Best Riffs of the 80's, UK vs USA! Ft/Nick Bowcott

[@BenEller]

Thanks for watching myself and Nick Bowcott talk about our favorite riffs of the 80's!!! What are YOUR favorites???

[@joeb3590]

But its so good, why is it good, oh God, it's soooooooo good

[@joeb3590]

The budgie stuff is so tasty

[@joeb3590]

Dude you nailed the brownstone riff, that song is great

[@joeb3590]

Round and round had me head banging

[@snaguber]

It is a great video format and watching your conversations together is awesome. Thanks guys!

[@ClassicPass_]

Can we all agree those Soldanos sound CRUSHING!

[@lzryd]

🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟

[@BigMuff75]

They really do!

[@mikexxx11]

Meh

[@BigMuff75]

@@mikexxx11 meh?

[@tylerbrittan593]

Yeah, but they’re using way more gain than they actually need.

[@ShreddingFinn]

Nick Bowcott may have not had the notoriety of other big players, but he was there early, NWOBHM, laying the groundwork for metal, everyone has gotta love Grim Reaper

[@stepitupandgo67]

true dat!!

[@sirroxalot]

His riffs were some of the best of the entire genre. His solos were awesome, too, but Damn! He wrote some killer riffs. The Rock you to Hell album is a masterpiece.

[@n3zyd]

Cool chemistry between Nick and Ben I hope there is more someday.

[@BenEller]

Me too :)

[@darthboxOriginal]

Ah I just ruined the 69 count of likes. Sorry about that. But I totally agree.

[@RowdyGrunt]

YOU TWO MUST DO THIS REGULARLY! The charisma and chemistry is off the charts. I've loved Nick since his days in Grim Reaper!! And I'm a Sweetwater customer in part because of Nick being there.

[@TheStrykerProject]

Nick Bowcott is so cool and far too humble! I do hope he is a guest on Uncle Ben's channel many, many more times! 🇬🇧🤘🏻

[@davidtomkins4242]

Nick could have just played the riff to “2 minutes to midnight” and then gone home. Job done, no competition. Great video, guys!

[@brianwicks5263]

You guys should have a regular show together, just geeking out on stuff you really love. Nick's killer Grim Reaper riffs are one of the reasons I learned to play guitar!

[@BenEller]

Love it!!!

[@dstroyer7306]

Yep

[@CrazyHenkie777]

I agree, and some nice stories on top of that.

[@IvanIvanov-pl9zo]

Simply Great! All! Thank You, bro!

[@jasons.3921]

Wow, Nick shared some really cool stories. I would love to just sit down with him and listen to him talk about his past times. Super cool that the two of you did this.

[@UKSportsFan]

Definitely agree...and some cool riffs as well! I didn't realize that so many British bands absolutely rocked with such hard core riffs back then...they almost make many of the hair/glam metal bands sound like pop bands by comparison.

[@russjnsn]

On my GOD! Please make this a series! So, so good. Enjoyed every minute of this.

[@thenameless3271]

Nick seems like a really nice guy, thanks for all of the great content Benji

[@BenEller]

He really is, just an amazing guy!

[@Wyldwulf]

Killer video- I love all of Nick's background and history- he's like a David Fricke or Malcolm Dome with musical talent. I love that Sykes got a lotta love here! My favorite limey!

[@aftertheendtimes]

Love Nick Bowcott´s jokes and his ultrapositive soul, loved this US/UK clash =D Love cheers

[@chriscamarena6343]

That rig sounds great,one American band missed and underrated Savatage,Criss Oliva(RIP) Was a Beast🤘

[@hazardeur]

one of the very best

[@nhpIII4482]

It still amazes me how Criss and Savatage practically unknown. To me the greatest ever only equaled by the first four VH records.

[@dest7nez]

How Nicely to Start 2022 with this Hystorical and Musical Video Art 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@jasondesjardins7371]

Such a great vid. Uncle Ben always takes care of us stepkids and Nick Bowcott is indeed rock royalty. Loved this!

[@johngregory7329]

Hello Uncle Ben & Uncle Nick. You guys are fantastic. Great chemistry between you too. I hope you both have a great 2022. Stay safe and well and keep Rocking. Thanks again. Signed John Gregory/ Zepbass from Munster Indiana.

[@felipegomabrockmann2740]

so much fun here, many thanks uncle Ben!!!!

[@APK-pn4qh]

Great video, really good fun and some great stories from Nick. Thanks Unca - from your dirty little scousin Billa Bob.

