Farewell Joey Alves

Joey Alves, original rhythm guitarist for Y&T has died at the age of 63. With this news, it means that nearly every original member of the band is gone now. Alves suffered from ulcerative colitis - and 63 is very young to die. Sad news.

Original Y&T Rhythm Guitarist JOEY ALVES Dead At 63 https://t.co/RnHLyuNjaU pic.twitter.com/HFyunvkbW9

— BLABBERMOUTH.NET (@BLABBERMOUTHNET) March 12, 2017

Comments

[Bob]

Maybe Joey, Phil and Lenoard can hook up with Kevin DuBrow and Randy Rhoads, and form a version of Quiet Riot from the great beyond that would kick the ass of the current earthly version.

[Gary]

I like the way you think Bob. \m/

[Him]

. . . and the new singer wouldn't even hear them sneaking up on him! I kid.

[Metalboy!]

RIP, Joey Alves. And RIP, Y&T!!!

[Bob]

Last night when I got home from work, I listened to the oldest Y&T concert I have in my collection which is from 1974 at the Record plant in Sausalito, CA. In those early days, although Alves was clearly the rhythm guitarist most of the time, he did pull off some pretty awesome double guitar leads with Meniketti. Y&T used to open their set back then with a pretty fast number called "tonight." In the guitar solo section, there is a killer part where Meniketti and Alves are playing a sick harmony solo together. I forgot that Alves had those kind of lead chops.

[Metalboy!]

Okay, I'm ready to eat my Official Authentic Original Regulation Slash Top Hat! After reading Allyson's post above and all of your comments regarding Y&T, more specifically, Joey Alves, I decided to research the band's history further.

As I'm sure most of you know, Y&T was known as Yesterday and Today in the 70's before going with the shorter Y&T in the 80's. Though I have Yesterday and Today's 1976 eponymous first album on wax, the last time I listened to it is probably around 1982.

I decided to dust it off and I was absolutely blown away! I then checked out their second album, "Struck Down", which is available on iMusic, along with the previous self titled album, and it's equally as good as that is, if not better!

Both albums reveal a bada*s 70's "Hard Rock/Metal" band (as classified by iMusic and Wikipedia) that blows away it's more commercial 80's incarnation, Y&T. And that should give you an idea of just how kicka*s that early version AND Joey Alves were before turning into Y&T.

I mean, I love Y&T's 80's classics "Black Tiger" or "Contagious" as much as the next person, but the sheer 70's style raw guitar antics of Meniketti and his partner in crime, Alves, who shows what a major player he was in the band's earlier permutation, as well.

It was that combination, before the 80's sheen got slapped on, that cements this early version of the band as one of THE most legendary unsung 70's Hard Rock/Heavy Metal juggernauts to ever hit the planet!

RIP, Joey Alves! I will be adding "Struck Down"'s title track to my "70's Power" playlist in your honor!

p.s. I've also added 1979's "White Knuckles/Rockin' And Rollin'" by G-FORCE, Gary Moore's band. He is another oft overlooked icon who passed away not too long ago. As his band's name and album title implies, he was a force to be reckoned with, and paid worthy tribute by Allyson in her post at the time of his death.

[Bob]

Ah, metalboy!. it warms my heart to hear your re-assessment of Y&T's first two records. for old time's sake, read through the comments on this post from two years ago, in which I invited you to listen to their first album again.
http://www.bringbackglam.com/journal/2015/1/29/help-yt-make-a-documentary.html

[Him]

Bob, nice reminder. Well played.

Metalboy!, nice reassessment. Good to hear that we are all old dogs that can reassess old opinions. Love this site for instances like this.

Another reason to like this site. People are open to change.