I haven't heard all these guitarists, so I can't comment on the overall quality of this guy's choice for the 100 greatest rock guitarists, but it has some credibility with me because he got No. 1 right (and I wouldn't argue too much about the top 3). No one before or since Jimi Hendrix has gotten closer to pushing the guitar to its full potential; of all the rock stars who died too young, his, before he reached the limits of his talent, if he had any, was the greatest loss. And, luckily for him and all of his fans, studio technology advanced just enough just in time to be able to produce the sounds he heard in his head.
After my first read through the list, I'd probably move Eddie Van Halen down a bit and Carlos Santana up a bit.
Comments
I agree they got the first several RIGHT....Hendrix would be hard to beat (overall). I WAS surprised that Joe Satriani made it in the top TEN...I thought I as one of a (very) few that actually KNEW who was "Surfin With the Alien" !
It as nice to see (Rory) Gallagher and Trower make it in the top 50. Both guys were great live. I can't imagine NUGENT not making the cut though, as well as Lindsey Buckingham, Nils Lofgren (better as a solo act anyway), Brian Setzer (good with rock AND jazz), and (even) the EDGE.
Glad to see Roy Buchanan make it, but no mention of BILL NELSON (who???) from that early 70s UK group "Be-Bop Deluxe". If you can find it, snag a copy of the first album (Axe Victim) and play the title cut. You will be pleasantly surpised.
Man....I have to admit you got me breaking out the VINYL once again (and showing MY age)....glad I kept that turntable for ALL my UCDs (UN-compact disks)...LOL!
Bob
Knopfler, Dick Dale and Michael Schenker are too low...
On my second run-through, I noticed: No women. Granted, rock guitar has been an almost exclusively male club, and I'm not one to "diversify" a list just for diversity's sake. But Joan Jett and Nancy Wilson might have rated a mention. And does anybody remember Ramatam, the group Mitch Mitchell started after Hendrix died? The lead guitarist was April Lawton, and she rocked.
Leo, I am sure this is a generational thing- but I would have put Eddie Van Halen at #1!
Hey, respect your elders. I mean me, of course, not Jimi Hendrix, since he was younger than Eddie Van Heln OR you when he died. The nice thing about rock is that there is a body of work that crosses generational lines. Grandparents can argue with grandchildren about it(at least those who haven't gotten seduced by rap/hip-hop, the rotten kids). I wouldn't disagree that Van Halen belongs in the top 10; you recognize his sound the minute you hear it. But some people belong on the list because they did something unique, some because they did something first, some because they did something best. Hendrix belongs there for all three reasons, and nobody else even comes close.