Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time?

Xyphir · Post by **Xyphir** » December 5, 2003, 4:18 pm

A while back, Rolling Stone published it's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

I know there was a topic on this a while back, but I posted the list for Pure hilarity. Kurt Cobain #12?! Gimme a break.

Notables MISSING from the list are:
Joe Satriani
Eric Johnson
Steve Vai
Yngwie Malmsteen
Kenny Wayne Sheppard

Johnny Ramone #16?! I want what they're smokin!
Prince
Slash

noel · Post by **noel** » December 5, 2003, 4:24 pm

I know little to nothing about actually playing a guitar, and I'll be the first to admit that I haven't heard a lot of the mentioned guitarists but...

Kind of hard to argue with #1 Hendrix, #3 BB King.

How the fuck does #17 Jack White of the White Stripes make a list of the greatest of ALL TIME? That REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

Finally, how the fuck is Eddie Van Halen #70? Last I checked, he was considered pretty good. Definitely Steve Vai needs to be on the list...

Again, I really know little about it, but I do know that I stopped reading Rolling Stone years ago because it's probably the second most vapid magazine after Details that exists...

Laliana · Post by **Laliana** » December 5, 2003, 4:41 pm

Kenny Wayne Sheppard.

Hi Xman!!!!

Truant · Post by **Truant** » December 5, 2003, 5:04 pm

Rolling Stone is many times very biased towards what's popular.

Occasionally you can find a few decent non mainstream reveiws, but for the most part, the only thing I find interesting is the history or the bi-annual interview with someone like Dylan, or Bowie, or whoever other great it may be.

But, in their defense in this particular instance. Think more of their impact on music and it's direction than of their guitar skill.

Example, Satriani, Vai, Malmsteen...sure those guys could probably destroy the Underworld with guitars...but does anyone outside of the guitar playing world know who they are? Not really.

Cobain and Ramone...they were definately not virtuoso caliber...but look at what their playing and their sound did to music.

Eddie Van Halen at 70? I'd put him lower personally. Sure Eddie has some phenomenal fingers. But his music is fucking boring as shit.

The Jack White thing...I dunno...the sound is something new and refreshing to hear...how it will stand up to time, we'll see...I'll chalk that up to keeping the popular crowd happy.

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » December 5, 2003, 6:53 pm

12. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana

WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT? sure he could write some good tunes but based on his skill level i dont think he would be anywhere near the top 100

at least they did a good job with 11Kirk Hammett, best heavy metal gitarist of all time

Stevie Ray Vaughan is quite a bit better then Clapton, but there both badass so not that much of a rant

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » December 5, 2003, 9:07 pm

Prince is really an underrated guitar player. I believe I mentioned that in that previous thread. If you overlook his semi-weirdness. He sure the hell is better than Kurt Cobain that's for certain. Whoever compiled that list was on crack or something. Just one reason, of many, I don't subscribe to Rolling Stone.

Karae · Post by **Karae** » December 6, 2003, 5:24 am

It makes a bit more sense when you don't read 100 Greatest as 100 Most Skilled...

I was surprised by Slash's absence also though. I've always considered GNR an influential and historically important band. Not to mention his name is recognizable on it's own whereas many of the guitarists listed have to be listed with their band names so you'll know who the fuck they are.

Syenye Squirrellyelf · December 6, 2003, 3:27 pm

WHY WASN'T CREED ON THE LIST?

Sartori · Post by **Sartori** » December 7, 2003, 2:48 pm

Maybe a little ironic, but thank god they weren't.

You get the top 100 based on skill out of the guitar mags, don't go lookin for it in crap like RS.

Xyphir · Post by **Xyphir** » December 8, 2003, 5:51 pm

Color me biased, but Trey Anastasio (Phish) at number 73 irks me. For my own list, I put his style and influence up there in the top 50, and probably the top 30. Trey played with Carlos Santana (#15) earlier this year and he not only kept up with Carlos , but I thought he played better. If you've never been to a Phish show and seen Trey live, you're truly missing out. I've never seen someone take energy from the audience and is able to channel it through himself like he does. It's 'other-worldly'.

Another guitarist absent from that I'd put on my list is Keller Williams. He's rather folky, but one of the most incredible artists I've ever seen perform. He is a one-man-show. His act incorporated this 'looping' device which takes clips from his music and he'll have up to a dozen different loops playing. You'd think there was a whole troop of people on stage until you realize there's just one person making all that noice.

Robert Randolph (#97) is another name to watch out for. Probably not worthy of the top 100, but a rising star, for sure. He plays steel pedal guitar, which is commonly used for country/western (insert Blues Brother quote here), but has applied his own style. The result is nothing short of amazing. I saw him perform in NYC this year, and it rocked.

Laliana wrote:Hi Xman!!!!

Heya Lali!

Ducru · Post by **Ducru** » December 8, 2003, 6:54 pm

Xzion wrote:12. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana

WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT? sure he could write some good tunes but based on his skill level i dont think he would be anywhere near the top 100

The funny thing is that Cobain could )allegedly) barely play a lick of guitar when Nirvana decided to write music, and even funnier is the fact that Dave Grohl pretty much wrote everything and got zero credit until the Foo Fighters.

Also... did I just overlook Stanley Jordan? quickly browsed the list and didn't see him... That's a disgrace.

Ooo oo and the twins from "Nelson"... R O C K!!!

Ducru

Ducru · Post by **Ducru** » December 8, 2003, 6:57 pm

Sorry for back to back post, but wanted this to stand out on it's own after my stupid Nelson joke...

35 John Fahey

If you've never heard this guy... please check him out. He deserves it a lot.

Ducru

Arundel Pajo · Post by **Arundel Pajo** » December 9, 2003, 7:57 pm

Kevin Shields better be on that list...

edit) ok...so he is... but 95??? What the HELL, people? o_O

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » December 15, 2003, 9:07 pm

26 Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave

He should be in the top 10. He's unbelievable.

Canelek · Post by **Canelek** » December 15, 2003, 10:02 pm

The list is certainly geared toward popular musicians....but then again, that is what Rolling Stone is all about... and putting Steve Howe that far down on the list is laughable... but he never was quite as popular as most of the others.

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » December 28, 2003, 10:37 pm

Wtf, where is Raffi?

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » January 23, 2004, 2:26 am

John Petrucci should be #1 on that list. The fact that he isn't even on the list shows how awful RS is these days.

Drinsic Darkwood · Post by **Drinsic Darkwood** » January 23, 2004, 6:13 pm

I'd definitely put Petrucci and Hammett in the top 5...

... Petrucci not being on the list at all is just fucking retarded to be blunt

Deneve · Post by **Deneve** » January 23, 2004, 9:21 pm

w00t, Adam Jones!

Arborealus · Post by **Arborealus** » January 23, 2004, 10:03 pm

Hrmmm lets see Andres Segovia? Al Dimeola? Jango Rhinehart? Wes Montgomery? Leo Kottke?...What a silly name for that list...There are certainly some good and influential musicians on the list...but wtf = great?..

Keverian FireCry · Post by **Keverian FireCry** » January 23, 2004, 10:57 pm

Well they didn't say "most-talented". Stupid list =)