I knew the list would suck. Still kind of disappointing.
Rolling Stone posted the list on their website for everyone to see and make fun of.…
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
The Top 100 Guitarists According to Rolling Stone - Comments Page 2
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Mark Saleski
ah Theory, you're just mad 'cause Phil Keaggy didn't make the list.
;-)
27 - BRICKLAYER
Except for Gregg Ginn. He could house all these fools, even the mighty Maiden axemen!
28 - Natalie Davis
Rodney, a look into my crystal ball shows that in the year 2023, if man is still ali-i-ive, #17 will be whatever then-current guitarist does groovy tricks on the axe. Also listed will be the most recent talented-but-misunderstood suicide, several emotional favorites, and Boz Scaggs. Jack White won't be on the list. Neither will Steve Hackett of Genesis or Leo Kottke. And Jimi Hendrix will stand at #1.
29 - The Theory
Well, hey, I have a right when Jack White makes the list. That said, I do listen to the White Stripes more than I listen to Phil Keaggy.
30 - Natalie Davis
Of late, that is true for me too, TT. That, however, is about to change. Keag-GY! Keag-GY!
31 - Rodney Welch
Theory --
If it's about talent, real talent, then it's about whether they'll be on there in another 20 years. There's a difference between the real thing and the flavor of the month.
32 - Mark Saleski
right you are rodney...that's kinda what i was trying to get at in my shortened version of the list.
33 - The Theory
Well, if the world was perfect, then YES, they would be on there 20 years from now. However, as was demonstrated with this list, that is NOT what happens. Lists are always flavour of the month. I have no reason to think that 20 years from now magazines and their list compilers will have grown any more objective. There will always be great guitarists who, for some reason, don't make the lists who should.
34 - Rodney Welch
On which single disc does Keaggy most display his guitar wizardry? I found my old cassette of Love Broke Through the other night, but I always thought of that record as being a bit treacly.
35 - The Theory
See him live is really the best advice I can give. His solo concerts are just him and his acoustic guitar. He'll just sit and DO THINGS. He ad-libs his songs in amazing ways.
He has a lot of cds and I don't own them all so I couldn't say which is more "technically advanced" than the next. I might suggest the live Glass Harp reuinion concert, I don't know the specific title off hand and don't even know if it's still availible, but that one is really good. It shows all different aspects of his playing, electric, acoustic, solo, with a band, everything.
peace.
36 - Natalie Davis
VERY good advice, TT. Every time I've seen him play has been a mind-opening experience for me, both as fan and as guitarist. That said, my most-listened to Keaggy works are The Master and the Musician (in vinyl, natch), Acoustic Sketches, and the Music to Paint By box set, which offers a wide picture of Keaggy's talents.
37 - The Theory
natalie: which indiviual cd from that Music To paint By set would you say is the best? I have it (got it at one of keaggys concerts, actually) and just feel lost and don't know where to start...
38 - Natalie Davis
I'm partial to Brushstrokes. But dive in anywhere; I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
39 - andy
I really like his 220 cd myself. Instrumental electric stuff I think is where he shines the most.
40 - Eric Olsen
"Strings Attached" is the 2-CD live Glass Harp reunion album from the late-'90s, really great. It's available from their site - click through from the Glass Harp DIY post here.
41 - aaron
Keep in mind that this is from a magazine that had the Olsen twins on the cover last month.
42 - Natalie Davis
And Clay Aiken showing off a bit of abdomen, curiously after another man won American Idol. Next month: Boz Scaggs.
Andy: Yes, 220 is prime Keaggy.
43 - duane
I would like to acknowledge the posting
by JR for his wise additions. I've been
moaning about this list since my girlfriend
read it to me over the phone last night.
In particular, I want to acknowledge your
mention of Holdsworth and Eric Johnson.
It occurred to me before I even heard the
names on the list that they would omit
classical guitarists and most jazz greats.
