Nick McCabe
John Squire
Jorma Kaukonen from the Jefferson Airplane was a fine, tasty guitarist who also went on tour for many years in the bluesy Hot Tuna.
Listen to Bruce Cockburn’s guitar work: from the symphonic bombast on “If I Had a Rocket Laucher” to the beautiful jazz of his Gary Burton duet, “Mistress of Storms.”
Phil Manzanera did endless spectacular lead guitar for Roxy Music.
Nobody’s mentioned Carlos Santana. Is that because he’s considered a god of the Hendrix/Clapton variety or truly underrated? Same with Mark Knofler of Dire Straits.
Someone suggested Johnny Marr. Actually I think he’s in the David Gilmour camp as a guitarist’s guitarist. He is respected in the field.
Also mentioned Robyn Hitchcock I don’t know that he’s as much under-rated as unknown(?) He is an interesting guitarist.
If we’re also going for unheard of guitarists - how about Kimberly Rew?
Also:
Ricky Wilson from the B52s. Pretty darn original
Joni Mitchell
Eric Johnson
Tony Rice
Ricky Skaggs
Steve Miller
Walter Becker
Larry Carlton
Well, I’ll say it … I think Mick Jones of The Clash doesn’t get his due, either.
Sure, his solos were not overly complex (and he overused the Roland Echoplex he got in 1981) but as a musical arranger, he is a genius.
J. Mascis from Dinosaur Jr.
I was reading the thread wondering if anyone was going to mention Steve Morse before I could. Of course someone did. Although he doesn’t fit into the OP. He has been extnsively mentioned in the technical player mags, but he is almost unknown to the general public. After about 10 albums he had to quit music for a while because he wasn’t making a living and he became an airline pilot. He has the fastest fingers I have ever seen and he doesn’t cheat (no hammer ons). He is not all about the speed. He plays mostly rock now but started with fusion. My favorite example is his first solo album, The Steve Morse Band, The Introduction.
I have to defend Alex Lifeson as under-rated. Rush is usually talked about for the drumming, or the lyrics or the writing. Lifeson is usually left out. I think this is because as guitar playing became more mastabatory in the 80’s, his playing became tighter and less flashy. Still a great player.
Rik Emmit of Triumph is under-rated. A great player who is over-shadowed by that other Canadian power trio.
I didn’t read through all the posts to see if she was mentioned, but LIZ PHAIR. Ok, yes her latest album sucks, but if you ever listen to any of her work pre-1998, she uses the most obsure and creative guitar chords and progressions. I dare any of you guys to listen to her stuff and try to tab it out!
This must be the umpteenth “underrated guitarist” thread, but I’ll put my choice in once again - Randy California of Spirit.
And I agree with Borderlund and Gargoyle about Martin Barre. To paraphrase a “Star Trek” expression, “His ‘Aqualung’ solo is required listening at the Academy”.
Yes, indeedy-do.
I would also nominate Barry Melton of Country Joe and the Fish, if only for his tasty work on “Rock & Soul Music” from Woodstock.
The late Glen Buxton of the Alice Cooper group. It’s a shame we’ll never be able to see a reunion. (Michael Bruce wasn’t bad either, but I’m more a fan of his for the fact that he wrote or co-wrote most of my favorite ACG songs.)
Anyhoo…
Pravnik,
I agree Adrian Belew does not get much recognition (except by other guitar players) but everyone! has heard him play (they just don’t know it).
John Petrucci is awesome! (check out Liquid Tension Experiment).
Others on my list:
Steve Stephens (Billy Idol’s former “axeman”)
Steve Hillage
Carlos Alomar (formerly with David Bowie)
David Rhodes (of Peter Gabriel’s band)
Unclviny