LRRC EP854: Herman Li PRS, Van Halen, Analog vs Digital

On this week's Show we tackle the question: Is Analog better that digital? The answer is NOT what you think! Also, Did Van Halen kill rock??? And is the new Paul Reed Smith Herman Li signature model really worth the $7000 price tag?

Loudini: let’s clear up some confusion, the spectrum show Did Van Halen KILL Rock? (studio number six), The New $7000 Paul Reed Smith (Chleo Herman Li Signature) is it “too expensive”? (Dr.Andre Fludd Music), The Making of “Iris” by The Goo Goo Dolls(tim pierce), The REAL reason why analog is better(Freaking out with Billy Hume),  Steve Via & Joe Satriani on Rick Beato, prince’s guitar malfunction  story

Analog: tape compression, smooth transients,  

but noise, slow, destructive editing, doesn’t sound the same as when you heard it in the room

Tape is expensive

High frequency loss with repeated use

Commitment was needed… you need to have your shit together

It was a performance

Longevity

Still works the same

Uses the same cables

Rewinding forces you to slow down (because of rewinding and changing reels) clear your head

More reliable

Digital: non destructive editing

Instantly recallable mixes

Easy “undo”

All the undo and redo takes away from performance

Constant work flow takes away from performance

“House of cards”

 

The illusion of permanence… computers (and cables)   always need to be replaced… drives die… projects cannot be recovered

Pressure to go fast

 

 What makes a “good” lead guitar tone? (Glass Audio) What does The Ten Commandments and Metallica (Herb Alpert too)  have in common? (weird hollywood facts)

 

Riff of the Week: Vehicle by Ides of March

 

Pittsburgh Kevin: the rapture is happening Sept 23, 2025, bass player friend,

 

Film Corner: Deadline (2009), Unknown Number(2025), 28  Years Later, the charlie sheen interview

SEGII:

 

New & Notable:

This week in Rock History:

Mon — Sept 21

• Radiohead’s early single “Creep” / early Radiohead milestones referenced (items about their early career appear on the day). (This Day In Music)
  
  
• Meat Loaf — Bat Out of Hell related entry (historic release/album story listed on the page). (This Day In Music)
  
  
• Notes about marriages/line-up stories that led to acts like The White Stripes (personal/road/early-career items show up on this date page). (This Day In Music)
  
  

Tue — Sept 22

• Farm Aid (events & benefit history tied to roots/rock artists) — Farm Aid-related notes appear here. (This Day In Music)
  
  
• Birthdays: Joan Jett and David Coverdale (Whitesnake) are listed on this date — great for short “on this day” birthday jingle segments. (This Day In Music)
  
  

Wed — Sept 23

• Paul McCartney live/TV appearances noted (e.g., appearances tied to this date). Good pickup for Beatles/McCartney show segments. (This Day In Music)
  
  
• Bruce Springsteen birthday is listed for this date (handy for Springsteen themed shows). (This Day In Music)
  
  

Thu — Sept 24

• Nirvana — Nevermind released (1991) — a huge moment in modern rock history (grunge/alt rock). This Day In Music has the Nevermind entry for 24-Sep. (This Day In Music)
  
  
  • Extra authoritative reference for show prep / context: Nevermind (release date & background). (Wikipedia)
    
    
• Jimi Hendrix / Elvis / other classic rock milestones (releases, arrivals in London, TV/press stories) are also covered on this day’s page — great for mixing classic/modern contrast. (This Day In Music)
  
  

Fri — Sept 25

• John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) — death (1980) and the aftermath (Led Zeppelin storylines tied to this date) appear on the page — an intense on-air story (touring, alcohol, band decision afterward). (This Day In Music)
  
  
  • Extra background / obituary coverage for on-air context. (Rolling Stone)
    
    
• Other items (Beatles animation/cartoon premieres, John Lennon recording notes, etc.) are on the same day page — handy for short anecdotes. (This Day In Music)
  
  

Sat — Sept 26

• The Beatles — Abbey Road released (1969) — classic rock must-play and a big narrative piece (studio tensions, iconic cover, songs to highlight). This Day In Music lists the Abbey Road entry for Sept 26. (This Day In Music)
  
  
  • Beatles / Abbey Road official summary for fact-checking and quoted lines on air. (thebeatles.com)
    
    
• Also: U2 early EP history, Pink Floyd U.S. first shows and Green Day’s UK chart milestones for American Idiot (No.1 in UK is noted on this date)—good tie-ins for a “then vs now” segment. (This Day In Music)
  
  

Sun — Sept 27

• Cliff Burton (Metallica) — died in tour bus crash (1986) — important heavy-rock / metal story. This Day In Music has the entry for Sept 27. (This Day In Music)
  
  
  • Extra factual background / obituary / legacy references for Cliff Burton. (Wikipedia)
    
    
• Beach Boys / Ed Sullivan / births (Randy Bachman, Meat Loaf, Avril Lavigne listed as birthdays) — useful for quick “born on this day” or TV-appearance segues. (This Day In Music)
  
  

Notes & how I approached this

• Primary source: I pulled the rock-related items (releases, singles, TV appearances, on-the-road incidents, birthdays, deaths) listed on This Day In Music for each date (links above). (This Day In Music)
  
  

For the biggest show items (Nirvana Nevermind, Green Day American Idiot, Beatles Abbey Road, John Bonham, Cliff Burton) I added extra reputable sources so you can quickly grab release dates, context, and obituary/legacy quotes for voiceover. (Wikipedia)