2. Stairway To Heaven - Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
3. All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
4. Free Bird - Allen Collins (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
5. Maggot Brain - Edie Hazel (Funkadelic)
6. Texas Flood - Stevie Ray Vaughan
7. Eruption - Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
8. Highway Star - Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
9. Cause We've Ended As Lovers - Jeff Beck
10. 25 Or 6 To 4 - Terry Kath (Chicago)
11. Hotel California - Don Felder/Joe Walsh (Eagles)
12. Mr Crowley - Randy Rhoads (Ozzy)
13. Little Wing - Jimi Hendrix
14. Time - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
15. Layla - Eric Clapton/Duane Allman (Derek & The Dominos)
16. Sweet Child O' Mine - Slash (Guns N' Roses)
17. Cliffs Of Dover - Eric Johnson
18. Nottingham Lace - Buckethead
19. For The Love Of God - Steve Vai
20. Voodoo Child (slight return) - Jimi Hendrix
21. November Rain - Slash (Guns N' Roses)
22. Shine On You Crazy Diamond - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
23. Blue Sky - Duane Allman/Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers Band)
24. Satch Boogie - Joe Satriani
25. Lazy - Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
26. Crazy Train - Randy Rhoads (Ozzy)
27. White Room - Eric Clapton (Cream)
28. Surfing With The Alien - Joe Satriani
29. Rock You Like A Hurricane - Matthias Jabs (Scorpions)
30. Sultans Of Swing - Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
31. One - Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
32. No More Tears - Zakk Wylde (Ozzy)
33. Since I've Been Loving You - Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
34. Floods - Dimebag Darrel (Pantera)
35. Black Star - Yngwie Malmsteen
36. Atom Heart Mother - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
37. Red House - Jimi Hendrix
38. Big Sur Moon - Buckethead
39. The Rocker - Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy)
40. Those Were The Days - Eric Clapton (Cream)
41. Bohemian Rhapsody - Brian May (Queen)
42. While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Eric Clapton (The Beatles)
43. Fade To Black - Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
44. Dream - John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra)
45. Sound Chaser - Steve Howe (Yes)
46. Alive - Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)
47. Mood For A Day - Steve Howe (Yes)
48. Aqualung - Martin Barre (Jethro Tull)
49. Stone In Love - Neal Schon (Journey)
50. Child In Time - Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
51. Like A Hurricane - Neil Young
52. Dreams - Duane Allman (Allman Brothers Band)
53. Cortez The Killer - Neil Young
54. Over The Mountain - Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)
55. Money - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
56. Killer Queen - Brian May (Queen)
57. Two Minutes To Midnight - D. Murray/A. Smith (Iron Maiden)
58. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad - D. Allman/E. Clapton (Derek & The Dominos)
59. Southern Man - Neil Young
60. Kid Charlemagne - Larry Carlton (Steely Dan)
61. Little Wing - Stevie Ray Vaughan
62. Heartbreaker - Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
63. Too Many Humans - Buckethead
64. Under A Glass Moon - John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
65. Desert Rose - Eric Johnson
66. Dazed And Confused - Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
67. Tender Surrender - Steve Vai
68. Still In Love With You - Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy)
69. Bold As Love - Jimi Hendrix
70. Don't Keep Me Wondering - Duane Allman (Allman Brothers Band)
71. Ramblin' Man - Dicky Betts (Allman Brothers Band)
72. Always With Me Always With You - Joe Satriani
73. Tale Of Brave Ulysses - Eric Clapton (Cream)
74. Stranger In A Strange Land - Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
75. You Really Got Me - Dave Davies (The Kinks)
76. Devil Takes The Hindmost - Allan Holdsworth
77. Have A Cigar - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
78. Trademark - Eric Johnson
79. La Villa Strangiato - Alex Lifeson (Rush)
80. Super Stupid - Edie Hazel (Funkadelic)
