# Who do you think the most underrated rock guitarist is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 14, 2009, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958 "2009-07-14T06:40:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![hroark2112](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hroark2112](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hroark2112)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/61 "2009-07-14T17:53:09Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > When Rolling Stone did a list of the greatest guitarists once, they placed Pete Townshend at number 50. > > That officially makes him the most underrated. Alex Lifeson wasn’t in the top 100!!! ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/62 "2009-07-14T18:15:14Z")
**Exapno** and **WordMan** mentioned Pete Townshend, and I have to add my vote to theirs. He is often dismissed as a rhythm guitarist as though that were a put-down. When he plays a lead, it is often about as tasty as you can get, even if it does not require virtuosity to play it. The solo in Baba O’Riley comes to mind. And if anyone doubts that Pete is a great player, they should listen to or watch the Isle of Wight live performance of Tommy. It is awesome how much of what is on the studio recording Townshend is able to reproduce or at least hint at on one electric guitar. ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/63 "2009-07-14T18:19:44Z")
I haven’t seen Blur’s Graham Coxon listed yet, and I consider him great, so he must be underrated. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/64 "2009-07-14T18:23:29Z")
Steve Miller. Seriously, listen to his old stuff, the first stuff. The man can play. Les Paul used to hang out with his dad, and gave him lessons. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/65 "2009-07-14T19:12:21Z")
I’ve always thought that Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols was underrated (as was drummer Paul Cook.) ---
**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:** [July 14, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/66 "2009-07-14T19:21:47Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > **Exapno** and **WordMan** mentioned Pete Townshend, and I have to add my vote to theirs. He is often dismissed as a rhythm guitarist as though that were a put-down. When he plays a lead, it is often about as tasty as you can get, even if it does not require virtuosity to play it. The solo in Baba O’Riley comes to mind. And if anyone doubts that Pete is a great player, they should listen to or watch the Isle of Wight live performance of Tommy. It is awesome how much of what is on the studio recording Townshend is able to reproduce or at least hint at on one electric guitar. Very good point about Townshend…he thought like a conductor or something, and used the guitar to do so much, and with not too many effects, either. Too much emphasis is placed upon shredding old blues riffs, but to me, that’s just jacking off to hieroglyphs or something; Pete Townshend was more of a generalist/maestro. Entwhistle was the lead guitarist, often, and Moon, as well, in his own crazy way. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/67 "2009-07-14T19:39:35Z")
Forth or possibly fifth on **Johnny Marr**. I saw him like with the late, great Kirsty MacColl and he was amazing. In terms of totally unheralded guitarists, I’m going to go with **Godfrey Townsend**. I had never heard of the guy before I saw him in the backing band for _A Walk Down Abbey Road_, a Beatles tribute project with Todd Rundgren, John Entwhistle, Alan Parsons, Ann Wilson and David Pack. **Kazumi Watanabe** had an Alembic solo on Ryuichi Sakamoto’s _Thousand Knives_ that I consider one of the greatest in pop music. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/68 "2009-07-14T19:40:18Z")
How about Dave Davies of The Kinks? - There’s one solid player who never gets his due. ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/69 "2009-07-14T19:46:04Z")
Sorry I’m late. No **Gary Moore**? [Inquisition](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtjDigJ_QQI) Possibly more “unknown” than under-rated, but I’d add the late **Michael Houser** from **Widespread Panic**. His current replacement, **Jimmy Herring** is no slouch, either. Along the same lines I’ll add the guys from **moe.** (and that’s how it’s spelled - moe. no caps plus period) **Chuck Garvey** and **Al Schnier**. [36 minute webcast](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOBO6_sue-g) WARNING: video doesn’t actually start until the SIX minute mark, so fast forward to that point. I rarely hear anyone mention **Steve Winwood** ’s guitar playing. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/70 "2009-07-14T19:56:06Z")
Lots of my faves in here. I think “underrated” has to be defined, though. Certainly, many of the aforementioned axemen/women are respected and appreciated in muso circles. But when you ask the average music fan, these are the names that get left out… Johnny Marr Vernon Reid Peter Buck Alan Murphy (Go West, Kate Bush, Level 42) Graham Coxon (Blur) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/71 "2009-07-14T19:56:59Z")
For underrated, as opposed to unknown, I’d go with **Glenn Tillbrook** of Squeeze. His playing never calls attention to itself, but man is it tight. For being unfairly unfamous, I’d go with Danny Gatton. ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/72 "2009-07-14T20:05:14Z")
Oh yeah, seeing **Danny Gatton** mentioned I’m reminded of **Roy Buchanan**. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/73 "2009-07-14T20:45:54Z")
My favorites in the under-appreciated category have been mentioned already but as mentioned they are only underated outside guitarist circles. Buck Dharma Lindsay Buckingham Joe Bonnamossa Gary Moore I’ll add: David Grissom, saw him twice with Storyville and he really impressed me. He’s played on a lot of other peoples albums too. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/74 "2009-07-14T21:56:25Z")
**John Goodsall** (aka Johnny Mandala) of Atomic Rooster/Brand X/The Fire Merchants. He put on one of the most breathtaking performances I’ve ever seen in the Davis Coffee House in the late 70s. **Peter Frampton** needs to be mentioned, so I will take care of that. Regarding **Townshend** : Pete is an excellent acoustic guitarist–check out his work on the “[In The Attic](http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcmcat175700050006&type=category)” DVDs. And **Townsend** …Godfrey played with John’s Band for several years. He got to be pretty good playing the old Who favorites…you kept expecting to see windmills from him! ---
**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:** [July 14, 2009, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/75 "2009-07-14T22:09:13Z")
Oh, here’s one I just thought of…Jim Moginie of Midnight Oil. Not such a lead sheredder but a more Townshend-esque bleed back and forth between lead and rhythm. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/76 "2009-07-14T22:17:37Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > Oh, here’s one I just thought of…Jim Moginie of Midnight Oil. Not such a lead sheredder but a more Townshend-esque bleed back and forth between lead and rhythm. Totally, but gotta add Martin Rotsey as well. Great duo. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/77 "2009-07-14T22:31:51Z")
> [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](#): > > How about Dave Davies of The Kinks? - There’s one solid player who never gets his due. Got him! (Post #17) ---
**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:** [July 14, 2009, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/78 "2009-07-14T22:38:07Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > Totally, but gotta add Martin Rotsey as well. Great duo. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/79 "2009-07-14T22:45:27Z")
I’ll echo Steve Hacket, Lindsey Buckingham and Prince. Buckingham’s live performances are extraordinary. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958/80 "2009-07-14T22:59:27Z")
Definitely Alex Lifeson. He’s up there with Clapton, Page and Hendrix in both playing and songwriting ability. I’d also include Albert Hammond, Jr. from The Strokes. I don’t know how much focus he gets in the guitar world, so maybe he’s not underrated, but he’s definitely one of the best guitarists of the modern era. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-do-you-think-the-most-underrated-rock-guitarist-is/502958.md?page=5)