Battle of the Underrated Guitarists: #20 (Round 2) Steve Howe vs Rick Nielsen

[a21schizoidman]

STEVE HOWE

Stephen James "Steve" Howe (born April 8, 1947 in Holloway, North London, England) is an English guitarist best known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes after replacing Peter Banks in 1970. He has also been a member of The Syndicats, Bodast, Tomorrow, Asia and GTR, as well as having released 13 solo albums as of June 2005.

Mood For A Day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiA1XBXAE6U

Clap:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgmYNi5Nnsk

Yours Is No Disgrace:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TLL3ApTO4w

vs

RICK NIELSEN

Rick Nielsen (born December 22, 1950 in Rockford, Illinois) is the lead guitarist, backing vocalist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Cheap Trick. For the band's first few albums, Nielsen wrote the majority of the material himself. He is well known for having many custom-made guitars from Hamer Guitars, including his famous five-neck guitar. He sings lead vocals on the demo for the song "World's Greatest Lover", which appears on the

Ain't That A Shame:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye4U7Qp5sNU

Just Got Back:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbu3RpQPo8A

Reach Out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s1Js...eature=related

PLEASE LISTEN BEFORE YOU VOTE!

[sg327]

Gonna go with Steve Howe on this one. (I like watching that vid to "Ain't That A Shame"...great song).

[OldFogey]

Rick is really sloppy live. Detracts from the show. When he just plays he's really great and underappreciated.

But Howe is something else. In the very top notch of guitarists in rock lineups.

[fasted7]

Both are underappreciated- good call there.
A few points. Stylistically these 2 are about as far apart as you can get. One (Howe) plays progressive (prog) rock (a/k/a art rock) and the other plays power pop (though some songs are ballads, some are rock and some border punk- like Auf Wiedersehn and ELO Kiddies).
One stands and plays. The other never stands still.
Both- in the studio- are technically very proficient.
Live- well, one (Howe) stands and plays and the other (Nielsen) makes it a fun show. That 5-neck guitar weighs over 50 pounds- I lifted one once! Can't imagine playing it- let alone walking and jumping around with it while playing it.
For that, I vote for Rick Nielsen. Seeing a show live, he is one of the best to watch- and isn't that why we go to see the bands? Howe is great, too, but he really just stands there and plays.
Ever seen Steely Dan? Walter Becker is similar (sometimes he even sits in a chair- like he is still in the studio).
And Nielsen trucks out a different guitar for every song. My favorite is the twin-neck model that looks like him (complete with baseball cap)- with the necks acting as his legs.

[JukeBoxHero]

Rick is really sloppy live. Detracts from the show. When he just plays he's really great and underappreciated.

But Howe is something else. In the very top notch of guitarists in rock lineups.

Yeah, I saw Cheap Trick/Heart/Journey on Sunday, he was little bit sloppy but I see what he was trying do.

My vote goes for Steve Howe, in my opinion the man can play rhythm and lead about the same.Which is unbelievingly amazing studio and live.

[a21schizoidman]

one day left on these 2 battles!

[a21schizoidman]

this is unbelievably suprising, Nielsen won?

[thedoorsdk]

How the hell did Steve Howe lose?
Have you people ever heard a Yes song in your life?