Rolling Stones' 100 greatest guitarists list. WTF???

Cafe Society
61

Off the list, where he belongs. Along with Satriani. Satriani was a technically good player, but he plays with absolutely no emotional nuance. And, yes, I’ve even seen him in concert. I don’t get the big deal. Steve Vai is the only one of the bunch I can somewhat tolerate and have a bit of respect for.

Hendrix as number one I could live with. In terms of innovation, energy, charisma, influence, popularity, etc, no one holds a candle to Hendrix.

BB King as number 3 seems a bit high, but I have to give RS props for putting Ry Cooder at number 7.

I do think Eddie Van Halen should be higher up on the list. 70? I’d stick him in the top 25. I mean, pretty much every guitar player who grew up in the 80s was out copying Eddie’s licks. If you’re gonna put Jack White at number 17 (and I agree that he’s a very good guitarist, but 17 is stretching it a bit), Eddie should be there as well.

I saw Robert Fripp at a King Crimson concert a month or so ago. Guy can play, but he bores me to tears. Bit of a pretentious jackass, too, with his attitude on stage. Maybe that’s why I’m so turned-off to him.

The Sonic Youth guys I can live with being ranked in the mid-30s. There’s no question (in my mind) with their abilities and innovation.

Charlie Hunter is amazing (I’ve seen him in concert, too, with Pound for Pound), but, I dunno, he sounds a bit run-of-the-mill jazz to me. The CD I have sounds like elevator music, but he was on fire during the concert.

Joan Jett and no Bonnie Raitt? That’s sacrilege. Bonnie should be well ahead of Jett and Hynde. But Jett’s is seen as one of the original indie rock goddesses, and her influence is pervasive, especially in the Olympia and Portland music scenes, that I can understand her being on the list for this reason alone.

62

A few points:

  1. Evil Captor - you commented on the meta-discussion regarding the relevance of these lists, saying people pooh-poohing the lists (like me) should just acknowledge that they are to generate sales and discussions like this. I agree with your basic statement. My point is: While I like the topic and willingly engage in this discussion, the base list is practically discardable because: a) The criteria and ranking process is not clarified (how are innovation vs. technical ability vs. influence/popularity rated?); and b) the mistakes are so glaring as to rob the base list of credibility. I wanted to expect more from Rolling Stone, but blowing things like having EVH and Gilmour too low, or not putting Chuck Berry before Duane Allman are fatal errors. The list just becomes a cute cocktail party list, and less a basis for serious discussion.

  2. Big Bad Voodoo Lou - I couldn’t agree more: Brian Setzer is the man and should be high up on a list like this. What a technical monster! I have his instructional video and what he casually runs through makes my eyes fall out.

  3. Ellis Dee (cute username when said out loud, btw) - your point that “what should matter is how hard it is to figure out what they are playing” basically translates to technical prowess. Obviously a critical point, but needs to be weighed, IMHO, with innovation and influence. Which is why I am comfortable with Johnny Ramone, Kurt Cobain and Joan Jett on the list (hugely innovative, technically primitive - Jett was the first “Riot Grrl” and is, like, their patron saint - that level of influence matters).

  4. Obviously, the folks at Rolling Stone meant to focus on rock guitarists and those players in different styles who influenced rock music (BB King, T-Bone, Robt Johnson, etc.). It seems rather arbitrary, but somewhat explains the dearth of great jazz players (hello? Joe Pass???) and classical (it begins and ends with Segovia…)…

All for now.

63

I think we’re all forgetting the legendary Nigel Tufnel. Anyone who can play a guitar with a violin gets my vote.

-Apoptosis

64

My thinking for what makes a great guitarist is:
• Improvisational skills
• Sheet music playing
• Emotional output
• Fret board dexterity

Popularity, innovation, and reputation doesn’t count. It’s how you play not what you play.

If I had to create a test of skills for the “Greatest Guitarist of all Time” it would have 3 parts.

  1. Playing pre-composed pieces that the musician has never heard before. Classical player should do well here.
  2. Joining a group of established musicians and blending in. Sort of an improv with a group. A good test for session players.
  3. a 5-minute block of time to solo. Do your best to impress the judges.

To me, this would show who was a great guitarist, not a songwriter, rythym player, innovator, or trend setter. Just a great guitar player.

65

What about Prince? I know he’s not been fantastic of late but he’s still a great guitar player.

66

Evil Captor
I’m a tremendous fan of Spirit as well as Randy California. “12 Dreams of Doctor Sardonicus” is one of the best albums ever.
Also, I think Randy California did some impressive solos on a lot of songs (not just “Mechanical World”).

67

I have nothing invested in the legitimacy of these silly “best-ever” lists, and I’m not a particularly big fan of B. B King–I prefer country blues and ragtime–but this is one of the most grotesquely ridiculous claims ever made in Cafe Society. Jesus.

68

I agree with their first two picks, but then the list is in the toilet. Both Beck and Santana should be higher on the list.
Frank Zappa should be a HELL of a lot higher than No. 45.
There is no WAY in HEAVEN or HELL that Eddie Van Halen and Lightnin’ Hopkins should be as low as they are. 70 and 71, respectively?!?!?!?!? Whoever picked this list knows nothing about guitar.
There is NO FREAKIN’ WAY Stephen Stills is a better guitar player than Buddy Guy.
And a list of popular guitarists that omits Djano Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, and Earl Klugh is fucking worthless.

