Rolling Stone 100 greatest guitarists. Based on ability or popularity

[Clifford-D]

Man, this is so sad.

First of all, why make guitar a pissing contest.

Looking over this list I just can't see how they could miss many of the

best.

Where's Robben, Sco, Metheny, don't see Nels Cline or Wayne Krantz

or Friz and on and on.

All these people I mentioned have achieved the ultimate for guitar,

they sound like themselves and their genious shine on through.

What does it take to get wide public respect?

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5937559/the_100_greatest_guitarists_of_all_time/


Anyone agree with or greatly disagree with this list?

btw, it was cool to see John Chipolina, Mike Bloomfield, Duane Allman especially John.

But still........


:)

[Trandy]

These sort of lists are ridiculous for obvious reasons. IMHO.

[Antero]

Not only are such lists generally useless, especially crossing genre, add on the fact that we're dealing with ROLLING STONE for crying out loud. They haven't had a lick of musical credibility for twenty years.

[mcb]

Well....I'm glad to see Danny Gatton on the list at least.

[Framus]

:cool: Man that's lame...

Chuck Berry ?

:rotflmao:rotflmao:rotflmao:rotflmao

Truth be told,a lot of us here at TGP could blow half the guys on their list away on a good night.

But...we ain't famous,so we get no respect :crazyguy

I know two players locally who could blow every name on their list away with the exception of EVH,Johnny Winter,and Mark Knopfler.

Yes,they are that good at everything you could throw at them.

I agree with some of the list,but boy did they leave out some heavies that should have been on it.

:JAM:JAM:JAM

[StevenA]

No jazz guitarists on the list which must mean they deserve their own list, hence no Christian, Montgomery, Metheny, Benson, Pass, or Atkins among many others. No country phenoms either, however, I get the feeling that if No.17 Jack White was in the same room as (excluded) Steve Morse he would probably wet his pants.

Eddie Van Halen (No. 70?) obviously the editors at RS are going for the absurd so dopes like me will write about it.

Steven

[angus99]

looks like larry carlton's chopped liver, too. :NUTS

Angus

[Austinrocks]

Of course any list would have a lot people disaggreeing with who and where they are listed, Duane Allman at #2 makes me very happy, John McLaughlin at 46, just a head of his student Pete Townsend, I would put John at # 1 tied with Jimi.

[musicalmoose456]

probably a combination of popularity and ability.
kurt cobain has nothin on warren haynes.

[Antero]

:cool: Man that's lame...

Chuck Berry ?

:rotflmao:rotflmao:rotflmao:rotflmaoDude, are you seriously laughing at Chuck F***ing Berry?

...on top of which, did you seriously have the audacity to suggest your local boys could blow away Jimi Hendrix, Ali Farka Toure, Eddie Goddamn Hazel, Ry Cooder, and John Fahey? As idiotic as the existence of this list is, such arrogance is hysterical.

[rockinrob]

You guys could take this list as an insult, or you could take it as what it is- proof that individual chops and playing ability don't mean as much to the majority of average music listeners as they do to some of us.

Overall I didn't think the list was that bad. You can knock Chuck and Curt and whoever all you want, but the truth is you can do more for music with one good song than with a million amazing guitar solos. But then again I've never really cared much about chops...

:crazyguy

[deforce]

#61 Ike Turner

#70 Eddie Van Halen

WTF!!!!

[A-Bone]

Ultimately the problem with this kind of list goes beyond the subjective rankings (which are dubious enough). The real frustration for many of us, especially those that play guitar, is more wrapped up in precisely how to define "greatest" and "rock". Speaking of the former, is this meant to mean those that had the biggest impact as musicians that play the guitar, or players that are the most technically proficient, as songcrafters, as rhythm players, as soloists, or those that have the most recognizable voices as instrumentalists? Any change in the criteria would yield a different reasonable pool from which the choices could be rationally drawn, whereas a list that attempted to combine all of these would be simply assinine.

Added to this, "rock" has become such a wide umbrella that it has lost any meaning, and as a result some of the inclusions versus exclusions seem ill conceived. This is so not only for those of us that see limited value in a list of greatest guitar players that excludes jazz and fusion players, bluegrass, country, and others, while including blues players. If true blue blues cats are "rock" or "rock and roll" guitarists, then fusion players must be as well. Is B.B any closer to rock than Django or Chet or Wes? Not from where I sit.

The list is also marred by too much fascination with more recent players that seem to have a lot of pull now, but have not been tested over the long haul. I respect these lists more when they look to longer periods to select their pool. I have nothing but respect for the guitarists in Radiohead, and I think that Jack White is likely to be a lasting player, but in both cases it seems simply too soon to make these judgments against players like Jimi, Richard Thompson, Eric Clapton, Danny Gatton, etc.

[Ray Gianelli]

Clifford, you summed it up best with the statement " First of all, why make guitar a pissing contest?"

In the end we all have our favorites, our likes and dislikes. But it's music, and to me it should be a brotherhood, not a competition. I have zero time for stuff like that.

[MarkL8]

Lest we forget these are just words printed on paper to which advertisements are to be attached.

