Adrian Belew Electronic Guitar instructional video 1984

This old DCI guitar instructional videotape from 1984 proves Adrian Belew is just too damn much...in all the right ways. And that custom Fender Mustang!

[@Antonivs]

Belew is so underrated by the mainstream, his vocals are superb, as a guitar player is impressive!

[@krzysztofwaleska]

Yes. But very plastic and artificial. Yet his handd can do some real wonders!

[@Pnanasnoic]

Best King Crimson albums and the best Talking Heads live performances too.

[@-dugair]

​@@krzysztofwaleska Yeah, even on acoustic!🐶

[@jrpipik]

Good lyricist, too!

[@fabiuliano4023]

@@krzysztofwaleska This isn't plastic... This is electric! And the fact that he plays with his hands and feeling with electricity means that it's nothing but authentic.

[@JohnLloydDavis]

This was the most influential video I watched in the late 80's as a young guitar player. Both Adrian and Steve Vai had a big impact on me and their former employer Mr Zappa first of all :)

[@trekgreenwood6743]

And now they’re both in Beat. That tour is gonna be insane!

[@eldiablo3794]

I actually discovered Adrian through David Bowie. Adrian Belew was awesome during his tenure with David Bowie in the late 70s. When Bowie was transitioning to his more experimental, electronic era.. apart of what was known as Bowie's "Berling Trilogy" of albums. 1977 "Low", "Heroes", 1978 "Stage", and 1979 "Lodger" Adrian was also on the Bowie live album Stage and for me that's one of my favorite live albums of all time and Adrian's guitar playing and sound effects were awesome esp on songs like Station to Station. Adrian toured with Bowie and played lead guitar for his 1978 The Stage Tour. The noises Adrian could get out of his guitar sounded otherworldly when I first heard it lol.

[@eldiablo3794]

@@trekgreenwood6743 what do you mean by they're both in Beat? Is Beat a band? Because the only band I know that goes by The Beat is The English Beat, lol. Can you let me know so I can look it up, please?

[@pijanola]

@@eldiablo3794 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH2re2ipe9Rkgs0 kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5O0fmNvqZp4aMU

[@trekgreenwood6743]

@@eldiablo3794 Yeah it’s a new band going on tour this fall. They’re playing 80s King Crimson. Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, Tony Levin, Danny Carey.

[@daviddevilliers2828]

The most underrated great genius guitarist of this century

[@methanedirigible]

This century being the twentieth?

[@-GRAVESITE-]

21st? Century…? Or..

[@daviddevilliers2828]

@@-GRAVESITE- both, 20, 21 and 22 perhaps

[@simondeldesierto7381]

let's calm down with the 'most underrated' cliche... an unique guitarist? yes.

[@daviddevilliers2828]

@@simondeldesierto7381 rien compris

[@disconnected22]

“How many pedals are you bringing?” “YES.”

[@StratsRUs]

Superb singer too.

[@doktorfellatio438]

Indubitably! Frame by frame is my favorite vocal performance of his.

[@adam_levine]

During the mid-90s his vocal range starts getting insane, like Walking on Air is wild

[@SleepySlevin]

He's up there with the all-time greats. The 80s wouldn't have been the same without this man.

[@Alun49]

Forty years ago. Very hard to credit how much time has actually passed.

[@billmay7364]

Adrian Belew is Monster Sonic Master. His Career says so. Paints broad Colors of Sound. Belew and Fripp especially with Disipline Record with King Crimson. Many from Zappa to Bowie Talking Heads NIN called for his Services. Adrian is one of the Good Guys.

[@michaelhaydenbell]

I'm gonna have to check out this artist "Bowie Talking Heads NIN", they sound very interesting!

[@Boylieboyle]

Great comment that.

[@michaelchalkley5484]

I have photos of this guitar, as well as the others Adrian used in both The Laurie Anderson movie and while he was in The Bears, which is when I photographed those guitars, met him and his band mates, had dinner, drank Stoli, and then passed out face first in my Volkswagen on University Avenue, outside The Berkeley Square. 😊

[@jonnyfavors7585]

When Tony Hawk reaches a new level of consciousness....

