Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists
- Thread starter Canadave
- Start date
Wait! wait! wait and WOAH! I thought Keith Richards was the only guitarist for the Rolling Stones? They have had more than 100? How long exactly has this band been together!?!
Come now... can't you have just a little sympathy for the Devil here?
So Rolling Stone has updated their 2003 argument-starter. Some of the inclusions mentioned up-thread made it to the list. Big climbs were made by Angus Young, Eddie Van Halen, Dave Gilmour, Derek Trucks, Tony Iommi and Neil Young. Big drops for Kirk Hammett (off the list), Robert Johnson, Richard Thompson, Thurston Moore, John Frusciante, Kurt Cobain, and Jack White.
I should note that Hubert Sumlin, Howlin' Wolf's legendary guitarist, died a couple of weeks ago.
See here for the article and list of voters.
Is the list meaningful? Not really, but it's fun to talk about guitar players. The new list, with changes from 2003:
1 Jimi Hendrix (no change)
2 Eric Clapton (+2)
3 Jimmy Page (+6)
4 Keith Richards (+6)
5 Jeff Beck )(+9)
6 B.B. King (-3)
7 Chuck Berry (-1)
8 Eddie Van Halen (+62)
9 Duane Allman (-7)
10 Pete Townshend (+40)
11 George Harrison (+10)
12 Stevie Ray Vaughan (-5)
13 Albert King (new)
14 David Gilmour (+68)
15 Freddy King (+10)
16 Derek Trucks (+65)
17 Neil Young (+66)
18 Les Paul (+28)
19 James Burton (+1)
20 Carlos Santana (-5)
21 Chet Atkins (new)
22 Frank Zappa (+23)
23 Buddy Guy (+7)
24 Angus Young (+72)
25 Tony Iommi (+61)
26 Brain May (+13)
27 Bo Diddley (+10)
28 Johnny Ramone (-12)
29 Scotty Moore (+15)
30 Elmore James (new)
31 Ry Cooder (-23)
32 Billy Gibbons (new)
33 Prince (new)
34 Curtis Mayfield (new)
35 John Lee Hooker (new)
36 Randy Rhoads (+49)
37 Mick Taylor (new)
38 The Edge (-14)
39 Steve Crooper (-3)
40 Tom Morello (-14)
41 Mick Ronson (+23)
42 Mike Bloomfield (-20)
43 Hubert Sumlin (+22)
44 Mark Knopfler (-17)
45 Link Wray (+22)
46 Jerry Garcia (-33)
47 Stephen Stills (-19)
48 Johnny Greenwood (+11)
49 Muddy Waters (new)
50 Ritchie Blackmore (+5)
51 Johnny Marr (new)
52 Clarence White (-11)
53 Otis Rush (new)
54 Joe Walsh (new)
55 John Lennon (new)
56 Albert Collins (new)
57 Rory Gallagher (new)
58 Peter Green (-20)
59 Robbie Robertson (+19)
60 Ron Asheton (-31)
61 Dickey Betts (-3)
62 Robert Fripp (-20)
63 Johnny Winter (+11)
64 Duane Eddy (new)
65 Slash (new)
66 Leslie West (new)
67 T-Bone Walker (-20)
68 John McLaughlin (-19)
69 Richard Thompson (-50)
70 Jack White (-53)
71 Robert Johnson (-66)
72 John Frusciante (-54)
73 Kurt Cobain (-61)
74 Dick Dale (-43)
75 Joni Mitchell (-3)
76 Robbie Krieger (+15)
77 Willie Nelson (new)
78 John Fahey (-43)
79 Mike Campbell (new)
80 Buddy Holly (new)
81 Lou Reed (-29)
82 Nels Cline (new)
83 Edie Hazel (-40)
84 Joe Perry (-36)
85 Andy Summers (new)
86 J Mascis (new)
87 James Hetfield (new)
88 Carl Perkins (new)
89 Bonnie Raitt (new)
90 Tom Verlaine (-44)
91 Dave Davies (-3)
92 Dimebag Darrell (new)
93 Paul Simon (new)
94 Peter Buck (new)
95 Roger McGuinn (new)
96 Bruce Springsteen (new)
97 Steve Jones (new)
98 Alex Lifeson (new)
99 Thurston Moore (-66)
100 Lindsey Buckingham (new)
Dropped off from 2003:
11 Kirk Hammett
23 Warren Haynes
32 John Cipollina
33 Lee Ranaldo
40 John Fogerty
51 Paul Kossoff
53 Mickey Baker
54 Jorma Kaukonen
57 Roy Buchanan
59 Ed O'Brien
61 Ike Turner
62 Zoot Horn Rollo
63 Danny Gatton
66 Vernon Reid
68 Jerry Miller
69 Steve Howe
71 Lightnin' Hopkins
73 Trey Anastasio
75 Adam Jones
76 Ali Farka Touré
77 Henry Vestine
79 Cliff Gallup
80 Robert Quine
84 Eddie Cochran
87 Joan Jett
89 D. Boon
90 Glen Buxton
92 (tie) Wayne Kramer
92 (tie) Fred "Sonic" Smith
94 Bert Jansch
95 Kevin Shields
97 Robert Randolph
98 Leigh Stephens
99 Greg Ginn
100 Kim Thayil
I should note that Hubert Sumlin, Howlin' Wolf's legendary guitarist, died a couple of weeks ago.