But, leaving off Vai and Satriani? Vai is
still #1 in my book for rock guitarists. And
Eddie van Halen obviously should have
been in the top 10. How do you think Vai
will feel about this abominable list?
I think RS's intention is to piss us off
in order to get more PR, so we will watch
the newsstands for their Top 100 stupid
Top 100 lists. We might also consider
Larry Carlton, Robin Trower (maybe), Skunk
Baxter, Pat Martino, the Thin Lizzy guys,
Peter Frampton (oh, yes), Leslie West (hey,
he's good), George Benson, Kenny Wayne
Shepherd, and no doubt names will continue
coming to me. Anyway, thanks JR. You nailed
a lot of RS's thoughtless omissions.
44 - Jim Carruthers
I'm still amazed Russell Hammond didn't make the list.
45 - The Theory
And, for the record, I'm not complaining about the Olsen twins gracing the cover or RS. hottttness.
46 - JR
re: Russell Hammond
Rolling Stone is probably still pissed at him for jerking them around on that cover story.
47 - Jim Carruthers
Rolling Stone is probably still pissed at him for jerking them around on that cover story.
Yah, what a tool. Shouting "I'm a golden god" and then leaping into that scum laden pool. Then denying it happened.
No wonder his career never went anywhere.
48 - Natalie Davis
Cameron Crowe's revenge.
49 - Jonathan
?!? Jimmy Page @ # 9 ??
Come on! Have you seen this map place Stairway on a 12-string? Unbelievable. He deserves to be #2. Screw the Allman Brothers.
/Zeppelin forever.
50 - Jim Carruthers
Like my favourite guitarist /
Jimmy Page /
All the girlies I like /
Are underage
Plus, I gotta give a shoutout out to Greg Ginn simply for seeing him short out a guitar by sweating on it in August in Montreal.
51 - JR
Did Jimmy Page see the cover of last month's Rolling Stone?
52 - Eric Olsen
Pickled dog dongs!! I just realized Mick Taylor isn't on this list - does anyone think it coincidence that the Stones' greatest, bluesiest, most soulful music was made during the time Taylor was in the band? Check out "Get Yer Ya-Yas Out."
And no Roger McGuinn, a shame and a sin, who has ever sounded like McGuinn on the electric 12-string jangling for a happy eternity?
Wenner and his rag will pay.
53 - Natalie Davis
Criminy, Eric, you're right. Mick Taylor was awesome! One of the best and worst music experiences of my life was in the early '80s when I emceed a Baltimore concert featuring a reunion of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, featuring Mayall, Taylor, and John McVie. Those guys were sooooo much fun to hang with, and getting to talk guitar with Mick Taylor was a major highlight. Seeing him play up close and personal... unforgettable. (The downer was that on the same night, James Honeyman-Scott from the Pretenders died, and my entire collection of rare Al Stewart records, sitting in the trunk of my car because I'd used them for a radio documentary, were stolen during the concert. The good news is I was able to replace all of them over the intervening 20 years. Sadly, Honeyman-Scott is still gone.)
Never met Roger McGuinn, whose work I adore, but I did get to chat about guitars with Chris Hillman (another great player, though not necessarily list-worthy) and Herb Pedersen last year. Very good night, that.
I'll toss in plugs for underrated guitarists Al Stewart (school of Jansch; most people don't know just how talented and knowledgeable Al is) and Dan Fogelberg (who is absolutely awesome on slide guitar and playing blues and classical guitar). Martin Guitars even has a model in his honor.
54 - Eric Olsen
Round round get around, Nat gets around (yeah)
55 - Eric Olsen
And now a comment has resurrected this very fine appreciation of Little Feat by Satan, I mean Al, and now I am indignant that these pork byproducts at Rolling Stone didn't include Lowell George or Paul Berrere, you smoldering dildo ashes.
56 - Natalie Davis
Ok. So does Eric.
57 - Josh Webb
The Edge doesn't need to be on this list at all as far as I'm concerned. Talk about a guy who plays the same riff over and over.