[@Granadan]

I’m thinkin Tony Bates or Norman Hawk

[@SignaturaStellum]

Tony Hawk/Maynard J. Keenan homunculus drive

[@SidAlienTV]

Thanks for uploading, man! My favourites instructional videos in those years were Brian May' s , Chris Squire' s (RIP) and Adrian Belew's. In a time with no Internet, VHS format, living in a 3rd World country (Argentina) our only chance to see them was making a copy from a copy from a copy from a copy, and not to mention the astronomical prices of gear (amps, guitars, pedals, etc). Even so, we tried to manage here and there to create something new. Rock and roll was kind of out of fashion until Eddie Van Halen brought a storm of fresh air to it, and in the meantime bands like The Police, Talking Heads, Rush, XTC opened new paths for young musicians.

[@SteveStevens-uv2px]

Those were golden times

[@SidAlienTV]

@@SteveStevens-uv2px Undoubtedly.

[@lefkytheshin]

Very inspiring. Nothing I like better than sitting on the floor, guitar in hand, turning the rig knobs, and experimenting with sounds.

[@ZigbertD]

His guitar solos on Talking Heads' "The Great Curve" from Remain in Light completely blew my mind when I first heard them and are just as incredible today. Then a year later King Crimson's Discipline was released and I was "Belew'n away" again...

[@ToddDever]

Wow, this is great. Brings back lots of memories of a time when Adrian was really leading so much of the innovation going on with guitar. So glad I got to see him play this stuff live back then. Can’t wait to see him with Vai playing Crimson.

[@johnnyrocketed2225]

I love his little looks … he’s always been so humble and just cool guy. 👏😊

[@neithere]

He's so different from his persona on Discipline! Such a nice, creative and humble individual.

[@jimmieyoung4865]

I remember hearing RED SAILS for the first time and thinking, jeez, that was crucial!

[@LL-bl8hd]

Bowie, Zappa, Talking Heads, King Crimson... Is there a more impressive resume in rock music??

[@ernestmaciel]

Nine Inch Nails! He also produced one of caifanes records

[@AchmadAnanda]

One of the kind guitar heroes and genius approach on guitar

[@zenarcher_awats]

And LODGER was insanely great. Adrian Belew is so inspired & creative. Again Thank you for posting this!

[@zenarcher_awats]

Pure musicianship. He’s absolutely brilliant. L O V E everything about this ❤️ thank you for posting.

[@michaelhaydenbell]

Well this is was an awesome unexpected surprise to find in my feed, thanks for posting this!

[@livebassngames]

omg the amount of cables here listening to Adrian speak about guitar reminds me of listening to a Rob Ross video... in a good way

[@iiWNMii]

I pivot between wonder, amazement and laughing at these sounds. Def innovative and sounds like modern guitar. He knew his fundamentals and traditional playing styles too, so this is a master transcending the usual technique. Picking when to use such wild tones is half the battle

[@williamb2845]

So glad to see so many comments on Adrain's singing. I just saw him last night with Jerry Harrison doing the Talking Heads-Remain in Light set. Adrian's gear didn't behave (I've seen it happen before with him), but, his singing just took over. I was reminded of what made me pay attention to him when I first heard the King Crimson stuff in the 80's. It was his voice. Then I realized what an amazing guitar player he is. Total artist. One of my biggest musical heroes without a doubt.

[@svenjansen2134]

He has a very strong, convincing voice. I also really like it. He's a perfect musician.

[@frankieboy5859]

Can't believe this is from 40 years ago.

[@jimmyholloway8527]

No telling where I'd be had I seen this in '84. Lots of tricks/effects I was using at the time but wasn't hip to AB till the 90's. Given his live shows and nature of his tone library, he sounds strangely lucid here. So much method to his madness. True pioneer.