81. Stranglehold - Ted Nugent
82. Beyond The Realms Of Death - Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)
83. Bulls On Parade - Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)
84. Unrestrained Growth - Buckethead
85. Miserlou - Dick Dale
86. Far Beyond The Sun - Yngwie Malmsteen
87. Brighton Rock - Brian May (Queen)
88. Dogs - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
89. Master Of Puppets - Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
90. Beat It - Eddie Van Halen (Michael Jackson)
91. Sow Thistle - Buckethead
92. Whipping Post - Duane Allman/Dicky Betts (Allman Brothers Band)
93. The Way It Has To Be - Shawn Lane
94. 21st Century Schizoid Man - Robert Fripp (King Crimson)
95. War Pigs - Toni Iommi (Black Sabbath)
96. Dreams - Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
97. Padmasana - Buckethead
98. Whole Lotta Love - Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
99. Working Man - Alex Lifeson (Rush)
100. Love Is The Law - John Squire (Seahorses)
101. Painkiller - Glenn Tipton/KK Downing (Judas Priest)
102. Black Magic Woman - Carlos Santana
103. Fire And Water - Paul Kossoff (Free)
104. The Loner - Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy)
105. Wicked World - Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
106. Touch Of Evil - Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)
107. Johnny B Goode - Chuck Berry
108. Mean Street - Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
109. Freewill - Alex Lifeson (Rush)
110. Blue Wind - Jeff Beck
111. Know Your Enemy - Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)
112. Lines In The Sand - John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
113. Yellow Ledbetter - Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)
114. Sunshine Of Your Love - Eric Clapton (Cream)
115. Jessica - Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers Band)
116. Flight Of The Wounded Bumblebee - Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme)
117. Green Grass and High Tides - Hughie Thomasson, Billy Jones, Henry Paul (Outlaws)
118. Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son - D. Murray/A. Smith (Iron Maiden)
119. Anyway You Want It - Neal Schon (Journey)
120. Nutshell - Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains)
121. Carry On Wayward Son - Kerry Livgren (Kansas)
122. Dee - Randy Rhoads (Ozzy)
123. Blues Deluxe - Joe Bonamassa
124. Radioactive Toy - Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree)
125. Not Again - Shawn Lane
126. Tornado of Souls - Marty Friedman
127. Achilles Last Stand - Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
128. High Hopes - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
129. I Could Have Lied - John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
130. YYZ - Alex Lifeson (Rush)
131. Crushing Day - Joe Satriani
132. Scuttle Buttin - Stevie Ray Vaughan
133. Beck's Bolero - Jeff Beck
134. Couldn't Stand The Weather - Stevie Ray Vaughan
135. Man In The Box - Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains)
136. Paradise City - Slash (Guns N' Roses)
137. Won't Get Fooled Again - Pete Townshend (The Who)
138. Jigsaw - Steve Rothery (Marillion)
139. Cemetary Gates - Dimebag Darrel (Pantera)
140. Fifty Fifty - Frank Zappa
141. I Want You (Shes So Heavy) - George Harrison (The Beatles)
142. Hanger 18 - Marty Friedman/Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
143. Powerslave - Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
144. Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
145. Robot Man - Uli Jon Roth
146. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat - Jeff Beck
147. Whisky In The Jar - Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy)
148. Punk Sandwich- Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs)
149. Let The Good Times Roll - Jimi Hendrix
150. Highway 61 Revisited - Johnny Winter
151. Colour And The Shape - Joe Bonamassa
152. Killing In The Name - Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)
153. Sleep Now In The Fire - Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)
154. The Warning - Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
155. Bridge Of Sighs - Robin Trower
