Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) guitar lesson & interview
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- Опубліковано 22 чер 2008
- Steve Stevens, the guitarist of Billy Idol, talks about his influences and gives an insight on his song writing process, style and playing technique.
He also shows how to play the basic chords of "Rebel Yell", "White Wedding", "Eyes Without A Face", "Dancing With Myself" and "Rat Race". Wonderful guy, great rock composer, amazing guitarist. Enjoy!
PS. If you look very carefully, you can see the letters of those Bare Knuckle pickups on his gorgeous Les Paul. They must be the Mules (according to him, he was using them in the past) because I think the Rebel Yells did not exist at the time this video was made. (Don't take their sound as a characteristic "Mule" sound though - they put him to play through a Fender G Decn for f's sake)
PS. It's an old video (probably from Guitar World) with very low resolution. Nothing I can do about that - sorry.
He's just talented. The way he hears sounds and puts them together into a melody is a gift.
Every time I see this guy I think that he is the most under appreciated guitar player around: the guy is just a monster.
Great comment. Ever since Billy Idol came out, the guitar is what did it for me. The melodies just sing and really make the songs so sweet!!
Agreed
FredrocksIII yep. This guy and Jake E Lee
Check out Black Light Syndrome 1999 abum Steve Stevens Tony Levin on bass (King Crimson) and Terry Bozio drums (Frank Zappa).
Youll love that!!
FredrocksIII amen!!!
This Guy Took Billy to the top!!
só por causa do solo? não
the 2 are an explosive combo
Yeah w/o him i agree
And he gives Billy ALL THE CREDIT!
So talented!
I don't even like hearing the word underated when refering to Steve Stevens. He has always been TOPS in my mind.
“Phenomenal” best describes Steve Stevens.
I think the coolest appearance I've seen him on was on that cooking show Iron Chef. They do the intro, and then "And all the way from America--STEEEEEEVE STEVENS!". And he's up hanging out with the geisha. I'm like "wtf? Steve!"
ERIC!
No doubt 💯 ☝🏼
He is at the top go the guitar mountain! When you hear his body of work, it is undeniable.
Such a cool guy, he's a grand master at his craft. The most versatile ive ever seen.
I never understood why he isn't more famous than he already is.
HeDontNeed
HesAproducer
He is quite famous.
He didnt sell his soul
He's rich...he doesn't care.
Steve Stevens is a gentleman, as well as a musical genius. Such a gentleman that when he arranges his songs, he plays less to leave space for vocals. In my 20 yrs of playing I've never given a damn about vocalists :)
Ok yngwie.
Which is why we know who this guy is. And you're commenting on yt vids. :shrug:
@@ThatKa5p3r How did you take his comment personally? Was his nose not buried up far enough Steve's rear end or something?
@@nckhed huh??
That Kasper lmfao...I love this comment...dont understand that dudes comment...it's fuckin true some learn how to change and others lke us are commenting on u tube..lol
This is the kind of stuff that makes makes me a better guitar player.
A real musician and an awesome-seeming human being. Steve Stevens, you rule.
Man, I have only recently found out about this guy. I have always known these tunes, but knew nothing about Idol's axeman. He's a great guitar player. Thanks for the post
So many classic riffs. Steve is a wonderful guitarist and extremely talented.
That's the coolest Les Paul guitar I've ever seen. Killer finish and I love the clear pick guard. It owns my dreams!!!!!!!
I just kinda discovered Steve last week watching his Rig Rundown. He was so open and discussed everything and how he uses the guitars and equipment. And then he played.. Man he is a FANTASTIC guitarist.. Im a fan.
To young guitarist. This is how you do it. Stevens listened to such a wide variety of guitarists in many different genres (he mentions Tal Farlow and King Crimson here), and took the ideas he liked from those guys and made them his own in his songwriting, which in the hands of a creative person, is a sure fire way to make interesting music. There are no two songs on Rebel Yell that sound alike and this is what make Rebel Yell a classic album that transcends the 80s. Great songs, great guitar parts and playing, and in Steve Stevens a guitarist's guitarist. This is an album all rock guitarists should have and should study, not to mention his influences.
