ok folkes what can we pick apart about this list?.....someone to high?....to low?.....not on it?.....should not be on it?............ Criteria: - Guitarists are ranked for their impact, influence, creativity, versatility, originality, technical skill and lasting popularity.....*means deceased 1. Jimi Hendrix* - Jimi Hendrix Experience 2. Eric Clapton - Yardbirds, Cream, Derek & The Dominos, Solo 3. Jimmy Page - Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin, The Firm 4. Jeff Beck - Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group, Solo 5. Eddie Van Halen - Van Halen 6. Stevie Ray Vaughan* - Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble 7. Joe Satriani - Solo 8. Ritchie Blackmore - Deep Purple, Rainbow, Blackmores Night 9. Steve Vai - David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, Solo 10. David Gilmour - Pink Floyd, Solo 11. John Petrucci - Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment 12. Randy Rhoads* - Quiet Riot, Ozzy 13. Allan Holdsworth - Solo 14. Paul Gilbert - Mr. Big, Racer X, Solo 15. Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force, Solo 16. Phil Keaggy - Glass Harp, Solo 17. Jason Becker - Cacophony, David Lee Roth Band, Solo 18. John Mclaughlin- Mahavishnu Orchestra 19. Duane Allman* - Allman Brothers Band, Derek & the Dominos 20. Chuck Berry - Solo 21. Eric Johnson - Solo 22. Steve Howe - Yes, Solo 23. Neal Schon - Santana, Journey, Solo 24. Brian May - Queen 25. Gary Moore - Thin Lizzy, Colosseum II, Skid Row, Solo 26. Bo Diddley* - Solo 27. Steve Morse - Deep Purple, Dixie Dregs, Steve Morse Band, Solo 28. Carlos Santana - Santana 29. Tony Iommi - Black Sabbath 30. Buckethead - Solo, Praxis, Thanatopsis, The Deli Creeps, Cornbugs, GNR, 31. Mark Knopfler - Dire Straits, Solo 32. Marty Friedman - Cacophony, Megadeth, Solo 33. Nuno Bettencourt - Extreme, Mourning Widows 34. Shawn Lane* - Black Oak Arkansas, Willy, Solo 35. Kirk Hammett - Metallica 36. Uli Jon Roth - Scorpions, Solo 37. Terry Kath* - Chicago Transit Authority 38. Alex Lifeson - Rush 39. Frank Zappa* - Mothers of Invention, Solo 40. Rory Gallagher* - Solo 41. Dimebag Darrell* - Pantera 42. Peter Green - Fleetwood Mac, Solo 43. Robin Trower - Procal Harum, Solo 44. Slash - Guns N' Roses, Slash's Snakepit, Velvet Revolver 45. Mick Taylor - John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Rolling Stones 46. Robert Fripp - King Crimson 47. Tom Morello - Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave 48. Michael Schenker - Scorpions, UFO, MSG, Contraband 49. Ry Cooder - Solo 50. Angus Young - AC/DC 51. Keith Richards - Rolling Stones, Solo 52. Michael Angelo Batio - Nitro, Solo 53. John Squire - Stone Roses 54. Pete Townshend - The Who 55. Steve Hackett - Genisis 56. Zakk Wylde - Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society 57. George Harrison* - Beatles, Traveling Wilberys, Solo 58. Alvin Lee - Ten Years After 59. Dave Davies - Kinks 60. Jerry Cantrell - Alice In Chains, Solo 61. Steve Stevens - Billy Idol 62. Johnny Winter - Solo 63. Dickie Betts - Allman Brothers Band, Dickey Betts & Great Southern 64. John Cipollina* - Quicksilver Messenger Service 65. Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band 66. Steve Cropper - Booker T. & MG's/Stax sessions 67. Adrian Belew - King Crimson 68. Joe Bonamassa - Solo 69. Steve Lukather - Toto, Solo 70. Jerry Garcia* - Grateful Dead 71. Joe Perry - Aerosmith 72. Prince - Prince & The Revolution 73. Kim Mitchell - Max Webster, Solo 74. Adrian Smith - Iron Maiden 75. Dave Murray - Iron Maiden 76. Neil Young - Buffalo Springfield, CSNY, Solo 77. Billy Gibbons - ZZ Top 78. Tony MacAlpine - Solo 79. Mike McCready - Pearl Jam 80. Adam Jones - Tool 81. Gary Hoey - Solo 82. Leslie West - Mountain, Solo 83. Peter Frampton - Humble Pie, Frampton's Camel, Solo 84. Dick Dale - Del-Tones 85. Vito Bratta - White Lion 86. Mickey "Guitar" Baker - 50's sessions/ Mickey & Sylvia 87. John Frusciante - Red Hot Chili Peppers 88. Ronnie Montrose - Montrose, Edgar Winter Group 89. Mick Ronson* - David Bowie, Solo 90. Roy Buchanan* - Solo 91. Warren Haynes - Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule 92. Vinnie Moore - Alice Cooper, Solo 93. Robbie Krieger - Doors, Solo 94. Chris DeGarmo - Queensryche 95. Jake E. Lee - Cutting Crew, Ozzy, Badlands, Solo 96. Glen Tipton - Judas Priest 97. Joe Walsh - James Gang, Eagles, Solo 98. K.K. Downing - Judas Priest 99. Eddie Hazel* - Funkadelic 100. Alex Skolnick-Testament
The top 5 is about right although I'd rather listen to Clapton than Hendrix any day of the week. But Townsend at 54??? Knopfler below Buckethead??? That's just silly.
Hendrix is waaaaayy over rated. He is famous for being dead. If he had lived, he wouldn't be on any list like this. Stevie Ray isn't over rated but the same principle applies. He garnered more fame in death than life. The greatest guitar player alive is Doc Watson. Period.
yeah, all the list you will find ignore people like Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed and Doc. No one on that list could take a guitarist duel with any of the afore mentioned. Clapton is a good acoustic guy but he can't keep up with the likes of these guys. I love rock n roll but it is not the realm of the greatest guitarist.
I don't think Randy Rhodes should be down as far as 12, and I think him and Yngwie should be about neck in neck...
I suppose it's accurate if you include: impact, influence, creativity, versatility, originality, technical skill and lasting popularity. I tend to rate guitarists based on creativity, versatility, originality and technical skill. Based on that, my list would be much different. My list would have other greats such as Chris Impellitteri, Leo Kottke and Chet Atkins. (I can't believe they were left off the list.)
How about "just really don't suck"? Good enough qualifier for me. Besides, how can you throw longevity in there for someone like RR? He died when he was so young...