# Underrated rock guitarists **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 27, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901 "2003-02-27T15:51:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/1 "2003-02-27T15:51:30Z")
Who in your opinion is/are the most underrated guitarists in the rock/pop genre? I’m talking about guitarists that you never hear about in guitar mags or rolling stone, or anything like that. So the obvious ones like Clapton, Hendrix, etc. are NOT what I’m looking for. I’ll start the ball rolling by naming my top three: Gleen Tilbrook from Squeeze Davey Johnstone from the Elton John Band Tommy Shaw from Styx. Whenever I go back and hear anything the above three have done, from simple rhythm to blistering leads, these three are amazingly innovative, and yet you never hear them discussed by any of the so-called “knowledgable” rock press. Any additions? Chris W ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/2 "2003-02-27T16:21:21Z")
Jim Moginie of Midnight Oil ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/3 "2003-02-27T16:23:57Z")
Brad Whitford, second string (ha!) to Joe Perry, Aerosmith. ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/4 "2003-02-27T16:45:52Z")
Nils Lofgren - E Street Band ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/5 "2003-02-27T17:30:33Z")
Mato Nanji of Indigenous. Simply amazing. Check him out at [www.indigenousrocks.com](http://www.indigenousrocks.com) * * * Fagjunk Theology: Not just for sodomite propagandists anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Fingolfin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eada6e/32.png) [@Fingolfin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fingolfin)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/6 "2003-02-27T17:30:52Z")
David Gilmour ---
**Author:** ![tunabreath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@tunabreath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tunabreath)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/7 "2003-02-27T19:30:14Z")
I agree emphatically about Nils Lofgren. I sure wish I could find “Cry Tough” on CD. I saw that tour. WOW! ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/8 "2003-02-27T19:31:47Z")
I’ve always thought that Jamie West-Oram, of the Fixx, did some really interesting, innovative stuff. People always thought I was crazy when I listed him among my favorite guitarists, but I felt vindicated when, years and years and years ago, in an old issue of Guitar World I think it was, Joe Satriani mentioned West-Oram as being one of his favorite underated guitarists as well. Not that Satriani is the official word or anything, but at least I knew I wasn’t completely alone! And everytime I see Robyn Hitchcock in concert (the last time being this past Saturday), I’m amazed what an amazing guitarist he is. He’s more known for being the quirky singer-songwriter of his studio work, but live he generally lets loose at least once, and trust me, he’s outstanding. ---
**Author:** ![rsvp9146](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@rsvp9146](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsvp9146)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/9 "2003-02-27T20:00:40Z")
Ry Cooder Mike Einziger Allan Holdsworth Steve Howe Tom Morello ---
**Author:** ![Murcielago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Murcielago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murcielago)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/10 "2003-02-27T20:11:20Z")
During my Pink Floyd/Roger Waters phase, I heard Jeff Beck for the first time on Waters’ _Amused to Death_. Beyond his technical skill, I was impressed by the unique choices he made with the instrument. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/11 "2003-02-27T20:17:45Z")
**Riserius1** , you might be interested in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=155100). I’d say Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre is severely underrated. Brian May of Queen gets props at times, but IMHO, not nearly enough. In that same thread, **Av8rmike** also mentioned Nuno Bettencourt of Extreme and John Petrucci of Dream Theater. **Banger** brought up Bob Mould of Hüsker Dü . ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/12 "2003-02-27T20:24:03Z")
Adrian Belew. ---
**Author:** ![Rib\_Eye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@Rib\_Eye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rib_Eye)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/13 "2003-02-27T20:33:51Z")
Eddie “Fingers” Ojeda of Twisted Sister (Reunion Tour 2003 - Huzzah!) Tony “Inventor of Heavy Metal” Iommi of Black Sabbath ---
**Author:** ![metroshane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@metroshane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/metroshane)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/14 "2003-02-27T20:40:32Z")
Let’s not forget about Elliot Easton from the Cars…exceptional player. ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/15 "2003-02-27T20:42:51Z")
Tunabreath - I think I have that CD, I’ll have to check. I saw him play a benefit concert at Ashley Rehab Center in MD - for Father Martin, I didn’t know who he was, he was Awesome. I wish he would get known - Make It Big. ---
**Author:** ![Frida\_s\_Boss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Frida\_s\_Boss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frida_s_Boss)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/16 "2003-02-27T20:49:56Z")
Tommy Shaw and james young are both under rated guitarrists. i have to confess that i recently bought the new styx cd, cyclorama… they are still a great guitat band, and i really like the cd. ---
**Author:** ![kefka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@kefka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kefka)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/17 "2003-02-27T20:52:17Z")
john mayer everyone either likes him or hates him because he writes simple pop songs, but if youve ever had a chance to see him live, you know how talented he is. like him or hate him, but he has a sheet of paper from the berklee school of music that says he’s either a great player or a great bullshitter 🙂 check out his performance of “your body is a wonderland” from the grammys. only him and a guitar and it’s pretty damn impressive… ---
**Author:** ![Rib\_Eye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@Rib\_Eye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rib_Eye)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/18 "2003-02-27T21:10:55Z")
I’ll concur on the Styx guys. Very memorable and melodic solos. The same goes for the Adrian Smith/Dave Murray team from Iron Maiden. ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/19 "2003-02-27T21:44:04Z")
I agree with **kefka** : John Mayer (except that he dropped out of Berklee.) He’s one of the best new guitarists I know of and if you dont believe me try playing “Neon” on an acoustic the way he does, while singing. Also, Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine (Harvard alum too) Nuno Bettencourt from Extreme ---
**Author:** ![Wartime\_Consigliori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9d8465/32.png) [@Wartime\_Consigliori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wartime_Consigliori)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901/20 "2003-02-27T21:44:27Z")
I think **Johnny Marr** of The Smiths did some incredible-sounding stuff. Granted, I can only take that group (and its melodramatic lyrics) in limited doses, but I think Marr’s work really stands up. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/underrated-rock-guitarists/157901.md?page=2)