[@adam_levine]

It's weird bc I forget he's really techy sometimes seeing him hop around, but legend says he'll talk effects with you for hours if you let him

[@ChrisOBrien666]

I had no idea who Adrian Belew was until my parents got me the King Crimson live from Japan videodisc in the early 80s, in fact, I didn’t even really know who King Crimson was. Sure, I had heard of them but never really heard any of their music. Adrian is a genius!

[@vitaharvey5332]

Coolest parents everrrrrr❤

[@OldManSplitfoot]

An "Unsung" Guitar Legend

[@JohnWilliamsFromBluff]

True. Also, a great singer!

[@mintzmia]

Below is maybe most masterful user of guitar effects to date. At least that I know of.

[@fellinifrederico8920]

Him and Omar Rodriguez Lopez

[@linuskangas9791]

​@@fellinifrederico8920niiiiice, good shout, Omar is a unicorn

[@JamesJones-i2v]

Buckethead

[@connlajones5222]

I was an 18 year year old studying on a very early music tech course in 1998 and this was played to us. it totally blew my mind and changed my thinking, I was into Vai, Satriani, Steve Stevens watching this and hearing Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop LP really informed my approach to the guitar, pivotal movements.. Now Vai and Belew are playing together which is exciting stuff for a fan of both and not just that the Discipline era Crimson some of my favourite music ever, I do hope it comes to Europe

[@fabiuliano4023]

Wow! 17:50.The G string to A Heartbeat, I Wonder, Dig me etc... Genius!!!!!!!!!

[@surfercrow]

👁️Mesmerizing from start to finish. I grew up, listening to Adrian play with Zappa, Talking Heads, Bowie, King Crimson, and solo & was lucky to see Adrian do a similar in-store demo at Gand Music in my hometown, just a year before this video, in 1983. (I won the Roland synth). He did a lot of these same demonstrations and our minds were blown 🤯 just like this video still does, forty years later! At that in-store appearance, I asked Adrian to sign my Lone Rhino LP. I remember he said he liked my sunglasses; just the nicest guy & so totally unpretentious😎 Looking forward to this year’s King Crimson ‘Beat’ tour ♥️🩵💛

[@louchan04]

what a great singer and this guitar vid is fab thanks for sharing

[@elbosco8715]

Adrian Belew. Llevando la guitarra a límites insospechados.

[@damham5689]

Just ffyi for Belew fans. Rick Beato has a new interview out with Belew, Levin, Via And Carey about their upcoming King Crimson tour. Its over an hour long and is fantastic.

[@Heisenbinks]

Rick Beato sucks as an interviewer though, would much rather hear the guys talk with anyone else

[@Mudge07]

To be fair the guys in the band are eloquent enough to bounce around a topic around of their, or group history with the minimum of prompting. It’s about the transition from being Robert’s band to being Robert’s sound with Steve’s, and similarly with Danny’s, inclusion.

[@newbluecyborg]

@@Heisenbinkswhat don’t you like about him? I’ve found him to be quite good when he isn’t starstruck.

[@Heisenbinks]

@@newbluecyborg I just don't think he always asks the best questions to people, I usually find myself uninterested in a lot of his videos personally

[@lancethrustworthy]

I want Mr. Belew to know that I'm onto him. I know he's from some other planet. His modesty, alone, is proof of his strangeness.

[@MTGPeddler]

I love around 10:38 “I don’t know what happen, but I touch the strings and it sounds cool, alright!” lol

[@damham5689]

I have the Hot Licks video lesson with Belew I bought new back in the 1980s and haven't been able to watch it in decades because I stupidly chose to go with Betamax over VHS back then.

[@thomassabino5440]

I'm a huge fan of Adrian, solo and in various group appearances.I saw a home recordi9ng demo at Gand.Great music store of days gone by.His use of the guitar and whatever else was available was mind boggling.Adrian's guitar playing in Talking Heads' Remain In the Light, is some of his best and my favorite.One of a kind.

