Neil is one of the greatest guitarists ever. He’s super smart in what he plays and always serves the composition. I’d love to jam with him for an hour.
I opened for Pat in Denver back in '98. Talked for several minutes with Neil after sound check. Great guy. The only "rock star" ever to give credit to the opening act over the microphone. Class act. So was Pat.
Genius guitarist. Handled all the crazy stuff (tapping, pinch harmonics, sweep picking, crazy legato runs up and down the neck) with ease. I could listen to Neil solo all day long and never be bored.
Neil is an unsung guitar hero who has never gotten the credit he deserves! He is the best at creating a solo within the restraints of a commercial tune. I have seen them so many times in concert & am going again in February! I can't wait to see & hear both of my music heroes again!!
Phenomenal …. Guy was a hit machine in the 80’s… Couldn’t go anywhere without hearing his licks…Oh and the solo on “Jesse’s Girl”… That’s him too… Guy just kicked ass….👍🏻
He is so awesome.. I remember hearing Hell Is for Children.. that song got me into playing guitar... He plays piano and harmonica.too . So much talent..so underrated.
Anytime I hear one of his solos his phrasing is always unexpected - he manages to avoid rock cliches. Good use of intervals and creating lead lines from arpeggiated patterns.
Neil Giraldo is a monster! Dude definitely deserves much more recognition. I heard a pat benatar song tonight "looking for a stranger" and it sounded like SRV was moonlighting as her guitar player. Out of phase strat through what sounded like a vibrolux. Definitely was a fender amp. Excellent tone. Killer player.
Neil and Elliot Easton are 2 guitar players that I respect so much because of their creativity. Instead of relying on cliche rock licks, they played crazy, out of the box guitar parts that other players would never have thought to integrate into their music and it always fit. As much as I love Lukather, Van Halen, Rhodes, etc.; these 2 artists blow me away with what they bring to the table.
Killer tone, intensity, musicality, economy, impeccable timing, and swing define Neil Gerardo's guitar. Featured here are his solos, but his rhythm guitar work is just as good, if not better. As is his song-writing, musical composition and arrangement skills. Enjoyed his foray into blues, too, displaying his versatility. Neil and Pat deserve to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame! Thanks for all the good music, and wishing you both still doing well.
Whenever anyone asks for a list of my favorite guitarists, I always mention Spyder as one of the best - and most underrated - guitar players. Fabulous tone, spot on timing, and nothing but the song. Great compilation video.
Neil is one of my biggest influences. Right up there with David Gilmour, Randy Rhoads and any other legend. Promises in the Dark is probably his best but they are ALL amazing. Fire and Ice is probably my favorite solo to play but my favorite song to play overall is Hit me With Your Best Shot
When I think of the quintessential 80s "guitar hero", Neil Giraldo does it for me. Not only did he have all the riffs, licks, and solos you could possibly ask for, he had the kind of genuine swag that you just couldn't buy even if you were the wealthiest person on planet earth! Add to the fact that Spyder was one fine-lookin dude (I'm sure wife Pat would attest to that-lol; I'm speaking objectively here as a heterosexual male, btw) and he just can't lose. Also love his guitar model, too. Classy!
I remember back in about 1981 watching a Pat Benatar video I noticed that the guitar player stole the show with his command of his instrument. He's never failed to impress.
Awesome compilation. Saw them live back in the 90's and he took a guitar solo, walked out into the crowd, around and back, ripping it up the entire time. Dude's a monster!
It's about time somebody talks exclusively about Neil's solos..... He is probably a guy that doesn't get enough credit for being one of the absolute barn burner soloist out there and they pick one of the right solos to put out there 'promises in the dark' was a kick-ass solo... Geraldo's one of my favorite guitarist and he's also a premier guitar influence as well
Ive loved his sound since early 80s. Its fiery and its potent and some great solos. Hard to choose my fave, but i just cant place any of his other solos higher than Heartbreaker. Its up there with rock's best 80s solos.
I’ve been right here listening the whole time Neil! So much great music I can’t pick a favorite. Love Pat’s vocals too and awesome material tops it off. I will say Promises in the Dark still blows my mind after all these years. That solo is smokin! The dreamy groove and what you laid on that in Precious Time is another great one. Thanks for all the jams man!
Too cool...I started my search to look for some of the stuff Neil has done over the decades (you couldn't put it all in one posting), and on my second hit, I ended up here. Thanks so much for putting this up, you've saved me hours!! He was 7 yrs. old when he started performing?!?!..............that explains a lot. Amazing talent!!
