GreggKoval.com's

Well, I don't know who the hell made that insulting list over there but they better do more listening or maybe have some guitar players do the judging. Just shameful. I'd bet the person that did this is about 35, got his first radio when CDs came out and drops in the odd guitar player name he's never heard of. I wonder how they arrived at the positions and how they figure a guitar hack like Kurt Cobain (who shouldn't even had made the list) is ahead of Jeff Beck?

What do I think of the choices? Read on...

Guitarist	Comments	More Accurate Placing
#1 Jimi Hendrix	OK, so Hendrix should have made the list - for sure. But 1st? C'mon.	Top 10
Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band	Surprised at this one since he made it. Duane was great but #2 is a little high.	Top 10-20
B.B. King	B.B.'s great. His live playing is so much better than studio recordings.	Top ten is fair
Eric Clapton	Winner of the Squandered Talent Award. Peter Green and Mike Bloomfield were better though.	I knew he'd be on here somewhere. Top 20 is fair.
Robert Johnson	Why does everybody pick this guy? I swear in London, all the bands must have shared one album from him and recorded his songs. He's great and all but he wasn't even close to Blind Willie McTell or Mississippi John Hurt.	Top 20
Chuck Berry	I love Chuck Berry too. But they should have said T-Bone Walker - the guy Chuck stole all his licks from.	Top 20
Stevie Ray Vaughan	I wonder if he knew at the time he was out that he'd be spawning a bunch of lame rip off artists like Johnny Lang? Saw him in Ann Arbor - no, not Johnny Lang.	Top 20
Ry Cooder	Brother knows his stuff. I think this is one of the few accurate positions.	in and around here.
Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin	I like Jimmy Page too but he shouldn't be this high up the list.	Top 40 or 50
#10 Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones	Keith did more back in 64-66 than a lot of guitar players can do now. And when he's playing by himself he's almost scary - knows his stuff.	Fairly positioned.
Kirk Hammett of Metallica	Why? This guy and Steve Vai took lessons from Joe Satriani, and Steve Vai was better than both of them.	shouldn't have charted
Kurt Cobain of Nirvana	Why? One of the worst guitar players to ever be recorded and he's #12?	shouldn't have charted
Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead	An endless supply of licks and phrases - and I'm not even a Dead Head. The Jerry Garcia Band stuff was great though.	Top 20 -30
Jeff Beck	Hmmm...all the way down here, eh? proof the guy who compiled this is an idiot.	4th or 5th
Carlos Santana	I'm sure if he didn't get all those Grammys he'd be foundation at the bottom.	Top 70-80
Johnny Ramone of the Ramones	What the hell? The Ramones are fun but he couldn't scare a grade schooler with his guitar playing.	shouldn't have charted
Jack White of the White Stripes	Why is he on here? Because they have a hit now or just because the band is just guitar and drums? Oh, just like Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers? Who also had better chops.	shouldn't have charted
John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers	Proof the guy who wrote this got into music when Mother's Milk came out.	Top 90-100 maybe
Richard Thompson	From the Group of Seven? An underground guy. Never heard of him.	? Note: That's an art joke. I haven't heard enough of him to rate. Thanks to all the people who wrote in and said, "You never heard of him?"
#20 James Burton	Ah, somebody with playing ability.	Top 40-50
George Harrison	George is great and pretty underrated. I'm sure if he didn't play a Gretch or Rickenbakers his sound would have been better and then not taken as just an OK player.	Fairly positioned.
Mike Bloomfield	At least he made it.	Top 20
Warren Haynes	Here's one that makes sense. Just get The Allman Brothers Band At Great Woods on video (don't get the DVD). Scary.	Top 20-30
The Edge of U2	Mmmm...little high in the chart position.	Top 90-100