Yeah and John Enwistle too
Rebell yell
And Leo Kottke! Another incredible guitar player. I'm convinced that Steve Stevens is an evil mastermind!
An amazing sonic architect.
I've always liked the guitars in Billy Idol's music and now I realize that even more. Steve is a genius!!
I never see Steve on the top guitarists lists or even the top under appreciated guitarist lists. I can’t believe it. This man rocks and is a virtuoso. He has come up with so many incredible riffs. In addition to Billy Idol, he was incredible on Vince Neils’s “Exposed” album.
I remember watching this video when I started playing guitar to learn the riff of "white wedding", man Steve always inspired my style, I'm happy I still play guitar today, I have to thank him because he's in my hall of fame of favorite guitarists of all time
Steve is such a "smart" guitarist..I like how he explains how he came up with the riffs that he did...He's very good at composing and a master at song structuring.
What I like most about him, apart that he is down to earth, is that he always serves the song in the best possible way: great imaginative chords and passages, simple and to the point, no out-of-place shreds, no guitar pyrotechnics, no show-offs... but also attracting the spotlight when needed, for instance in a guitar instrumental in the middle of the band live set.
I will look for his new solo album! :-)
He's fantastic on acoustic too. Slips in and out between rhythm, lead and bass effortlessly.
One of the absolute BEST!
Steve Stevens is a great Guitar player. He has been on the scene for so long and still puts on a great show. He is one of my all time favorites.
Fantastic guy and guitar player, it is a plaesure to see him and listen to his sound live, thanks Mr. Stevens!
I seen him with the atomic playboys after he first left Billy's gig and he was unbelievably good also I met him afterward and he was extremely cool and enthused about my air guitaring his solos all night, lol. Awesome player and guy!
Power with melody, such an amazing combination. The way he transforms the chord structures in Eyes Without A Face is gorgeous. And then he mentions Leo Kotke and you understand that he is a guitar aficionado.
guitar players know how good Steve is ! he's a great player! ....U can't mention Billy without saying Steve's name., they are a perfect match, compliment each other well.
who looks for inspiration picturing the gears from a watch?!? Steve Stevens is a GENIUS and thinks on a totally different level. Phenomenal and so down to Earth. Amazing guy.
Stevens is always using vibrato, even when he's playing barre chords. Takes a lot of strength in your fretting hand to do that. One of the all-time best players for sure.
Steve Stevens is brilliant! Thanks so much. I play guitar, and was looking for the original way to play eyes without a face- My all-time favorite song from Steve and Billy. Hope you guys stay healthy and play together for many years to come.
So sweet! Loved every second of this interview... Thank you so much!
This guy is a true artist. Innovative and creative. His personality and expressiveness come right through the instrument. Many can master the guitar technically, but it is guys like Steve and others who can bring something unique and special to the listener. These people don't get near the recognition they deserve. Thanks for posting.
Such a special player. Talent, no ego, still loves the instrument and seeks to learn new things everyday. I love his chordal knowledge and craft as much as his verve and swagger.
I could watch this guy play all day....amazing sound!
3:05 His studies of Leo Kottke's playing style led to "Rebel Yell!" Who would have thought? Well, good musicians listen to a lot of different kinds of music and find things in them.
Steve Stevens is such a great guitar player. I've been fond of his playing from the beginning
Dancing with myself! Steve Stevens is one of the UNDERRATED guitarists of the 80’s,!
I think you have picked the wrong song Dancing with myself is an old GenX song so Steve can't be involved in creating it otherwise I totally agree!
This guy is world class gets nada of the kudos he deserves. Hail Hail the mighty Steve Steven's. Forever in my heart and soul!!
Nice bloke, real easy to talk with and real free with his tricks of the trade. Really good guitarist as well, always loved hearing the Billy Idol songs on the main stream radio stations when it came out and mainly for the guitar sound on them. He's got a real gutsy solid sound
Steve Stevens was probably the very best guitarist of the entire 80's era, and so few knew that.
He ranks with Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, Al Dimeola.
And Joe Satriani, even more so-it's what you DON'T know that he did...
