Here’s something I’ve never done before. This post is going to have two posts in it. The first post was written on my flight home from Arizona about the band Chickenfoot. The second is my reaction to the three tracks I have heard from the upcoming album.
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Have you heard that guitarist Joe Satriani, vocalist Sammy Hagar (Van Halen), bassist Michael Anthony (Van Halen), and drummer Chad Smith (The Red Hot Chili Peppers) have formed a band called, of all things, Chickenfoot?
Well they have. Sammy Hagar has even gone so far as to say that they are “Chickenfoot could rival Led Zeppelin.” He promptly took the comment back claiming, “I got fucking ripped and I said something stupid.” If you know anything about Hagar’s penchant for booze that is entirely possible.
I’m not a big believer in supergroups. They rarely ever meet their own lofty expectations, or stay together for more than an album or two before self-destructing in a spectacular, high profile fireball of egos and personal problems.
I have just finished reading this months issue of Guitar World, which has a lengthy interview with the four unlikely bandmates, and I have to admit that I am feeling a little hopeful about this band.
First, they have come together on their own, and in a natural manner; just four musicians who were jamming together on their own – Few things in music suck more than bands that are formed by market research or ambitious producers.
Second, they all seem to like each other.
Third, they seem passionate about the music they are making.
Will it work? Who knows? The odds are probably against them over the long haul, but I have no doubt that they will sell records.
Will they rival Led Zeppelin? That seems like a horrible measure of success. My hope is that their album is at least as good as their individual work. I think that that sets the bar pretty high, but not quite Led Zeppelin high. I’d be shocked if they have produced anything that will be remembered as fondly in 38 years as Stairway to Heaven is today… but once again, that seems like ridiculous standard.
I’m rooting for them, but I am going to reserve judgment until I actually hear what they’ve made.
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Shock of all shocks… I have listened to three of the 11 tracks that from Chickenfoot’s self-titled album due out on June 9th, and I have rendered judgment.
They sound damn good!
Have a listen for yourself on their web site (I’m not so crazy about certain design aspects of their site).
They don’t sound like the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
They sure as hell don’t sound like Joe Satriani… Satch doesn’t even sound like himself on this album, and I mean that in a good way. The guitar work is great without being obtrusive or excessively dominant. It works beautifully.
What they do sound like is Van Halen, if Van Halen dropped the cheese and amped up the heavy blues rock.
If these three songs reflect the quality of the rest of the album, I will be a very happy camper. This is some sweet driving music.
In the meantime I will say a little prayer to the god of musical consistency.
The Geek Whisperer 
I’ll have to check out a few of their songs. I’d like to think I’ve outgrown Hagar and Satriani and like a more refined style(s) of music, but I’m just kidding myself. I think I could enjoy this if it were good. Thanks for the review.
As for supergroups, you’re right. They tend to not live up to expectations and nearly always implode. Perhaps the problem is the that people set ridiculous expectations for such projects. I tend to assume that “supergroups” are sort of one-off type deals. In my experience they tend to come together with no defined long term plan. Often the members have made their money and reputation in other bands (thus qualifying them to be members of a “supergroup”) so that the goal of the project is just to do the album, maybe tour. They’re usually not out to (re)conquer the world, so to speak. Put it another way, supergroups come together for shits and giggles. I suspect Chickenfoot’s in that category. Sammy Hagar isn’t serious about a damned thing other than making Tequila and drinking it.
Nice blog. I like the way you approached this.
http://soundofthepounding.wordpress.com/
Thanks for the compliments.
However you are wrong about Hagar. He is also serious about buying fast cars and driving them at breakneck speeds.
Yeah, you’re right. Sammy likes fast cars, too. :)
Can hardly wait to see them in concert!!!!!
Hi all, I have heard this album, and i think is a great band making great music, ovbiusly it is as good as Lez Zeppelin (actualy are diferent things) but they sound really well. Ill be cool if they continue like that!!!