Do You Agree With The List Of Rolling Stone's "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time"..?

Question

1Jimi Hendrix
2 Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band
3 B.B. King
4 Eric Clapton
5 Robert Johnson
6 Chuck Berry
7 Stevie Ray Vaughan
8 Ry Cooder
9 Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin
10 Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones
11Kirk Hammett of Metallica
12 Kurt Cobain of Nirvana
13 Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead
14 Jeff Beck
15 Carlos Santana
16 Johnny Ramone of the Ramones
17 Jack White of the White Stripes
18 John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
19 Richard Thompson
20 James Burton
21 George Harrison
22 Mike Bloomfield
23 Warren Haynes
24 The Edge of U2
25 Freddy King
26 Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave
27 Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits
28 Stephen Stills
29 Ron Asheton of the Stooges
30 Buddy Guy
31 **** Dale
32 John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service
33 & 34 Lee Ranaldo, Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth
35 John Fahey
36 Steve Cropper of Booker T. and the MG's
37 Bo Diddley
38 Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac
39 Brian May of Queen
40 John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival
41 Clarence White of the Byrds
42 Robert Fripp of King Crimson
43 Eddie Hazel of Funkadelic
44 Scotty Moore
45 Frank Zappa
46 Les Paul
47 T-Bone Walker
48 Joe Perry of Aerosmith
49 John McLaughlin
50 Pete Townshend
51 Paul Kossoff of Free
52 Lou Reed
53 Mickey Baker
54 Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane
55 Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple
56 Tom Verlaine of Television
57 Roy Buchanan
58 Dickey Betts
59 & 60 Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien of Radiohead
61 Ike Turner
62 Zoot Horn Rollo of the Magic Band
63 Danny Gatton
64 Mick Ronson
65 Hubert Sumlin
66 Vernon Reid of Living Colour
67 Link Wray
68 Jerry Miller of Moby Grape
69 Steve Howe of Yes
70 Eddie Van Halen
71 Lightnin' Hopkins
72 Joni Mitchell
73 Trey Anastasio of Phish
74 Johnny Winter
75 Adam Jones of Tool
76 Ali Farka Toure
77 Henry Vestine of Canned Heat
78 Robbie Robertson of the Band
79 Cliff Gallup of the Blue Caps (1997)
80 Robert Quine of the Voidoids
81 Derek Trucks
82 David Gilmour of Pink Floyd
83 Neil Young
84 Eddie Cochran
85 Randy Rhoads
86 Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath
87 Joan Jett
88 Dave Davies of the Kinks
89 D. Boon of the Minutemen
90 Glen Buxton of Alice Cooper
91 Robby Krieger of the Doors
92 & 93 Fred "Sonic" Smith, Wayne Kramer of the MC5
94 Bert Jansch
95 Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine
96 Angus Young of AC/DC
97 Robert Randolph
98 Leigh Stephens of Blue Cheer
99 Greg Ginn of Black Flag
100 Kim Thayil of Soundgarden



This list is absolutely ridiculous in my opinion .... probably the Worst I have ever seen in my life seriously ...Some great players are not on the list..The shred master Randy Rhoads down at 85 ..wtf is kurt cobain doing at number 12?is he better than Randy and Iommi...lol there are so many Guitarists deserve to be up there obviosly ppl like ..Joe Satriani , Chuck Schuldiner, Dave Murray , Adrian Smith , John Petrucci , Glenn Tipton , K.K Downing , Dimebag , Marty Friedman and a whole bunch more ....The Rolling Stone sucks....What do you think..??

BQ - List your fav Guitarists that you think actually deserve to be on the list

Additional Details

@ginga...No you are wrong its about Rolling stone's Greatest Guitarists of all -time ...not the popular .....if its about popular then where are these guys i mentioned ?are they not popular?

I agree with most of your opinion..the fact is we all know that this list is crap and 'Rolling Stone Sucks '

Hi kansas fan....

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

I never trust Rolling Stone magazine.

One of the worst music publications, ever, imo.

This list, however, looks fairly reasonable.

Why Kurt Cobain is ranked so high, is ridiculous.

He was an adequate guitarist -- had some "interesting" solos...

But, what he is doing ahead of Jerry Garcia is "infantile."

Jimi at the top, is okay by me.

Rolling Stone belongs with The Grammys and the R&R Hall of Fame --

-- a bunch of "limited" Toads.

One should "Trouser Press" or "Guitar Player," if you're interested in writers, who know their subject. -- IMO

Edit --

"ginga's" answer hit in the head, imo.

Edit 2 --

"The Edge of U2" would completely disagree with being placed ahead of Pete Townshend.

He is of the opinion that Townshend is the Best ever.