Billy Idol is really only famous because of Steve
And Vito Bratta! Too bad he didn't produce a larger catalog of music before he stopped.
Another severely underrated and un acknowledged player of that era would be Steve Lukather
Absolutely...and that TONE is just perfect! Stevens is one of the most underrated guitarists out there. He helped define that entire 80's L.A. metal sound, yet if you watch him live, he can play ANYTHING. I love this guy!
Fantastic player ! Used to love Billy Idol when we were kids, didn’t appreciate just how good the guitarist was back then but I do now !
Incredible guitarist deserves more recognition
It’s a real blessing or fate that Billy Idol and Steve Stevens teamed up together to produce so much awesome music in the 80’s!!
Agreed! 100%, with all the nice comments about Steve. About 5 years ago, a friend was learning B.I.'s White Wedding, which I looked up on Y.T. Billy started by saying, "Steve; show them what a hit song looks like", in response to which, Steve did. It was only later that I discovered the 1986(-ish?) Top Gun Anthem was also played by Steve.
Watchin him play the Rebel Yell intro gave me the chills! He is so underrated!
I love the finish on the Les Paul. I also find it really cool how he uses the upstroke a lot more. People seem to do downstrokes a lot more with heavy stuff like this.
Im a drummer and Steve Stevens is hands down the best rock guitarist around!!! This guy was the sound track to my youth and it doesnt get any better.
Any musician who really is versatile loves and appreciates Steve Steven's he is at the top of the greatest Guitar players period!
The comparison between the Rat Race riff and old watch or clock gears blew my mind...Steve is truly one of the best. :)
Steve Stevens is timeless, amazingly talented, & simply improves with age, just like Billy Idol.....ROCK ON!!!!
~jimi~
This genius wrote some of the soundtrack of my earlier life. Gotta love him. Highly underrated! A guitar mega maniac
Steve is a phenomenal guitarist and one of my favorites!!!
Wow, amazing guitarist! Really enjoy and appreciate his style!
What makes Steve so special, unique and great is the way he takes a truly eclectic group of influences and molds them into one package. He's Page meets Steve Howe meets Beck meets George Bensen meets Kotke. A lotta players don't have the ability to reinvent the things they learn; they just copy. Steve molds them into his own voice on the instrument. The ironic thing is: he does what he does within a punk rock format. AMAZING!
One of my favorite musicians of all time.
Stevens played on some of coolest "guitar" songs in the 80's, period! This guy has always been underrated and overlooked but is a monster player all the same. I love the way he shows his influences and how he's taken things from old jazz and folk players to make his own brand of cool. Great video, the focus was a bit fuzzy but the content was on target!
His signature guitars from Knagg's are insane! A Steve Steven's signature Knagg remains on my "if I win the lottery" wish list.
Love that guitar and tone ...holds up in 2022. Really cool guy, very gracious of him to show us some of his signature riffs.
Purrrrrr talent! So interesting to see the roots of the songs. So fascinating to see how he developed these famous guitar riffs! Massive creativity!
As math would generally have it, level ten talent + creativity x huge rock stardom would = intolerable attitude. Somehow Stevens is humble and not full of shit.
Real talent is humble
Just started to listen to Billy Idol again after many years. Really enjoyed this bit of insight.
Pure brilliance! Steve is So gifted and talented he makes it look effortless! Love you Steve!! BFI! ✌️
What a revelation! I never realised that the intro to Rebel Yell was played like that by just one guitarist!
My favorite rock guitar playet of all time, among other things, his touch is just magical!
This guy is probably the best if you ask me... another good one is the guitarist to Gene Love Jezebel and of course the guitarist of Duran Druan.. but Steve Stevens is at the top for me.. can't get over his work in Flesh For Fantasy.. so sick
Awesome underated player.Great feel and style...thanks for posting
Love Steve Stevens. Such a musical player.
i watch this everyday now just to get excited. i mean, i know these songs are twenty years old... but here, just showing the hits, this guy is coming from so many different directions. it's so great...
I saw Billy Idol 3 times in the 80's with Steve Stevens. The guy is incredible and never played a bad show.
All iconic songs that will still be played long after we are all gone.
