10 Best Classic Rock Guitarists Of The '80s
4. The Edge - U2
Most guitarists in the rock world today are too consumed by their effects pedals. While some bands can still tear it up, some people who pick up a six string think they only need to pile on the reverb and distortion to actually sound like they know what they’re doing. Even if the effects have gotten stale over time, The Edge is the perfect mixture of finesse and taste.
Starting out in the post punk realm, The Edge’s work with U2 quickly blossomed out into something much bigger than anyone could have imagined. Working with producers like Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, the sonic effects that were created on albums like War and the Joshua Tree still sound like the future of the rock genre.
Though most ‘80s albums tend to sound dated after a while, the opening scene of “Where The Streets Have No Name” can still make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.
Even when the band went in a more electronic direction on Achtung Baby, the tones that the Edge created fit perfectly in the more melancholy context. Aside from his pedal collection, the Edge runs the gamut of guitar dynamics from the plainspoken acoustic on “One” to the crunch of “Beautiful Day.”
It’s one thing to hide behind an effects’ board, but the Edge’s sound has helped broaden the landscape of an entire musical generation.