U2's Bono: 'The Edge Is Most Influential Guitarist Since Jimmy Page'

He speaks about album review...

by Jason Gregory
Tuesday, August 05, 2008

U2's Bono: 'The Edge Is Most Influential Guitarist Since Jimmy Page'

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U2 frontman Bono says his bandmate, The Egde, is the most influential guitarist since Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page and The Who's Pete Townshend.

Bono's comment came in response to an almost flawless review of the bands recently re-released debut album, 'Boy'.

The album, originally released in 1980, was given four and a half stars by Rolling Stone.

In an email to the publication, Bono said he had recently listened again the record and decided that something “truly special” occurs during The Edge's guitar parts.

“Edge's genuine genius developing on the blank and bleached photographic paper…. avoiding all the obvious blues scales that blind every other guitar player that ever heard Led Zeppelin …The Edge finds some new colours for the spectrum of rock,” he wrote.

“Colours he now owns … owning a colour, wow .. imagine owning the colour yellow like VAN GOGH… EDGE owns, well I'm not exactly sure what colours they are… indigo or violet or crimson?

“But you sense an emotional colour temperature that is unique to him… its his palette we’re painting from.”

He added: “Surely this is the most influential guitarist since the great composers Jimmy Page, Pete Townshend, Neil Young but remember he doesn’t have the history of the blues to plumb, these are unchartered [sic] waters…was to the English psychedelic revival we were also inspired by and plundering”

What do you think about Bono's comments? Where do you think The Edge ranks?

Check out Gigwise's 50 Greatest Guitarists of All Time HERE.

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The Edge is way, Way, WAY overrated, just like the band he plays in. My son, Austin, has played guitar less than five years, with not one lesson, and he kicks The Edge’s ass big time! Bono needs an ass-whipping in the worst way. He’’s become much too full of himself.
~ by G. Mark 8/5/2008

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If Jimmy Page and Pete Townshend were half as pretentious as U2, it might make sense. Not only are both better than THE EDGE, but they surround/ have surrounded themselves with superior musicians, and can play circles around David Evans (unless of course he has a delay pedal! and reverb! ha. ha.)
~ by Glynn 8/5/2008
BB King. Eric Clapton. Duane Allman. Stevie Ray Vaughan. Derek Trucks. THOSE are (or were) guitar players. Edge is competent for the band he plays with...nothing extraordinary except for Bono’s expertise at shameless self-promotion. Oh, and I have 5 U2 albums, but I am also a realist.
~ by Debbie 8/5/2008
Who even takes what Bono says as anything besides crap. He is arrogance without substance and to compare The Edge (come on- The Edge? Even his name is superficial) to anyone is nothing more than an insult. The Edge has a style, or lack of, that I have heard no other guitarist try to emulate. As opposed to Jimmy Page who is heard in many other guitar players. Yes, Bono needs his ass whooped and I would gladly volunteer to whoop it. Enjoy!!!
~ by carlgoot | Send Message | 8/6/2008
Amen to that, G.mark! You are dead-on. I have never understood U2’’’s popularity and to even take Bono serious....jeez.
~ by carlgoot | Send Message | 8/6/2008