Another true treasure from the VHS Archives. When the Pepsi Power Hour ran this guitar-centric special in early 1988, my best friend Bob and I watched it religiously. We drank up, though didn’t fully understand, every word from Rik Emmett. The former Triumph guitarist was (and is) one of our favourites. His knowledge is encyclopedic. Laurie quizzes Rik on a number of the top rated electric guitar players of the time.
Rik demonstrates his favourite passages, and discusses with host Laurie Brown the following axemen in order:
- Tony Iommi
- Jimmy Page
- Joe Satriani
- Steve Vai
- Kirk Hammett
- Jimi Hendrix
- Angus Young
- Eddie Van Halen
- Yngwie J. Malmsteen
- and, of course, Rik Emmett
Other topics to stay tuned for in this wide-ranging discussion:
- Lefties (like Rik)
- The 1988 Zeppelin reunion (Atlantic 40th Anniversary)
- Two-handed tapping
- A bold and accurate prediction about Steve Vai
- The brown sound
- Dwiddly-dwiddly
- His “signatures”
- Good “hair production”
mikeladano.com 
This is great Mike. Rik is very knowledgeable. He nailed it when he spoke about Hammett and how Hammett introduced modes into his soloing. It was a game changer for thrash metal music.
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Thanks! Yes Rik is very knowledgeable, and his appreciation for all kinds of music is really inspiring.
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I agree. He speaks well and is able to articulate what he’s saying.
Great call on Vai, how he came into the scene with bands and that we are yet to see him make great music.
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Can’t wait to check this one out.
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This is one of my real treasures… as kids we just tried to absorb everything he said. Although that is bad in one instance — his comments on Hendrix turned me off because I was a stupid kid.
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You weren’t stupid..impressionable maybe but not stupid.
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Yup I could listen to him all day.
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Are you aware of his new book of poetry, good sir knight?
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I was not, until this message. But now that I am, I am gonna look it up!
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