Freddy King	Let's Hideaway. An obvious name drop from the guy who wrote this.	Top 50-60
Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave	Shut up.	shouldn't have charted
Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits	This guy's so great. Especially the album with Chet Atkins. Who's Chet? You'd never know from this list.	Fairly positioned. Chet Atkins - Top 10.
Stephen Stills	He's good but not #28 good.	Top 90-100
Ron Asheton of the Stooges	Yeah, sure.	shouldn't have charted
#30 Buddy Guy	I see Buddy Guy comes in after the guy from the Stooges. I hope you know why I hacking on this list.	Top 20-30
Dick Dale	What? This clown? I know he thinks he good though.	shouldn't have charted
John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service	Oh, really high on this list.	Top 90
Lee Ranaldo & Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth	Crazy with tunings, but a little high in the list. I went and listen to Lee Ranaldo's song there on his website. What a piece of trash - spoken word and guitar noise.	Top 80-90 until I listened to Lee Ranaldo's song there on his website. Shouldn't have charted.
John Fahey	Good stuff too.	Top 20-30
Steve Cropper of Booker T. and the MG's	If you play guitar, you should know Steve Cropper just by name.	Top 30-40
Bod Diddley	Who the hell is Bod Diddley? I have some Bo Diddley and it's real good. Still a little high on the list.	Top 60-70
Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac	I'm surprised he even got mention with the above fodder. Easily should have been higher than Clapton.	Top 10-20
Brian May of Qeen	Qeen? Obviously not an English major. Way too high. He shouldn't be higher than Tony Iommi since Queen used to listen to Sabotage for ideas for their records.	Top 80 since he played on top of Buckingham Palace.
#40 John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival	Fogerty's great. Knows his background too. Still #40's a little too high.	Top 70-80
Clarence White of the Byrds	The best thing he did was invent the B-Bender on the Telecaster.
Robert Fripp of King Crimson	He took lessons from Robin Trower. Trower? Oh, he's not on the list either.	Top 20-30 for Robin Trower
Eddie Hazel of Funkadelic	I don't remember him tearing up the fret board on anything.	shouldn't have charted
Scotty Moore	I'm sure the guy who compiled this asked someone else, "What was Elvis' guitar player's name? And not James Burton either"	Definitely should have been higher. Top 10 for sure.
Frank Zappa	Frank was great too. He'd probably roll over in his grave if he read this list.	Fairly positioned.
Les Paul	Les Paul at #45!? Plain stupid. Rolling Stone needs a knowledgeable staff.	#2
T-Bone Walker	We already mentioned that Chuck Berry stole his licks but didn't mention Hendrix stole his stage performance (playing behind the head and stuff).	Top 10-20
Joe Perry of Aerosmith	You kidding me? In the top 50? No.	shouldn't have charted
John McLaughlin	Not my cup of tea but better than a lot of sludge that made the list.	Fairly positioned.
#50 Pete Townshend	Poor Pete. Anyways, his acoustic playing is great.	Fairly positioned.
Paul Kossoff of Free	Mmmm...at #50 it's a little forgiving	Top 100
Lou Reed	Lou Reed? I like Lou Reed. Used to listen to the VU album a lot. But, c'mon.	shouldn't have charted
Mickey Baker	From Mickey and Silvia fame.	Fairly positioned.
Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane	How do you pronounce that? He's good though.	Maybe a little lower.
Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple	Why he's down here, I have no idea. Far superior to Clapton. In the late 60s, the big three should have been Beck, Hendrix and Blackmore.	Top 20
Tom Verlaine of Television 57	Punk guitar players just don't count	shouldn't have charted
Roy Buchanan	He's great too.	Fairly positioned.
Dickey Betts	I see, all the way down here. He may have not have been Duane or Warren but he's better than a lot of the names mentioned here.	Top 30-40
