Eastern influence in rock music

[secrets]

I guess the Beatles were the first to fuse the influence of Eastern music with rock music with the use of sitar, Indian percussion, ragas etc.

They also used the harmonic minor minor scale in vocal melodies.

Obviously, there's Led Zepellin and 'Kashmir' which is a classic.

On the other hand, I saw Eric Clapton hopelessly trying to improvise to Indian music on the George Harrison tribute concert, man that made me cringe.

Leave that stuff to guys like John Mclaughlin Eric, i.e people who know more than pentatonic and blues scales.

I guess it's one of those things that are done really well or really badly.

[secrets]

BTW this is not a trick question.

In fact I'm not sure it is a question, more of a concept.

[Soul Reaper]

Mahavishnu Orchestra. Although, that was more jazz than rock.

[Mr Badguy]

Rainbow on "Stargazer".

That song rocks.

[Mr Badguy]

On the shit side: "Taste of India" by Aerosmith.

It makes me think of a takeaway or restaraunt.

And it sucks.

[secrets]

Originally posted by Mr Badguy
On the shit side: "Taste of India" by Aerosmith.

It makes me think of a takeaway or restaraunt.

And it sucks.

Haven't heard that one, thanks for the warning.

Which album is it on?

[Soul Reaper]

I can't think of many rock bands who used Eastern influences except for Led Zeppelin and The Beatles.

I know prog rock bands would use eastern influences. I'll try and check some out.

[secrets]

Originally posted by Soul Reaper
Mahavishnu Orchestra. Although, that was more jazz than rock.

You're right, but Mclaughlin is an amazing guitar player and his acoustic guitar solos with Shakti are just mind blowing.

[Soul Reaper]

Prog rock bands are too diverse. I don't know where to start to look for eastern influenced bands. Google isn't helping either.

[secrets]

Originally posted by Soul Reaper
I can't think of many rock bands who used Eastern influences except for Led Zeppelin and The Beatles.

I know prog rock bands would use eastern influences. I'll try and check some out.

Listen to Smaller and Smaller by Faith No More. Very Eastern even the vocals.

The harmonic minor scale is used a fair bit in metal and can sound very Eastern. Especially the 5th mode.

Satriani on the song 'War' is a good example I think.

Alex Lifeson's solo on YYZ sounds to me like some bizarre Middle Eastern instrument.

As far as prog goes The Ozrics of course, especially on the album Strangeitude.

[nosuchluck]

"Home" by Dream Theater (its on Scenes from a memory) has a very eastern sounding outro..

[Mr Badguy]

Originally posted by secrets
Haven't heard that one, thanks for the warning.

Which album is it on?

"Nine lives".

There ain`t much else on that album worth hearing either.

[nosuchluck]

Jonas Hellborg and Shawn Lane had a lot of Indian influences in their music...

[secrets]

Originally posted by secrets
Satriani on the song 'War' is a good example I think.


Actually, it isn't really, apart from the very end of the song.

But I think 'Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing' by Satriani has some quite Eastern-sounding parts to it, though I haven't heard it in ages.

[secrets]

Originally posted by Mr Badguy
"Nine lives".

There ain`t much else on that album worth hearing either.

After Pump, which is a really good album, I think Aerosmith went way down hill and opted for love ballads over quality songs.

[nosuchluck]

Originally posted by secrets
Actually, it isn't really, apart from the very end of the song.

But I think 'Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing' by Satriani has some quite Eastern-sounding parts to it, though I haven't heard it in ages.

Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing? nah...don't think so...

[Soul Reaper]

Steve Vai used a lot of eastern ideas in Fire Garden

[secrets]

Originally posted by nosuchluck
Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing? nah...don't think so...

I listened to it today and yes the first part of the song has very strong Eastern influences. Listen again.

This is THE best thing that Satriani has ever written or performed IMO.

The Extremist album is also pretty solid.

[secrets]

Originally posted by Soul Reaper
Steve Vai used a lot of eastern ideas in Fire Garden

Haven't heard it but will check it out. Used to be a major Vai fan.

He's also influenced the Ozrics.

[Soul Reaper]

Which part of the Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing has eastern influences? I would never had thought it would.

[Soul Reaper]

Ok, i've just listened to it and some parts do sound eastern.

[nosuchluck]

Originally posted by secrets
I listened to it today and yes the first part of the song has very strong Eastern influences. Listen again.

This is THE best thing that Satriani has ever written or performed IMO.

The Extremist album is also pretty solid.

ah yes...i had forgotten about those parts of the song. very middle eastern/arabic. my bad!
yeah i think its probably one of Satch's best too.

[The Scatologist]

Tak Matsumoto


Guitarist from the B'z. You can find his solo album Hana at Tower Records. Look under Matsumoto. That's where I got mine.

Hard to get any more eastern then that really.



B'z also use a lot of eastern influences in some of their songs. (They are the Rock Kings of the East after all)

[nosuchluck]

Marty Friedman's music - particularly "Scenes" had a lot of Japanese overtones...

[Golden AWe]

Kingston Wall has plenty of asian influences on their albums...PM me your e-mail if you guys want a sample....you won't be disappointed!

[The Scatologist]

Marty Friedman used to live in my town :D

[secrets]

Woodpecker from Mars - Faith No More

Top shite.