There are some guitarists that play the same thing perfectly, the same kind of solo without any flaws – Vince Gill comes to mind, and he now plays with The Eagles. Then there are the others that depend on what night you catch them... Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Bill Nelson, and, believe it or not, me. Little flaws are one thing, but then there is major sloppiness. Perhaps drugs have a part in this type of playing with Page and Hendrix. When in the studio Hendrix and Page play perfectly... but when playing live it can be a horror show of sloppiness. The only time that Page didn't play that badly was in 1975 at Earls Court. With Bill Nelson there are little things that seem amiss at times and this, from my own experience, comes from the temperament of the guitarist and that he is winging solos in the tradition of the blues. The only time I have heard immaculate live playing was on the LITAA. That could have been a studio album, or maybe it was in part.... judging from what I read. If you play an instrument you know the pressures of playing live, and you can't always give it your perfect best, depending on the night. I think Bill does well enough playing live, but I heard that around 1977 he wanted to stop. Was this like the Beatles wanting to stop and live in the studio? Or maybe the pressure of constant touring was grinding him down. I don't know. But I know many musicians carry a notion of perfection around at times that can in the end crush us. This is definitely true for me. If Bill or myself slipped up occasionally that is fine, we are not Gods or Vince Gill. In my thinking that makes us human and if you are looking for perfection... don't look to music, unless you are in the studio. To my utter shock and horror, I found out that the Beatles would do up to 200-odd takes on certain songs. What were they waiting for to materialize? But George Martin would listen and say, "No boys, that is not it."
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No such thing as a live album! (Bootlegs accepted) They are all ‘improved’ prior to release To tidy up errors and production issues. Thankfully!
Agree Hendrix. Page etc were often dreadful live. I suspect drugs didnt help. Check out Page at ‘Live Aid’.
Beatles multiple takes (never 200!) were because that was them rehearsing and trying out stuff. On GM’s instructions EVERYTHING was recorded.
The only time I have heard immaculate live playing was on the LITAA. That could have been a studio album, or maybe it was in part.... judging from what I read.
Don't know what you've read, but if you listen to the box set you can pick out the tracks from the various shows which were selected for the original album. There was a discussion here about that, at the time of release of the box set. I did it, and I don't remember hearing any differences from the selected performances in their original shows and then on the original album - apart from Cabasa El Dubova on 'Shine' 😉
Definitely some valid points. Insecurity with my playing, never really being happy with what I do (very rarely), has always accompanied my relationship with music and guitar, even though I've been told many times to the contrary...An even stranger one for me, is when listening back to a recording session, one that's gone pretty well and I hear, say for example, a solo from me and I do think "Ok, that's not bad", then, almost instantly, it's like I'm then listening to someone else playing, not me, like I've become instantly detached from it..It really is quite a strange experience/reaction, even a little unnerving...But, it is what it is and I do love playing the guitar....
Playing live is a whole different game. Anything can happen, one extreme to the other. You can be great and you can really suck...Things like fatigue and tiredness, resulting in a lack of being able to focus properly, can all play a part. All the travelling definitely has quite a big negative impact. Boredom when travelling, crappy accommodation, mega-lack of sleep/rest, crappy venue conditions/backstage/showers etc, all play a part in what the musicians in a band perform like on any one night, etc, etc...sometimes it really all comes together and it's amazing, and sometimes it's a pretty poor show..
When you see top-flight professional musicians like Bill Nelson, and bands like Be Bop Deluxe, their professional expertise and way they are able to perform to such a high level, night after night, is what really sets them apart. They really can deliver a first-rate professional performance, consistently. But, there will always be the odd 'bum note' or duff show, along the way.
It is unlikely that any musician, including guitarists, can ever really achieve perfection when playing live. There are many factors that can affect a live performance, such as those mentioned above, as well as technical issues with the instruments or equipment, distractions or disruptions in the audience, and the ever-present potential for human error. Even the most skilled and experienced musicians can make mistakes or have off nights when performing live.
That being said, many guitarists and other musicians strive for excellence in their live performances, and they may come close to achieving a high level of perfection. With practice and dedication, it is possible for a guitarist to develop a high level of technical proficiency and stage presence that allows them to deliver consistently strong live performances, and some are just gifted. However, it is important to keep in mind that live music is a dynamic and unpredictable art form, and it is not uncommon for unexpected things to happen during a performance.
Vlad, I just think this is a very odd contribution to discussion around here that is unlikely to lead anywhere constructive. I really think I'm right in saying that your agenda for Bill's music is so far from his agenda for his own music that this can never become a conversation that could ever arrive anywhere valuable. Perfect solos (particularly perfectly reproduced solos) are just not the point at all, thank goodness! Let the guy play what he wants to on the particular day he plays it, please.