Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:To be honest, it's super hard to join a band as a guitarist as a U2 type of guitarist. You have to (like you said) search for a band that wants the exact same type of music. Most bands, when looking for a guitarist, want a creative guitarist (which I'm sure you are), but they also want a techinically good guitarist as well (which is hard to be when all most of us have played is Edge). I'm in a band now, but I'm singer/guitarist, and I bring only a few U2 elements, but mostly other things, like blues and alternative rock elements to the table. I'm not saying it's bad that your style is like Edge's, mine is in a way too, I'm just saying, it's a little harder for us to find a band! lol. If I wasn't a singer than I probably wouldn't be in the one I'm in right now purely because I'm a guitarist.
I hear you, and agree very much. I dunno what kind of guitarist I would consider myself, but I like all kinds of stuff and try to incorporate it into my style, which I think many people also do and is a healthy state of musical being. Definitely, I do find myself drawn to the work of similar Edge-influenced guitarists, Dave Keuning's one such example. However, like my attraction to U2, it's the music of the Killers as a whole that I'm drawn to - the guitar work is the icing on the cake that I pick off and eat separately.
I think the guitarist whom I would say I hold up as one of my biggest influences alongside Mr. Evans would be Malcolm Jones of Runrig - if any of you get the chance, as I've said many times on here, check him out. Incredible. He was doing Edge before Edge was

Regarding bands, I have an idea of what I'm looking for in a band, but it's more just I have a certain feel for music that I don't think the others share, which is more the issue. It's hard trying to jam something like Beautiful Day when you're the only person who can hold a rhythm, same as a bit of Oasis etc...
Originally posted by anstratdubh1979:Edge was asked "What do you think when you see adverts for U2-type guitarist in music papers". His response was something to the effect that "if people are copying, they are missing the point".
The point being... nothing being a product of your influences. There is nothing wrong with ceertain elements of your influence making it into your style but create something different - make your own thing.
Edge took things like John McGeogh (Siouxsie, Magazine, PIL), Tom Verlaine & Richard Lloyd (Television), Mick Jones & Joe Strummer (The Clash), Henry Cluney (Still Little Fingers), Pete Shelley (Buzzcocks), Paul Weller (The Jam), Stuart Adamson (The Skids, and later Big Country)
So if you want to be more like The Edge.... listen to lots of bands. Take bits and pieces and make something of your own.
Doesn't mean don't learn and decipher what Edge does. But then take the ideas and create 'you'. Not just my opinion... t'is The Edge's too.
Amen to that brutha. Having said that, I've never seen an ad. for a U2-type guitarist anywhere!
Paul Weller's amazing. Saw him play live at UEA (my university) in November, the man knows how to write a tune and put on a show. What more could you need?