Yeah, he was far surpassed by them. But he could've afforded to take a year off and woodshed. He could've done something to take himself to the next level, to keep up with the rise in technical ability. I guess he figured he'd made his mark though. Probably the sappy ballad "mature" songs were a retreat from the gunslinger competition.
But he could have stayed relevant if he still had some fire. He needed a push to do that though, not a bunch of yes-men stroking his ego. That is why I think he needed Dave. Dave was a rival power within the band and Sammy never was, to the extent to get him fired up. Dave would get him mad enough to say "Oh yeah? Fuck you!" and he'd play some hot shit. With Sam he got lazy as hell in his playing, real complacent.
But he could have stayed relevant if he still had some fire. He needed a push to do that though, not a bunch of yes-men stroking his ego. That is why I think he needed Dave. Dave was a rival power within the band and Sammy never was, to the extent to get him fired up. Dave would get him mad enough to say "Oh yeah? Fuck you!" and he'd play some hot shit. With Sam he got lazy as hell in his playing, real complacent.
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