Alex Lifeson wasn’t in the top 100!!!
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.
I haven’t seen Blur’s Graham Coxon listed yet, and I consider him great, so he must be underrated.
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.
I’ve always thought that Steve Jones from the Sex Pistols was underrated (as was drummer Paul Cook.)
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.
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.
How about Dave Davies of The Kinks? - There’s one solid player who never gets his due.
Sorry I’m late.
No Gary Moore? Inquisition
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 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.
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)
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.
Oh yeah, seeing Danny Gatton mentioned I’m reminded of Roy Buchanan.
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.
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” 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!
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.
Got him! (Post #17)
Agreed.
I’ll echo Steve Hacket, Lindsey Buckingham and Prince.
Buckingham’s live performances are extraordinary.
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.