Rolling Stone top 100 guitarists

[PCLoadLetter]

I suspect Keith Richards rolled his eyes when he saw himself listed before Chuck Berry.

 

[Bodie_Broadus]

A friend of mine texted me about that list. She said she was surprised to see Prince so high (she and I are both big fans), I told her to go listen to Purple Rain and get back to me.

Ten minutes later she texted me and said he should be higher based on that song.

 

[I Should Coco]

A friend of mine texted me about that list. She said she was surprised to see Prince so high (she and I are both big fans), I told her to go listen to Purple Rain and get back to me.

Ten minutes later she texted me and said he should be higher based on that song.

I was glad to see Prince at No. 33 -- his work as a guitarist sometimes is forgotten about. Until you see him live -- then you realize that he can still play the heck out of his guitar.

And personally, the start of "When Doves Cry" might be my favorite Prince guitar moment.

 

[MankyJimy]

Venturing outside the playpen...

Anyone wants to know why Springsteen made the list should watch this video from '78:



I'd never thought much of him as a guitarist until I saw it. The whole concert is on there, it is surprising how good it is

 

[Double J]

Also, as long as Rolling Stone's audience remains people my age (39) and older, you'll keep seeing these lists. And I'll admit, I read through it immediately when the magazine arrived last week.

My quibbles: Lindsey Buckingham at No. 100? Brian May at 26? Both way underrated.

No room on the list for great innovators/players like Steve Hackett or Jorma Kaukonen? Fail.

I WAS presently surprised to see Alex Lifeson sneak onto the list at No. 98.

Thanks for mentioning Buckingham. He was another one I was surprised by. Love his work, in particular, one, "Never Going Back Again."

FANTASTIC song.

 

[Bodie_Broadus]

A friend of mine texted me about that list. She said she was surprised to see Prince so high (she and I are both big fans), I told her to go listen to Purple Rain and get back to me.

Ten minutes later she texted me and said he should be higher based on that song.

I was glad to see Prince at No. 33 -- his work as a guitarist sometimes is forgotten about. Until you see him live -- then you realize that he can still play the heck out of his guitar.

And personally, the start of "When Doves Cry" might be my favorite Prince guitar moment.

I am going to see him in three weeks, so excited.

I love When Doves Cry, that song is so mind-blowing. I love that he took the bass line out of it, such a ballsy move.

 

[Double J]

Trivia for the youngsters on the board: Three of the top five on the list succeeded each other as lead guitarist for the Yardbirds.

How wild is that?

 

[Double J]

First comments:

1) Way way way way way way way too many old bluesmen. Most of them never played a note of anything which could be remotely described as "rock" music.

2) Willie Nelson? A top 100 Rock Guitarist?

3) Joni Mitchell? Paul Simon? Ditto.


4) Harrison was a distant second to the best guitarist in the Beatles.

LOL.....the best guitarist in the band was also the best drummer in the band - but he didn't regularly play either instrument.

 

[Starman]

First comments:

1) Way way way way way way way too many old bluesmen. Most of them never played a note of anything which could be remotely described as "rock" music.

2) Willie Nelson? A top 100 Rock Guitarist?

3) Joni Mitchell? Paul Simon? Ditto.


4) Harrison was a distant second to the best guitarist in the Beatles.

LOL.....the best guitarist in the band was also the best drummer in the band - but he didn't regularly play either instrument.

Yep.

This should probably really be in the Beatles thread, but few people realize that almost all the Beatles' screaming hard-rock guitar solos (Ticket to Ride, And Your Bird Can Sing, Taxman, Sgt. Pepper Reprise, Back in the USSR, Helter Skelter) were played by Paul McCartney. "Savoy Truffle" was probably Harrison's best rock solo in the B's.


Harrison was a good player (really good in the slide/wah-wah style of his later career), a top-50 player in his own right, and I could see putting Lennon in the 90s (about even with Springsteen, who resembles him somewhat as a player) but McCartney by a million miles was the best rock guitarist in the Beatles.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

No Steve Hackett in the Top 100?

Strong technical player, excellent atmospheric guitarist.

I figured you would join me in protest about that omission, Sam.

You should have known that. Understand that I'm not barking that Hackett isn't Top 5 or 10, but not even a sniff of the Top 100? Good freaking grief ...

 

[Huggy]

First comments:

1) Way way way way way way way too many old bluesmen. Most of them never played a note of anything which could be remotely described as "rock" music.

2) Willie Nelson? A top 100 Rock Guitarist?

3) Joni Mitchell? Paul Simon? Ditto.


4) Harrison was a distant second to the best guitarist in the Beatles.

LOL.....the best guitarist in the band was also the best drummer in the band - but he didn't regularly play either instrument.

And he was the best singer!

 

[misterbc]

Guess Who axe-man Randy Bachman could, and still can, play circles around probably 15-20 of the names on that list starting with Robby Krieger.

Steven Stills should be in the top 30, at least.