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 3
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— go to most recent comments76 - Eric Olsen
More missing: Peter Buck, Bernard Sumner, Johnny Marr - they pretty well aced out the '80s with this list.
77 - TDavid
Been thinking about this list and how many of the folks on the list can we tell by their sound and style who is actually playing?
I recently heard and commented on a solo of joy to the world by Eddie and I could tell it was Eddie. The Beat It solo from Michael Jackson sound Eddie influenced.
Eddie Van Halen has a very distinct way that he plays, so does Jimi Hendrix. Also about the many differrent ways he played the guitar? Hendrix (created?) the whole playing with your lips thing.
Hendrix could make sounds with his guitar and feedback that were as incredible in the 60's as they are today, 40 years later! Just dial up his many copied star spangled banner solo. How many rock guitarists include that (zakk wylde comes immediately to mind) in their solos?
Eddie may not have created the two-handed tap, but he popularized it with Eruption. That was in the end of the 70's.
Randy Rhoads did things with distortion, feedback and blending classical guitar with heavy metal that others have copied many times over in the early 80's before his untimely death. If he were alive today, I think people would be more disappointed that he didn't make the top 10.
Some of these folks on this list I'd have a hard time telling their sound apart. If you gave them all the same guitar and same amp, would their style give them away?
Studio gimmicks were mentioned above, but I think that is part of the guitarist's bag of tricks -- use the technology before him/her. Bottom line though, without the effects pedals and guitar mods, how do the best hold up against each other?
I think to be in the top 10 at least of any list (which would be easier to do than a top 100, Rolling Stone) these folks have to all really, really stand out on their playing.
This list is just full of issues ... kudos for Rolling Stone to mak an attempt, but they should have just stuck with top 10 because even the top 10 it's still a bag of worms.
78 - Jim Carruthers
The biggest problem with the RS list is the focus on celebrity rather than players.
So I'll list the one great great guitarist I know personally, Domenic Troiano.
A great guy, a wicked guitarist and he's played with everybody.
79 - steve zafirakis
Jimi Paige #9??? he could easily put up a fight for hendrix in the number 1 spot. Im glad to see george harrison on the list at least one of the beatles made it. But what was RS thinkin putin kurt cobain and jack white so high on the list let alone even on it. kurt cobain was a poet and an amazing song writer but was way below average of a guitar player and Jack white i dont even know what to say. eddie van halen deffinetly deserved to be in the top 20's. I like seeing clapton on the list but i think the 4 slot is too considerate. Trey Anastasio isnt gettin enough recognition he could easily be in the top 40's. I DONT SEE MY NAME ON THE LIST!!! and if rolling stones comes out with a top 100 vocalists ROBERT PLANT without a doubt should at least be in the top 3. GO ZEPPELIN
80 - Josh Webb
Though he is often overshadowed by his bandmates Alex Lifeson is a damn good player.
81 - Sir Geoffery Tangleboots
Why aren't I on the list? I can play ATLEAST 6 chords, maybe even seven or eight. I own a Squire for godsakes, thats reason enough.
82 - Raul Bender
Where are Alvin Lee and Leslie West?Listen to Johnny Winter playing Highway 61 Revisited Live and then tell me he shouldn't be 50 spots higher.
83 - louie noypi
cobain at #12, harrison @ 21? whattafuck!
84 - Theo Huizing
Nice list, but many players are forgotten like Lowell George, Al Di Meola, Paco Da Lucica, Pat Matheny, George Benson, Luther Allison, Robert Cray, Johnny Copeland and Albert Collins.........
It is tragic and a giant big mistake that they are not there ! Making a lot of noise or doing experimental stuff on the guitar does not mean that you are a great guitar player, or not ?
Beeing the creator of Rock and Roll, definitely Chuck Berry, does not mean that you are great guitar player, or not ?
I almost agree with the first ten, except Chuck Berry. Joni Mitchell makes nice music, but also a great guitar player.............. But where is Bonnie Rait ?
A lot of Allman Brothers are listed, as a great fan, I liked this a lot.......
85 - mike
Maybe next time they should poll the artists themselves to see who they believe should be on that list.
I cannot believe that STANLEY CLARKE, the best bassist ever to play is not on that list.
George Benson??? Go figure. Touted by his peers as an incredible player.
Larry Carlton, the best contemporary guitarist today!!!!
I just took in Steely Dan and although many do not know him Jon Herrington is one incredible player.
Stanley Clarke not there. IDIOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
86 - Robin
Where the hell is Andy Gill? Roger Miller (MOB)?
87 - James
2 words: Francis Dunnery.
