ALPHA-BLOG.RICKDERRINGER.COM: Recent Comments

Comment on The Chicken or the Egg?

2010-07-28T23:42:32Z

Rick,
You know your guitar work is original. The world won't ever get it, and Eddie may not even know he ripped it.
Please visit, I talk with Barry Mcquire regularly and would like to speak with you on the side.
Later,
Craig Gleason

Comment on The Chicken or the Egg?

2010-07-28T19:19:00Z

well, i'm a bit disappointed by this trivial question. music and talent matters, not who was first! since ages musicians influence each other so they can perform at a higher level to please the listeners, fans and themselves. most listeners aren't interested in who came first, I guess

Comment on The Chicken or the Egg?

2010-07-27T19:39:19Z

Rick
Why would you even compare yourself to Eddie? Your a great guitarist, so is he. Sorry, but you do not even come close to sounding like each other. Maybe he took a lick or two. So what! You took a few from Les Paul too but that doesn't make you even close to Les. This is music, not a competition. There is no more or less talented between you two. But you and he sound nothing at all alike, he comes at the guitar from a totally different (not better, not worse) angle than you do. I say this as a guy who's loved your playing since the old days Rick, this blog entry was not a good one. Let EVH be himself and you be you.

Comment on The Chicken or the Egg?

2010-07-26T15:46:50Z

Rick I have seen you before you & I became friends,I saw you September 2nd
1978 & you where doing the hammer ons
back than and probably before than,
you where playing with Neil Geraldo,
I can Remember you doing the Bidexteral
push & hammer so nobody else does that
but you! You created that tecnique my friend,so you are the King of Stun guitar,every song you played back in those day's you'd always get an applause
from the crowd!I am not saying that because of our friendship I mean it
Eddy doesn't do the Bidexteral push & hammer or the other techniques you created! You are the 1st,& where doinmg that in the early 70's hence Tobacco road with Edgar!

Comment on The Chicken or the Egg?

2010-07-26T10:51:29Z

Having not seen this recent show, I couldn't honestly say. However, I'm surprised Eddie (at least these days) has a clue as to what you're doing on tour. I guess Eddie has a short memory. Perhaps he's still upset about the Weird Al "Eat It" days when you did his solo after he did the solo for Michael Jackson.

Comment on The Chicken or the Egg?

2010-07-26T01:29:32Z

Ricky D is beyond a doubt one of the greatest rock players of all time,,Eddie's ok too,but my money goes to Derringer

Comment on The Chicken or the Egg?

2010-07-25T22:50:32Z

Rick's been around longer than Eddie, and is MUCH more versatile.

Eddie always sounds like Eddie, Rick has played with EVERYBODY!

He can come up with the perfect guitar line for any group, any style. That's why he's credited on so many albums, from hard rock to soft rock to jazz.

Rick's an original, a guitar great, and a pleasure to work with. I've heard Eddie is a pain in the ass.

George Scott

Comment on The Chicken or the Egg?

2010-07-25T22:23:37Z

I was reminded of Rick after seeing yet another album credit "Guitar solos by Rick Derringer" He's on so many great albums as well as his "headliner" stuff!

First time I met Rick I was entertainment coordinator at the Alachua County Fair.

The previous night the Atlanta Rhythm Section had played, and I was VERY disappointed. The entertainment tent was packed (500+), but they put on a very lackluster show. No solos, no extended versions of their songs. If I closed my eyes I'd think I was listening to the radio.

The next night Rick played. It was pouring down rain, there was a tornado warning. The only people in the tent were 15 or so fair board members and staff. He played "Sloopy" and "Hoochie Coo", then said, "OK if I play around some?"

He proceeded to play some of the best music I've ever heard, some of it actual songs, some of it pure improv, all blended together with only short breaks for we 15 to applaud.

After the 1st set the rain had slowed down and I went over to talk to Rick, make sure the vendors knew to "comp" him on food, etc. and see if he wanted ride cards or anything. The conversation went like this:

Me: Great show! I really enjoyed it!

Rick: Well thanks! you were a great crowd!

Me: Well, there were only about 15 of us!

Rick: SO? Tornado watch! Pouring down rain! What do you expect! You liked the show, and I loved playing for you!
WAIT UNTIL THE SECOND SET! I'LL KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF!

By the second set word had gotten out and there were maybe 25-30 people. As promised Rick "knocked our socks off".
Time came for the end of the set; the tech people were motioning to us and pointing to their watches: "time to shut down."

Rick says, "Oh, come on, just one more!" and proceeds to play about 15 minutes past "quitting time".

All in all it was one of the best concerts I've ever attended. What really impressed me was Rick's attitude: you're a great house as long as you enjoy his music no matter how many people are there.

Rock on Rick!!!!!!!!

Comment on The Chicken or the Egg?

2010-07-24T04:13:51Z

"I grew up on Derringer." -Eddie Van Halen ('nuff said)

Comment on The Chicken or the Egg?

2010-07-23T22:41:04Z

These sorts of comments and concepts come from juvenile minds that cannot accept anything but their own reality as the way things are or should be. The trouble today is anyone with a keyboard can be a "journalist" and integrity is not required. They feed off the negative energy of trying to tear someone down. Ricks playing stands on their own and always has and if he wants to throw a bit of tapping in ever now and again then why the heck not? Eddie didn't invent the technique, and it's safe to say that Mr. Van Halen has copped some Derringer stuff over the years; who wouldn't given Rick's body of work and popularity over the years. God bless, and keep on rockin' Rick!