Legendary axe-men Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton headed Rolling Stone’s recent compilation of the 100 greatest guitarists in history.
The venerable music publication polled an extensive panel of experts and guitar players to whittle down to their top 100.
Hendrix topped the rankings, which included an homage from Tom Morello.
“His playing was effortless,” Morello wrote. “There’s not one minute of his recorded career that feels like he’s working hard at it – it feels like it’s all flowing through him. The most beautiful song of the Jimi Hendrix canon is ‘Little Wing.’ It’s just this gorgeous song that, as a guitar player, you can study your whole life and not get down, never get inside it the way that he does.
“He seamlessly weaves chords and single-note runs together and uses chord voicings that don’t appear in any music book. His riffs were a pre-metal funk bulldozer, and his lead lines were an electric LSD trip down to the crossroads, where he pimp-slapped the devil.”
Clapton was the choice at No. 2. The Fender signature artist was subsequently honored by Eddie Van Halen.
“I respect him for everything he’s done and is still doing – but what inspired me, what made me pick up a guitar, was his early stuff,” Van Halen opined. “I could play some of those solos now – they’re permanently imprinted in my brain. That blues-based sound is still the core of modern rock guitar.”
The full list will be featured in a special issue with four different covers – Van Halen, Clapton, Hendrix and Jimmy Page.
Fender was certainly well-represented amongst the guitar gods, with Hendrix, Clapton, Keith Richards (No. 4), Jeff Beck (No. 5) and Pete Townshend (No. 10) filling out the top 10.
Fender signature artists Stevie Ray Vaughan (No. 12), David Gilmour (14), James Burton (19) and Buddy Guy (23) made the top 25.
Others on the list include The Edge (38), Mark Knopfler (44), Muddy Waters (49), Ritchie Blackmore (50), Johnny Marr (51), Rory Gallagher (57), John Frusciante (72), Kurt Cobain (73), Dick Dale (74), Buddy Holly (80), Nels Cline (82), Andy Summers (85), J Mascis (86) Bonnie Raitt (89) and Thurston Moore (99).
What do you think of the results? Who was overlooked/snubbed? Who should have been ranked higher/lower?
How is John Mayer not on this list? Yes, he is a pop star, but his blues leads are gorgeous, I don’t care who you are. Overall, I’m just mad that Frusciante made it while Mayer did not.
I think Les Paul should be in the top 5, and Al Di Meola in the top 10.
Like Robbie Robertson could not hang with the Best and he was at 78 come on now…
You can\’t beat John Frusciante, so quit whining.
I believe the ruling is tainted by time and forcing many in the shadows to take the back seat to what was popular for the time. Satriani is perhaps the most inovative player in the world. And the less known Hellicaster guitarests are a phenom in their own right. These guy’s are able to take one on an emotional roller coaster and never once sing a word. Don’t get me wrong, I know the greats, but I also know the greats that have been over shadowed by lyric recognition and by doing so ignoring talent based on genuine Musical talent.
More like a list of influential players? Nope . . . . . Most copied players, then? Maybe – perhaps most likely the list of 100 guitarists people can actually name . . . . .
Anyway – Keef at 2 for me . . . . .
Another year, another tired list of top 100 guitarists topped by (of course) Jimi Hendrix. Who would have thought?
I’ve always thought Clapton was wildly over-rated. He was in the right place at the right time, so therefore he’s a legend.
Kurt Cobain? Seriously? On what basis is he judged as a guitarist? Obfuscated tone? The ability to run 8 distortion pedals and pound out some power chords?
My personal favorite is a Wisconsin local boy by the name of Greg Koch. This guys got it all. Mad skills, tone, heart and an amazing sense of humor. Check him out. I’d like to see him on the next list. Puts most of this list to shame and you’ve probably never heard him.
C’mon,Blackmore at #50???Who rates this thing?
I’m surprise Rory Gallagher didn’t rank at a higher position. Like all the top rated folks in the poll he was there at the same time pushing the boundaries. Its also worth remembering that when Hendrix was asked “How does it feel to be the greatest guitarist of all time? He replied “Don’t know, go ask Rory Gallagher”. Best Regards guys
It’s nice to see David Gilmour at 14! He usually gets erroneously relegated to somewhere around #70.
Lowell George… one the greatest slide players ever…
This list seems like it’s more focused toward influential guitarists as opposed to technically skilled guitarists. Saying something like “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” is a very subjective. It should have been named “The 100 Most Influential Guitarists of All Time” and hence Robert Johnson should be far closer to the front of that list than he is. Jimi Hendrix was undoubtedly an amazing guitarist, to say the least, but I can think of many more of his elders who were far more influential to music in general than him. I usually try to steer clear of guitarist comparisons, but I can’t help but give the example of how Stevie Ray Vaughan was just as technically skilled as Jimi Hendrix when it comes to playing guitar. His influence was just not as powerful as Hendrix’s influence. The greatest guitarist is probably some studio musician who no one has ever heard of and can play any type of music on demand, flawlessly. These guys (and girls) are often overlooked due to non-popularity. Once again, Rolling Stone continues to amaze me and most likely thousands of guitarists worldwide with a controversial list which will torment the minds of readers around the world for many years to come. Everyone knows that the title of this article is wrong, and that this list is amazingly inaccurate.
Did April Fools day come early ? No……Bonnamassa,Vai,Malmsteen,Jeff Golub…..John Sykes….John Petrucci,Schenker,Satch and i hope Gary Moore is in their……………..and we get clowns like Kurt \\"bloody\\" cobain,thurston moore.
Don\\\’t get me wrong i love Derek Trucks but he\\\’s no top 20.
grrr
Really dont believe the ratings on the 100 best ever guitarists.I’ve only just put a blog on myspace about this topic and then found this one.Who’ever has thrown this together,clearly doesn’t have a clue.Where the hell is Paul Kossoff in all this.Really makes me question the knowledge of the guys who put this together.
Yet again, the Rolling Stone releases another controversial list which will leave guitarists and music enthusiasts worldwide trying to decipher the logic behind such a list. This is just a list of partailly influential guitarists in music history. Probably the most ignorant topic the Rolling Stone has ever written on. Hey Rolling Stone Magizine, what was the problem with the previous list you did of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time? Did it somehow get outdated? I would like to know how that happens…or you guys just trying to stir up more shit?
What about who put the dual showman on the map? Dick Dale
Where the heck is Jack White? And Kurt at 72? This is messed UP.
people often forget George Harrison which is a shame. ok, the songs he played on we’re never long enough for him to show his talent with great solo’s but he was one of THE most influential if not best guitar players in the world yet never seems to be named in any of these sorts of lists which is a shame…
With many guitar greats in guitar heaven or here on earth, it is quite challenging to make an ultimate list of the greatest of all time. Aside from that, people are entitled to their own opinion because there will always be a personal reason behind one’s guitar hero. Being in the music industry (<a href="http://www.v-picks.com">guitar picks</a>) it is understandable that due to time and what is popular, the list can change but there will always be one best guitarist for a fan who has been touched by a certain guitar hero’s music.