[@NorthwestGuitarworks]

This has to be one of the coolest guitar videos I’ve seen in awhile

[@TheStrykerProject]

"Mean Street" may be the best song ever written and recorded. I know, that's bold to say, but for me that song is just perfect.

[@davidmason116]

Amazing video. Sitting here nursing COVID-19 and this took me back a fair few years, awesome riffs lads. Keep up the great work and keep on rocking 👏

[@BenEller]

Cheers, man, get well soon!

[@twistedasylum8579]

My band jus had the chance to open for “RAVEN” in November of 2021 in Salt Lake City UT, and they are still kiln it. Such an honor! 🤘🏼😝🤘🏼

[@nicwilson89]

I'm a Brit, for the American side...c'mon Ben, you didn't even play any Testament. You can't not have Testament :D Also this was fucking awesome. You need to do a 70s and 90s version with Nick, too!

[@lowtonezf104]

Uncle Ben this was a like being part of an amazing hang. You and Nick were great.!!

[@SuperBigdog59]

I love Nick. What a cool dude and I also loved the format of this one. Keep killin it, Ben!!

[@mtkidbigsky7230]

This was great! Love the back and forth. This could be a once a week show. Would definitely watch! Well done!

[@ExlTube99]

What a great vid guys, Congrats! 🤘

[@shyboy2112]

Collabs on KZbin often come off as a bit awkward, but this was genuinely entertaining. More of this, Ben!

[@rev.j.chriswallace642]

Nick's pick slide in the title track to "Rock You to Hell!" is absolutely spectacular - loved Grim Reaper!

[@Nasosdag]

AWESOME video! Thanks, Uncle Ben!

[@BigMuff75]

Absolutely great video. Great chemestry between you fellas.

[@CecilBrian]

Iconic 80’s riff master is Nick himself. “Rock You to Hell”. I was fortunate to catch Grim Reaper on that tour in 1987. Triple bill with Helloween and Armored Saint. Nick’s crazy faces, insane curly hair all over the place, playing a lefty Jackson V I think, changed my world. Rock You to Hell is one of the greatest 80’s riffs of all time. Suck it and See. Lust for Freedom. Night if the Vampire. On and on. A criminally under rated piece of work in America. So glad I got to see Grim Reaper at their peak. Saw Steve Grimmet a few weeks before his leg issues. It brought back the memories. He’s a great dude. But it didn’t come close to what Grim Reaper was in late 1987-1988. Monster of a band. Thanks Nick! You are metal royalty as far as I’m concerned.

[@despisederic]

Oh man, what a great idea! Another hour that flew by with all the bonus dad jokes! Thanks Ben 🙂

[@ericcarpenter3263]

This is so super cool. Love when Uncle Ben says “it’s like they talked about the song and hit record”. That is so sorely missed these day. Just make a run at it and see what happens. Punk had such an influence on early 1980’s metal.

[@jonbuckley]

Man. Absolutely loved this.

[@pasqualecurry7773]

God I was praying for Neon Knights. That opening riff is killer!

[@dowens3781]

Hell yes! Love that song, and the whole album rules.

[@ilikeguitars3511]

dio was great

[@CerealDust-nStuff]

The guitar riff intro to "I Don't Believe In Love" by Queensrÿche is bad-ass... and pretty much anything off of Operation Mindcrime.

[@mpwhiteloon2316]

Absolutely 💯 agree here. “Operation Mindcrime” is an absolute must to have in your catalog. Whether you’re a drummer, bass, guitar or vocalist! It’s like one perfect rock opera. Everything is tight, melodic, heavy and dripping with raw METAL. Every song perfectly placed. Just mind blowing genius.

[@221b-l3t]

Totally I just got into Queensryche and I love the riffs, also BOC.

[@seal7144]

Nice! Nick is really cool in all the stuff he does, especially when he was in Grim Reaper.

[@KelticKabukiGirl]

He should have played the opening riff to See You in Hell!!!!

[@moshpit3]

Fantastic video chaps, really enjoyed watching you playing these classic riffs and some great anecdotes came out as well. Thank you!

[@sids.4438]

This video is just so freakin wholesome, love it.

[@AlFlyingv]

As an old Grim Reaper fan love to see Nick doing anything , great vid adds some more to my learn a riff/lick a day for the new year thanks

[@ericarway]

This is a FANTASTIC video. Thanks. The tones you guys were getting! SICK! I could listen to hours of you guys playing riffs.

[@sneekopotamus]

Ben it did my heart good to hear you drop Ty Tabor of the criminally underrated King’s X. Love the video.

[@Halenrocks5150]

Absolutely loved this video! Two super cool dudes playing sick iconic riffs and sharing great rock history - how can it get any better!?!?!