BQ --

"Probably the best" --

..1. -- Jimi Hendrix
..2. -- Frank Zappa
..3. -- Chuck Berry
..4. -- Scotty Moore
..5. -- James Burton
..6. -- Wes Montgomery ( Jazz )
..7. -- Jimmy Page
..8. -- Jorma Kaukonen
..9. -- Roy Clark ( Country, Classical )
10. -- Eddie Hazel

Mabye not the best, but my Personal Favorites --

..1. -- John McLaughlin ( Mahavishnu, Shakti )
..2. -- Edgar Froese ( Tangerine Dream ) -- must be seen Live, to be believed !!
..3. -- Robert Fripp ( King Crimson, Solo )
..4. -- Steve Howe ( Yes, Solo )
..5. -- Fred Frith ( Henry Cow, Solo )
..6. -- Steve Hackett ( Genesis, Solo )
..7. -- Richard Pinhas ( Heldon, Solo )
..8. -- James Brezovar ( Ange )
..9. -- Gary Green ( Gentle Giant )
10. -- Tony Bourge ( Budgie )

Just some personal opinions, while we're on this subject :) --

Jimi Hendrix -- The finest at controlling feedback, imo. How could he crank so loud, and still have the touch to control distortion?? Absolutely astonishing, imo.

Chuck Berry -- He seems to be the "Man" who started the multi-string solo -- Many props !!

Jimmy Page -- Extremely Inventive for his time

Johnny Ramone -- Did this guy have a double-jointed wrist ?? All his chords were down-strokes !!

Freddy King -- Huge Hands -- Huge Chords.

Mark Knopfler -- just a beautiful touch :) -- In the same league as Toy Caldwell's style with Marshall Tucker.

John Cipollina -- just so Underrated !! It's a joy, just to see him listed !!

Neil Young -- Very inventive chord ideas, for his time.

Bo Diddley -- Maybe the first Power Chorder ?

Pete Townshend -- The Greatest Power Chorder !

Tony Iommi -- The "Devil's Triad" gives birth a true original !!

Robert Fripp -- Maybe the fastest "neck-hand" ?

Ritchie Blackmore -- Maybe the fastest "pick-hand" ?

Al Dimeola -- Maybe the fastest with both hands ?? :)) lol

Eddie Van Halen -- Given credit of for for 6th-finger "tapping" (1978) -

- People seem to have missed Steve Hackett's advent of 10-finger tapping (1971); and the invention of the Octave-Divider & other gadgets.

Eddie who ??

Edit 3 --

btw -- Andres Segovia can rip the shorts off of any of these pikers :))

My point is that this Rolling Stone Mag List -- does not seem to "draw a line" as to what Genre of Guitarists they are talking about.

B.B King is in there ( and cannot even play chords )

So, if it's wide-open -- The Classical & Jazz guitarists, would blow every Rock guitarists away, imo.

...and where is the Female Representation ?? lol

A diamond-in-the-rough that everyone should know about --

Carole Kaye -- http://www.carolkaye.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Kaye
.

Answer 2

Joan Jett? really, many of the lower guitarist need to be at the top, John Petrucci should be. Harrison at 21? I am against that, all the way. At least they got it right with Hendrix at the Top.

Personally, I dislike Rolling Stones. Its like mainstream music magazines, I read SPIN where I find all types of music, and its much more professional.

Answer 3

Should be higher in list:
81, 50, 45, 27, 28, 8, 83, 82, 72, 42, 28

Should be lower in list:
11, 26, 21, 17, 19(although i am a fan!) 16 (I like the Ramones but I wouldn't call him the 16th greatist guitarist of all time) and 18

Ones I'm surprised to see listed but remain impartial to:
98, 100, 97, 94

Ones that shouldn't even be considered for this list:
92, 93, 95, 90, 84 (he's good but there are many better), 76, 48 (again I don't really consider him special) 87 (wtf?), 12


#8 would be my #1, personally. Ry Cooder can do every style and does it well. The man is truely the best guitarist.

BQ: Ry Cooder would be my favorite guitarist, he is on the list but I think (without bias) that he should be higher, based on proven skill and flexibility to all genres/styles. No one else on that list has that same flexability.

*Edit: I agree with deathcube, where is Gary Moore??? Yes and Kirk Hammet before Beck and Zappa?????
**Edit: Raymond/Ron: Al DiMeola !!!!!!! Yes he should be easily in the top 15-20. Wow, great pick.

Answer 4

BQ:

Peter Frampton
Joe Satriani
Paul Gilbert
Al Di Meola
Albert King
Vicente Amigo
Steve Vai
Michael Angelo Batio
Dimebag Daryll
Eric Johnson
Zakk Wylde

Answer 5

Bullshit! Kirk Hammet and Cobain before Jeff Beck, Brian May and Zappa! haha What a joke!