Thanks for posting this! When I watch Neil and realize he & I are within a year of the same age and started playing around the same time, I have to wonder...what happened? lol I still actively play and can hold my own, but can't even begin to do what he does. I guess it's all about priorities and how badly one really wants it and what one is willing to give to get it. Congrats Neil, you've made the absolute best of it...yep, the best.
Tasty, yes...also, he had a style all his own. I always seem to call his playing 'angular' if that makes sense. It's like jagged shards of melody...in a good way. Never a wasted note, either.
A very underrated guitar player , im gonna follow you is one of my favourites check out also The Art Of Letting Go, Fight It Out, Too long A Solider, Wuthering Heights, True Love, Little Paradise, Wide Awake In Dreamland etc ! .
Everyone has their definition of a great guitarist. Here’s mine. *Minimal effects. He explains in interviews he only uses little delay & reverb. Obviously, there are plenty of examples of heavy effects in a song but majority of work is minimal. *His tone is pretty simple. Rolls volume for boost control distortion/overdrive. His tone comes from a collection of a short run Marshall combos made in the late 70s. Doesn’t rely on a sea of pedals. *Solos are woven into the framework of the song. Responding to the lyrics/vocals as a dialogue. *Solos are identifiable. *Beyond guitar he understand the art of recording and production. *Also, He makes it hard for mediocre bands to cover Pat Benatar songs. Not that the songs are difficult but because his solos are so recognizable. I call it the Hotel California effect. Dont expect forgiveness if you deviate from the original.
Yeah the more melodic solos are his best work. "Precious Time" and "I'm Gonna Follow You" from this list. "Wuthering Heights" should have been here as well.
Marshall should make a Spyder Giraldo version of amp that would be a double combo that you could stack or separate for stereo go to little gain and Sizzle on it in a little bit of delay for a beast mode rather than fuzz because his tone is actually clean. Pat and Neil just rock!
![[Part 1] รักมาไม่ทันตั้งตัว❤ หนุ่มสาวโสดถูกจับมาแต่งงานกันกะทันหัน แถมเธอยังเป็นหัวหน้าของเขา?!](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/y2pOOMkuFI0/mqdefault.jpg)
Neil is one of the greatest guitarists ever. He’s super smart in what he plays and always serves the composition. I’d love to jam with him for an hour.
I opened for Pat in Denver back in '98. Talked for several minutes with Neil after sound check. Great guy. The only "rock star" ever to give credit to the opening act over the microphone. Class act. So was Pat.
Neil is a monster on Guitar- certainly needs more recognition!
Congratulations Pat and Neil!! Class of 22 Rock and Role Hall of Famers
One of the greatest guitar players of ALL times!! Neil is a monster on guitar!!
💯🤘🎸
Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo are one of the best things that ever happen to Rock-n-Roll.
neil geraldo has one of the best tones i have heard! he gets a mean sound with serious sustain and vibrato
Genius guitarist. Handled all the crazy stuff (tapping, pinch harmonics, sweep picking, crazy legato runs up and down the neck) with ease. I could listen to Neil solo all day long and never be bored.
Neil is an unsung guitar hero who has never gotten the credit he deserves! He is the best at creating a solo within the restraints of a commercial tune. I have seen them so many times in concert & am going again in February! I can't wait to see & hear both of my music heroes again!!
Phenomenal …. Guy was a hit machine in the 80’s… Couldn’t go anywhere without hearing his licks…Oh and the solo on “Jesse’s Girl”… That’s him too… Guy just kicked ass….👍🏻
He is so awesome.. I remember hearing Hell Is for Children.. that song got me into playing guitar... He plays piano and harmonica.too . So much talent..so underrated.
Anytime I hear one of his solos his phrasing is always unexpected - he manages to avoid rock cliches. Good use of intervals and creating lead lines from arpeggiated patterns.
Awesome and what’s even better is to see real love stand together and not give up, a rare thing these days. God bless you and pat ❤
Neil Giraldo is a monster! Dude definitely deserves much more recognition. I heard a pat benatar song tonight "looking for a stranger" and it sounded like SRV was moonlighting as her guitar player. Out of phase strat through what sounded like a vibrolux. Definitely was a fender amp. Excellent tone. Killer player.
Neil and Elliot Easton are 2 guitar players that I respect so much because of their creativity. Instead of relying on cliche rock licks, they played crazy, out of the box guitar parts that other players would never have thought to integrate into their music and it always fit. As much as I love Lukather, Van Halen, Rhodes, etc.; these 2 artists blow me away with what they bring to the table.
100% concur.
I never realized how good Neil was. . .wow! The man needs to be up there in the Pantheon of great guitarists.
Love those vintage BC Rich Eagle and Bich guitars!
Mr. Bad Ass!
