The reason why people bash shredders is that a constant barrage of shredding is like a blatent form of egotism and no one really likes an egotist. Anyone who has been in a band with the typical guitar premadonna can relate to what I'm saying. A whole CD or concert of shredding says to many, "Look at me!! Wow, I'm so impressive!! Don't concern yourself with the SONG, or the other band members!! Focus on me!! Me, Me, Me!!" That's why people bash shredders. Now before you go off and get offended, I happen to like some of the stuff that Malmsteen, Vai, Satriani, and many of the "Mike Varney University" graduates have produced. But a steady diet of that type of music, whether your a fan or not, gets old very quickly.

People associate "the shredder" with the basketball player who loves to score, but plays no defense and registers no assists in a game. There is much more to music than the guitar solo (I know that's hard to believe). The great players create songs as well as solos. The great players no how to make the other musicians around them sound better than they are. The great ones no how to back off and let the singer sing, the band play and then blow everyone away with a memorable 16 measure solo. If you believe that Steve Vai and Joe Satriani have accomplished that during their respective careers, good for you. If others have different opinions, you should respect them.