Mark Saleski offers us his own unique take on guitarists...
After reading that list of the Rolling Stone Top 100 Guitarists I felt the need to chime in. Not that there's a problem with the list or anything.…
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
The Top 100 Guitarists According to Mark Saleski - Comments Page 2
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Jim
I can't believe not only who was left off the list; but, as a couple of others have pointed out, it's the one's who were included that're killing me. Joni Mitchell? If you're gonna go there, how about Emmylou Harris? What about Joan Baez of Janis Ian? What about Chet Atkins? If you're gonna include Les Paul and Robert Johnson, you've gotta include the original double-lead-on-the-same-guitar man. Does anyone remember Tommy Bolin? How about Roy Clark, Steve Vai, Joe Walsh, Steve Wariner or Vince Gill? Has anyone seen Peter Frampton's Detroit concert DVD...he just keeps getting better. What about John Coltrane? or Neal Schon?
Jimbob
27 - Jim
One More.....Jose' Feliciano. Acclaimed as the "Greatest Living Guitarist".
Jimbob
28 - Sanzo
Yeah man.. this magazine is bullsh!t.... same as the top greatest 100 guitarist in GW (Guitar World) Magazine.. but this magazine kicks ass
the only part I really dislike is how they put Kurt Cobain.. I mean.. all Kurt does is.. drugs and stuff... I like his songs but just dont like his guitar.. and also.. do they have Gary Moore on the magazine?
29 - Gary
I agree with some, the list doesnt impress me. I dont understand how you can leave off John Petrucci of Dream Theater and Steve Rothery of Marillion.Also, I would have to add to the list Nick Barrett of Pendragon,Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton of Queensryche. Quess not many prog fans out there-- G
30 - Brian
First of all I'd like to say that Eddie Van Halen is underrated. How do you put him @ #70 in the top 100??? Listen to the best of Van Halen Vol.1 and then tell me he's still #70.
Secondly, Jack White!!! What has he contributed to the music industry...a bunch of crap?
Third of all, David Gilmour of PF deserves to be in the top #20 at least.
This list needs some serious revising.
Reply to Kenny Allday: 1. Listening to the extended version of "Eruption" by Van Halen.
2. Jimi Hendrix's freestyle of "Voodoo Chile" on the Woodstock cd
3. Pink Floyd's "Echoes" off of the Meddle album
31 - Rico
The problem with these lists, is that everyone has their opinions about this guitarist being better than that guitarist. I think this rolling stone thing is total crap. I don't understand how Cobain, the guitarist from white stripes, what is up with that? You have guitarist like Petrucci, Vai, Wylde, Satriani, Malmstreem, Dimebag, all in which werent on the list (except for maybe dimebag, but i forget) that deserved a seat better than Cobaina and White Stripe, and yes Van Halen should of been ranked better so should Angus, but Rolling Stone is about publicity not music
32 - Mark Saleski
obviously it's all opinion...and gets right to what you think is 'good'.
i'd rather listen to Keith Richards rhythm stuff and snarly leads than vai or satriani's note soup any day of the week.
does that mean one is 'better' than the other. dunnno.
33 - Mark
Rolling Stone is a magazine who's publishers have one thing in mind-PROFIT. Reality, value, talent, none of those things have anything to do with any article ever written in that magazine. They want to drive the latest fashion down everyones throat until we throw up, then find something else to cram at us.
The Top-100 list reads like someone sat down and just threw out names to fill space-not really knowing anything about the topic they were writing about. Consider this-the person writing the article probably doesn't know a Fender from a Gibson, has no technical expertise whatsoever with the guitar or how it functions, and probably only knows it as a fashion statement. So, how does that qualify them to make judgements for such a list? For any legitimate purpose, it does not. What you are left with, then, is a valueless piece of writing designed solely to appeal to a mass of sheep who don't understand the topic any better than the person who wrote it(i.e. the Target Market). The White Stripes are the fashion of the day, in my opinion not worthy of the press they get, but that's how it is with fashion. I thought and still do think the same thing about Kurt Cobain. Way, way, WAY overrated by pop press.
Say what you want, but people don't read Rolling Stone because it is any kind of authority on anything of value, they read it because they exist in the target zone.
Sheep. Mindless sheep.
34 - MDelPiero
About the stupid man who's name is Rico, about Jack White, I don't think, if he knows what is a good guitarist.
