Possibly one of Guy Ritter’s influences…

Guess what part I’m talking about. 

Definitely King Diamond was an influence on that first album....

I think Guy actually said he’d never heard of King Diamond until after StB was recorded

he did...

https://sites.google.com/site/silenceismadness777/guy-ritter/guy-ritter---interview

Guy said he wasn’t a big metal guy until he met Gary Lenaire. He grew up liking melodic rock music. 

He most likely was into AOR bands like Journey, Foreigner and Loverboy.

Taken directly from an interview…

Some of Guy Ritter’s influences: 
the secular bands I listed to at that time were Rush, REO Speedwagon, Van Halen, Toto, Cheap Trick, U2, Billy Joel, ELP, YES, Scorpions

TZ75 wrote:Guess what part I’m talking about. 

Well, anyways…

If anyone listened to this song, the part I was referring to is the middle of the song with the weird vocal noises. Like Guy did at the end of Broken Chromosomes. 

But I also thought it was similar to what Jon Oliva did sometimes in Savatage.

TZ75 wrote:Taken directly from an interview…

Some of Guy Ritter’s influences: 
the secular bands I listed to at that time were Rush, REO Speedwagon, Van Halen, Toto, Cheap Trick, U2, Billy Joel, ELP, YES, Scorpions

I’m glad to not see the influence of some of these in his music

Those artists are awesome and you should repent.

Billy Joel and Toto are alright, but not exactly what you want your metal to be inspired by. Don’t care for Cheap Trick, and U2 is literal elevator music

seth wrote:Billy Joel and Toto are alright, but not exactly what you want your metal to be inspired by. Don’t care for Cheap Trick, and U2 is literal elevator music

I wish elevators played U2...

I think I made this comparison a while back, but U2 sounds like their music was made specifically to be played at low volume in the background at the dentist’s office

U2 up through Achtung Baby was brilliant. Cheap Trick through Dream Police was great.

Pethead wrote:U2 up through Achtung Baby was brilliant. Cheap Trick through Dream Police was great.

I love the new-wave era of U2 best, but I agree they were great up to Achtung Baby.

I just know I really like Joshua Tree

seth wrote:Billy Joel and Toto are alright, but not exactly what you want your metal to be inspired by. Don’t care for Cheap Trick, and U2 is literal elevator music

Those bands were his building blocks for his melodies. He wasn’t a metalhead at first. Besides… even all the best known metal players have origins and roots in non-metal music (when they were kids). Especially the first wave of metal players 1970-1980.

seth wrote:

TZ75 wrote:Taken directly from an interview…

Some of Guy Ritter’s influences: 
the secular bands I listed to at that time were Rush, REO Speedwagon, Van Halen, Toto, Cheap Trick, U2, Billy Joel, ELP, YES, Scorpions

I’m glad to not see the influence of some of these in his music

They were noticeable on the Echo Hollow albums. 

Listen to the 70’s/early 80’s rock influence on this song… there’s even a John Mellencamp reference. 

I love those Echo Hollow albums! 

I hope Gary reissues them on CD in the near future. A proper remaster would be great! 

I asked Matt from Boones and he said he’s been trying to get permission to release them. It’s long overdue!