See here for the article and list of voters.
Is the list meaningful? Not really, but it's fun to talk about guitar players. The new list, with changes from 2003:
1 Jimi Hendrix (no change)
2 Eric Clapton (+2)
3 Jimmy Page (+6)
4 Keith Richards (+6)
5 Jeff Beck )(+9)
6 B.B. King (-3)
7 Chuck Berry (-1)
8 Eddie Van Halen (+62)
9 Duane Allman (-7)
10 Pete Townshend (+40)
11 George Harrison (+10)
12 Stevie Ray Vaughan (-5)
13 Albert King (new)
14 David Gilmour (+68)
15 Freddy King (+10)
16 Derek Trucks (+65)
17 Neil Young (+66)
18 Les Paul (+28)
19 James Burton (+1)
20 Carlos Santana (-5)
21 Chet Atkins (new)
22 Frank Zappa (+23)
23 Buddy Guy (+7)
24 Angus Young (+72)
25 Tony Iommi (+61)
26 Brain May (+13)
27 Bo Diddley (+10)
28 Johnny Ramone (-12)
29 Scotty Moore (+15)
30 Elmore James (new)
31 Ry Cooder (-23)
32 Billy Gibbons (new)
33 Prince (new)
34 Curtis Mayfield (new)
35 John Lee Hooker (new)
36 Randy Rhoads (+49)
37 Mick Taylor (new)
38 The Edge (-14)
39 Steve Crooper (-3)
40 Tom Morello (-14)
41 Mick Ronson (+23)
42 Mike Bloomfield (-20)
43 Hubert Sumlin (+22)
44 Mark Knopfler (-17)
45 Link Wray (+22)
46 Jerry Garcia (-33)
47 Stephen Stills (-19)
48 Johnny Greenwood (+11)
49 Muddy Waters (new)
50 Ritchie Blackmore (+5)
51 Johnny Marr (new)
52 Clarence White (-11)
53 Otis Rush (new)
54 Joe Walsh (new)
55 John Lennon (new)
56 Albert Collins (new)
57 Rory Gallagher (new)
58 Peter Green (-20)
59 Robbie Robertson (+19)
60 Ron Asheton (-31)
61 Dickey Betts (-3)
62 Robert Fripp (-20)
63 Johnny Winter (+11)
64 Duane Eddy (new)
65 Slash (new)
66 Leslie West (new)
67 T-Bone Walker (-20)
68 John McLaughlin (-19)
69 Richard Thompson (-50)
70 Jack White (-53)
71 Robert Johnson (-66)
72 John Frusciante (-54)
73 Kurt Cobain (-61)
74 Dick Dale (-43)
75 Joni Mitchell (-3)
76 Robbie Krieger (+15)
77 Willie Nelson (new)
78 John Fahey (-43)
79 Mike Campbell (new)
80 Buddy Holly (new)
81 Lou Reed (-29)
82 Nels Cline (new)
83 Edie Hazel (-40)
84 Joe Perry (-36)
85 Andy Summers (new)
86 J Mascis (new)
87 James Hetfield (new)
88 Carl Perkins (new)
89 Bonnie Raitt (new)
90 Tom Verlaine (-44)
91 Dave Davies (-3)
92 Dimebag Darrell (new)
93 Paul Simon (new)
94 Peter Buck (new)
95 Roger McGuinn (new)
96 Bruce Springsteen (new)
97 Steve Jones (new)
98 Alex Lifeson (new)
99 Thurston Moore (-66)
100 Lindsey Buckingham (new)
Dropped off from 2003:
11 Kirk Hammett
23 Warren Haynes
32 John Cipollina
33 Lee Ranaldo
40 John Fogerty
51 Paul Kossoff
53 Mickey Baker
54 Jorma Kaukonen
57 Roy Buchanan
59 Ed O'Brien
61 Ike Turner
62 Zoot Horn Rollo
63 Danny Gatton
66 Vernon Reid
68 Jerry Miller
69 Steve Howe
71 Lightnin' Hopkins
73 Trey Anastasio
75 Adam Jones
76 Ali Farka Touré
77 Henry Vestine
79 Cliff Gallup
80 Robert Quine
84 Eddie Cochran
87 Joan Jett
89 D. Boon
90 Glen Buxton
92 (tie) Wayne Kramer
92 (tie) Fred "Sonic" Smith
94 Bert Jansch
95 Kevin Shields
97 Robert Randolph
98 Leigh Stephens
99 Greg Ginn
100 Kim Thayil
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Still no Gary Moore, it's still bollocks
I didn't see Robin Trower on that list?