88 - The Theory
I'm currently listening to the Phil Keaggy/Glass Harp live cd, 'Strings Attached' and I am in heaven...
peace.
89 - steve zafirakis
yeah phil mckenna smells bad
90 - phi from buffalo
alright first of all the person who made this list is on crack. I agree that hendrix is number 1. he definately had the biggets impact on rock being a negro during the time. Cobaine @ 12? what is this guy thinking he has no talent as a guitarist he fit in with the era. Les Paul in the 40's. cmon people he invented the damn thing. wheres slash from guns and roses jimmy paige is prolly the most incredible thing that happend to guitar. now im not a fan at all of bands like pantera or slipknot but when i heard the guitar solos in some of there songs i was blown away. hammet cant match them. and van halen at 70 just plain down right obsured dave matthews may not be the best guitarist out there but to play what he does and sing at the same time hes incredible he definately deserves to be on the list over Kim Thayil of Soundgarden DMB represent
91 - phil from buffalo
comment 79 blows dogs for quarters and if u dont believe me bout dmb listen to the stone
92 - steve zafirakis
commment 90 is a load of bull shit
i dont know what this guy thinks hes talkin about
MAYBE HES THE ONE ON CRACK
JACKASS
93 - phil from buffalo
thi steve zafirakis kid does nto know whatdafuck hes talking bout he prolly wouldnt know a G chord from an E i mean cmon he definately smells bad sux dogs for quarters and jerks off to his moms panties for christ sake
94 - Billy
MIA:
yngwie malmstein
dimebag darrel
dave mustaine
zakk wylde
paul gilbert
marty friedman
Jerry Cantrell
SLASH
Steve Vai!
Joe Satriani
Randy Rhodes
95 - Rick Beaty DADADA
This lst is so much Bull shit, half of these guys i've never heard of and what about satch. vai is on here and satch taught him and is 98734958234 better than him. Also where teh hell is billy corgan...???? this list is Crapola. Not good enough to even be used on my ass.. I'd usse poison ivy before this shit
96 - noname
Where's Brian May, and what the hell is Townshed doing up there anyways. The only reason why he was so pissed was because a two year old could play better lead than him. And Daivd Gilmour should be put up the the 40's at least, seems that RS overlook Dark Side of the Moon.
97 - Tuff Hidemun
Whoever is responsible for this list should be shot. Its obviously just a ploy to sell magazines.
"Hey guys, lets make a list of the best guitarists!"
And they obviously could only think of a few so they just started throwing names in at random. If you're talking pure talent, I don't see why Pat Metheny isn't in there and why the Edge is. Some may argue that some of these guys deserve to be there on "writing abilities", but Metheny outsteps pretty much all of them in that regard.
I knew Rolling Stone had sold out, but I didn't know it was this bad. What happened to that kickin magazine it was back in the 60s? Oh right, corporate america happened...
98 - Schwarz Bruder
I am a little disappointed that Satriani is not on the list...
... Ike Turner? IKE TURNER? Just exactly what impact did he have? Other than on Tina's face, that is...
99 - tom yeck
Manny Charlton formerly of Nazareth deserves mention on this list.
100 - Paul of Charlotte
To me the biggest joke is Joan Jett at 87. Gimme a break, if they wanted to get some women in there they could've done a heckuva lot better than that! What about Nancy Wilson of Heart? Bonnie Raitt? Sheesh.
101 - Eric Olsen
Paul, absolutely right with those two, can't believe they left out Bonnie - she probably can't believe it either. Go-Go's Bangles, Lush all had very fine guitar work also.
102 - Mark Saleski
i always thought jane wiedlin was hotter than joan jett.
103 - Trey
Phil Keagy is a real oversight, he still plays great guitar. But what about David Byrne. He created an entire style of quirky, rhythmically complex guitar playing. I think he is vastly under appreciated. Also, he could play that stuff while singing, something Frank Zappa (another of my favorites) could never accomplish.
Trey
104 - andy
agreed about Bonnie. I didn't think of her till someone mentioned it. The Theory and I are listening to Glass Harp's "Strings Attached" album right now. I had never heard it before. I dig it.
105 - Eric Olsen
Good one Trey, David Byrne is unique.
106 - The Theory
see, the thing is that I doubt Keaggy cares that he's not on this list. He's obviously not after attention. If he was he'd be a god by now.
107 - Trev
This list is a little silly, but it's fun. I personally love Jack White's playing. I've seen the White Stripes Live and their better than most give credit for. I agree 17 is high, but he's one of the best things going for rock and roll these days. He's loud distorted and very versitile. Most people have only heard Seven Nation Army, which isn't even one of their best tunes.
