I have just recently gotten one of the greatest heavy metal CDs of all-time in "Blizzard of Ozz" by Ozzy and I have had the great pleasure of listening to one Randy Rhoads. God, what an artist!! So, with that, I decided to ask who are the 5 best guitar players of all-time, in your opinion? Here's my top 5: 1) Randy Rhoads 2) Jimi Hendrix 3) Eric Clapton 4) Jimmy Page 5) Billy Gibbons Honorable mention: Kim Thayil (Soundgarden), Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains), Adam Jones (Tool), and Mike McCready (Pearl Jam).
How can you leave Stevie Ray Vaughn off your list????? Dont forget BB King either. Both are easily top 5 material...... Best soloists (intstrumentals): 1. Steve Vai 2. Joe Satriani 3. Eric Johnson
Hey Manny, I started a thread on this some time ago but could find it. My 5 went something like #5 The Edge (not that he technically stands up with a Page or Clapton or Eric Johnson who could be here, just like his sound) #4 Randy Rhodes or EVH (someone from the metal ranks, can't remember?) #3 SRV #2 Billy Gibbons #1 Jimi (I could have had #1 or #2 switched, I believe Jimi said the best one he ever saw was Billy)
1. Hendrix 2. Harrison 3. Morello 4. Greenwood 5. Borland (!) Hendrix's guitar playing was revolutionary...the first time i heard "Castles made of Sand" back when i was a wee lad I knew he was something special. Harrison just made such awesome pop songs, simple yet complex, which is a great formula for music. Morello was pretty revolutionary too, with all his screw driver siren guitar sounds and whatnot. Jonny Greenwood from radiohead has this particular thing where he beats the hell out of the guitar on his solo's (see: Paranoid android) thats very appealing to me for some reason. And yeah thats right Wes Borland from limp bizkit.
Congratulations and welcome to Ozzy. My current top 5 (subject to change): 1. Stevie Ray Vaughn 2. Jimi Hendrix 3. Randy Rhodes 4. Eddie van Halen 5. Dimebag Darrell Honorable Mention: Billy Gibbons, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Carlos Santana
Of all time? 5.BB King 4.Hendrix 3.Les Paul 2.Chet Atkins, cgp http://www.misterguitar.com 1.Andres Segovia --Deji
Current favorites (as I've said before, my tastes are mercurial and subject to change) John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra) Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine) Andy Summers (Police) Jimi Hendrix David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) It's hard to compare a technical giant like Steve Vai to a texturalist like Johnny Marr or a song/composition-oriented player like Peter Tosh (a great player, BTW). Personally, I prefer the second and third types to the first, but that certainly doesn't make them better. Now that I've said the "everyone's great" part, I'll go ahead and name a few guitarists I think are overrated: Stevie Ray Vaughn - played the same Albert King and Jimi Hendrix licks over the same progressions over and over again. Eric Johnson - perfectionist who plays amazingly boring music. Eddie Van Halen - wasn't overrated after Van Halen I but was after each subsequent album Alex Lifeson (Rush) - his solos are lifeless and finally (sorry Manny) Randy Rhodes - horrible guitar tone and overly conscious soloist Now I expect someone to diss my choices. Fire away.
My favorite (emphasis on MY) 5. Eric Clapton 4. George Harrison 3. Jimi Hendrix 2. Jimmy Paige 1. John Frusciante (highly overlooked)
Actually, Jimi said Billy Gibbons was a "guitarist to watch" during an appearance on the Tonight Show. At least that's what I've read - I hadn't been born yet so I can't personally confirm.
All of the above are great and I don't want to be redundant, but I'd like to add someone to the list: Roy Buchanan... Listen to "The Messiah Will Come". Unbelievable...he truly rates with the rest. RR
Eric Johnson Al Di Meola Pat Metheny John Scofield Mike Stern Mark Whitfield Steve Vai Joe Satriani Eddie Van Halen Michael Hedges Jimi Hendrix Tony MacAlpine
never heard eddie called overated. if anything he got better after van halen 1- see fair warning. my fav guitarists based on how they influenced me: david gilmour eric johnson mcartney, harrison, lennon slash johnny marr randy rhoads james hetfield jerry cantrell 5. stevie ray vaughn 4. jimi hendrix 3. eric clapton 2. eddie van halen 1. jimmy page
On the contrary - I think it's an insult that a bass player (the smoothest, coolest, tastiest and most complete of all musicians) is mistaken for a guitar wanker. Shame, shame, shame
