The "Greatest" Guitarists -- Rock, Funk, Blues, Rhythm & Blues, etc. (non-bb)

[strosrays]

I usually try not to start non-bb threads, but...

There's no MLB, I'm bored, and I'm trying to steer clear of politics and religion.  So I tried to think of the next best thing we could all fight like cats and dogs about.

"Greatest" can mean whatever you want it to mean.  Personally, I am aiming for an ideal combination of technical chops, an ear for rhythm and melody, commercial success ('obscure' does not necessarily = great... some people are obscure for good reason), innovation, and a distinct style almost instantly recognizable even by the casual fan.

This is not nearly all of them, or even all of my choices, but just to get started:

(In no particular order)
Chuck Berry
Bo Diddley
Jimi Hendrix
Duane Allman
Andy Gill (Gang of Four)
Neil Young (hard rock version, w/Crazy Horse)
SRV
Jimmy Page
Robert Fripp
Eddie Hazel (Funkadelic)
Joe Walsh
Roy Buchanan
Buddy Guy
Joe Perry
Keith Richards (technically a rhythm guitarist most of the time)
Peter Green (early Fleetwood Mac)
Angus Young
Brian 'Head' Welch (Korn)
Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The HBs)
Mick Jones (Clash and BAD, not Foreigner)
Mick Ronson (David Bowie, Ian Hunter)
Mick Taylor (mid-period Stones)
Billy Gibbons
Thurston Moore
Andy Summers
Freddie King
B.B. King
Curtis Mayfield
Dickey Betts
Robbie Robertson
Albert Collins
David Evans ('The Edge' of U2)
Anita Robinson (Viva Voce)
Peter Hayes (BRMC)

and so on...

.

[loganck]

Clapton

[Amy]

Stevie Ray Vaughn

[Astroholic]

Clapton

David Gilmour?

[loganck]

Stevie Ray Vaughn

He got that one

[Astroholic]

Stevie Ray Vaughn

SRV = Stevie Ray Vaughn

[MusicMan]

EVH?

[Holly]

Add: Lester Flatt, Chet Atkins and Mark Knopfler (to flavor it a little differently).

[Astroholic]

EVH?

Jeff Beck
Randy Rhodes

Joe Satriani
Carlos Santana

[loganck]

Eric Johnson

[Ty in Tampa]

Leo Kottke

[T. J.]

Robert Johnson.

Buddy Guy was the first one I thought of when I saw your thread, but you got him.  I saw him at Gruene Hall one time which was a perfect setting for a Buddy Guy show.

[Amy]

SRV = Stevie Ray Vaughn

Oops!  My eyes just skipped right over that line.  SRV is one of my all-time favorites.  I saw him play at the Woodlands about two months before he died.

[Astroholic]

Oops!  My eyes just skipped right over that line.  SRV is one of my all-time favorites.  I saw him play at the Woodlands about two months before he died.

Jason Everman (Nirvana, Soundgarden)

[Kevin]

Eric Johnson, though he's more of a regional talent is probably the best I've ever seen. During solos, his band even stares at him like they can't believe it.

[Amy]

Don Felder (Eagles)

[MikeyBoy]

Darrell Abbott

[Gizzmonic]

Dick Dale!

I usually try not to start non-bb threads, but...

There's no MLB, I'm bored, and I'm trying to steer clear of politics and religion.  So I tried to think of the next best thing we could all fight like cats and dogs about.

"Greatest" can mean whatever you want it to mean.  Personally, I am aiming for an ideal combination of technical chops, an ear for rhythm and melody, commercial success ('obscure' does not necessarily = great... some people are obscure for good reason), innovation, and a distinct style almost instantly recognizable even by the casual fan.

This is not nearly all of them, or even all of my choices, but just to get started:

(In no particular order)
Chuck Berry
Bo Diddley
Jimi Hendrix
Duane Allman
Andy Gill (Gang of Four)
Neil Young (hard rock version, w/Crazy Horse)
SRV
Jimmy Page
Robert Fripp
Eddie Hazel (Funkadelic)
Joe Walsh
Roy Buchanan
Buddy Guy
Joe Perry
Keith Richards (technically a rhythm guitarist most of the time)
Peter Green (early Fleetwood Mac)
Angus Young
Brian 'Head' Welch (Korn)
Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The HBs)
Mick Jones (Clash and BAD, not Foreigner)
Mick Ronson (David Bowie, Ian Hunter)
Mick Taylor (mid-period Stones)
Billy Gibbons
Thurston Moore
Andy Summers
Freddie King
B.B. King
Curtis Mayfield
Dickey Betts
Robbie Robertson
Albert Collins
David Evans ('The Edge' of U2)
Anita Robinson (Viva Voce)
Peter Hayes (BRMC)

and so on...