BA: Guitarists that deserve to be on the list but aren't:

Buckethead
Joe Satriani
GARY MOORE!
Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy
John Petrucci
Steve Vai


Guitarists that shouldn't be on the list:
Joan Jett
Kurt Cobain
Jack White!
and the dude from tool of course. haha

Source(s):

Gay list.

Answer 6

it's not actually a list of 'best' guitarists though is it?
it's a list of most popular guitarists

Answer 7

Kurt Cobain and Joan Jett shouldn't be on the list (and I like Nirvana). Johnny Ramone shouldn't be so high and putting Gilmour at 82nd is a joke. Eddie van Halen deserves to be a lot higher. I also have no idea why Jack White, who has played one half decent riff, is 17th.

Where are Slash and Rory Gallagher? And Eddie Hazel?

BQ:
Jimi Hendrix
Eric Clapton
BB King
David Gilmour
Buddy Guy
Jimmy Page
Eddie Hazel
Rory Gallagher
Carlos Santana
Eddie van Halen

Answer 8

I don't agree with any Rolling Stone list . I mean, Kurt ? All respect but , guitarist, above Santana ? no .

Answer 9

I think that list is bullshit. Except for number one, I disagree with all of it.

BQ:
Eric Johnson
Shawn Lane
Mike Oldfield
Steve Vai
Andrew Latimer
Jan Akkerman
Julian Bream
Paco De Lucia
Al Di Meola
Wes Montgomery

Edit: Forgot Tommy Emmanuel, he should also be there.

Answer 10

not one bit. that was actually the issue where I stopped reading Rolling Stone. the top 200 albums though was a fantastic list.

BQ: Rory Gallagher, Mark Farner, Walter Becker, Al DiMeola, James Williamson, Omar Rodriguez Lopez, Billy Zoom, Vini Reilly

Answer 11

I wonder if all the people bashing Jack White have ever seen him play live, or have ever heard him do a solo. Think not. People hear Seven Nation Army and automatically assume that's all he can play.

Answer 12

For the most part, I think it's an awful list, but props to them for having the balls to put Kurt Cobain and Johnny Ramone so high on the list, and EVH so low. It's also nice to see people like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell included.

...but Tom Morello high on the list but nearly leaving off Greg Ginn? Randy Rhoads all the way down at number 85? Joan Jett and The Edge even being on the list? Lame.

Answer 13

I am surprised that Page and Hammet are that high on the list. Typically that publication hates hard rock and heavy metal. Yeah, i take exception to much on this list.

EDIT #1 - Angus Young should be much higher and George Harrison is rated much too highly.

Source(s):

Good luck and God Bless.

Answer 14

why the hell is fuking randy rhoads near the bottom!?! He should be in the top ten! and wheres dimebag!?!?

Answer 15

Trash. They must be blind or stupid..
Is Slash on their at all? I couldn't see him. He deserves a place high up the list.
Buckethead, though i don't really like him, is a sensational guitarist. Just look him up, honestly do it.
Matthew Bellamy of Muse.. one of the best right now. Definately deserved a place.
I'd have put Angus higher up in the list too.

Answer 16

well, when i see a rolling stone list, i expect it to be crap and i expect the order to be completely wrong. so i tend to focus on the pleasant surprises of them celebrating some great musicians that you dont expect. like ry cooder at #8 (and zoot horn rollo getting in there at 62 also). or John Fahey at 35. Mickey Baker is another i am surpised to see. And Senegal's legendary Ali Farka Toure.

i mean yes, kurt doesnt belong anywhere on this list, let alone not at 12. and yes there is plenty of bias and some head scratching omissions. but seriously, every once in a while there is quite a stunningly good pick on here.

Answer 17

No think i think this list is way off for the most part, except for Jimi, and some other people in the top 20. Angus young at 96?! i agree kurt cobain over randy rhoads and toni iommi?! were they high when they made this list?

Answer 18

Jack White does deserve to be on that list. Anyone who disagrees has probably only heard 2 songs of his. He is a great guitarist.

EDIT: Kurt Cobain shouldn't be anywhere near this list, along with a few others.