#59&#60 Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien of Radiohead	yeah, OK. 59&60?	shouldn't have charted
Ike Turner	I got Ike on an Albert King album - playing piano! Oh yeah, where's Albert King?	shouldn't have charted. Albert King - Top 20-30
Zoot Horn Rollo of the Magic Band	Uh huh.	shouldn't have charted
Danny Gatton	I'm surprised he made it. One of the more fantastic guitar players that ever lived.	Top 10-20
Mick Ronson	David Bowie's guy? Hmm. I liked that Tin Machine guitar player though.	Top 100
Hubert Sumlin	For you kids out there, this was Howlin Wolf's guitar player. One of the best back then.	Top 20-30
Vernon Reid of Living Colour	I'm surprised he wasn't right after Kurt Cobain in this list. Just terrible playing from this guy.	shouldn't have charted
Link Wray	Makes me feel good as a singer. Anyways, not bad.	Fairly positioned.
Jerry Miller of Moby Grape	He was OK. Again, a little high on the list.	Top 100
Steve Howe of Yes	I was never big on Yes but everyone knows Steve Howe's great.	Top 30-40
#70 Eddie Van Halen	The Wayne Gretzky of the guitar and he's listed at #70? Idiots.	Top 10-20
Lightnin' Hopkins	Hmmm...Lightinin' was good, for sure. But he used to mess up his changes all the time - on record.	maybe a little lower.
Joni Mitchell	I never thought of her as a guitar player but I guess she had some crazy tunings and stuff.	Fairly positioned.
Trey Anastasio of Phish	I like Trey since he stopped getting too tricky (Junta album).	Fairly positioned.
Johnny Winter	Johnny's a little low in the placement. And Muddy liked him too.	Top 30-40
Adam Jones of Tool	Oh yes, how could I forget Tool? I'll give you a tool.	shouldn't have charted
Ali Farka Toure	Ah, the token "world music" guy for this list.	I don't know.
Henry Vestine of Canned Heat	I wonder why Harvey Mandel wasn't mentioned instead since he was almost a Rolling Stone?	I don't know.
Robbie Robertson of the Band	Robbie's great.	Fairly positioned.
Cliff Gallup of the Blue Caps	Another low-on-the-list guy.	Top 30-40
#80 Robert Quine of the Voidoids	Punk guitar players just don't count	shouldn't have charted
Derek Trucks	Sure he's a Brother now but he's still a Warren Haynes rip-off.	shouldn't have charted
David Gilmour of Pink Floyd	Great touch, nice tone and he's...down here at #82?	Top 30-40
Neil Young	I like Neil.	Top 30-40 for acoustic playing. Top 100 for electric.
Eddie Cochran	Ah, another pioneer in the bottom of the listings.	Top 20-30
Randy Rhoads	Another low one here. Wasn't big on him but should be higher in the list.	Top 40-50
Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath	So, let's see. If you invent a style of music, you're stuck at #86? And he's better now than he ever was.	Top 30-40
Joan Jett	If I didn't think my Grandma would read this, I'd use the "F" word. Joan Jett?	shouldn't have charted.
Dave Davies of the Kinks	Never thought of him as much of a guitar player.	Fairly positioned.
D. Boon of the Minutemen	Punk guitar players just don't count	shouldn't have charted
#90 Glen Buxton of Alice Cooper	No.	shouldn't have charted
Robby Krieger of the Doors	At least he played an SG.	Fairly positioned.
Fred "Sonic" Smith, Wayne Kramer of the MC5	Uh, no and no again.	shouldn't have charted
Bert Jansch	Well, he's down about 50 notches.	Top 50-60
Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine	Haven't heard of these guys? I had the unfortunate pleasure of having to.	shouldn't have charted
Angus Young of AC/DC	Almost done this joke of a list. Yes, everyone knows Angus should be in the the 30-40. Except for this list.	Top 30-40
Robert Randolph	He's great but we'll stick to, oh, how about 6 strings.	Top 70-80
Leigh Stephens of Blue Cheer	No	shouldn't have charted
Greg Ginn of Black Flag	I almost used my, "Punk guitar players just don't count." but he was better than most of them.	shouldn't have charted
Kim Thayil of Soundgarden	Uh, no. What's-his-name from Jane's Addiction was better.	shouldn't have charted

