I am willing to bet ED listened to this guy a lot!

[Marshall SL12301]

http://grooveshark.com/s/Johnny+B+Goode/JtqHH?src=5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; my man FRANKIE will tear u a new ass for sure! this guy was doin this in the early 70's for christ sake!!!

[Marshall SL12301]

He even looked badass! back in black baby! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOZR_Tn53R8&feature=fvst" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[whopperplate]

This guy kills! That's some bad ass blues! Got some cool jazzy things going on in that youtube clip, thanks for posting!

[whopperplate]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbd8QEHY ... re=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Tone Slinger]

Ed had to of been aware of him.

But, imo, if you want to hear what Ed was probably MORE into, listen to ANY Ritchie Blackmore, from DP up to the first 3 Rainbow albums, along with UFO's first 4 albums. There is ALOT of 'common' ground between Ed and Michael Schenker. Also, those import era Scorpions albums ('Fly To The Rainbow', 'In Trance', 'Virgin Killer', etc) seemed to have inspired him.

Ed, like Michael Schenker, seemed much more into PHRASING, and the TONE that comes from that (Phrasing) than guy's like Marino, who wanted to play fast most of the time. Having said that, I really do like some old Mahogany Rush.

[whopperplate]

Michael Schenker

...is the MAN!!! Some of the best vibrato!

[Marshall SL12301]

All i can say is that if you are NOT influenced by Mike than you are either lying or tone deaf and musically dead!
He is in my top 5 of all time favorite overall players. The guy had it all going on playing wise,tone,vibrato writting,speed,taste,etc.
In some ways i like him even more than ed!

[fhn_lopes]

Ed SURE listened to both guys:

ERIC CLAPTON
JIMMY PAGE

PERIOD.

I hear tons of them in early EVH.... the rest is probably a mix of many others like Hendrix, Blackmore, Michael, Iommy etc;... Nothing really different from any other guitar player of his era.

I can't find the youtube vid, but there's this radio interview where young Ed plays Clapton's Crossroads and he FUCKING KILLS... a lot of improvising stuff, just for kicks, but indeed it kicked ass.

[whopperplate]

JIMMY PAGE