First off - please please please lets not get into any Rob bashing on this thread for once!
OK, so around here many people seem to hate him. I've never really understood why. Going back many years, I remember finding a bunch of really good videos of him on Youtube (looking younger and slimmer) demoing Orange amps, and he was clearly a very good guitarist. He had recently transcribed a bunch of Yngwie songs for a publication so definitely no slouch on the 6 string. I'm pretty sure that the vids were done for Orange, and they eventually disappeared for whatever reason.
Anyway, rolling forward, I happened to come across a couple of his chatty videos by chance and watch them recently, and he basically seems like a very nice, affable sort of guy. He's knowledgeable and entertaining enough in his demeanour. He is also genuinely popular out there - 743K subscribers, top videos all around 2-4 million views, and relentlessly positive reactions from viewers who comment.
I kind of feel that around here on the Fretboard he has slipped into that 'hip to hate' category like Bonamassa, Kirk Hammett et al. It's kind of a shame that things get like that with some musicians. I get that he's not everyones cup of tea, nobody is universally loved, but it would be so much nicer if we could tone down the hatred around here,. He's just a guitarist who has managed to forge a career in a way that I'm sure we all wish we could have done. I think that he would be a great guy to just sit down and have a pint with and a bit of a chat and a laff.
That is all ....
Comments
is broadly how I feel on the subject.
Good on Rob for what he's managed to achieve.
It is easy to bash from the sidelines.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
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And before anyone feels like jumping in without thinking, the moderation will be strong in this thread.
Don’t be tempted to commit suicide by mod
Think I'll keep it that way.
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Goldeneraguitars
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Goldeneraguitars
Rod Campman on the other hand...
Him and the captain were a magical pairing .
I like Kirk Hammett too , he really does seem such a nice enthusiastic guy
Good luck to the guy.
Sounds like it could be the Title to a British 60's Spy Movie.
Or maybe a new segment on Countdown.
Here's Today's "Countdown Rob Chapman Conundrum"
GINGETERS
Then it all totally went to shit when he responded to that hit video from some irrelevant drama-seeking kid, and his channel views dropped off a cliff.
Thing is...he is a nice guy, at least I think he is from our sparse interactions. I get the impression that "business Rob" is very different from "Rob the guy you meet". I don't think that's particularly unusual.
I'm not that enthused by some of those business revelations, but as far as I know nobody is being forced to piss into a bottle to avoid taking a break.
I do think a lot of it is jealousy or spite, when you are slagging off somebody's looks then you've lost your point.
Sure some of the humour can come off a bit David Brentesq (and I'm sure Rob would look back at his older videos and wince somewhat. But we all feel like that. Baggy Jeans anyone?).
Again YouTube is a free platform, nobody is forcing you to watch his videos. I'm not a fan of his high gain chugging or widdly widdly woo.
So I don't watch.... simple. Same goes for anything Clarkson related.