A huge influence on me. One of the only real musicians in a "punk" band (obviously Billy was crossing over in a big way from GenX, so not solely punk) and a big reason I've continued to follow Billy Idol to this day. The fact that he lists Steve Howe as a primary influence tells so much about him. All his solo albums are great, especially the more recent Flamenco a Go Go and Memory Crash.
Whoever got and did this interview...I can't thank you enough!!! Great insight into the amazing Steve Stevens, and you asked all the right things! Thank you. Steve...with the black fingernail polish...I remember being 14 and just starting to play guitar, and seeing this freaky dude with black nails and he was KILLING it as he does, and I was mesmerized. His whole attitude is inspiring. Anyway, thanks again for posting this inside look!
Just saw him and Billy live. Amazing concert!
What a laid-back unassuming dude. He has a very creative sense of timing on tunes like Rebel Yell, that upbeat rhythm guitar, plus that lazer-beam effect he does with the Echoplex!
Steve Stevens is a guitar God! keep rocking steve!!!!
OMG, how he can explain every song he wrote, magnificent!!!!
Such creative energy. Love the music and exceptional guitar playing.
Total virtuoso. I always have been a fan of Steve Stevens. Billy Idol is lucky to have teamed up with him. Those songs wouldn't have been what they are without him.
I just saw Billy Idol couple weeks ago at Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater Fl. What a killer show and the sound system was phenomenal. The band was crazy tight. Billy doesn’t look almost 70. Steve Stevens absolutely killed it. Acoustic solo and electric solos. Both great!
Lyrical melodical genius.
Teamed with Billy Idol, one of the great serendipitous rock happenings.
Idols big voice found its mate and match with the ferocious guitar of Steve Stevens, truly one of the best rock players ever to record. That hit parade of Billy Idol maybe doesn't happen without Stevens. Hope i said that right.
Steves playing is "I should of though of that". You know this guy can fly all over the guitar yet he has songwriter prospective. No wonder he is part of so many memorable songs.
This was a treat to watch
amazing insight and tips. I love this guy
He really knows his stuff.....he’s good. I think people would be surprised at how many songs he’s played in.
Steve is one of the main reasons I took up guitar recently. Now there's a compliment. :)
I fkn LOVE his LP in this video ...
Everything from the colour/finish to the ebony board, yet the neck and head are fully bound with the Trap inlays ... LOVE IT ..
One of the coolest bits about this video is how he shows you how to hold the pick when finger plucking and then transition really quick to picking. Slow it down and watch him seamlessly transition. That is a lesson all by itself.
The intro to "Rebel Yell" is brilliant.
Many bands are magical combo`s, like Page and Plant, David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen, Billy Idol and Steve Stevens, one without the other just isn`t the same. Steve not only focused on the lead parts, but he gave better focus to the rhythem, which is the most important part of the song.
Yeah, just started listening to Billy Idol again and Steve is such a great guitarist
Very creative. Underrated. Wow. Great lesson too.
He is very forthcoming with where he gets his ideas and seems utterly without ego. Very creative guitarist that gets the whole song rather than the typical "me, Me, ME!" guitarists of the 80's. Seems like a very nice, cool easy to talk to guy as well.
Interview a guitarist and give him a guitar for it. That is genius. Thank's Steve, after watching you do Rebel Yell with your teeth, I realize how awesome you are.
His work on "The Look in her eyes" on Vince Neil's solo album is amazing like all of his other work. Hoping for this music to come back and stay forever instead of the artificial garbage on the airwaves today
What a gorgeous guitar!
Great guitarist! Thanx Steve!
could listen to him all day
Totally amazing where he drew the inspiration from for all of those hit rock songs. Bringing things so not 'Billy Idol' rock and roll into his own style. I guess that's why they still are such popular songs/riffs.
So friggin cool, great tone, incredible player and a very gracious man.
steve is so down to earth so creative.
thanks so much, steve...you'll always be a great guitar player and complete musician to me and my friends....
He's a really sweet and down-to-earth guy, isn't he? Plus, he has one of the most amazing guitar collections ever...
He gets how to accompany a song in a big creative way.Start simple and build.Right on Steve