<i>When he saw Chicago play at the Whisky A Go-Go in 1968, Hendrix told Parazaider, 'Your guitar player is better than me' </i> Hendrix was talking about Terry Kath of Chicago. Kath is one of the forgotten legends of rock guitar.
Pete ****ing Townshend! and.. the great Richard Thompson, Graham Coxon (Blur), the Edge, Angus Young, Keith Richards, Steve Cropper (of Stax fame), Dick Dale, Les Paul, Junior Brown, Joey Santiago (of the Pixies) and many others...
I can't say who is the greatest but here are some favorites. In no order- SRV Eric Clapton Jimi Hendrix Robby Krieger Keith Richards David Gilmore Ritchie Blackmore Randy Rhodes Glenn Tipton KK Downing Tony Iommi Pete Townshend Rudolph Schenker Carlos Santana Eddie Van Halen
The MOJO 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time 100 Ritchie Blackmore 99 Marv Tarplin 98 John Fahey 97 John Squire 96 Jonny Greenwood 95 Mick Green 94 John Cipollina 93 Phil Manzanera 92 Bonnie Raitt 91 Marc Ribot 90 Tony Iommi 89 John McGeogh 88 Ernie Isley 87 RORY GALLAGHER 86 James Williamson 85 Carl Perkins 84 John McLaughlin 83 Charley Patton 82 Bernard Butler 81 Mark Knopfler 80 Angus Young 79 Zoot Horn Rollo 78 Mike Bloomfield 77 Joni Mitchell 76 Peter Tosh 75 Billy Gibbons 74 Wes Montgomery 73 Merle Travis 72 Carlos Santana 71 Albert King 70 Eddie Hazel 69 Leo Kottke 68 King Sunny Aide 67 Lou Reed 66 Cliff Gallup 65 Dick Dale 64 Ike Turner 63 Eddie Taylor 62 Les Paul 61 Wayne Kramer 60 Kurt Cobain 59 Steve Jones 58 Clarence White 57 Nile Rodgers 56 Leo Nocentelli 55 Bob Mould 54 Syd Barrett 53 Mick Ronson 52 David Gilmour 51 Robert Fripp 50 Ron Asheton 49 Lowell George 48 Bo Diddley 47 Eldon Shamblin 46 Scotty Moore 45 Robert Lockwood 44 Hank Marvin 43 Chet Atkins 42 Bert Jansch 41 Robbie Robertson 40 Link Wray 39 Duane Allman 38 Roger Mc Guinn 37 Eddie Cochran 36 Sisiter Rosetta Tharpe 35 Jerry Garcia 34 Tom Verlaine 33 Prince 32 The Edge 31 Freddie King 30 Buddy Guy 29 J Mascis 28 Frank Zappa 27 Elmore James 26 James Burton 25 Curtis Mayfield 24 Hubert Sumlin 23 Johnny Marr 22 Ry Cooder 21 Eddie Van Halen 20 Johnny Ramone 19 Guitar Slim 18 Charlie Christian 17 Robert Johnson 16 George Harrison 15 Pete Townshend 14 Stevie Ray Vaughn 13 Jeff Beck 12 Jimmy Nolen 11 BB King 10 Richard Thompson 9 Neil Young 8 T-Bone Walker 7 Jimmy Page 6 Eric Clapton 5 Chuck Berry 4 Keith Richards 3 Peter Green 2 Steve Cropper 1 Jimi Hendrix Here is another list for guitar.com 's greatest 100. This is good stuff!
I don't really mean to diss you here, but your choices have me shaking my head. Stevie Ray Vaughn -- SRV and Jimi are my two favs of all time. I'd rather listen to them play the guitar than anybody. Yeah sure, SRV used Jimi as an influence, but who didn't? SRV's interpretation of Jimi's Little Wing is masterful, IMHO. SRVs a genius, as far as I'm concerned. Eric Johnson -- I can't really argue if you think he is boring....to each his own, and you're certainly entitled to your opinion, regardless of how idiotic it may be. Cliffs of Dover is one of my favorite guitar pieces, and is imo, FAR from boring. Eddie Van Halen -- dude.....what are you smoking? Granted, you gave him props for Van Halen I, and thus Eruption, but come on... Randy Rhodes -- being the metal head that I am, I just gotta defend Randy. I love his solos...he's the only metal guitarist that makes me happy. I don't know what it is really...his solos just make me feel good. Ozzy's singing about satan and death, and here comes Randy Rhodes, the yin to Ozzy's yang. Whatever. I love the guy. Too bad he had to die.
These are favorites, not the best or most influential. In no particular order, or otherwise: Brian May Robbie Robertson Freddie King Walter Becker Michael Bloomfield Nels Cline Denny Dias Steve Cropper Albert Collins Jimmy Vivino Extra points to those of whom who know who half of these cats are. I'm not trying to act dodgy, but I realize I don't belong with the rest of the wankers who have dominated this thread so far. For instance, I love Jimmie Vaughn (precision, exacting tone and rhythm, touch) twice as much as I like Stevie Ray.
Jimmie Vaughan Albert Collins Freddie King Danny Gatton Billy Bremner Scottie Moore Django Reinhardt T-Bone Walker
Yeah, I know he's not a "guitar player", but he's just such a badass on the bass, I couldn't leave him out
Before Stevie got sober, a lot of his work was derivative and repetitive. He was great, absolutely great, but didn't bring much originality to the table. He did have his moments, as in "Couldn't Stand the Weather". After he got sober, he improved dramatically. Listen to the solo on "Crossfire" and tell me you honestly think all he could do was parrot Albert King. My two favorite guitarists of all time are Damon Johnson and Marc Ford.
I saw Stanley Jordan play some club in North Central Houston about 10 years ago. Obviously not a rocker, but very impressive. Granted in is all opinion, and everyone has one like they have a *******, but I can't comprehend any guitar list top 100 with Richards ahead of Page. I recognize it is really hard to compare accross styles, but come on.
Just listen to <i>Riviera Paradise</i> on the "In Step" CD. Stevie was gonna be a <b>MONSTER</b> guitarist. He was getting into Django Reinhardt and other different styles of music before he was taken away from us. Just think what future SRV music might have been like.
Oh boy. Cmrockfan, thanks for the list. My guy did well. 1. Peter Green 2. Jimi 3. Kim Simmonds (Savoy Brown) 4. Michael Bloomfield 5. Jeff Beck
do you people have ears? do you honestly have ears to hear? that Vernon Reid's name has not yet been mentioned is a tragedy of Bill Waltonesque proportions. tsk tsk. the board has disappointed me. on the electric: Jimi Hendrix Vernon Reid The Edge Mike McCready George Harrison Andy Taylor Sylvester Stewart Ben Harper Johnny Greenwood Tom Morello Ken Bethea John Frusciante Jimmy Page Prince Joe Perry [laugh. I don't give a F. I hate Aerosmith, but. . .] David Gilmour Carl Basler and on the acoustic: Paul Simon
