"Indentifiable has-been" is more accurate, and that's only because of the hat.
Without that hat he isn't even identifiable.

No. Jack White sucks too.

meh. i still think jack white is awesome. don't like him? doesn't bother me.

So says the man that stole his signature look from Marc Bolan on the cover of The Slider.

I love Slash. He's my favorite guitar player, hands down, and I don't even like hard rock/metal.

He has great style, tone, and originality, and his songs/solos are interesting and technically amazing, while still be fun to listen to (unlike Vai, V. Halen, et al).

Depends on the definition of "rock 'n' roll". His style is so out of date, yeah, I guess so. As for other icons:

Rolling Stones (duh)
Townsend and Daltrey
Led Zep
Paul and Ringo
Iggy Pop
David Bowie
Patti Smith
Kiss
Eric Clapton

I can go on...

Denying any of these icons as icons or identifiable or as Rock 'n' Roll is just ignorant.

PC LOAD LETTER: Depends on the definition of "rock 'n' roll". His style is so out of date, yeah, I guess so. As for other icons:

[...]

Denying any of these icons as icons or identifiable or as Rock 'n' Roll is just ignorant.

I DRTFA, but my guess is that he means he is the last in the line of identifiable icons, as in, no one since him has been more recognizable. I disagree with that.

everybody sucks except Jack White

I can live with that.

433: no one since him has been more recognizable. I disagree with that.

Yeah, just picking randomly from the list: Gene Simmons (or any member of Kiss) is going to be more recognizable than Slash on any given day of the week. They still tour and have a rabid fan base. And while I am no fan of Kiss, Detroit Rock City is still a better song than anything Slash has put out in his lifetime.

PC LOAD LETTER: Yeah, just picking randomly from the list: Gene Simmons (or any member of Kiss) is going to be more recognizable than Slash on any given day of the week.

I disagree. If he wasn't in make up, no way. If he was, most people would still have to guess at which one of The Archies he is.

433: no one since him has been more recognizable.

Ahh, I get what you mean: no one since him that is still alive that hasn't been before him would be more recognizable. In other words, he thinks he's the last of the rock stars and after him, there were no more new rock stars. In that narrow definition, he does have a point. Eddie Vedder is still way recognizable, but he's an anti-icon. Same with most of the folks in the 90's. Cobain's dead, so maybe he does have a point.

What he fails to mention is if being a Traditional Rock Star is something to be commended on. I say no. It's played out and stupid.

JerseyTim: If he wasn't in make up, no way.

He's got a very unique face and he has a reality show. So I don't know about that.

PC LOAD LETTER: He's got a very unique face and he has a reality show. So I don't know about that.

Ok, then let me ask you this? Slash, hat or no hat? Because, with the hat, I'm taking Slash every time.

Nestea Plunge: Jack White sucks incredibly hard. So hard that Dyson pays him as a consultant.

But Dyson doesn't suck. Which is why it sucks. Or something.

Anyway, you really don't like Jack White? Bizarre.

Really? Jagger isn't still identifiable? Or Clapton?

And it may not be the same period, but I bet Dave Grohl is pretty damn recognizable. I'm sure there are others I can't think of.

JerseyTim: Ok, then let me ask you this? Slash, hat or no hat? Because, with the hat, I'm taking Slash every time.

The only answer is a severely snarky one

And I hate emo (mainstream soft-core punk)

Who the hell doesn't?

I say he's right.

Slash may play sloppily at times, but he plays with feeling and has a strong sense of melody, which is enough to make him an awesome guitarist.

And you're getting worked up over nothing, subby.

Why the stupid tag? He's pretty much right.

I've always thought that Slash was somewhat of a "look at me" douche, and personally think he's a tad overrated as far as guitar players go, but there are very few reconginzable guitar players in newer music.

And i'm usually not one to hate on trends, but emo culture needs to DIAF. You know it's bad when you pray for Goth to come back into style.

PC LOAD LETTER: And while I am no fan of Kiss, Detroit Rock City is still a better song than anything Slash has put out in his lifetime.

Whatever drugs you're on, I want a shiatload of them

Instantly identifiable post-GNR 'rockstars' (live and dead).

Kurt Cobain.
Beck.
Marilyn Manson.
Daft Punk.
Bjork.

...that's just off the top of the top of my head.

I agree with everything on the list


Jack White rocks incredibly hard. Since THe White stripes have no bassist, he overdubs a lot of different parts on his albums
So what does he do when comes time to play that shiat live ?
I was quite amazed to see that he can play SEVERAL PARTS all at once!

Crazy, I say

Slash wants you to know he is the last of the "identifiable" icons of rock 'n' roll,


Bullshiat.

Angus Young and Brian Johnson from AC/DC are still very "identifiable".

AC/DC > Van Halen >>>>>>>> Guns & Roses

HappyHarryHardOn: Jack White rocks incredibly hard.

Check this out: Death Letter (new window)

Pretty amazing stuff.

He's not an icon, he's an idiot.

ALSO, the word icon is bandied about far too frequently,
not unlike the word superstar.



1. also i·kon (kn)
a. An image; a representation.
b. A representation or picture of a sacred or sanctified Christian personage, traditionally used and venerated in the Eastern Church.
2. An important and enduring symbol: "Voyager will take its place ... alongside such icons of airborne adventure as The Spirit of St. Louis and [the] Bell X-1" William D. Marbach.
3. One who is the object of great attention and devotion; an idol: "He is ... a pop icon designed and manufactured for the video generation" Harry F. Waters.
4. Computer Science A picture on a screen that represents a specific file, directory, window, option, or program.