[@gfunkk]

that pickup-coming-unwound sound around 17:15 is on EVERYTHING.

[@gfunkk]

precursor to the cory wong funk tone

[@nigeldaddyo]

had this on VHS back in the day

[@PorchBass]

Absolute legend.

[@oqsy]

What a dude. Loved his work with Bowie and Talking Heads. Those were the sounds I wanted but never knew how to make with my guitar.

[@L3onR3dK3ttl3]

WOW! That classic tech looks amazing!

[@chriscroz]

Cool stuff. I remember watching this video in the day. I think I rented it from a regular video store.

[@guitarcomet5]

I saw Adrian play through a Line6 Spider Jam amp. It was very impressive! Such a cheap modeling amp, yet he made it sound like a boutique amp in a top line studio. One of the great masters of guitar.

[@twylightz]

Never looked into below whatsoever, and I'm glad. I look forward to listening to his stuff now!

[@morbidmanmusic]

look above too... for the right spelling!

[@twylightz]

@morbidmanmusic spell check. I literally thought someone was going to offer up some stuff to start with on my listening journey. But no, it's a grammar guy 🙄. You know what I mean. Now you owe me a good starting point for Mr. BELEW 😆

[@jr2904]

​@@twylightz you deserve the grammar guys

[@twylightz]

Why? Because I'm glad that I get to look into a great guitarist that I knew nothing about? That is what I meant by "glad" because as jaded as one can be in his 40s it is great to discover stuf that is "new" to me. The comment is a great complement and genuinely how I feel about it.

[@victoonix2802]

water below

[@demonicsweaters]

Adrian is such a creative genius, totally original and unique guitar player.

[@zenarcher_awats]

“My most useless sound. The carousel in heat” 🌟

[@billtubehart]

The guitar was painted by Mike Getz

[@randomlight1069]

I have a plectrum and set list of his when he played the Scala with Gizmodrome. Would have loved to have seen him play with Bowie in the 70/80s. Incidentally the video of Bowie collaborating on Adrian's song "Pretty Pink Rose" is hilarious, and a damn fine tune also.

[@mightyV444]

I had Gizmodrome's 'Summer's Coming' playing in my head only earlier today! 😊

[@TheDrifteffect]

Legend!! Truly creative!

[@spacerockwizard]

The last time I saw him live he was playing a Stratocaster after many years playing a Parker Fly Signature. Long gone are the big racks but he always sounds great.

[@adam_levine]

I believe he posted his setup around March so and it's only 9 boxes now!

[@TheDarkchum1]

Thanks for the upload! The most important video I’ve seen pop up in a while. Can’t wait to get my guitar back from the shop and go through this! ❤️

[@KGrumbles2992]

im going to see Adrian, Steve Vai, Tony Levin and Danny Carey do some wicked magic in October. cya at Massey Hall

[@daveeichenberger7473]

Thank you for uploading this. I never got a chance to see it back then.

[@blackmoofou6385]

Oh what an absolute treat I've never seen this or even knew of it's existence. Thanks so much for uploading! 😊

[@tymanngruter1808]

Fantastic, its 1984 and he is in control of all those knowledge, do not forget he plays guitar by the way! 🤪

[@gpubskrw4076]

I've always been intrigued by how many times some iconic artist saw him perform and said "I need THAT guy in my band!" (Zappa, Bowie, Fripp, Byrne, etc.). He first landed on my radar with the KC "Sleepless" video on MTV around '83-ish, and I've been a fan of his ever since. Cool, humble dude in every interview I've seen/read, too.

[@MJ98774]

I remember seeing King Crimson on "Fridays" TV show play Elephant Talk in 1980 and Adrians guitar playing and Tony Levins stick playing was something from another planet...I'd never seen nor heard anything like that, ever. Never knew he made a vid shorty thereafter disclosing all his secrets...what an unselfish talent and innovator. "Elephant Talk" was mindblowing for its time.