Killer tone, intensity, musicality, economy, impeccable timing, and swing define Neil Gerardo's guitar. Featured here are his solos, but his rhythm guitar work is just as good, if not better. As is his song-writing, musical composition and arrangement skills. Enjoyed his foray into blues, too, displaying his versatility. Neil and Pat deserve to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame! Thanks for all the good music, and wishing you both still doing well.
He's a real original, unique style. They make a great team. Just amazing.
he wrote some of the tastiest solo's ever absolutely awesome the whole band is an absolute powerhouse, nobody does it better,
Neil's one killer rock guitar player. Hands-down.
Precios Time and Promises in the Dark. He does an awesome job playing all of them, so it's tough for me to choose!! LOVE Pat and Neil FOREVER!
Promises in the Dark..is a power ballad!..Great Energy..onstage and Audience..vibes!
Happy birthday Neil! Wow, what an amazing guitarist and songwriter. An inspiration to this aspiring musician. Thank you Neil!
Angular, Jagged....that's how I describe his playing...and I mean that in a good way.
THE BEST 80'S GUITAR PLAYER !!
YOU AND PAT DESERVE THE ROCK'N ROLL HALL OF FAME RIGHT NOWWW !!
Whenever anyone asks for a list of my favorite guitarists, I always mention Spyder as one of the best - and most underrated - guitar players. Fabulous tone, spot on timing, and nothing but the song. Great compilation video.
Never really thought of him as underrated...during his heyday, he was getting his share of praise.
Neil is one of my biggest influences. Right up there with David Gilmour, Randy Rhoads and any other legend.
Promises in the Dark is probably his best but they are ALL amazing. Fire and Ice is probably my favorite solo to play but my favorite song to play overall is Hit me With Your Best Shot
Fire and Ice is absolutely THE BEST.
Lol 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 not even close !!!!!!
Awesome guitarist
When I think of the quintessential 80s "guitar hero", Neil Giraldo does it for me. Not only did he have all the riffs, licks, and solos you could possibly ask for, he had the kind of genuine swag that you just couldn't buy even if you were the wealthiest person on planet earth! Add to the fact that Spyder was one fine-lookin dude (I'm sure wife Pat would attest to that-lol; I'm speaking objectively here as a heterosexual male, btw) and he just can't lose. Also love his guitar model, too. Classy!
I LOVE THEM !!!
I remember back in about 1981 watching a Pat Benatar video I noticed that the guitar player stole the show with his command of his instrument. He's never failed to impress.
Put them in the Hall of Fame Now!!
Awesome compilation. Saw them live back in the 90's and he took a guitar solo, walked out into the crowd, around and back, ripping it up the entire time. Dude's a monster!
Neil is a massively underrated guitar player. Precious Time is one of the best solos I've ever heard -- by anyone.
It's about time somebody talks exclusively about Neil's solos..... He is probably a guy that doesn't get enough credit for being one of the absolute barn burner soloist out there and they pick one of the right solos to put out there 'promises in the dark' was a kick-ass solo... Geraldo's one of my favorite guitarist and he's also a premier guitar influence as well
He's one of the best of all time.
I seen you at the Washington town and country fair years ago it was a fantastic concert I really enjoyed it thanks from shawn Overton.
Ive loved his sound since early 80s. Its fiery and its potent and some great solos. Hard to choose my fave, but i just cant place any of his other solos higher than Heartbreaker. Its up there with rock's best 80s solos.
I’ve been right here listening the whole time Neil! So much great music I can’t pick a favorite. Love Pat’s vocals too and awesome material tops it off. I will say Promises in the Dark still blows my mind after all these years. That solo is smokin! The dreamy groove and what you laid on that in Precious Time is another great one. Thanks for all the jams man!
I like all of your songs and videos pat benatar. Thank you so much I really appreciate it thanks from shawn Overton.
Bloody great guitar player,producer...kinda followed his example....also guitar player,producer.....
This is a really nice couple together! Congratulations to you both from shawn Overton.
One of my favorite guitar players of all time
Too cool...I started my search to look for some of the stuff Neil has done over the decades (you couldn't put it all in one posting), and on my second hit, I ended up here. Thanks so much for putting this up, you've saved me hours!!
He was 7 yrs. old when he started performing?!?!..............that explains a lot. Amazing talent!!
I Ioved the switch to the blues. I have been a fan since I found Crimes of Passion.
Hi pat benetar and Neil Giraldo from shawn Overton.
His angular lines and his phrasing always knocked me out. He had the best tone too. Clean, but with the sustain. Clarity.
Thanks for posting this! When I watch Neil and realize he & I are within a year of the same age and started playing around the same time, I have to wonder...what happened? lol I still actively play and can hold my own, but can't even begin to do what he does. I guess it's all about priorities and how badly one really wants it and what one is willing to give to get it. Congrats Neil, you've made the absolute best of it...yep, the best.
