Anonymous wrote:

Well, I'm back. I've listened to "The New Territory" at least 10-12 times over the past couple of weeks. First off let me say that Ronni's guitar tone on this album is killer. I think it's his best tone since "Realized Fantasies". All the other stuff I said in this thread about Ronni's lead playing? Well after listening to this album let me say that I owe you all an apology. My early posts weren't negative enough. Anyways have a nice time here now that Mr. Negative has finally given up on Ronni and 15 or so years later I've finally come to agree with Atlantics decision to drop TNT after the Realized Fantasies album. I should have done the same. If Ronni had played solos like this early in his music career, he would have had an excellent career as a police officer, or librarian, or lumberjack, or as Morty Black's bass tech. Later.

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

JustaGirlieGirl2 wrote:

There are certainly more ways of expressing ones opinion without behaving like a classless troglodyte.

TROGLODYTE!?!!!! Hahahahaha! I'm dying over here!!

Curt made the point that he likes the well-thought out/composed solos from the early days, and many here seem to say that they were played off the cuff, improvised. Yes, that's the words Ronni himself used when looking at the Youtube clips of Shredder, but. . . just to keep it real, I have to give my support to Curt, it is so obvious Ronnis early solos are planned from beginning to end, and I also assume the way to get that thick sound is to double track every solo. Everybody here likes Ronnis work, it's ok point out some stuff is not as good as the excellent stuff. "Guest" Curt's post was refreshing to read.

If anyone believe that Ronni used the same process to write his early solos, as opposed to his 90s to present works... I'm shocked. Without offering an explenation, I'll refer to an interview from 1996:

Er gitarsoloene gjennomarbeidet før fremføring?
Både og. Jeg har hatt gitarsoloer klare på forhånd, men de siste par åra har det blitt mere improvisasjon. Jeg tar masse sjanser og er mester i å "drite meg ut". Jeg unngår ihvertfall forutsigbare linjer, og muligheten for at jeg oppnår noe nytt og spennende er dermed tilstede. I improvisasjons-øyeblikket hender det selvsagt at jeg også kommer inn på figurasjoner som jeg drar kjensel på og som jeg vet er safe, men spontanitet er viktig for meg.

Den musikken du arbeider med er mye fiksert på gitaristens solistiske innslag. Hvordan bestemmer du hva den aktuelle soloen skal inneholde?
Av og til er det kjapt unnagjort ved at jeg spiller inn hele strekket på det samme taket, altså uten å punche inn på nytt der jeg evt. ikke er fornøyd. Andre ganger klipper jeg sammen deler fra forskjellige soloer som er spilt inn separat, på forskjellige spor. På den måten har jeg mulighet til å perfeksjonere en solo til minste detalj.

http://www.notam02.no/~frodeb/article_tekroe.html

To cut down on the translation, I'll only refer to the most important phrase: "The last couple of years [from 1993 or so] there's become more and more improvisation [in my solos]".

Hi guest!

I totally agree with you, and I have also been waiting for the magic. But I have ended up with a lot of albums without the candy. Ronni came up with some stunning melodies combined with his unique action and feeling, and that's all gone. But im still positive, and still dreaming of hearing some of that stuff again. His a brilliant musician, but someone needs to puch him into the right path again, because his latest stuff is not brilliant, not creative and its not good music. His just making his own Beatles versions.

I have heard all of his latest interviews, read his book - but I can't buy his arguments. I've been playing sologuitar for 15 years, and I know how important it is to develop a unique sond, style etc, But the music, or the malody structure/composition, goes before solo's. He has some how forgotten both, I beleive.

Hy other favorites is Steve Vai, Steve Lukather and they borh deliver very good solo albums, as we guitar players like them. We need to hear that our idols are better then us, more creative and more innovative then us. So I understand that it's hard to be a guitar good, but if you have been, and has it as a profession, since the 80's - then I beleive it's just fair to be just about this.

But Ronni - I do beleive in you! And I will continue to be a true fan of yours - BUT PLEASE STOP making excuses, og hide behind your macine guitar trick, and plug in your God-given melody-maker-talent in gear again. Good night

what did you expect really? his work with e.g. vagabond is not very far from tnt today. i guess thats as ronni as you get it.

hi insomniacin,I have got the magic,and I`ve ended up with a lot of albums with a lot of candy

Yo

I'll try to express myself a little better then last time - You was fantastic during the early TNT days, and you was 20 steps ahead with Vagabond (I discovered Jørn for the first time, and tonight i sang Angels Lullaby for my 1 week old doughter So your music is live'n kicking). I also liked the first album with you and Terje, and for crying out load - I like you, Ronni, and your music! But stop being lazy (hehe) and try making killer soloes again, please!!! Try to find your God given inner tone, and serve us melodies. I heard that Nuno Bettencourt and Extreme is playing together again. I'm very curious and his guitar playing as well.

But, Ronni.... please bring Vagabond back again and tell Victor to re-lauch Autopulver - my favorite bands through the 90s (inkl. Dream Theater).

Bye bye candyman

Im not Ronni..

HAHAA

Quote:

PLEASE STOP making excuses, og hide behind your macine guitar trick, and plug in your God-given melody-maker-talent in gear again.

Unfair statement and absolutely not rooted in reality. Listening to the albums recently, the machinegun technique is used less frequently than the periods that you describes as his prime.

PeSt

PeSt wrote:

Quote: PLEASE STOP making excuses, og hide behind your macine guitar trick, and plug in your God-given melody-maker-talent in gear again. Unfair statement and absolutely not rooted in reality. Listening to the albums recently, the machinegun technique is used less frequently than the periods that you describes as his prime. PeSt

So true!! And the overall songwriting is so incredibly much better. More mature. We're seeing the emergence of a very true, well-rounded musician, eclectic and tasteful. A lot of people just can't handle change, although change is inevitable.

exactly. i remember in reviews of the new territory some people complained it was not enough machine gunning... wheter you want the gun or not is up to everyone to decide, but its a fact that it is not much of it. i dont think it was very much in my religion or attws either, but right now i dont remember too well

I listen to Satellite and man that guitar playing is pretty much as good as it can get, what would anyone change about it? It's layered like Brian May in parts and has a Cheap Trick-ish kind of lyrical guitar melody plus to be completely fair Ronni's rhythm structures are ever expanding/progressing.

Ronni is THE rythm guitar player. Allways has been. I think the gun is a perfect solo-spice, but on every TV show Ronni has done lately he just plays the gun, and Ronni has never been a Brian May - He is MUCH better. He is a legend, and the "father" of an unique way to combine trad. guitar soloes with his unique style. The change started with Vagabond. Still a lot of very cool solo's, and very creative with Rypdal. But can't you guys see that I'm quite right with some of my arguments? I totally understand "innovative" and "development" - but I don't buy it. If noise was his trademark, you understand your point of view, but Ronni trademark is his unique pitch'n action and way to construct solo's and create very strong melodies.

But one thing I really admire is his rhytm style. He hasen't changed that, and thats the reason of why I still buy his albums. I have accepted that he will never be able to play like he used to.