So you're wondering, "OK, smart-ass, who should have been number one?" I'll tell you - Django Reindhart. He's the reason Les Paul made second and not first.

Others who didn't make the list: Blind Willie McTell, Mississippi John Hurt, Chet Atkins, Roy Clark, Leo Kottke, Big Bill Broonzy, Wes Montgomery, Albert Lee, Albert King, Tommy Bolin, Pat Metheny, Brian Setzer, Lindsey Buckingham, Peter Frampton, Joe Walsh, Ronnie Wood, Steve Vai, Ricky Scaggs, Paul McCartney, Robin Trower, Muddy Waters, Frank Gambale, Danny Kirwin, Waddy Watchel, Alvin Lee, Steve Morse, Jeremey Spencer, Mick Taylor, Andy Summers, Don Felder. I'm sure I forgot plenty more.

Other people's write ins:

I do try and personally write back to people thanking them for their e-mails. If I don't write back it's never on purpose, and if I didn't write back, thanks for writing in. I mean it.

ANDY POWELL OF WISHBONE ASH IS SIMPLY AMAZING. HE IS STILL WORKING THE BOARDS, AS ASH IS IN THEIR 38TH YEAR.

I SAW THEM IN MINNEAPOLIS ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND POWELL IS AS BRILLIANT AND CONFIDENT AS EVER. WISHBONE ASH PIONEERED THE TWIN LEAD SOUND< EVEN THIN LIZY CREDITS THEM FOR THAT. POWELL IS ALSO THE PIONEER OF THE FLYING V.

MICHAEL SCHENKER OF UFO DESERVES A PLUG, TOO

RICH SOUTH DAKOTA

I was absolutely appalled when I saw this list!!! Sure there are a few that where in the right place but the few that really stuck out in my mind was Kurt Cobain being #12. He doesn't deserve to be on the list at all, and yet Tony Iommi and Angus Young weren't in the top 70!!!! There is one person who I think deserves to be on the list. Donald Roeser or as he is professionally known as Buck Dharma (lead guitarist of Blue Oyster Cult.) Sure I doubt a whole lot of younger people have heard them, but the man can make his guitar talk to you if you are willing to listen, and he is the signature sound of a great and underrated rock group.

P.S. I dont know when you made this or when the last reply was so if it was a couple years ago SORRY

Daniel Corl

Hi, dunno if you are still around but I just came across your page and agree with most of your opinions. A glaring omission is the wonderful Leslie West….a great tonal player and some of the best and most pure bends ever recorded. Honourable mentions to Jim McCarty of the original Cactus and Zal Cleminson from Sensational Alex Harvey Band.

Dennis James.

Gregg:
Richard Thompson played with Fairport Convention. He also recorded with his wife as "Richard and Linda Thompson". He's good, but I don't know or care about where he placed in the Rolling Stone poll. Polls and awards like Oscars, Pulitzers, etc aren't worth their weight in shit. They don't go to the most talented-they go to the flavor of the month (like Jack White in the Rolling Stone guitarists poll) or they go to people who don't deserve an award this year but are getting one anyway because they were passed over in previous years for an award they should have gotten then (like Ernest Hemingway getting a Pulitzer for his later lame stuff because the Pulitzer people felt bad or foolish about not recognizing his early good stuff). That's why truly talented people like Marlon Brando are dismissive about these things.

