Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists

[J.T.B.]

I am always bewildered at how quickly people dismiss what Keith Richards did. Is it because he doesn't play a lot of solos, people think what he did was easy? Because let me tell you: It isn't. I just got a birthday present of the BD of the Stones' 1978 "Some Girls" tour, and the way he drives the rhythm with Charlie, trades guitar lines back and forth with Woody, breaks out little leads and pops right back into the rhythm is a joy to behold. And lest someone think it's easier to play rhythm parts in DGDBD, I'd point to "Monkey Man," IMO one of the slickest rhythm guitar parts in their whole catalogue, which was standard tuning. I'm not saying he should be as high as he is on the list, but I'm not saying he shouldn't, either!

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.

I had a similar revelation in the last few years (though not because of a broken speaker!), and agree totally. He had a great ear for chords, like the D maj-whatever on "Here Comes the Sun." His playing was elegantly voiced and never any "slop" in it. When collaborating dried up and things split into strictly "John songs" and "Paul songs," it couldn't have easy to be the guitar player between, but wow did he pull it off. His slide touch later on was also very precise.

One of the great innovators in blues playing. Didn't know he died. Very sorry to hear it.

Howlin' Wolf was a big, imposing, maybe scary guy, and Sumlin came up with guitar parts to match him. I love his playing.

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.

I love listening to his parts, they never sound old.

Joni Mitchell: Not always my cup of tea, but her early records with mostly her own acoustic accompaniment have some pretty impressive stuff. She has some sophisticated and original chord voicings, she can really fill out an arrangement.

Willie Nelson: Totally idiosyncratic style and sound (not to mention his eroding classical Martin), you know him anywhere within a couple of notes. His jazzy improvising is never predictable, I'd love to be able to come up with some of the stuff he does.



Justin

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

As long as it's Rolling Stone magazine, Lifeson will never recognized as he should be.

 

[marillion]

As long as it's Rolling Stone magazine, Lifeson will never recognized as he should be.

Truer words have not been spoken... RS is also a big part of why they aren't in the Hall of Fame (along with most other groups who could be considered Prog)...

On that note, I firmly believe at this point, that it's more of an honor NOT to be in the RRHF. In all seriousness, that place doesn't deserve the likes of Rush, Yes or the Moody Blues.

 

[FordSVT]

As long as it's Rolling Stone magazine, Lifeson will never recognized as he should be.

Truer words have not been spoken... RS is also a big part of why they aren't in the Hall of Fame (along with most other groups who could be considered Prog)...

On that note, I firmly believe at this point, that it's more of an honor NOT to be in the RRHF. In all seriousness, that place doesn't deserve the likes of Rush, Yes or the Moody Blues.

It should be called the Pop Music Hall of fame, because that's what it is. That's not how it was conceptualized, but that's what it has turned into. Which is fine, but a lot of the inductees have nothing to do with "Rock and Roll" at all.

 

[Nerys Myk]

"Rock and Roll" has been pretty diverse from the start.

 

[FreezeC77]

Shouldn't the list have "of North America & Europe" tacked onto it? I can't say I'm familiar with guitarists all around the world, but I can say there's some really great guitarists from Japan (like say hide of X Japan) who should be on that list and Korea has some historic rock guitarists as well.

 

[FordSVT]

"Rock and Roll" has been pretty diverse from the start.

Did Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five get inducted because they sampled a Queen song?

I know that there is an "Early Influences" category that includes older blues/jazz, etc. I have no problem with that, the story of Rock and Roll has its roots there. I just don't get most of the rap and hip hop entries, for example.

 

[Nerys Myk]

"Rock and Roll" has been pretty diverse from the start.

Did Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five get inducted because they sampled a Queen song?

I know that there is an "Early Influences" category that includes older blues/jazz, etc. I have no problem with that, the story of Rock and Roll has its roots there. I just don't get most of the rap and hip hop entries, for example.

Like I said Rock and Roll was diverse when it started with Blues, Country and other musical styles influencing the artists who became the earliest "stars". And it continued to diversify and incorporate music from "outside" sources. Hip Hop and Rap can be seen as a music that Rock and Roll and influenced and incorporated. (Though I'm sure fans of Rock and Rap will fight me on that). Rock and Roll more or less is a blanket term for popular music that young people like.

 

[Davros]

Zappa should be higher imo

 

[Bob Morton]

Some of my faves that did not make the list:

Paco DeLucia
Chuck Schuldiner
Pat Martino
Robert Vigna
Al DiMeola
Muhammed Suicmez

 

[FordSVT]

"Rock and Roll" has been pretty diverse from the start.

Did Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five get inducted because they sampled a Queen song?

I know that there is an "Early Influences" category that includes older blues/jazz, etc. I have no problem with that, the story of Rock and Roll has its roots there. I just don't get most of the rap and hip hop entries, for example.

Like I said Rock and Roll was diverse when it started with Blues, Country and other musical styles influencing the artists who became the earliest "stars". And it continued to diversify and incorporate music from "outside" sources. Hip Hop and Rap can be seen as a music that Rock and Roll and influenced and incorporated. (Though I'm sure fans of Rock and Rap will fight me on that). Rock and Roll more or less is a blanket term for popular music that young people like.

I'm really not trying to have a heated argument or anything , but all kinds of music influence one another. If that's the only standard, then there should be classical composers in the rock and roll hall of fame. Electronic music. Like I said, it's not a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, it's a Pop Music Hall of Fame that has a very odd selection process.

Some of my faves that did not make the list:

Muhammed Suicmez

If Yngwie Malmsteen didn't make the list, I don't think Suicmez would want to be on it.

This list is also heavily biased toward individuals who had great influence or cultural impact. A great technical guitarist with a following is not in the same league as Eddie Van Halen when you take influence into account.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Rock (and Roll) and Pop have a lot of crossover. Rock in its various forms dominated the Pop charts for years/decades at a time. So yeah, there is something to calling it a Pop Hall of Fame. Though I'm sure the selection committee will balk at nominating Barbra Streisand or Frank Sinatra.

There might be some merit to nominating classical composers in the "influence" category.

 

[FordSVT]

I'd bet money that Frank Sinatra had more influence on modern Rock and Roll than Grand Master Flash did.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ Neither are particularly good guitarists, though...

 

[Nerys Myk]

I'd bet money that Frank Sinatra had more influence on modern Rock and Roll than Grand Master Flash did.

I dunno, I heard Elvis was more of a Dean Martin fan.

More seriously, the "rap interlude" has become a staple (read overused) in Pop/Rock. . The rap cadence has influenced how vocalists approach lyrics.

 

[gblews]

I'd bet money that Frank Sinatra had more influence on modern Rock and Roll than Grand Master Flash did.

Interesting supposition. Just going by memory, Sinatra did influence an entire generation of young singers. If there had been no Sinatra, there might not have been a Bobby Darin, Bobby Rydell, Bobby Vee, Paul Anka, James Darin, etc. These singers were considered "rock and roll" back in the 60's although from what I have read in this thread, you might consider them "pop".

On the other hand, Grandmaster Flash gave us the very first serious rap song that was not about having fun or food or eating etc. Had there been no Grandmaster Flash there almost certainly would not have been a Public Enemy and no Rage Against the Machine and bands similar to them.

So Sinatra may have had more of an influence on modern rock and roll than Grandmaster Flash if you consider the 60's singers mentioned above, "rock and roll" or "modern".