I might be a White Stripes fan if they made, you know, music. Music has rhythm, flow, and is continuous. Jack White knows none of those things.

The best musician in music, right now, is Matthew Bellamy. Not only can he play real (and complex) music with a guitar, he can play the piano and actually sing.

And he's identifiable with the crazy clothes and unnaturally high voice. He just doesn't have the hat.

Matt Bellamy from Muse?

Because the last album was "absorbed" by the emo kids, people think they are emo, but their first 3 albums are awesome alternative rock, and Matt is a virtuoso.

I don't like Jack White's voice, but I LOVE his guitar work. All you haters should go download "Ball and a Biscuit".

There aren't many guitar players who could rock out like there's no tomorrow and then go play with Carol King and Chic and fit right in with each one. And yeah, Jack White does not suck, quite awesome really.

TedAlsoRises: Because the last album was "absorbed" by the emo kids, people think they are emo, but their first 3 albums are awesome alternative rock, and Matt is a virtuoso.

I think their last album was a bit too poppy. What's funny is that some of the B-sides from Muse are better than almost anything Guns N Roses ever produced. And I am NOT someone who hated GNR... I grew up with that kind of music.

Pop-y? Whatever it would be called.

Not disagreeing. But post GNR crop of recognizable/iconic (to me):

Jack White.
Beck.
Marilyn Manson.
Eminem.
Dave Grohl.
Drummer from 'The Roots'?
Les Claypool
Trent Reznor
Buckethead?
Ben Folds
Beastie Boys
Amy Winehouse
RATM
Chris Cornell
Green Day
Billy Corgan
Red Elvises (I kid)

Also, anyone who dares pull a White v. Hendrix comparison deserves to be beaten with a nightstick (I've seen them in these kinds of threads). There is not a comparison. Again, music... Hendrix made it.

puffy999: What's funny is that some of the B-sides from Muse are better than almost anything Guns N Roses ever produced.

How about some links for someone who's never heard of Muse? I'm always on the lookout for good music, which is kinda hard when you're a total music nazi, so I'd really appreciate some recommendations on YouTube or so.

puffy999: I think their last album was a bit too poppy. What's funny is that some of the B-sides from Muse are better than almost anything Guns N Roses ever produced. And I am NOT someone who hated GNR... I grew up with that kind of music.

I agree, it was poppy.

Although I advise people to check out songs like "Newborn", "Plug in Baby", "Muscle Museum", "Bliss", and "Sunburn". Seriously awesome material. Sounds like old Alternative Radiohead...

Are we all supposed to get off his lawn, too?

Crocodile: Are we all supposed to get off his lawn, too?

Yeah, he sure doesn't like to share his grass.

Muse is what Radiohead whould sound like if Radiohead were actually any good.

puffy999: I might be a White Stripes fan if they made, you know, music. Music has rhythm, flow, and is continuous. Jack White knows none of those things.

The best musician in music, right now, is Matthew Bellamy. Not only can he play real (and complex) music with a guitar, he can play the piano and actually sing.

Since when are any of those things pre-reqs for making rock 'n roll?

seminole87: Slash is God. Period.

This.

He damn near killed himself from drinking gallons of vodka every day for 20 years, I read somewhere in an interview with him he went to his doctor and the doc said he had like 6 months to live.

I told him to start tokin' mary jane.

Oh that VW commercial he did was awesome too.

'Identifiable' by look or sound?

He probably means sound, but since he's had the top hat gimmick to ride on all these years, I'm gonna agree instead that it's look.

Hetfield: How about some links for someone who's never heard of Muse? I'm always on the lookout for good music, which is kinda hard when you're a total music nazi, so I'd really appreciate some recommendations on YouTube or so.

Well, it depends. "In your world" is a pretty basic, but harder, song. "Dead Star" is another b-side that works. Basically, the Hullabaloo album is a good place to check for the B-side material.

As for a variety of songs, look for "Micro Cuts", "New Born" (live is better), "Knights of Cydonia" (that was a new one that I did really like), "Stockholm Syndrome", "Thoughts of a Dying Atheist", "Showbiz", "Space Dementia", and others.
Mind you, they vary, so it really does depend on what kind of music you like.

But hey, you know what they say, opinions are like assholes, everyone has one and they stink. ;)
I just don't like much modern music outside of Muse. I'm one of those people who'd fill a CD Changer with Pink Floyd, Muse, Zeppelin, and that kind of thing.

Slash hates Rites of Spring?

luckybastard: 'Identifiable' by look or sound?

He probably means sound, but since he's had the top hat gimmick to ride on all these years, I'm gonna agree instead that it's look.

I think he pretty much means that there aren't a bunch of shredders making music with 2+ minute guitar solos in the middle anymore.

/What's more impressive(to me) than showing off your chops is having some restraint and not showing off your chops.

maxwellhauser: Since when are any of those things pre-reqs for making rock 'n roll?

I don't know, I think people like the Beatles are better than, for instance, Green Day. Doesn't mean Green Day sucks at everything, it just means they seem better.

The drugged-up Beatles, not the poppy/prissy "la la la" Beatles.

He isn't saying he is the only identifiable guitarist left, he is saying he is the last in a line of iconic guitarists, that all the bands since his band are lacking an iconic guitarist. I think he might be correct, as I cannot think of great examples. Jerry Cantrell from Alice in Chains may fit that role, Maybe Zakk Wylde from Black Label Society. But those bands aren't popular rock n roll bands when compared to the stuff that is dominating mainstream right now.

phillydrifter: vodka

Vodak?

Valdes: Muse is what Radiohead whould sound like if Radiohead were actually any good.

That's like saying dirt is what shiat would taste like if shiat wasn't crap.