156. Cult Of Personality - Vernon Reid (Living Color)
157. Starship Trooper - Steve Howe (Yes)
158. Ice Cream Man - Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
159. Smoke On The Water - Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
160. Midnight - Joe Satriani
161. Too Rolling Stoned - Robin Trower
162. Badge - Eric Clapton/George Harrison (Cream)
163. Rime of the Ancient Marriner - Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
164. Wynona's Big Brown Beaver - Larry Lalonde (Primus)
165. Blue On Black - Kenny Wayne Shepherd
166. Lovesorrow - Marty Friedman
167. Orion - Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
168. Nun Chuka Kata - Buckethead
169. Sympathy For The Devil - Keith Richards (Rolling Stones)
170. You Shook Me All Night Long - Angus Young (AC/DC)
171. Breaking Into Heaven - John Squire (Stone Roses)
172. Tierra Del Fuego - George Lynch/Derryl Gabel
173. Circles - Joe Satriani
174. Hot For Teacher - Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
175. I Heard Her Call My Name - Lou Reed
176. Jerry Was A Racecar Driver - Larry Lalonde (Primus)
177. Stash - Trey Anastasio (Phish)
178. Paranoid Android - Johnny Greenwood (Radiohead)
179. Sharp Dressed Man - Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
180. Cigarettes - Ty Tabor (King's X)
181. 2112 - Alex Lifeson (Rush)
182. The Rock - Pete Townshend (The Who)
183. Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix
184. Jingo - Carlos Santana
185. Cinnamon Girl - Neil Young
186. Liberation - Terry Kath (Chicago)
187. And Your Bird Can Sing - George Harrison (The Beatles)
188. Symphony Of Destruction - Marty Friedman (Megadeth)
189. That Smell - Allen Collins (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
190. All Right Now - Paul Kossoff (Free)
191. Evil That Men Do - Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
192. White Summer - Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
193. Tumeni Notes - Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs)
194. L'Via L'Viaquez - John Frusciante/Omar A Rodriguez-Lopez (Mars Volta)
195. The Maze - Vinnie Moore
196. Evil Ways - Carlos Santana
197. Piece Of My Heart - Sam Andrew (Big Brother)
198. Desert Island - Marty Friedman/Jason Becker (Megadeth)
199. Price You Gotta Pay - Paul Gilbert (Mr Big)
200. Back In Black - Angus Young (AC/DC)
201. The End - George Harrison, McCartney and Lennon (The Beatles)
202. Rock Bottom - Michael Schenkar (UFO)
203. Hell's Kitchen - John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
204. Knocking At Your Backdoor - Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
205. Midnight Sun - Steve Howe (Yes)
206. Love Removal Machine - Billy Duffy (The Cult)
207. It's Not My Cross To Bear - Duane Allman/Dicky Betts (Allman Brothers Band)
208. H - Adam Jones (Tool)
209. Presence Of The Lord - Eric Clapton (Blind Faith)
210. Stone Crazy - Buddy Guy
211. Revelation - Randy Rhoads (Ozzy)
212. Home - John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
213. Catch The Rainbow - Ritchie Blackmore (Rainbow)
214. Black Hole Sun - Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
215. Truckin - Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)
216. Cocaine - Eric Clapton
217. Speed Metal Symphony - M. Friedman/Jason Becker (Cacophony)
218. Light My Fire - Robby Krieger (The Doors)
219. Angel Of Death - Kerry King/Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)
220. Welcome Home - Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
221. I'm Alright - Neil Zaza
222. I Am The Resurrection - John Squire (Stone Roses)
223. Voyager - Ronnie Montrose (Montrose)
224. Tuff Enuff - Jimmie Vaughan (Fabulous Thunderbirds)
225. Jet City Woman - Chris Degarmo (Queensryche)
226. Three Days - Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction)
227 Stray Cat Strut - Brian Setzer
228. Reeling In The Years - Elliot Randall (Steely Dan)
229. Grendel - Steve Rothery (Marillion)
230. Zoot Allures - Frank Zappa (The Mothers Of Invention)
231. When The Water Breaks - John Petrucci (Liquid Tension Experiment)
232. La Grange - Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
233. Walk - Dimebag Darrel (Pantera)
234. As I Am - John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
