Guitarist George Lynch recalls Eddie Van Halen questioning him, "What's the issue with you? Where's that fiery spirit, man?" However, Lynch did not wish to divulge his concerns to Van Halen.
In the '80s, George Lynch made a name for himself as a rock guitarist in the band Dokken. However, his early career was marked by a series of connections, influences, and controversies with some of the biggest names in the rock and metal scene.
Lynch's guitar style was heavily influenced by the innovative Eddie Van Halen, whom he first met at a club in Los Angeles in the late '70s. While the specifics of their early interactions are not extensively documented, their shared recognition as guitar greats is evident.
Another key figure in Lynch's career was Gene Simmons from KISS. Although direct encounters during Lynch's early career are not detailed, his connections with other artists like Marq Torien from BulletBoys suggest he was part of a network that indirectly connected with Simmons and KISS musicians.
Regarding the Scorpions, no direct information about Lynch's early interactions or experiences with the band has emerged. This may indicate a lack of publicised interaction or involvement at the start of his career.
Jake E. Lee, another prominent guitarist in hard rock and metal genres, is also linked to Lynch, but no direct narratives of Lynch's dealings or collaborations with Lee during his early days have surfaced.
One of Lynch's most significant opportunities came when he was briefly in pole position for the job as Ozzy Osbourne's permanent replacement for Randy Rhoads. Unfortunately, he did not play an audition for the role.
However, Lynch's career was not without setbacks. He was kicked out of Dokken, Ozzy Osbourne's band, Gene Simmons' planned record label, and even Scorpions. His feud with Don Dokken came to a head during the Monsters Of Rock stadium tour in 1988, a period that also saw Eddie Van Halen express concern about Lynch's lack of enthusiasm.
Despite these challenges, Lynch's tenure with Dokken was marked by success, with the band members collectively contributing to their success. Lynch even claimed to have taught Scorpions lead guitarist Matthias Jabs a few tricks during the recording of the first Dokken album, Breaking The Chains.
The story of George Lynch's early career is a testament to his connections and influences within the rock and metal guitar community. While detailed personal anecdotes about direct interactions with all these figures during his beginnings are limited, further exploration through direct interviews or autobiographies may reveal more about this intriguing period in his career.
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- "Despite not having extensive documentation of his early interactions, George Lynch's career in music was significantly influenced by the likes of Eddie Van Halen and Gene Simmons, as well as others in the rock and metal scene."
- "Among the various artists Lynch was associated with, he claimed to have taught Scorpions' Matthias Jabs a thing or two during the recording of Dokken's first album, Breaking The Chains."