No Jeff Healey in the list? For shame...
Keith Richards actually went up.
I'm not sure what I find more offensive, him at 4 or Alex and 98.
No Satch...
And why is Lennon on this list? I mean it just confuses me what criteria they judged upon. If it's skill than Lennon has no business on the list (as do half the others); if it's influence fine, but then Dave Davies should be a lot friggen higher than 91 ... like top 15.
The one good thing I can say about it is, it's nice to see Mike Campbell on the list. The guy deserves way more recognition (for what he does) than he gets.
I'm not sure what I find more offensive, him at 4 or Alex and 98.
No Satch...
And why is Lennon on this list? I mean it just confuses me what criteria they judged upon. If it's skill than Lennon has no business on the list (as do half the others); if it's influence fine, but then Dave Davies should be a lot friggen higher than 91 ... like top 15.
The one good thing I can say about it is, it's nice to see Mike Campbell on the list. The guy deserves way more recognition (for what he does) than he gets.
1 Jimi Hendrix (no change)
2 Eric Clapton (+2)
3 Jimmy Page (+6)
4 Keith Richards (+6)
5 Jeff Beck )(+9)
I was a big fan of Keith Richards and still like Eric Clapton but I would not rate either of them ahead of Jimmy Page or Jeff Beck or Angus Young for that matter.
6 B.B. King (-3)
I used to talk bad about B.B.'s playing. I used to listen to his recordings and wonder how he got his rep. But back in the 90's by chance I got to see him live - boy did he shut me up. When he just plays without having to sing he is dynamic and sizzling hot.
11 George Harrison (+10)
I have always been a big Beatles fan but used to say that as instrumentalists, they were much more about the service of their songs than anything else. But I wake up to this Beatles show on Sunday mornings and I listen on this little stereo radio with one speaker that doesn't work. That speaker being out allows me to sometimes hear only the guitar and drums or only the vocals, whichever. Anyway, I have heard a lot more of George's playing than I ever used to and lets just say that because of this I have no problem with his inclusion and position on the list.
24 Angus Young (+72)
Still should be higher.
43 Hubert Sumlin (+22)
One of the great innovators in blues playing. Didn't know he died. Very sorry to hear it.
Finally, J.T.B. - your shout out to Jimmy "Shank" Nolen, a guitarist who gets no attention, made me smile. Believe it or not, as I was writing this post, a commercial came on T.V. with "Willie and the and Jive" (not the original) playing in the background. Pretty sweet.
So Kirk Hammett goes from #11 to off the list and Hetfield enters at #87? I wonder how much shit he's getting from the guys in Metallica. 
I honestly wonder what the fuck he's still doing in Metallica.
He's too good for those other losers. Now it's just Ulrich, Hetfield, and that other guy. Ulrich has always been a tool. Hetfield just sort of become one as he aged and stopped drinking. And the other guy's name isn't even worth remembering.
Why did Cliff have to die?
Newsted is still making music worth listening to. I think Hammett could too if he wanted.
He's too good for those other losers. Now it's just Ulrich, Hetfield, and that other guy. Ulrich has always been a tool. Hetfield just sort of become one as he aged and stopped drinking. And the other guy's name isn't even worth remembering.
Why did Cliff have to die?
Newsted is still making music worth listening to. I think Hammett could too if he wanted.
Okay you are fucking kidding me that Paul Simon and Willie Nelson are two of the greatest guitar players ever but Steve Howe and Roy Buchanan aren't?
Joanie Mitchell? PLEASE! Is this just to get another woman on the list? Speaking of, what is so freaking great about Bonnie Raitt other than she's a favorite of Jann Wenner, the publisher. She is about a generic a vocalist and lead guitarist as you could possibly find AND she's in the Hall of Shame. I don't get it. I don't care how much she loves the old Blues giants, she's BORING!
Duane Allman slipping down the list is distressing, but I think the number of people who remember him is dwindling. Certainly the only Allman Brothers stuff you'll hear on radio is "Ramblin' Man" and "Jessica," the countrified garbage led by Dickey Betts.