Respectfully yours,
Keith Novinski

i came across your website looking for that rolling stone list of the top 100 guitar players of all time, so thanks for posting it.

i was amazed you've never heard of richard thompson, however. he is truly an amazing guitar player, you should check him out.

not necessarily everyone's cup of tea, my husband, who is a blues man, thinks he's a little too polished. but for pure technique, he is unbelieveable.

i agree that jimi is a lame excuse for number 1. i think a lot of these people got more props for dying young.

cheers mollie

Martin Scorsese's new 4-hour documentary on Bob Dylan holds the answer to the never-ending battle on who was the absolute greatest,something I have known since 1965.......Michael Bloomfield.End of discussion

Dear Gregg,
I read the review on the top 100 guitar players list, and agree on most of the comments you stated. There is one person either i overlooked in the list, or was left out, and that is "Joe Satriani". He is one of my personal favorites, and is a great artist even if you don't like the style. One more is "Phil Keaggy". Most people don't know of him due to his Christian approach, but is in my top 5, check out his album "Acoustic Sketches"(it will change your life).

Also in my top 20 would be "Jack Johnson", "Mason Williams" (Classical Gas), and yes the guitar player from Audioslave. I'd Love to hear back from you, and I know I'm behind the times on the list deal, but I really didn't stumble on your site till tonight.

Thanks, Chris

I think the RS underrated JP by giving him the 9TH spot. A guy so innovative should definetley be at the top. You blew it big time by ranking JP at 40 -50.

Saul Meir

no mention of paul gilbert, no mention of shaun lane, and most importantly, no mention of ace frehley.... this guy inspired more kids to pick up a guitar than clapton, page and hendrix combined. period.

Tom

Randy Holden (Guitar God), Rick Derringer, Gary Moore, Martin Pugh (Steamhammer), Adrian Gurvitz (Gun, Ginger Baker), Pete Ham (Badfinger), April Wine (both guitars). Yes, Leigh Stephens should of charted for all of his recordings (Silver Metre), Redweather. So many. Roger McGwinn, and the guitarists for Atlanta Rhythm Section and the Outlaws.

Chris Iverson

The only thing I agree with on the Rolling Stone list is Jimi Hendrix as number one. John McLaughlin should be number 2. Check out The Promise. No one has mastered so many genres as he has. And he and Miles created fusion. Jack Johnson is perhaps the greatest rock or jazz album ever made.

Jimmy Page and Jorma Kaukonen should be right up there too.

What about Chet Atkins or Wes Montgomery?

The Rolling Stone list is simply parochial and bizarre.

Brad Rockwell

95%? Yes my friend there's a couple of fellows who have been left standing in the cold harsh "pergatory" of the wrongly unworthy. - Andy Summers. Classic tele tone + effects wizardry beyond belief. You have to admit there's some tasty playing there - the cheesy stuff is all Sting, I swear it. - Jimmy Nolen. James Brown's guitarist. Nuff said really.

Brian Studak

I love seeing all the names that others have added, and I'd probably put all of them ahead of more than half Rolling Stone's picks. I could come up with a good 100 or so I'd put in front of half of theirs. BUT you absolutely have to put Michael Schenker on the list.

respectfully,
Paul Chown

Hi Gregg,

Ran across your review of Rolling Stone's Top 100 Guitarists list by accident. Very on-the-mark, and very funny too!

Rolling Stone lost credibility about 25 years ago, around the time their cover featured Bruce Springsteen ice skating across a pond. They're strictly a fashion rag these days. So no wonder their list is so lame.

A couple disagreements with your own reviews: Carlos Santana should be in the Top 20, if not the Top 10. John Cipollina in the Top 30. Dick Dale was a true original (Top 30). Richard Thompson used to play for Fairport Convention (seminal English folk-rock band). He is now a critic's darling, and a very good guitarist, though not as good as most people make him out (he's a better songwriter than guitarist).

There are a number of blues and jazz guitarists missing, in addition to McTell and Rheinhardt: Blind Blake, Rev. Gary Davis, Wes Montgomery, Charlie Christian, etc. Also missing are Nick Drake and John Renbourn (more English folkies). Steve Hillage and Ollie Halsall were two unbelievable progressive rock guitarists.

The Rolling Stone list was a complete joke (Eddie Van Halen at number 70??!!). Thanks for calling them out.

Pete
Cincinnati, Ohio

Great improvements to the list!