35 - Devin
hey guys....i hope you didnt forget about God. I eman you gotta admit out of the hundreds of top 100s lists i can find there all right when they put Jimi at number one. If you listen to his better songs like his hour long performance at woodstock (not the crappy library version) or little wing youd realize he wasnt jsut a fast player in fact he wasnt fats at all he was just Damn good and thats all there is to say. and then theres ry cooder hes also pretty good you cant kick out the real good guitarists jsut because there popular thats like when the Blink 182 fans broke up cause they were to popular....dumbasses....i hate blink 182 anyways. Yes im 16 and you all sound a bit older but when a 16 year old knows more about music than a bunch of old dudes who actually lived when there was good music it makes ou wonder why people are reading your posts right now.
Im not saying any that you listed arent good jsut that jimi is better and always will be you jsut gotta accept that fact. and please get kazza and download the 200+kb file woodstock full version - jimi hendrix and watch the whole thing then litsen to little wing and when you decide to chang you list, which you will, put ry cooder on there too jsut trust me i know my shit
36 - Devin
someone said something about jimi being good only back when he was alive or something....well ive heard a lot of people try to sound like him and never has it been done. Im not tlaking about learning how to play voodoo chile and saying oh well this is easy jimi wasnt good. im talking about standing up on a stage after getting high and playing for and hour when at least 75 percent of what your playing is made up right on the spot. That is guitar. That is rock/blues/ whatever yea when you dont know what place to put someone it means something. Im refering to woodstock cause im like one of the only peoepl whos ever seen the real video
Ten Years After
Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters
Vaughn
Monte Montgomery (check his verison of litte wing)
etc etc etc
download every version of little wing you can find ive never heard a better song i really havent
the one song thats jsut as good as little wing...the live version of little wing in paris! ha
woodstock if it was all a big song would be number one so...sorry im rambling...jsut listen to those songs and tell me if im fucked up in the head or if im right.
37 - jonny
the rollingstones list totally sucked: here is how it rolls
1.Hendrix(obviously)
2.Page
3.Clapton
4.Slash
5.Brian May(he also invented his own guitar)
6.Eddie Van Halen
7.Stevie Ray
8.David Gilmore
9.Randy Rhoads
10.Mark Knopfler
Dropped Out: Zakk Wylde, Kirk Hammett, Carlos Santana, Joe Perry, James Hatfeild, CC(maybe),and jeff beck
I would also like to recognize Flea(chili peppers) for his amazing bass riffs and solos
38 - clay
yes i also think this list is bogus do u realize where randy rhoads was a t like 70 or 80 cmon now has anyone hear heard any acoustic guitar playing how about tim reynolds (works with dave matthews a lot) that guy is sick listen to some of his solos and what the guy can do with a slide some of his solos stream, and the live at chicago liein our graves electric solo amazing i think tim reynolds is defintley in the top 5 guitarists of all time some of the best were in my opinion Hendrix,clapton, page,for top 3 and there is not anybody out there who can play better than hendrix there will never be. anyone who thinks anyone was better is nuts i mean solos arent what makes u the best of all time its writing kick ass music and being able to bust out them awesome solos anyways TIM REYNOLDS IS SICK LISTEN TO THAT GUY PLAY
39 - apparent bad guy
Andres Segovia. Fluidity, speed, feeling, emotion, and class to boot.
-d3
40 - James Golden
When I was a youth i would have endless arguments about the greatest guitarist, it always came down to Hendrix (my pick) and Malmstien. How interesting it is that years later, Hendrix is still in the running (but absent from your list MARK!!!!) yet malmstein is a sidenote. I guess speed isnt everything.
41 - Mark Saleski
yea, i do love hendrix...but i kindof came into this just a little after he was gone.
so maybe that's why i didn't think of him.
42 - chris mccabe
Angus young is undoubtably the best guitarist ive ever heard and seen.He is the most underated guitarist in the world and deffinataly deserves more credit that he already has.As a guitar player i can tell you it takes concentration to do a solo and many guitarists stay in the one spot while completing a solo from hendrix to page however not angus.He runs about the stage,hops,crawls etc and still pulls of the same sounds(if not better)than the best.please listen to ac dc's,live at donnington to see what i mean.