Nice post,I enjoyed watching it! I saw them back in the 80s at Maple leaf gardens,great show.
My top 5 Neil Solos of all time:
1. Precious Time
2. Promises in the Dark
3. You Better Run
4. Hit Me With Your Best Shot
5. Heartbreaker
Pat benatar you are stunning Lady! From shawn Overton.
Neil fuckin' ROCKS!!!!!! Amazingly tasteful guitarist who always plays for the song...and doesn't just shred a thousand notes for no reason....
Pat still looks incredible and Neil is rocking hard as ever. Added some serious blues too.
Don't forget "Jesse's Girl" ....that's him too.
So, why isn't "You Better Run" on that list? He does some great playing in that one too. That's my favorite.
Love him....his playing was/is every bit as important as Pat's vocals.
I cannot decide, they're all good. But maybe I'm partial to Fire and Ice. :) Neil and Pat are great. ::)
Nice
This guy can play!! 🎸 🎶 😁
All that talent and a hot wife. Neil has a great life. Color me green with envy.
This is terrific!! Thanks for putting this together
They sold 35 million albums back when there albums. Amazingly successful. Great rock act. And a class act as well.
Tasty, yes...also, he had a style all his own. I always seem to call his playing 'angular' if that makes sense. It's like jagged shards of melody...in a good way. Never a wasted note, either.
HALL OF FAME COUPLE
They are going to be in concert in Chandler this year.
Pat is a pretty cool lady! Very down to earth! And of course her husband is pretty cool too. :)
Great taste, every single note counts
And Talented too.
@verypopular THANKYOU so much for sharing this splendid video with me!
Please excuse the late reply but i've been having problems with my computer!
A very underrated guitar player , im gonna follow you is one of my favourites check out also The Art Of Letting Go, Fight It Out, Too long A Solider, Wuthering Heights, True Love, Little Paradise, Wide Awake In Dreamland etc ! .
im into punk and hardcore metal of the 80s and i think this band rocks harder than most new wimpy radio metal bands ,, !!
People sometimes forget that Spyder (Neil) wrote the music for Promises in the Dark! Pat wrote the lyrics:)
As far as what my favorite Neil Giraldo solo ever is. Well it's a hard one to choose but i would say Hell Is For Children.
"Promises in the Dark" is the most incendiary Neil Giraldo solo, IMO. In frickin real.
That's from his 1980 BC Rich Eagle supreme, very rare, I just bought one for $8000 and you can check out the sound on my channel
he has a very unique and original style
going to see them in April :)
I love your voice pat benatar! From shawn Overton.
yeah
I have always wanted a late 70s Eagle with cloud inlays.
Pat looked like a DOLL incredible.
Neil = badass..... period.
FUCKING LEGEND!
Everyone has their definition of a great guitarist. Here’s mine.
*Minimal effects. He explains in interviews he only uses little delay & reverb. Obviously, there are plenty of examples of heavy effects in a song but majority of work is minimal.
*His tone is pretty simple. Rolls volume for boost control distortion/overdrive. His tone comes from a collection of a short run Marshall combos made in the late 70s. Doesn’t rely on a sea of pedals.
*Solos are woven into the framework of the song. Responding to the lyrics/vocals as a dialogue.
*Solos are identifiable.
*Beyond guitar he understand the art of recording and production.
*Also, He makes it hard for mediocre bands to cover Pat Benatar songs. Not that the songs are difficult but because his solos are so recognizable. I call it the Hotel California effect. Dont expect forgiveness if you deviate from the original.
I think Neil once said that was his favorite, too.
Neil is a good rhythm guitar player - that's it !
he was so underated
#1
Yeah the more melodic solos are his best work. "Precious Time" and "I'm Gonna Follow You" from this list. "Wuthering Heights" should have been here as well.
Marshall should make a Spyder Giraldo version of amp that would be a double combo that you could stack or separate for stereo go to little gain and Sizzle on it in a little bit of delay for a beast mode rather than fuzz because his tone is actually clean. Pat and Neil just rock!
These days (shown during 'Love as a Battlefield' in this video) neil looks like the blonde killer in Fargo (Peter Stormare).
"I thought you said you wanted another drink spydah....."
My favorite isnt on the list. I just love he solo on "True Love"
Also where did that video of the live performance of "Paying the cost.." come from?
Marty Friedman's favorite. No need to say anything else.
I saw him with Rick derringer way back when. Freaking smoking player.
oh by the way it's Le Bel Age. not La Bel Age. oxoxox
peter dinklage in a fucking pat benatar video lol 5:13