Answer 19

alri im going to make this quick

1) what makes a good guitarist, was this list based on popularity? live performances? influence? etc
2) this list was made to P*ss people off, by you posting this Q you are getting rolling stone back into the eye of the public. i highly doubt they consider ROy Buchanan and pete townshend in the 50s.
3) in my opinion you cannot have a best guitarist, to make such claims is immature and shows a lack of knowledge in music.
by the time you come to the last 25 ''best'' guitarists, they are all pretty much equal in talent but express music in the way they see it.

also naturally they will forget alot of guitarists,
il give you a list of some of my fav underappreciated guitarists/ artists.
one of them is Rory Gallagher, to briefly describe how much he was loved
Rolling stones wanted him in their band
John Lennon loved his earlier band Taste
Slash/brian may consider him a huge influence on their guitar playing
Muddy waters/bb king/ pete townshend/ eric clapton all did works with him and rate him as a musicians musician
Rory dethroned Clapton as best blues guitarist back in the 70s breaking Claptons 4 year streak.
Bob Dylan wanted to do an acoustic album (due to his early death rory couldnt do it)
Rory played over 6 instruments & is honestly one of the most talented guitarists i've ever heard.

eh but yeah dont trust Rolling Stone for sh*t they are made to make money, this was just a publicity stunt.

hope you enjoy my list just pick at your fancy

Roy Buchanan-Hey Joe (a must BLUES)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z55XF9HlV…

Rory Gallagher-Million Miles Away (from irish tour74 recognised as a landmark in live albums BLUES)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxiEMpcI8…

Rory Gallagher- Cradle Rock (just incase his blues song was to slow ROCK)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k4iocWUR…

Elbow- Forget Myself (they should have been famous years ago, i found them there like 4 years ago they are brilliant)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDddtQN7F…

Ash-Burn Baby Burn (very underrated irish band Alt Rock)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW8mEMqiN…

ANY ramones songs they were so influential


Avett Bros- Murder In The City (acoustic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE7rkSELM…

Seasick Steve (legend hobo guy Rock/Blues)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNoPNC3eb…

Walter Trout-Dust My Broom ( eh sort of upbeat blues, like BB king)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSbZBZjID…

Source(s):

irish bass player, true music transgresses all the hype. a real musician does music for his fans and for his love. not for money

rory= 200 gigs a year with a fender strat he had for over30 years
http://www.bluesconnections.com/Amazon/c…

Answer 20

LOL... I agree about the Cobain at #12... I mean, I like Nirvana - but Kurt was a song writer, and not the greatest guitar player... He was good in the was Syd Barrett was good - they both fooled around with their guitars and toys (tape echoe, chorus, distortion, delay, fuzz, phaser) to produce bizzare sounds. And no Syd on this list! I would put Syd and Kurt around 29 (Syd) and 30 (Kurt). Maybe lower. They didn't have Nick Drake - a solid folk guitar player who passed away in the early 1970's. Dimebag isn't there, or Rhodes. Not a metal fan, but I play guitar - and even if your not into metal - these two guys could wail on the axe. No David Gilmour. Honestly now - Gilmour. Isn't the solo for Comfortably Numb one of the all time best? Zappa in the 40's, you f-cking kidding me? No Bachman (yes, I'm Canadian)... Again, not into his music, but I grew up listening to him(The Guess Who, BTO).. Saw him recently on TV playing jazz music and the guy is solid! No great blues either - Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson... Once again, like Syd and Kurt, maybe not the most technical, slayers of the six string - but without these blues elements there would be no Bo Diddley or Hendrix or Clapton. And The Edge sucks - he is all effects!

My fav is probably Brian May, Syd Barrett, David Gilmour, Neil Young.... I know - they are no Dimebag but I like the weird, layered, psychedelic sounds.

Source(s):

OOOOPPPSSS... Ok, Rhodes and Gilmour are there... Just read it again... My bad...

Answer 21

lol. Not sure who ranked these guitarists. Well maybe Rolling Stone is just trying to sell more magazines. Where's Vai and Summers.The Edge and no. 24 and Curbain and 12. lol

Anyways. even Kurt Cobain would be disappoingted at this list because playing guitar was not really what he was about, he was a writer.

Answer 22

I've read this list before and HB I've had the same exact thoughts you have ROLLING STONE SUCKS, then I turned around and chucked the magazine in the garbage..What's absolutely stupid about this list is they can put Hammett on the list, but I think someone forgot who it is that taught Hammett to play...

BA: You have a lot of names up there already I would have said as well so I'll just add a couple to your list...Steve Vai and Zakk Wyld

Answer 23

I agree with you Dr. Smart@ss. Jack is an incredible guitar player. I love him to death and I believe he should be way higher on the list. The man is a genius.

Answer 24

Hello Headbanger,

In my opinion, the list sucks, it's so so so ridiculous...
Seriously, Cobain above Santana, the Edge above May and Knopfler? WTF????? It really really sucks. Joan Jett shouldn't even be on the list
Where's Steve Vai and Gary Rossington?

The number positions are lame.

Mine would be:

1. Brian May
2. Eric Clapton
3. Gary Rossington
4. Ritchie Blackmore
5. Eddie Van Halen
6. Jimmy Paige
7. Jimi Hendrix
8. Stevie Ray Vaughan
9. Tony Iommi
10. Steve Vai