43 - Rebecca
Funny nobody remembers another Hendrix disciple, Robin Trower. Seems he took up where Jimi left off. Licks and riffs to jack you up or put you in a trance.... Strange no one is aware of the great body of work that Blue Oyster Cult has put out from the early 70's. Donald (Buck Dharma) Roeser has run the gamut from folsky picking, fluid arrangements, boogie woogie, flashy, heavy metal, jazz, you name it! "ON YOUR FEET OR ON YOUR KNEES!" As to the Rolling Stone list: put Zappa and Angus Young closer to the top, drop George Harrison (unimaginative), Jack White (yawn), the dude from Living Color (clumsy), and anyone from Metallica (muddy in concert). Keith Richards IS #1!
44 - Brady
Some good picks Mark, however I have to take issue on some omissions and one inclusion. When it comes to people as fab as Lyndley and Belew for example it's really just a matter of one's subjective taste but as great a songwriter as Bruce Springsteen is he's simply not on the level of a Leo Kottke or (in the why in the hell are they not included category) Richard Thompson, Wes Montgomery, Danny Gatton or Django Reinhardt. This to me is quite obvious. Springsteen rocks but he's nowhere near the guitar player that Andy Summers or Alex Lifeson is. For yays I say hooray for the inclusion of everyone else but Bruce: he's just not in the same league; Pete Townshend tramps Bruce in guitar heroics - and I'm a big Springsteen fan. If you want to discuss craftsmanship in songwriting, then Bruce is your man. If you want to discuss guitar playing virtuosity (and songwriting), you can't leave out Richard Thompson. Incidentaly it would be nice to see Richard Lloyd and Christopher Parkening listed in these things sometimes.
45 - Mark Saleski
i bet ya Springsteen would agree that he's not half the guitar player that Kottke is...but pure virtuosity is not the point.
i leave off Lifeson because, for me, his playing just doesn't do as much for me as the others (and i do like Lifeson)
46 - Chris
What about Gary Rossington and Allen Collins form Lynyrd skynyrd? Those dudes wail! And these guys learned to play by listening to blues musicians on their back porches playing late into the night. They couldnt even afford shoes until they became famous, and Freebird kicks more ass than anything by Satriani or Vai!!
47 - Nathan Zuranski
Angus Young from AC/DC didnt deserve the a$$wipe spot he got.That made me want to throwup.Exactly,watch Live and Donington.Angus deserved to be in atleast the top 10,or 11-20.The man is amazing.Was Slash even on the list?!?!?!Randy Rhoads in the 80's?!?!?!? JACK WHITE AND KURT COBAIN?!?!?!?!!?WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THESE PEOPLE ARE CRAZY!!!
*cough* Just my 2 cents...
48 - Andrew Lee
I totally agree. Angus young is awesome. he is what made the band what is was and is. Can't you see? Rolling Stones is just fucked up. They shit in their pants and save it for later. I am a better guitar player than some of those dudes on the list. Jack White. lol. That's just funny. Kurt Cobain. Sad. Where the fuck is Alex Lifeson? Am I the only one that didnt notice him on the list? screw this list. Im making my own list. Here it goes
1. Eddie Van Halen
2. Stevie Ray Vaughn
3. Eric Clapton
4. Steve Vai
5. Jimi Hendrix
6. Kirk Hammet
7. Alex Lifeson of Rush
8. Lenny Kravitz
9. Carlos Santana
10. Slash
11. Chuck Berry
12. Angus young
13. Kerry King
14. Pete Townshend
15. Joe Satriani
16. Jimmy Page
17. Prince
18. Dave Mustaine
19. Rhandy Rhoads
20. ME! HA hA HA HA HA !
49 - Chasmichael
How could Prince have been left off the list. Other than Hendrix, he should have definitely been a consideration for the top spot. I can't believe he did not even make the top 100.
How can you ignore the guitar riffs in Purple Rain, When Doves Cry, Lets Go Crazy, Joint 2 Joint, etc.
50 - danny boy
shocking that gilmour wasnt in 20's at least and clapton not being first, appauling!!! beck (absolute god!!) should be higher as should be toni iommi!!! he and butlers thumping riffs gave birth to the genre guitar music thrives on, heavy metal!!
51 - chris
I think Kirk Hammet doesn't get nearly the regognition he deserves....people, just listen to "One", "Fade to Black", "Orion" and so on....he's amazing. This is how the list should go in my opion....