[davess23]

Shit. Another list, and somehow I didn't make this one, either. Then again, I never do...

But what can you say...lists are usually weird, and this one's no exception. Seems to me that a fair number of the nominees may be more known for popularizing certain approaches to the guitar than for being particularly skillful at playing. But hey, at least this list has Bert Jansch and the Sunflower on it. Somebody's thinking straight.

[yellowecho]

no Brian Setzer??
Chet Atkins??

I mean, it's an alright list.. but come on!

[Clifford-D]

Lest we forget these are just words printed on paper to which advertisements are to be attached.
You think that's the reason? Money? So 100 greatest money makers?

Whatever the reason, it's BS

This is really misleading to the newb that is searching for excellence.

Why is Rolling Stone copying People mag?

Shame on RS, there was a time this wouldn't have happened.
It was a magazine for the people.

And yes, this applies to this forum because newb guitar players need to
have good direction in their learning. Who the great players are.
The names not mentioned in RS are being mentioned in this thread and
that's a good thing.

:)

[bostonwal]

Considering EVH is normally the darling of these sorts of lifetime lists (top 5 or so typically), it's clear an editor made an arbitrary decision to drop him from the top of the pedestal to #70 in order to drum up "contraversy." I mean it almost seems like an attempt to rewrite history as if saying "Upon further review, it was found that Eddie (no last name needed, ironically) did not, in fact, influence a generation of guitarists with both his solos and songwriting. And he is not actually one of just a handful of guitarists to contribute to the very definition rock guitar." I mean aren't these lists of rock guitarists really about "So, who else has influenced rock guitar besides Jimi, Jimmy, Jeff, Pete, Eric, and Eddie?"

[mark norwine]

No Joe Pass? I mean....really, now

[jtodds]

Well that clearly got it "right". No arguing about it.
No brainer to establish Jack White and the guy from Tool as more important to the guitar and therefore ranked higher than Eddie Van Halen.
Speaking of Tools, they kept a few hacks totally of the list like Wes, Al, Allen, Charlie Christian or Django.
How else would they have room for the guitarist for Alice Cooper, Joni Mitchell (for guitar!) and the legendary guitarist from Voi Vod.

I want the 2 minutes of my life spent on this crap.

Top 100 all time wastes of time:
#1: The incredibly uncredible Rolling Stone Magazine's "lists"

[phatster]

Use this list for toilet paper!Not to mention key people is sacriligious!! Where is RORY GALLAGHER!!!!!

[Aj_rocker]

they dont understand what GREAT guitarist really is, one who has change the way we all play. the list has some of the guitar LOSERS of 2006 who's music wont be around in 2009 let alone in 2040 like wes or vai or lukather


Aj

[Mike T]

Thank the MBA's of marketing to find the lowest common denominator and cash in..................:FM

[re-animator]

are there 10 guitarists better than jimmy page? i doubt it.

[Fezziwig]

I agree that these kinds of list are silly, but if they are at least done with some credibility they have a chance to inspire people to look into new music they might not have discovered otherwise. However, this list is just about the worst list of top X guitarists I've ever seen. At least guitar mags in the past have been a bit better. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to how they measure a guitarist's worth in this list. Not that I'm an enormous EVH fan, but how the heck could he be at 70 in this list, based on who I see ahead of him. It's sad how bad the Rolling Stone has gotten - or maybe not. They always did entertaining but crappy and derogatory reviews of many artists I liked from the 70's.

[wire 247]

Danny Gatton # 63, yeah right.....

[Clifford-D]

Danny Gatton # 63, yeah right.....
You wouldn't happen to be the younger brother of Brad347??

Honestly, how can great artists be rated. The whole concept
is so, so. What's the word I can't think of...

Rate the best 10 words to complete my thought,

Here...

[angus99]

The whole concept
is so, so. What's the word I can't think of...

Rate the best 10 words to complete my thought,


asinine?

futile?

masturbatory?

[The Last Rebel]