[@mojomann67]

Thanks Ben and Nick! Great set, you guys both rock. I’m a kid of the 80s so this is my sweet spot. A few years ago I started digging into NWOBHM and discovered tons of amazing bands like Budgie & Raven and it’s great to see them on your list. Thanks for continuing to wave the flag for 80s riffs 🤘🏻🎸 btw I started playing guitar in 1984 and still play everyday

[@tmrtyn]

The banter on this episode is brilliant, love the chemistry. Thanks Ben & Nick, thoroughly entertaining start to finish!

[@gjy5150]

This was so great! Enjoyed every minute of it.👍

[@sjgfloydrose1234]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching this, amazing!!! Nice work Ben!

[@ContemporaryFingerstyleGuitar]

Great fun! Held my attention for the whole time. Nick has so much history, and good to see some new blood from Ben.

[@sixtring73]

I absolutely loved this! What a great idea and so well played guys! I look forward to more of this.

[@BenScott777]

Half way in and loving this ❤️ Two awesome dudes tearing it up. Good shit.

[@mikemercer5808]

Great riffs, great history, great vid! Thanks Nick and Uncle Ben!

[@ding210]

What a great video. Listening to 2 accomplished musicians go over their influences is must watch content. Great job guys.

[@ReelGoodAudio]

Was not expecting to sit and watch the whole thing, but I wanted to keep hearing Nick's stories! Haha. Great playing by both of you!

[@MileHighGrowler]

This was sick. Nick was super cool and had so many stories. I saw this was almost an hour long and thought no way, don't have time for this right now. But here I am... So good. Loved the collab and the sweet riffage!!

[@KnockAndAskToday]

The interaction and riffs get Nick recalling the wealth of musical history inside his brain. This was extremely valuable and will inspire guitarists to check out a lot of stuff they haven't heard of, or take a second look at some bands they have forgotten about.

[@mojo-hand4539]

Holy Cow - I could listen to Nick and his anecdotes all friggin day. Preferably in a pub with a number of pints.

[@BenEller]

You and me both!

[@billyhughes9776]

What a great idea -- thoroughly enjoyed this one. Nick is a gentleman and a Riff Lord. Of course you are too Ben.

[@tog2842]

Excellent vid Ben, really great to see you two vibing off each other. More of this!

[@brunobianchini_gtr]

Amazing video uncle Ben! A big hug from a brasilian fan!!!

[@pauldenver4264]

Awesome video and thanks for the shout out Nick all the best Woofer

[@Robster881]

I could listen to you two play riffs for each other all day. This is great.

[@paulgorman4312]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. Two of my favorite YT guitar personalities on a collab effort. Just awesome! When you have two genuine, no BS, guys like Nick and Uncle Ben, the content that results is purely organic and flows in a way that has me wishing I could watch all day.

[@axepraise]

There is so much musical goodness in a heavy guitar riff, thank you both!

[@LP808]

This video is awesome! You and Nick have great chemistry! I’m hoping to see more videos of you two discussing music and playing killer riffs.

[@Helldorado72]

Love "Heaven and Hell" but "Die Young" just hits the bone for me... great job!

[@ribeirosams]

Hi Nick, you made an injustice with yourself. Grim Reapers riffs are some of the best in 80’s metal! See you in hell, when havens come down, night of the vampire… lots of nice metal hymns! But nice video! @Ben Eller is a guitar master and a nice and funny dude, most of what I learned and developed in guitar for the last years are inspired by his videos! Thats why I’m in his patreon!!

[@radtats6899]

Great video man! Nick is a beast! Still remember the 1st time I saw Grim Reaper on Headbangers Ball back in the day and was blown away. Great selection of classic riffs gentlemen.

[@mateuszbok4466]

This was a pleasure to watch, thanks!

[@wazuhhDH]

These kinds of videos are awesome, great exposure to new things!

[@stevet.4974]

That shredded. Hey Nick man back when Grim Reaper was happening I had a buddy who was really into you guys and we used to listen to GR and especially See You In Hell all the time. He even won some Grim Reaper contest.... around 1983. The reverence that Ben holds you in is so obvious, cool and respectful. 80's riffs..... I love the riff from Dance by Motorhead. Iron Fist is cool. The whole Anthrax Among the Living album and I really like Skeletons in the Closet. Metallica Seek and Destroy. Queensryche The Needle Lies, Walk in the Shadows. Iron maiden... so many. Genghis Kahn, Back in the Village, Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Black Sabbath Die Young. Deep Purple Perfect Strangers. WASP Blind in Texas. Slayer Ghost of War. Seasons in the Abyss, Megadeth Peace Sells. Suicidal Tendencies How Will I Laugh Tomorrow. REM Orange Crush. Soundgarden Get on the Snake. Robin Trower Benny Dancer. Dire Straits Money For Nothing. Rainbow Eyes of the World. Black Sabbath Zero the Hero and Trashed.

