100 Greatest Guitarists

[User169]

Rolling Stone's just put out its new list (previous one was in 2003).

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123

Hendrix still no. 1 - wouldn't have thought there's much problem with that, but lot's of scope for argument elsewhere. The list's entirely anglo-american (with the exception of Angus Young), so no space for, amongst others, Farke Toure or Franco, doesn't seem to include bassists and there's only one woman.

For my money, Verlaine and Richard Thompson are far too low and not entirely sure what Richards is doing in 4th spot (or why "the Edge" is there at all). Nils Lofgren and Joey Santiago don't seem to be on the list at all - rather bizarre omissions and the Bobs - Quine and Stinson - would be on my list.

What do you make of it?

 

[Dan B]

The Edge: "As we were leaving stage, I said [to Bob Dylan], 'Those songs are gonna last forever, Bob.' And he said, 'Your songs are gonna last forever, too - the only thing is, no one's gonna be able to play them.'

 

[threebikesmcginty]

What do you make of it?

Dreadful!

Some folks shouldn't be anywhere near that list and a lot of them shouldn't be at the lofty heights that they are at.

I can't think of all the one's missing, but I'd have these in my list for starters -

Steve Young
Leo Kottke
Dave Edmunds
Mason Ruffner
Merle Travis
Jerry Reed
Jimmy Vaughan (SRV's bro)
Ike Turner
Rhonda Vincent
Albert Lee
Vince Gill
Lester Flatt
Brian Setzer
Wes McGhee

 

[pubrunner]

. . . . . . rather bizarre omissions

What do you make of it?

It is difficult to give any credibility, to a list which omits the likes of John Mclaughlin, Paco de Lucia, Julian Bream & Segovia (and there a few more examples)

Hendrix still no. 1 - wouldn't have thought there's much problem with that,

What do you make of it?

IMO, Django was a greater guitarist. Interestingly, both Chet Atkins and Les Paul; both of whom are on the list, rated Django as the greatest guitarist.

An interesting clip, here :
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-qWgNgWDe4


Les Paul also said of Django . . .

Today, with guitar players who are real superstars, one will have the technique but no feeling, one can pick fast but can't play slow, the other is slow but doesn't have any speed, another won't have the fire of Django. Reindhardt's probably the only one who had most of this together. Though today we find many more talented guitar players, we still don't find any greater guitar players than the master.

And yet, Django doesn't even make the top 100 on the list ?

I'm always a little wary of 'lists'; I remember once, seeing a list that had Elvis down as the World's greatest musician.

 

[Dan B]

I remember once, seeing a list that had Elvis down as the World's greatest musician.

Watching the Detectives? Chelsea? Shipbuilding? OK, there's some fairly schmaltzy crap in there too, but I'd say he was somewhere up there

 

[pubrunner]

Watching the Detectives? Chelsea? Shipbuilding?

???

but I'd say he was somewhere up there

Really, Elvis ? Just how high up would you place him ? Higher or lower than George Formby ?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

If you consider the voice a musical instrument it would be fair to say that Elvis (not Costello) was fairly well known at one time and had a certain influence on popular music.

 

[dellzeqq]

i agree that Lofgren and Pastorius should be in there, along with Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Bob Weir. And Richard Thompson, Tom Verlaine and Roger McGuinn should be higher and Jimmy Page somewhere in the 200s. I'd have like to see David Rawlings get a mention. Good to see James Burton at no. 19 though.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Good to see James Burton at no. 19 though.

Too right, the chief chicken picker!

 

[User169]

It is difficult to give any credibility, to a list which omits the likes of John Mclaughlin, Paco de Lucia, Julian Bream & Segovia (and there a few more examples)



IMO, Django was a greater guitarist. Interestingly, both Chet Atkins and Les Paul; both of whom are on the list, rated Django as the greatest guitarist.




Les Paul also said of Django . . .

Today, with guitar players who are real superstars, one will have the technique but no feeling, one can pick fast but can't play slow, the other is slow but doesn't have any speed, another won't have the fire of Django. Reindhardt's probably the only one who had most of this together. Though today we find many more talented guitar players, we still don't find any greater guitar players than the master.

And yet, Django doesn't even make the top 100 on the list ?

I'm always a little wary of 'lists'; I remember once, seeing a list that had Elvis down as the World's greatest musician.

An odd omission, yes, but there don't seem to be any jazzers - how about Wes Montgomery or George Benson (before his MOR crooner days). Don't agree with Les Paul though. Hendrix is the Bradman of guitar playing - way, way, way ahead of all the rest.

McLaughlin's at no. 68, btw, which seems about right.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

i think a more telling stat is that, jack white excepted, there are no guitarist who didn't start plying their trade in the previous century.

these days its all about mimicing what is known to be marketable and so nothing sounds new. no wonder duran duran and kate bush are still making albums worthy of comment…

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Don't agree with Les Paul though.

That could be from an interview in the 1950s!

 

[pubrunner]

That could be from an interview in the 1950s!

But, it isn't; it was done only a few years before Les Paul died - in the last 8 - 10 years. At the end of the interview, it is possible to see a very old Les Paul - who has just made these comments.

Les was well placed to comment on most other guitarists - having played with and outlived many of them.

 

[goo_mason]

No Andy Latimer, Mike Oldfield, Steve Howe or Mike Holmes?

Meh. Looks like a very US-centric list.

 

[MontyVeda]

(or why "the Edge" is there at all)

He does have, or did have a great sound... but that doesn't make him a great guitarist IMO, yet he always seems to make these lists.... i think they're worried that Bono would organise and anti-rolling stone concert if they were omitted from such lists.