1. Kirk Hammet
2. Dave Mustaine
3. Toni Iomi
4. Eric Clapton
5. Peter Frampton
6. Eddie Van Halen
7. Jimmy Page
8. Robbie Krieger (The Doors)
9. Jimi Hendrix
10. Joe Satriani
11. Angus Young
12. Joe Perry
13. John Fogerty
14. Ace Freeley
15. Randy Rhoades
16. Dimebag Darryl
17. Slash
18. Jerry Cantrell
19. Zakk Wylde
20. Stevie Ray Vaughn
And before anyone freaks out about Hendrix's place on my list...he's great...but he's over-rated....everyone always says hendrix just because thats what alot of people think.
52 - chris
Oh yeah, i was just wondering why nobody ever mentions Krieger or Frampton either....they are bad ass guitar players. You want to talk about creative, original.....Krieger is all of the obover...he hardly ever gets mentioned and it's sad. However, Hammet will always be the best guitar player!!!!!! Oh yeah and i forgot to mention Lifeson as well. I would also like to note a few bassists as well...
1. Les Claypool
2. Cliff Burton
3. Flea
4. Jason Newsted
5. Geddy Lee
53 - 2ndHendrix
I think dave matthews should have some spot amongst the top 100 guitarists,
listen to his acoustic stuff.
he's no soloist and he dosn't play a lot of electric but the way DMB blend together is great.
54 - mike weir
1.jimmy page
2.hedrix
3.david gilmour
4.Roy Buchanan
5.Clapton
6.Slash
7.bb king
8.santana
9.christian datsun
10.michael weir
55 - jay
OK first of all you all are way out of control.. you guys whine and say awww Kurt cobain shouldn't be on that list.. well it all depends on what kind of music u like.. for example whatever band you like your gonna think they should be on the list.. And i hear all these names you are saying and even i dont think they should be on the top 100...Kurt Cobain is a good gutarist, but i agree he shouldnt be in the top 100 and kurt cobain is one of my favorit singers..But everyone forgot to mention Slash from Guns N roses, and Eric Clapton, you people have to stop whinign and think that different people like different music. Jimmy was amazing he could do anything to that guitar in my opinion he is the best,then its eric clapton, then it is Slash from GNR, But that is just my opinion everyone has there own.. u cant let a magazine tell u what u think, cuz its what they think,just because they wrote it doesnt make it true, its just what they think so get off ur damn high horse and shut the fuck up..
56 - Brandon
WHERE THE HELL WAS SLASH!
this is my list.
1. Jimmy Page
2. Saul Hudson "Slash"
3. Hendrix
4. Eddie Van Halen
5. Eric Clapton
6. Joe Perry
57 - J
Ok, here's my complaint. I must've read over thousands of top guitarist lists and not once did I ever see Trevor Rabin in any of those lists! How can he not be? He's awesome!!! He gave YES the biggest break in their career!! Obviously ppl who make up the lists don't know all the great guitarists out there. Next time look all of them up before making a list! It should be somebody who's a music-a-holic and knows about all the great ones out there!
58 - aalhad
yeah i think...jimi hendrix totally rulz....hes god when it comes to guitar....and so is JOHN FRUSCIANTE....ever heard scar tissue?????and slash is great....he shudve been there in the top ten of rollingstones list...
59 - Lance Foley
U know im really disappointed, yes kirk hammett is an excellent guitarist and he inspired me too, but sum AMAZING guitarists never get mentioned, like Alexi Laiho from Children of Bodom, Michael Romeo from symphony X, Yngwie Malmsteen. These are the best guitarist, fast like hell, and got great melody, and heavy too. no one ever talks abt them, its a real shame even though they have amazing music.
60 - Nathan
I think Cobain gets too much crap because they are too popular. He did all the guitar work himself, played well, and wrote good music.
61 - Nathan
Im not saying hes one of the best, but going so far as to say hes a crappy guitar player is rediculous.
62 - JAZ
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE
HAVE YOU NEVER HEARD OF JOHN PETRUCCI FROM DREAM THEATER
IF ANYONE HE NEVER GETS THE RECOGNITION HE DESERVES
63 - Alive*
I guess every single person on here forgot about Mr. Paul Gilbert? One, if not the most credited guitar instructor at GIT. So I gotta say, Paul, you're on my list! It's hard to say whos number 1 and 2 and so on and so on. Were talking about guys who have spent time and effort and sacrafice to be the very best of their ability. Forget the numbers but I'll list some of my favorites, who have influenced if not my guitar playing, my ears!