Like I said, the list is fun and not to be taken too seriously.
108 - Rolling Stone Sucks
i think that this list needs to be rethought, and not by a bunch of losers that think Jack White should be on the list. Where is James Hetfield? Buckethead? Nick Walker? Tim Mahoney? Darron Malakian? wtf? REMAKE THIS DAMN LIST PLEASE......
109 - Mark Saleski
Buckethead??
he's just the anti-Jack White.
110 - Nick Kushner
First, a distinction has to be made between great guitar players and great songwriters. Most people who are interested in reading the top 100 list of guitarists want to see the great players way before any marginal players who are great songwriters. Next, a distinction has to be made between true innovators who were also awesome players , the awesome players, the very good players and then the marginal players. I will list examples of each category but the players are not necessarily in order of greatness and I will probably leave out people that could belong in these categories
1.True Innovator/Awesome players: Hendrix, Van Halen, Stanley Jordan, Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Allan Holdsworth, Yngwie Malmsteen, Andres Segovia
2. Awesome players: Eric Johnson, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Al Dimeola, Joe Satriani, Steve Morse, Steve Howe, Nuno Betancourt, George Benson, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmie Page, Brian May, Ritchie Blackmore, Randy Rhoads, Pat Metheny, John Schofield, Mike Stern, Steve Vai, Duane Allman
3. The Very Good Players: BB King ,Chuck Berry, Jerry Garcia, Carlos Santana, Mark Knopfler, Joe Perry, Pete Townsend, David Gilmour, Angus Young, Peter Frampton, Gary Moore, Keith Richards, The Edge
4. The Marginal Players who are usually better songwriters: Kurt Cobain, Johnny Ramone, Lou Reed, Neil Young.
111 - Eric Olsen
Nick, excellent distinctions and thinking. Filling out a list taking these considerations (and perhaps a few others) into account would make a much more meaningful list. Thanks!
112 - andy
But, wouldn't you put someone like The Edge, who's a very good player, into the innovative category? Just because you're not an "awesome player" doesn't mean you're not innovative. How many people tried/try to copy The Edge's sound? Or BB King? He's definitely a mediocre player as far as skill is concerned, but nobody but nobody makes a guitar sound the way he does. There are a million blues guitarists, and none of them have the style and flava flave he does. To me, that's innovative.
113 - Nick Kushner
I definitely agree with you that people like The Edge who have unique sounds (Jerry Garcia as well) could be considered innovators and that innovators don't necessarily have to have the chops. But this also makes the list very hard to assemble.
114 - andy
I think that's why there's so much discussion. None of us are sure what constitutes "best guitar player".
115 - gilly fries
If we make a list.....they will come.
Jason Becker anyone? It's a shame he lost his abilities at such a young age.
116 - Marty Friedman
AND EDDIE VAN HALEN IS THE BEST TOO! 70#???? PLEASE U ALL SUCK BALLS!
117 - Marty Friedman
yeah jason becker owns!
118 - Dave Wright
I'd definitely find room for Frampton on the list. Check out the new album for some of his best playing ever.
I'd also add Walter Trout, Jeff Healey and Bill Nelson.
119 - Dave Wright
And not forgetting Nils Lofgren.
120 - Eric Olsen
Lofgren and Nelson are great choices, although Nils kind of ran out of steam. His work with Grin and early solo was amazing - hasn't done much I've taken notice of with Bruce.
121 - Lee
what about peter frampton ? and maybe 20 years ago Joe Perry might have been up that high but he should be in the top ten at least. Amazing what going straight and sober can do for the mind.
122 - Derek S.
Missing in Action:
Kerry King (Slayer)
Any of the three Maiden Guitarists
Ace Frehley (Kiss)
Adam Jones (Tool)
Dimebag Darrell (Pantera)
Scott Ian (Anthrax)
And HA! to Kurt Kobain being a better guitarist than Santana.
123 - Derek S.
I stand corrected, I see Adam Jones now.
124 - bling bling
kerry king is the absolute worst metal guitarist. i honestly think he just picks random notes as fast as possible.
also...so glad slash isnt in the top ten but probably should at least make the list.
nuno bettencourt should absolutely be on the list. Brilliant metal rythym and soloist and his newer stuff is decent as well.
125 - duane
Having a cool name like Slash does
not translate into "good," let alone "great." Ya know?
Re: " And HA! to Kurt Kobain being a better guitarist than
Santana," by Derek S., I would say "HA! to Kurt Kobain
being a better guitarist than my Aunt Betsy."