I quit reading Rolling Stone about 22 years ago. Once again, I am confirmed in my decision.

69

Jesus, Allah, Zeus and Yog-Sothoth have mercy.
It’s even worse than I thought. Les Paul is at No. 46?!?!?!?
And Chet Atkins & John Lee Hooker didn’t even make the list.

70

When I wanted to memorize that song, I did it easily by putting words to the theme:

Look at that echidna in his thermal underwear there,
Look at that echidna in his thermal underwear there,
Look at that echidna, he goes grumbling, stumbling, mumble-fumbling,
Grumbling, stumbling, mumble-fumbling,
Grumbling, stumbling, mumble-fumbling,
Grumbling, stumbling, mumble-fumbling therrrrrrrre…
Look at that echidna in his thermal underwear there,
Look at that echidna in his thermal underwear there,
Look at that echidna with the footies at the bottom of his po-jamas!

(If you’re familiar with the You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 2 version, you’ll know where the thermal underwear business comes from.)

71

They definately whiffed on a few. Didn’t really have a quibble with the top 10 though.

Knopfler was way too low, as well as Vernon Reid and Gilmour.

Matheny should be on the list somewhere.

Country twang was underrepresented, Dick Dale was too low. Chet Atkins deserves to be on the list.

Cobain had a lot of influence, but not as a guitarist. Jack White, I don’t think so?
Love Radiohead, but not for the guitarists. I do think Joan Jett is an underrated performer, but she does not belong on this list.

72

I can’t believe…this just can’t…ARE YOU INSANE???

Malmsteen is a poser but Satriani DEFINES emotional nuance. And BTW, he was Vai’s teacher. So at least Vai has given Satriani his props.

73

No Sheryl Crow, much better musician than many on this list.

Prince should be there.

Les Paul much too low.

Robert Johnson way too high.

Where is Ritchie Blackmore he should be further up.

Jack White, not yet, needs to wait another 10 years.

There seems to be quite a few on there for reasons other than guitar playing, like Lou Reed, and the Byrds might have been the epitome of cool in their day, but they as for guitar work, the use of 12 strings is about the only notable thing about them.

Glad to see Steve Cropper in the list.

Joan Jett simply is not worthy.

George Harrison - not really.

74

I love Glen Buxton from his Alice Cooper days, but among the greatest? No way.

Johnny Ramone played only bar chords because that’s all he could play. Joan Jett? She wasn’t even among the greatest guitarists from all-girl bands.

And I’ll say it again. Gregg Gin just plain sucks. Punk rock has a lot of great players. Gregg Ginn ain’t one of 'em.

There’s a definate lack of jazz players from the list. And country players. Roy Clark could play like nobody’s business.

75

Hmm…I guess then what I would say back is that obviously we have different definitions of emotional nuance. He bored me to tears in concert and his recordings are over-produced and soulless, in my humble opinion. OK, I will make one exception. “Surfing with the Alien” was tolerable. But I hear more “soul” and “emotion” in less proficient players like the Pixies’ Joey Santiago and Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine (not a band I’m overly hot for, but Morello does some insane and weird shit with the guitar…and in a musical context.)
I’m sure I’m not the only person who would level the complaint that Satriani lacks emotional nuance. (“Summer Song” anybody? Shiver)

76

My complaint against Satriani has less to do with his playing and more to do with his choice and production of rythmn sections. He might as well be playing with a metronome.

I’d rather listen to Eric Johnson m’self.

77

Again, Slash needs to be on that list. He’s not only technically proficient, but he pumps more emotion out of a guitar than almost any other rock guitarist I can think of. Listen to his guitar solos on songs like ‘Estranged’. They give you shivers.

78

I suppose I should explain what I mean here. King was definitely a very important player, and mainly responsible for bringing blues to the mainstream, but strictly as a guitar player he just isn’t that great. All he ever plays is one note at a time, Jazz-influenced lead lines based around a pentatonic minor scale. He doesn’t even know any chords, for God’s sake. Muddy Waters was a better guitar player than he is. Robert Johnson was a better guitar player than he is. Albert King was a better guitar player than he is. He is important, but he is not a technically great guitar player, obviously IMHO. And calling his style innovative is a bit of a stretch.

79

This criteria would determine who’s a great session guitarist, who is the professional, the true craftsman. But I think there’s more intangibles involved in measuring what makes a true artist and musician, which also involves innovation, songwriting and the such.

I mean, let’s make an analogy. If you were to set up a similar set of test to judge the world’s greatest painter, would it work? While the greatest painters were in many cases excellent draftsmen, I’m sure there were hundreds or thousands of others who had better control over technique, who could finish a work faster, who are flexible in many different styles, etc. Does this make them “great painters”? Yes, excellent craftsmen, maybe even good artists, but almost never one of the Greats. While technique is never something to be looked down upon in artistic endeavors, its the invention, innovation, and inspiration which separate the merely great from the Truly Great.

80

Alvin Lee
Roy Buchannon

Jan Weiner lost all his credibility when he moved the magazine from San Francisco