There are two huge mistakes though.

#1 Why is everyone so Anti-Morello? Is it because they don't believe that some sounds on Rage/Audioslave CD's come from him? That's probably why. I cannot think of a more inventive guitarist than Morello. An allon wrench as a playing tool? If power chord freaks are a nightmare to you I'll have you know Morello is almost a single-string player. He can shred quite well too.

#2 I know you put Lindsey Buckingham on you list of people you didn't put on the list, but still I really respect this guy. Never used a pick in his life. A very underrated guitarist.

Morello is the reason I decided to pick up a guitar Buckingham is the reason my dad still fingerpicks. - Ian

Hi, my name is Alex, I have been playing guitar for 8 years, and I hate the list that the stones made, probably Keith who made it, and Keith shouldn't be #10 maybe #50 and jimmy page is around #4 or #5, Jack white I would say number #4,999. and all the other punk rock 5,000 and please don't swear on the site cause kids read it. (this is now a swear-free page - gk)

Gregg,

Read your list with great interest. Here's a few you might have missed:

Eric Johnson (very versatile, awesome tone, has taken the next step with some of his influences) Yngwie Malmsteen (you don't have to like his music to acknowledge he is a great player) Vinnie Moore (not a clone of Malmsteen. Original stuff with the same classical influence) Joe Satrianni (you mentioned but didn't add him) John Petrucci (you need to listen to Dream Theater if you haven't) Shawn Lane (Scary Good! it's sad he is no longer with us) Al Dimeola (smooth/great tone, very fluid style) Alan Holdsworth (on another plane; awesome; I am not into him but I appreciate what he does) Marty Friedmann (very technical, interesting approach to the instrument, use of exotic tones and scales) Billy Gibbons ( of ZZ Top fame the master of understatement, thick fat tone and plays the right notes at the right time; not many can say that!) John Sykes (of Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Blue Murder Fame; this boy can wail and do things with a Les Paul that a lot of us can't do with a whammy bar!) George Lynch (of Dokken fame; used to be quite an a-hole but he can sure wail! No training yet he pulls off exotic notes and sounds you would swear he had to be trained to play) Zak Wylde Darrell Lance Abbott aka Diamond Darrell of Pantera (awesome, awesome. The man has chops out the wazoo and has a fingerboard reach that is unbelievable)

One of the things that should determine greatness is did they change/influence the music scene of their times? (some of the names below come to mind; I am mentioning some already on the top 100 list; and I am forgetting names too!)

ANDRES SEGOVIA (no one, I repeat no one would be playing guitar if it wasn't for him. He legitimized the instrument) Christopher Parkening (plays better than Segovia [who taught him, I believe]) Paganinni (he blazed on guitar as well as violin; he was almost as well know for his guitar playing in his day) Les Paul ( the master technician, the most influential electric guitarist/producer/audio engineer of the 20th century) Chet Atkins (very, very influential to country and rock players; doesn't get the recognition he deserves since his passing) Chuck Berry (he may have copped his style but he is the one that took it to the masses) Eddie Van Halen (there was before Eddie and after Eddie, nuff said!) Jimi Hendrix (same as Eddie) Randy Rhodes (ditto) Tony Iommi (very, very influential) "Fast" Eddie Clark (of Motorhead/Fastway fame; not because of technical brilliance but for his influence on the heavy metal scene; solid player) Jimi Page Jeff Beck Eric Clapton Robin Trower Joe Satrianni Steve Vai Ritchie Blackmore (agree on your statements)

Oh, I DO think Joe Perry belongs on the list but low. When not on drugs or alcohol, he can wail with the best of them. Brian May does as well. You need to listen to more Queen, I think ;-)

The REAL issue with these lists is that they are compiled by submissions from other folks. People forget names, they don't have enough spaces to put in names, and other issues that keep the list "real". Also, this list is rock influenced and you see names of those that influenced others on here but you see a sad lack of classical and Jazz players on here.