Duane Allman slipping down the list is distressing, but I think the number of people who remember him is dwindling. Certainly the only Allman Brothers stuff you'll hear on radio is "Ramblin' Man" and "Jessica," the countrified garbage led by Dickey Betts.
^ You do hear him on Layla on the radio quite a lot but I suppose a lot of people don't realise that he's doing all the cool slide work and assume it's Clapton doing it.
That's why I said Clapton's greatness stopped with Cream, because Duane did all the lead/slide guitar heavy lifting on the "Layla" album. Clapton was in awe of him and mainly stuck to lead vocals and rhythm guitar. Duane even came up with the riff that defines the first half of the title song. The drummer on the album wrote and played the piano coda that Allman slide solos over at the end of the title piece.
I've removed those who shouldn't be on the list (note: this isn't the order I'd choose)...
Jimi Hendrix
Eric Clapton
Jimmy Page
Keith Richards
Jeff Beck
B.B. King
Chuck Berry
Eddie Van Halen
Duane Allman
Pete Townshend
George Harrison
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Albert King
David Gilmour
Freddy King
Derek Trucks
Les Paul
James Burton
Carlos Santana
Chet Atkins
Frank Zappa
Buddy Guy
Angus Young
Tony Iommi
Brian May
Bo Diddley
Ry Cooder
Billy Gibbons
Prince
Curtis Mayfield
John Lee Hooker
Randy Rhoads
The Edge
Steve Cropper
Tom Morello
Mike Bloomfield
Hubert Sumlin
Mark Knopfler
Jerry Garcia
Muddy Waters
Ritchie Blackmore
Johnny Marr
Otis Rush
Joe Walsh
Albert Collins
Rory Gallagher
Peter Green
Robbie Robertson
Dickey Betts
Robert Fripp
Johnny Winter
Duane Eddy
Slash
Leslie West
T-Bone Walker
Robert Johnson
John Frusciante
Kurt Cobain
Dick Dale
Robbie Krieger
Willie Nelson
Mike Campbell
Buddy Holly
Joe Perry
Andy Summers
James Hetfield
Bonnie Raitt
Dimebag Darrell
Alex Lifeson
Thurston Moore
Lindsey Buckingham
And the vacant spots can now accomodate the likes of:
Paco De Lucia
Al Di Meola
Steve Vai
Joe Satriani
Yngwie Malmsteen
Eric Johnson
Greg Howe
Guthrie Govan
Allan Holdsworth
Barney Kessel
Wes Montgomery
Gary Moore
Steve Stevens
Greg Howe
Jennifer Batten
Tony Macalpine
Jimi Hendrix
Eric Clapton
Jimmy Page
Keith Richards
Jeff Beck
B.B. King
Chuck Berry
Eddie Van Halen
Duane Allman
Pete Townshend
George Harrison
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Albert King
David Gilmour
Freddy King
Derek Trucks
Les Paul
James Burton
Carlos Santana
Chet Atkins
Frank Zappa
Buddy Guy
Angus Young
Tony Iommi
Brian May
Bo Diddley
Ry Cooder
Billy Gibbons
Prince
Curtis Mayfield
John Lee Hooker
Randy Rhoads
The Edge
Steve Cropper
Tom Morello
Mike Bloomfield
Hubert Sumlin
Mark Knopfler
Jerry Garcia
Muddy Waters
Ritchie Blackmore
Johnny Marr
Otis Rush
Joe Walsh
Albert Collins
Rory Gallagher
Peter Green
Robbie Robertson
Dickey Betts
Robert Fripp
Johnny Winter
Duane Eddy
Slash
Leslie West
T-Bone Walker
Robert Johnson
John Frusciante
Kurt Cobain
Dick Dale
Robbie Krieger
Willie Nelson
Mike Campbell
Buddy Holly
Joe Perry
Andy Summers
James Hetfield
Bonnie Raitt
Dimebag Darrell
Alex Lifeson
Thurston Moore
Lindsey Buckingham
And the vacant spots can now accomodate the likes of:
Paco De Lucia
Al Di Meola
Steve Vai
Joe Satriani
Yngwie Malmsteen
Eric Johnson
Greg Howe
Guthrie Govan
Allan Holdsworth
Barney Kessel
Wes Montgomery
Gary Moore
Steve Stevens
Greg Howe
Jennifer Batten
Tony Macalpine
Wes Montgomery was a stone genius, I'd put him at #2 if you are going to not restrict it to rock, blues and metal. Rolling Stone probably never heard of him. Terry Kath of early Chicago belongs on that list, too, but RS hated Chicago from the beginning. Before he was reduced to backing Peter Cetera crooning ballads (1973-77), he was monster when they let him loose, combining acid rock, blues and jazz (1969-1972).