Yeah, RS f***ed it up, so us over at BaM made our own, I think you'll be much happier. Alex Lifeson actually made the list this time. Were a bunch of Rush nuts over at BaM, except for Mike, he's the scrooge.:moon
1 Jimi Hendrix
2 Eddie Van Halen
3 Jimmy Page
4 Stevie Ray Vaughn
5 David Gilmour
6 Steve Vai
7 Jeff Beck
8 Eric Clapton
9 Billy Gibbons
10 Alex Lifeson
11 Frank Zappa
12 Michael Hedges
13 Larry Carlton
14 Eric Johnson
15 Joe Satriani
16 Alan Holdsworth
17 Chet Atkins
18 Santana
19 Robert Fripp
20 Danny Gatton
21 George Benson
22 Steve Morse
23 James Burton
24 Richard Thompson
25 Brian May
T26 Mark Knopfler
T26 Randy Rhoads
28 Phil Keaggy
T29 Duane Allman
T29 Ty Tabor
T31 Al Di Meola
T31 Robin Ford
33 Wes Montgomery
34 Freddy King
35 Steve Howe
T36 Derek Trucks
T36 Neil Geraldo
T38 Django Reinhardt
T38 Joe Pass
T38 Neal Schon
T41 David Grissom
T41 Jerry Garcia
43 Paul Gilbert
44 George Lynch
T45 Edge
T45 John Petrucci
T47 Slash
T47 Tom Morello
T47 Warren Haynes
50 Nuno Bettancourt
T51 Ace Frehley
T51 Gary Moore
T51 Keith Richards
54 Rik Emmett (1)
55 Jimmy Herring
56 John McLaughlin
T57 Angus Young
T57 Brent Mason
T57 Buddy Guy
T57 George Harrison
T57Joe Walsh
62 Rory Gallagher
T63 Andres Segovia
T63 Dickey Betts
T63 Ian Chrichton
66 Darrel Dimebag Abbott
T67 John Frusciante
T67 Leo Kottke
T67 Peter Green
T67 Prince
T67 Ted Nugent
T67 Zakk Wylde
T73 Damon Johnson
T73 Dick Dale
T73 Duke Robillard
T73 Greg Allman
T73 Nels Cline
T73 Tommy Emmanuel
T79 Adam Jones
T79 Adrian Belew
T79 Andy Summers
T79 Charlie Hunter
T79 Dave Murray / Adrian Smith
T79 Jerry Cantrell
T79 Pete Townsend
T79 Scott Henderson
T79 Toni Iommi
T79 Yngwie Malmsteen
T89 Jim Campilongo
T89 Martin Simpson
T89 Mike Keneally
T89 Monte Montgomery
T89 Pat Metheney
T89 Robby Krieger
T95 BB King
T95 Ed King
T95 Fred Frith
T95 Larry LaLonde
T95 Melvin Taylor
T95 Michael Schenker
T95 Mike Somerville
T95 Shawn Lane
T95 Steve Cropper

[MarkL8]

You think that's the reason? Money? So 100 greatest money makers?

Whatever the reason, it's BS

This is really misleading to the newb that is searching for excellence.

Why is Rolling Stone copying People mag?

Shame on RS, there was a time this wouldn't have happened.
It was a magazine for the people.

And yes, this applies to this forum because newb guitar players need to
have good direction in their learning. Who the great players are.
The names not mentioned in RS are being mentioned in this thread and
that's a good thing.

:)

No I didnt mean moneymakers they just print any tripe however they see fit so they can attach their adverts to the next page so they become the money maker. I dont think I have picked up a RS in over 20+ years. Around the time real journalism died. Your are right BS to be sure!

[PrestonBrick]

Jimi hendrix may be influencial but you have to keep in mind that he only had one hit and he didnt even write it. He just made it popular. (All along the watch tower). Wheres slash? Joe Perry at 48?

[The Last Rebel]

Hey, someone look at the BaM list! Who cares about Num. 1 hits, The GD were a won hit wonder.

[sanders4617]

I thought Eric Johnson was a great guitar player.. but I guess not. I am just going to quit listening to him. lol.

Brent Mason IMO deserves higher.. Eric Clapton.. definately not one of my favorite guitar players, but so many people love him, so I lose.

[Framus]

:cool: Remember the story where the Monkees knocked Jimi Hendrix off top billing ?

Mike Nesmith guitar hero ?
Get outta here :>)

It's RS marketing for the masses,not even close to reality.

Ignore them...maybe they'll go away.

:cool::cool::cool:

[Yngtchie]

Jimi hendrix may be influencial but you have to keep in mind that he only had one hit and he didnt even write it. He just made it popular. (All along the watch tower)."Purple Haze" wasn't a hit?

[phatster]

I like your list much better!!:horse

[Swifty]

With a few more years of intense study & practise I'd bet this Franks Whatshisname Guy might challenge Kurt Nobrain or Johhny Hormone for a top 20 spot. WAFJ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btA31mhlcME&NR=1

[Figher53]

Maybe they were dictating the list and the guy who was typing it out mixed up #17 and #70. Jack White of the White Stripes at #17 and EVH at #70?

Screw it, even then they musta been smoking something pretty strong...

[Structo]

2003 list....
What's the criteria?

What era?

What style?

Best at what?

Meh.....

[re-animator]

Yeah, RS f***ed it up, so us over at BaM made our own, I think you'll be much happier. Alex Lifeson actually made the list this time. Were a bunch of Rush nuts over at BaM, except for Mike, he's the scrooge.:moon



I liked your list... but BB king at 95 is inexcusable..... By all means he is probably the greatest living guitar legend.

[VH5150]

#61 Ike Turner

#70 Eddie Van Halen

WTF!!!!
jack white 17

EVH 70

Talk about WTF:jo

[Clifford-D]

How would my list go






















Want to see it again?

[timc]

In my opinion, many of the names on the list I don't really consider as "guitarists", but more of a song writer who also plays guitar.

[Clifford-D]

Jimi hendrix may be influencial but you have to keep in mind that he only had one hit and he didnt even write it. He just made it popular. (All along the watch tower). Wheres slash? Joe Perry at 48?
Jimi, one hit? says who, them?

"Them" are getting blasted here.

Besides, I thought we were talking about my list here.



:)