235. Brothers In Arms - Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
236. Crying Machine - Steve Vai/Tony Macalpine (Vai)
237. Suburban Me - Chris Amott (guest musician for 'In Flames')
238. Telegraph Road - Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
239. Anyday - Duane Allman (Derek And The Dominoes)
240. Cruel Reality of Nature - Buckethead
241. Burn - Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
242. The Final Cut - Travis Stever, Claudio Sanchez (Coheed and Cambria)
243. Moonlight Shadow - Mike Oldfield
244. Illusions - Shawn Lane
245. Freight Train - Michael Angelo Batio
246. Psalm of Lydia - Jeff Loomis (Nevermore)
247. Something - George Harrison (The Beatles)
248. No Gravity - Kiko Loueriro
249. Linus and Lucy - Gary Hoey
250. Stomp - Phil Keaggy
Vid: ‘The Spirit of Radio Lesson’ from Alex
Well if your trying to put Angus young in even the same category with Alex, it seems insane. I love Black Sabbath but Iommi can’t play like Alex. Van Halen doesn’t have near the creativity and compositional skills of Lifeson. And man Sabbath is Sabbath man and I love them so hard. But this seems like madness. Lifeson was ranked 98th on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time, and third (after Eddie Van Halen and Brian May) in a Guitar World readers poll also listing the 100 greatest guitarists.It was unsourced so who knows the validity. Still, being in the same range as Eddie Van Halen and Brian May is pretty good. Eddie Van Halen 's older brother Alex is mourning the loss of the Van Halen guitarist following his death on Tuesday. In a statement obtained by PEOPLE on Thursday, Alex said: “Hey, Ed.
Even though I played in bands that copped multiple tunes off Rush’s Moving Pictures album, my favorite Rush album is Permanent Waves. The band was just on fire for that recording. Lots of energy, great parts, great arrangements that are complex yet understandable.
Did I say great?
Naturally, I got curious about Alex Lifeson’s gear on that album. I remember watching the Loving Pictures-era studio and live videos on MTV, but not Permanent Waves-era stuff – which apparently doesn’t exist, according to what’s on the almighty YouTube.
Adrian Lifeson
So failing a visual of what Alex used, here’s what some Internet sleuthing dug up. Several websites hav copied and pasted the same info among each other, so the following is some of that plus a little anecdotal info dug up here and there. Lifeson fans please check me on this stuff.
Alex’s Permanent Waves Gear
Guitars
> Black ’77 Fender Stratocaster with an original (no fine tuners) Floyd Rose tremolo, no locking nut – Alex used powdered graphite in the string slots – and a Gibson humbucker. Used on “The Spirit of Radio” and the lead on “Different Strings.”
> A sunburst Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion was also used on “Different Strings.”
> Trusty white Gibson 355, stock, used on the rest of the album with the exception of the leads on “Jacob’s Ladder,” which was:
> Custom-built Pyramid solid-body [could not find a pic of this guitar either].
> Acoustics were a Gibson J-55 and a Dove in Nashville tuning.
Amps
> Amps were said to be a combination of Hiwatts, Marshalls and Mesa/Boogies into Marshall 4×12 bottoms. Live, Alex was clearly favoring Hiwatts at this time.
Eddie Van Halen Praises Alex Lifeson
> He also used a Leslie cab [song?].
Eddie Van Halen Alex Lifeson
Effects
> “Various” wahs, fuzzes and phasers, according to the websites, along with “Loft analog delays and Maestro parametric EQs.”
> The flanger in “The Spirit of Radio” is presumed to be an Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress or an Eventide Harmonizer, with most thinking the former.
> After my experiments with the new Eventide PitchFactor pedal, I’d say that Alex was also using an Eventide Harmonizer, at least for some parts if not for whole songs. The Harmonizer was (and still is) used a lot by guit-slingers in the studio, and was seldom talked about.
Alex on the ‘The Spirit of Radio’ Opening Riff
Charlene Lifeson
Category: Alex Lifeson, Electro-Harmonix, Eventide, Gibson, Hiwatt, Marshall, Mesa/Boogie, Strat
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