[@danrao3707]

Ben thank you so much for posting this! This needs to be a weekly series. So amazing to see you and Nick killing it with these old school riffs. Such a cool, humble dude. I could watch this and jam along for hours. Maybe someone like Matthias Jabs wants to come hang out with Uncle Ben and lay down his favorite German band riffs? Live Podcast perhaps???

[@RickMazz]

The intro to Wasted Years was the first riff I ever played!!! Great music, players, and lists!

[@terrycolletti6793]

One of my favorite videos I've watched in a long time! I could listen to Nick tell war stories for hours on end! Super cool Ben! Glad you had that light bulb moment while you 2 were nerding out! 🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@hikimad1523]

Well done! Ben, was waiting for some more forgotten US bands, well at least Riot!! Fire Down Under has some gems on it.

[@mattrobillard1007]

I cannot love this video enough!!! EPIC!!!

[@loveguitars]

Hey Ben, Love Vito Bratta!! Thank you!!👍😎

[@JesusManera]

One of my all time favourite Ratt riffs is the intro riff in Never Use Love. It has an Accept / Balls To The Wall vibe about it with a couple of perfectly placed pinch harmonics, and that tone on Invasion of Your Privacy is as good as '80s metal tone gets.

[@StinkyNugs]

Cool show Uncle Ben! Enjoyed a ton

[@piptyson5512]

This was so awesome. And it could have keep going and going....so we look forward to part 2 😁😁

[@russl9029]

Great video guys! Nick, you have awesome taste in the riffage! Killer playing as well!! And as Dimebag used to say, "LONG LIVE THE RIFF!!"

[@russk1971]

You both should collaborate more often. Maybe even "metal bridge across the pond" and play a show together??? Would be great to see and hear you both riff out and dual lead everyone into metal bliss!!! God bless both of you.

[@schissgring]

That was soooo amazing, thanks man Next 70's Riffs, please 🙂

[@mercedesplay_more_kof8488]

More of this. Lots more of this please. This was an absolute treasure to have on while I was grinding through some overtime work. Now I wanna go get my guitar and try some of these.

[@agirlsname7159]

Great chemistry. These Sweetwater collabs are fun!

[@TobyKBTY]

Now I wanna see Uncle Ben recreate the Mick Mars live rig. That setup sounds absolutely monstrous

[@VilleKuitunen6]

Mick Mars, what a legend. Great sound and cool riffs, and I remember he was getting so much shit in the 80's because he wasn't a shredder. Well, he was laughing on his way to the bank...

[@andrewpappas9311]

Yeah, I always thought that Mick was underrated as a guitarist but he's definitely got some killer riffs under his belt

[@imjj5049]

Mick Mars inspired me to pickup the guitar! Came across Carnival of Sins by accident on tv when I was in middle school and heard the catchy Motley riffs and decided I needed to play.

[@VilleKuitunen6]

This is such a cool video, what fun!

[@zerofox975]

Really enjoyable! Great chemistry between you!

[@michaelangeles33]

Well, what a fortuitous meeting between you two… that worked out well! I always love Unca Ben’s content but man…. really great to see and hear more from Nick! I only knew him from his videos at sweetwater, which is my own loss. Good riffs, guys!

[@countvorlauf]

Awesome content, this was a great watch.

[@rjadamz9117]

That Raven 'For the Future's was the best one I heard here. Thank you for playing it.

[@obiem9319]

Awesome collaboration.

[@z1g]

Nailed the Bark at the moon riff, well all of them really. Great video, and I love Nick's guitar.

[@JerryCherryBand]

Love it. When I see that smokey maple neck it always sounds as warm as it looks. Need one.

[@DANWRIGHTITIS]

Beyond ´king ACE!! I turned on the AUTO SUBTITLES for this one! The YT algo-rhythm had an EPI . Cheers from a Welshie in MADRID. Ps, You Missed the Billy Idol / Steve Stevens cross pole-nation!!

[@Crowbar11115]

I was lucky enough to attend Nick's lecture at the last in person GearFest. He's such an awesome dude.

[@Imnatoshi]

Finish watching it and it just seems like a minute. Really enjoyed it, fantastic guys.

[@jeromeroark1926]

what an awesome session this was. Thanks uncle Ben and Nick.