[@christian.dittmann]

17:50 can't have enough of this

[@ronnywilson2112]

Adrian Belew is a guitar genius, an experimentalist by nature. I love this part of his guitar playing. Others experimentalist are Buckethead and Steve Vai who also make weird sound with his guitar like birds, elephants, etc, just like Adrian does. Funny that both (Belew and Vai) are now in 2024 playing together in the project BEAT, a King Crimson tribute band.

[@jjj6655]

WoW! I had this on vhs! THanks!

[@manfredmelcher7803]

Unsung guitar HERO

[@BassByTheBay]

11:16 - Best part of the video. 😊

[@captainsnarge2668]

I have recorded seven albums with a looper thinking I'm all original, but no, Adrian Belew had a looper in 1984. (Lester Polson enters the chat)

[@horizontalblanking]

Used to rent this on VHS from my local Tower Records a few times a month. I learned so much from this video.

[@taliesinechoes4513]

I still have this VHS, somewhere.

[@dudearmageadonn9173]

Does anyone knows which string he’s pressing on 43:47 ? And why does the note sound so high? I can’t figure if it’s just feedback, really need a full explanation of this man’s technique

[@jzf128]

Guitar genius.Did have his first solo records.

[@briannacery9939]

Excellent!

[@Nomaaaa123]

5:00 Radio Friendly Elephant

[@uncooldispatch5438]

❤❤

[@VirginiaWolf88]

Incredible. ❤❤❤

[@paulgrieger8182]

I'm pretty sure I still have this on VHS.

[@aleksandarfrick2656]

This is guitarist - discover something new , guitar players are everywhere .

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

I did not know this video existed. Very interesting! Explains many of the sounds I've heard on King Crimson tunes.

[@plexus]

underrated

[@WinstonTexas829]

Quite apart from the technical brilliance & wonder that is Adrian Belew, I like the early 80s New York Byrnesque skinny & bemused way of talking.

[@willk7184]

Today you could probably engineer many of these sounds with a stock computer. But back then it took great skill, creativity, and moxie to make them work, especially live.

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

still love your work!!

[@DankoDjuric]

Beautiful 🎉

[@mootbooxle]

This definitely had an effect on me as a teen!

[@peterbustin2683]

10:19 Sounds similar to Steve Hacket's birds in Cinema Show.

[@BeatlesTranscriber]

Nope. Listen to Tomorrow Never Knows by The Beatles 1966

[@baconmaster1023]

those rolling credits at the end should include Belew as “Stuntman“

[@nd-0810]

Genius!

[@MAX96MENDES]

The side effects of LSD back in the 1970s and 1980s was pretty radical. Specially if you had a guitar laying around to play with. LOL

[@vegardyrnes1793]

A true inventor!!

[@megatedassaultituary6783]

One sick individual

[@ArtHoward]

Second, and I would also like to add, "HOLY HELL!"

[@ArtHoward]

And his speaking voice is a ringer for Robby Krieger.

[@paulv.6040]

this guy was doing this in 84?!?!?!?

[@jrg770]

@5:45 Here's the Flanger sound - The one setting that no one else ever would use. 😄 Followed by the sound you may only ever make once in your life, you know, your first time @5:58. 😂

[@Andrew_M_Ward]

Who's got tickets to beat... ?

[@stephenv6054]

Orlando 👍🏼

[@quogir1]

one comment says ,and I only can repeat: Adrian Belew is the proof for existence of alien lifeform on earth

[@Hexspa]

Wasn’t expecting that

[@juanpabloyanezgarin5099]

❤

[@JoseGarcia-eadgbe]

House of 💫🎸🆒🌀🎛️🪫📲🧰🪬🪄💜🈳🆕Hendrix

[@spookybaba]

No piccies of him with Frank in the closing credits!!!?

[@peter-ek3uh]

I still have the VHS TAPE!

[@stephenv6054]

Let’s face it. We are here in 2024 due to BEAT. If we are anything. We are gear heads. All Hail the Twang Bar King🫡