist. Real creative guy and a very nice fellow if you ever meet him. Dude loves music and guitars. The real deal.
A true guitar MAESTRO !
love his style of playing
Hi and many thanks for this moment with Mr Steeve Stevens!
And many thanks for the bonus bridge of "Eyes without a face", famous one too!!!
❤❤❤
That’s so cool, one of the best guitarists ever, instantly recognisable 👍 🎸