What about Mick Jones (The Clash)? And you might laugh, but Elvis Costello is highly underrated as a player. No gymnastics on his records but some really great playing.
58 - Natalie Davis
Oh, good lord, Paul Barrere. Fred Tackett, too. Lovely guys, incredible musicians. The omission of Lowell had to be an oversight. Had to be.
EC is indeed underrated. I play a lot of his stuff; it's quite demanding and proves his skill as songwriter and player.
Pork product dildo ashes... Jann, how could you?
59 - Billy Beck
Taking RS at its presumption to judge "All Time" (that's what it says: "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time"), I'm going to point out what no one else here has yet: it goes beyond ridiculous to virtually criminal neglect that they left Chet Atkins out of it.
...and I still can't get over Cobain. That is an outrageous affront to real guitar players. He should not be anywhere near this list.
What could likely be more controversial is my nod here for Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser of Blue Oyster Cult. He plays like Evel Knievel jumped: full-blast, but his resolutions are always better than Evel's were.
Also: Joe Walsh -- an utterly unique melodic outlook laid on a fretboard.
I know it's hard to fit together a "100 Greatest" because someone's always going to be left out, but these two guys deserve a word.
Back in the late 70's, Trouser Press did a top 100 guitarists list, and my own view is that at least 85% of it is still be valid today.
60 - Al Barger
One word: PRINCE. A guitar player list without him lacks credibility. Perhaps a whole separate paen to his guitar ass kickingness is in order.
OK, two more words: JUNIOR BROWN. Damn, but he's a badass. A little "Highway Patrol" or "Sugarfoot Rag" might convince you.
Yup, Lowell George should certainly be there.
I'm not sure how to judge Elvis Costello on this count, largely because it's not obvious to me what picking on his records is being done by HIM personally.
One particularly obvious silly entry was Kurt Cobain. He was a decent songwriter, but Nirvana was a shitty BAND. They were some of the worst players of their instruments to make it to their level.
61 - Josh Webb
There's only one player in EC's band and that's him. Of course there may be a studio guy or two playing on the albums but having seen him live many times I can attest that he can play all his own licks and then some.
62 - Josh Webb
Has anyone mentioned Steve Miller? Of course Boz Scaggs too.
63 - BRICKLAYER
The dudes in Judas Priest are way better than any of these poofers. Except Greg Ginn. He could make them pee their leather pants just by plugging in.
64 - duane
It looks to me like there's some confusion over
what exactly is being rated -- both by RS and by
the contributors to this page. I don't want to complain
-- well, yes I do -- but it seems as though many of you
equate the players with the bands they are (were) in.
Similarly, many seem to equate the quality of the playing
with the quality of the songs they played. Sure, that
sounds like I'm missing the point, right? You could ask
"What's the point of being able to play dazzling solos
if you have to back Michael Bolton?" But it's not fair
to say that Duane Allman is not great just because
you might not like the Allman Brothers, for example.
It's also silly to say that Keith Richards is great just
because he he plays for "The Greatest Rock and Roll
Band in the World."
Another thing that seems to get
mixed up is that fame shouldn't be equated with talent.
Jimmy Page, my hero, is not really much of a solo guitarist.
Have you heard his live stuff? Sloppy, not very good at all.
His fame is earned by his writing ability, not his playing. All
of my former guitar teachers could play Page under the table.
They're not famous for reasons having nothing to do with
their playing ability, right?
As for Buck Dharma, once laughably touted as the best
American rock guitarist: well, I saw Blue Oyster Cult
headline a show in Long Beach CA way back when. Ted
Nugent opened, followed by Kansas. Ted was then a
budding guitar hero, and did his very best to show off.