*****NOT LISTED IN ANY ORDER***
Eric Johnson, Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Robert Fripp, Oz Fox(Stryper), Clapton, Hendrix, Al Dimeola, Rhoades, Wylde, PHIL KAEGGY(Heres a guy not many people know about, but you've gotta check him out.) Stevie Ray, Adrian Belew, Lukather(TOTO), Jeff Beck, Malmstein, Les Ming, Theres lots of great guitarists, guys like Vai and Hammit, some people think I;m crazy but they don't make me feel anything. But again great guitarists. I think if I had to pick an overall #1, and this is based off of overall talent, He can shred licks, Blues Virtuoso, Jazz Extremist, He can play Chet Atkins stuff without skipping a beat, and play it cleaner, He'll play Becks stuff and I swear You;ll think its Beck. I love this guy and he brings it all to the table. Mr. Eric Johnson My Vote's for you!
64 - Angus young
this is bloody bullshit it think that all u hosers should take off the only man better at guitaur than me is jimi hendrix and maybe jimmy page but hendrix is dead u bloody fools go to hell.
65 - Jvvtops
i dunno where all of u get off but im outragged that the almight EC, Clappas, The Immortal Eric Clapton has not rated 1st on all of ur lists. you should all be ashamed of ur selfs. i bet u all that eric clapton could play as well as if not 100 times better than anything hendrix or page or bbking or anyone for that matter, and even though u crazies out there who have hendrix and page and people of the like at the top of the list is because u people are too enthralled with the head waveing, drug taking, guitar smashing attitudes and that sucks. Its the top 100 GUITARISTS that mean good at guitar and Eric clapton takes it hands down...
1.Eric Clapton
2.The rest
66 - john
I cannot believed your offending even better guitarists such as (my list) :
1.Albert Lee (plays outstanding acoustic and electric)
2.Jimmy Page (brought Led Zeppelin to success)
3.Steve Howe (created masterpeices for "Yes")
4.Jorma Kaukonen (This guy can play anything-blues-rock-rag-jazz, he is outstanding)
5.Stevie Ray Vaughn (the best blues guitarist before Peter Green)
6.Peter Green (The greates philosopher of organising his blues music)
7.Gary Moore (Excellent slow blues)
*.Gary Rossington( This is the star who play the Free Bird solo from Lynyrd Skynyrd)
8.Eddie Van Halen
9.Slash
10.Paul Kossof (Magnificent solos in the band Free)
67 - jake
i dont know what all u guys are "thinking" but if you want to see a great list look at my top 10.
1. Jimi Hendrix (unreal finger action)
2. Jimmy Page (him and plant were unreal)
3. Eddie Van Halen (quickest hands)
4. Stevie Ray Vaughn (Best Blues)
5. Randy Rhoades (would have been #1 or #2 without the tragedy)
6. Slash (Guns n Roses are nuts)
7. Eric Clapton (A wizard)
8. Angus Young (ACDC one of best)
9. Ace Freeny (Kiss was great live)
10. BB King (have to have the father)
68 - eric
1.jimmy page
2.girl from heart
3.pete townshend
4.alex lifeson
5.caspian
69 - thenextpage
1.Van Halen(wouldve been 2 w/o eruption)
2.Randy Rhoads
3.Henrix
4.Page
5.Zakk Wylde
6.Tony Iommi(for starting his own genre)
7. B.B.King
8.The guy from Rush
70 - Watchtower
1.Hendrix
2.Stevie Ray Vaughn
Jimi hendrix is the best.......all of yall who said he is less than number 1 are retarded, he is best and will always be best
71 - Watchtower
Eric clapton sucks! Stevie Ray Vaughn is better than him. and Hendrix is better than anyone by far
72 - richard
john frusciante!!!!!! cammon man this guy has to be on everyones mind, chili peppers man, hes wrote some great stuff, and for a long long long long time too.
73 - Watchtower
Jimi Hendrix is the best, no1 will ever be better
74 - me
HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
READ!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jimmy page rules!
Caspian (guy at my school) rules next to page
Pete townshend rules too
so does alex lifeson (RUSH)
GIRL FROM HEART (Listen to beginning of crazy on you)
75 - Watchtower
Hey!!!!!!!
Read This!!!!
Jimi Hendrix is best, no1 next to him, he is the best u can say no one is better or u can compare NO1 to him
Jimi Hendrix