>From my perspective, it's easy to focus on a style, genre or favorite music when coming up with this list. I know I am guilty of missing some Jazz artists above. I also understand that there are some newer guitarists out there that are quite unique. Oh well, I think it difficult to come up with a list without understanding history and actually having heard EVERY guitarist! LOL

Thank you,

Chris Tebo

good work lenny breau was a favourite of mine alot of jazz guys would have filled the list not to mention classical flamenco.... you get my point, think they should of made a list for each style. Later Derrick

good job on the list. I too thought the rolling stone magazine list was bogus. you got most of it right (especially the part about django reinhardt) but you missed one name. yngwie malmsteen.

Just reading your site about Rolling Stones "100 greatest guitarists," found your comments to be interesting. I just don't understand where and how RS chooses their top 100. I'm sorry but I believe that Trey Anastasio should have been higher then 73. I think Slash from GNR should have made the list. However, the biggest disappointment was that DAVE MATTHEWS didn't make this list. I was shocked and almost over whelmed. I would have to say that Dave Matthews is one of the most talented guitarists ever. I'm almost ashamed he didn't make it. Not that you really care how I feel, just thought I'd vent to you.. Take care, and I really enjoyed reading your site...

Kristin :)

Where would you place Alex Lifeson of Rush?

Thanks, Jeremy

what is your problem Joe Perry should be on the top 100 he is better then Angus, Hendrix, Robert Johnson, Duane, Chuck Barry, Edge, and your little T.Bone Walker!

Richard Thompson- ''Fairport Convention'','' Richard and Linda Thompson'', and solo artist extraordinaire. And Tom Verlaine/Television are the natural successors of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac 1969-70 era. Check em out.

Gregg,

Some solid commentary although I can honestly say there were some on the list that I've never heard of.

I came up with a few names to throw out to you for comment if you care to.

Martin Barre (Jethro Tull)
Steve Hackett (before Genesis became the Phil Collins Band. Some awesome 12 string here as well)
Adrian Belew (especially the Crimson stuff)
Toy Caldwell (The Marshall Tucker Band)
Two guys who I never saw live but put out some great dueling sounds and some very tasty hooks- Andy Powell and Laurie Wisefield of Wishbone Ash- Too bad I never saw them!

Just thinking out loud. I completely agree that some of the guys (especially the Punk guys) should not have made it.

I guess if you die young, you automatically jump up at least a few if not several notches but rock-n-roll is famous for that!

Regards

Ken Maher

Hi, With all due respect and of course in the end it is all opinion, however 1) Duane Allman revolutionized electric slide guitar and was a phenomenal lead guitarist and session man. I dare say that EC has never played with anyone better 2) Derek Trucks in no way is anything like Warren Haynes in terms of style. He too has taken slide guitar to new heights and will soon be known as one of the greats. Go see the Derek Trucks Band live and I gaurantee you will be a convert. OK I am an Allmans fan so I am not entirely objective and please dont take this too seriously as I dont. Just a little doodling at 2am. Take care, all in good fun.

Oded Greenberg

i came across your website looking for that rolling stone list of the top 20 guitar players of all time, so thanks for posting it.

i was amazed you've never heard of richard thompson, however. he is truly an amazing guitar player, you should check him out.

not necessarily everyone's cup of tea, my husband, who is a blues man, thinks he's a little too polished. but for pure technique, he is unbelieveable.

i agree that jimi is a lame excuse for number 1. i think a lot of these people got more props for dying young.

cheers mollie

Wow - for being a nobody I got a lot of responses already That's great.

I do really feel sorry for kids who are starting out playing guitar and take this sort of trash as gospel. If you're starting out, you wouldn't know any better. And if this list influences what kids should be listening to then the guitar will be on it's way out. Kids should be there to pass the torch to, not have them listen to second rate garbage. I remembered why Rolling Stone is now on par with Hit Parader magazine.

Any additional comments would be welcome as well.

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