It was clear that he was "gunning" for Buck. But -- surprise! --
Kerry Livgren of Kansas came out midway through their show
and played for 10 minutes under a spotlight all by himself
with his white Gibson SG. He absolutely smoked Ted's doors
off. When Buck came out, it was as if he knew he had been
seriously outclassed and, although he gave it a shot, he could
not hold a candle to Ted or Kerry. No doubt there are hundreds
of similar stories -- like the night I saw Eddie van Halen make
Rudolf Schenker (sp?) of UFO wish he had called in sick.
65 - duane
Or was it Michael Schenker?
Also, in the spirit of naming guitarists that are at least as good as 50 or so of the big winners, how about Steve Morse, Steve Hillage, Steve Hackett, Todd Rundgren, Gary Moore, Rory Gallagher, Albert King, Martin Barre, Frank Marino, and Billy Gibbons? Sheesh.
66 - JR
Michael Schenker was the one in UFO. Except for when he called in sick. Actually, he didn't call in, he just disappeared for a few months.
Holy Cow, you saw Van Halen and UFO in the same show!?! I would have killed to see that. Blue Oyster Cult/Kansas/Ted Nugent around that time sounds like a barnburner too.
I wasn't aware that Buck Dharma was ever more than a cult figure, but touting him as the best American rock guitarist (circa what, 1976?) seems no more laughable than Rolling Stone's list. Low standard, I know.
67 - Josh Webb
Eddie Van Studio Tricks? Yawn!
68 - Ren
I was extremely peeved to find that Mike Oldfield did not make that list, nor did Tommy Emmanuel for that matter. Don't know who they are? Well, Tommy's big in Australia and is branching out into the overseas market - but if you'd heard him, you'd be amazed. And Mike Oldfield - who can play any guitar as easily as scratching his balls, is probably better known for his work in the 70's horror flick icon, The Exorcist, but you need to listen to his guitar stuff to truly enjoy his music. Magic. Whoever made that list up is stuck in the 70s and 80s with the hair bands.
And Hendrix at #1? Puhleeze. How passe.
69 - Billy Beck
Hendrix might be "passe", but it is an immutable fact that he took the electric guitar all the way to its limits in a time before most people had the remotest clue what or where they were. That's what happened when he appeared.
He might not be to everyone's taste, now, but he was enormously important influence on just about everything that came behind him.
70 - B.S.
Ok - much of this list is bogus and you all have come up with some admirable additions, but slide blues guitarist Roy Rogers has got to be included! I have seen him 2x and been totally blown away both times (once I was even sober!). I would put him in the top 10, but wouldn't argue too much if he was in the top 20!
71 - Cecilia
Aw shucks, guys....how come they forgot to mention the Go-Gos...the Bay City Rollers, Air Supply, David Cassidy (a f'ing virtuoso!), Ace Frehley of Kiss, Mike Nesmith, the Bangles, or the dudes from Black Oak Arkansas? I am appalled. At least I can pray that they will have a Top 100 Vocalists so I can see my all-time favorites like Cher, Britney Spears and Mariah Carey along with Michael Bolton, Dee Snyder, Ricky Martin and Milli (or was it Vanilli? Crap!)....sigh....now I bet Rolling Stoned will go and steal my list.
72 - S.A. Smith
Forget the 2 or 3 dozen other problems with this list (e.g., the excessive effort to stimulate controversy via ludicrous choices) the omission of Mick Taylor renders any serious discussion of it moot.
As Eric Olsen pointed out, the Stones made the greatest rock-n-roll albums in history when Mick Taylor was with the group. For live witness testimony listen to the last 2:30 minutes of Sympathy for the Devil on Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out.
Listen to all of it. The playing is mesmerizing and at times downright orgastic--on a night when the Stones were indisputably the greatest rock-n-roll band in the world. Thanks in no small part to Mick Taylor.
73 - Josh Webb
Edgar Winter anyone?
74 - Eric Olsen
I believe you mean Johnny, and he is a great blues and blues-rock guitarist.
75 - Steven Reyes
What the fuck is doin' Mr. Joe Perry on the #48 he must have been at least on the top 10!!!!!!!!!!