.

[NeilT]

George Harrison
Robert Johnson
Lennon/McCartney (as writers)
Charlie Christian
BB King

[Astroholic]

Dick Dale!

Nugent was/is a pretty good axe grinder.

Slash. 

[JimR]

Arthur Godfrey

no, wait...that was the ukulele

[Jimbo]

did anyone watch "Les Paul: Chasing Sound" on PBS last night?  It was very good.  Wikipedia claims the Klingon word for guitar is "leSpol"

[Astroholic]

did anyone watch "Les Paul: Chasing Sound" on PBS last night?  It was very good.  Wikipedia claims the Klingon word for guitar is "leSpol"

Kirk Hammett (Metallica)

[MRaup]

Arthur Godfrey

no, wait...that was the ukulele

Tiny Tim?

[The Third Man]

Dick Dale!

Good call!

I would add:

Steve Cropper, of Stax Records and Booker T and the MGs fame
Richard Thompson, British folkie and singer-songwriter
James Burton, Ricky Nelson and Elvis Presley
Link Wray, rockabilly instrumentalist
Blind Willie McTell, blues singer-songwriter
Les Paul, jazz instrumentalist (and worked with Mary Ford)
Don Rich, king of the Bakersfield sound with Buck Owens and the Buckaroos
Jack White, the White Stripes and Raconteurs

[Kevin]

Others I thought of:

Robert Cray
Luther Perkins
Yngwie Malmsteen
Brad Gillis (Ozzy, Night Ranger - did more with a Floyd Rose whammy bar than one can imagine)
Stuart Adamson (Big Country - amazing stuff with the eBow)
and the incomparable Esteban, who has by far the best threads

Underrated, but can flat throw down with anyone: John Mayer

[ASTROCREEP]

Others I thought of:

Robert Cray
Luther Perkins
Yngwie Malmsteen
Brad Gillis (Ozzy, Night Ranger - did more with a Floyd Rose whammy bar than one can imagine)
Stuart Adamson (Big Country - amazing stuff with the eBow)
and the incomparable Esteban, who has by far the best threads

Underrated, but can flat throw down with anyone: John Mayer

Brian May
Ralph Macchio


..and Buckethead

[Ty in Tampa]

..and Buckethead

Yes.

[subnuclear]

I didn't see anyone mention Albert King.  Probably the greatest of the guitar playing "Kings."

[MusicMan]

Underrated, but can flat throw down with anyone: John Mayer

I don't care if his guitar playing causes Isralei-Palestinian peace.  I don't care if it cures smallpox, AIDS, and the common cold.  I don't even care that he laid the wood to Jessica Simpson.

Waiting on the World to Change is insufferable, inexcusable whining for what seems like 2 hours.  It's enough to keep him off the list.

[Curly]

did anyone watch "Les Paul: Chasing Sound" on PBS last night?  It was very good.  Wikipedia claims the Klingon word for guitar is "leSpol"

He plays at his club every Monday night in NYC.  I'll be there in August and can't wait.

[Kevin]

I don't care if his guitar playing causes Isralei-Palestinian peace.  I don't care if it cures smallpox, AIDS, and the common cold.  I don't even care that he laid the wood to Jessica Simpson.

Waiting on the World to Change is insufferable, inexcusable whining for what seems like 2 hours.  It's enough to keep him off the list.

Indeed it is garbage. But as a guitarist, dude can seriously grind.

[strosrays]

I would add:

Richard Thompson, British folkie and singer-songwriter

Excellent.  Pour Down Like Silver is, like, one of my favorite albums ever.

...and the incomparable Esteban, who has by far the best threads...

1.) Get run over by Mack truck, Hispanicize firstname, put on stupid hat, play guitar on informercial.

2.)  ?

3.) Profit!


Another good guitarist I just thought of was Tom Verlaine, of Television.  Somewhere I have an old Marquee Moon LP I need to find and break out, if for no other reason than to remind me of "parking" with my girlfriend on the rice field roads west of town, circa 10th grade.

Oh, yeah, and for the junkie crowd, Johnny Thunders!

[Bench]

Jerry Garcia.

[Curly]

Nigel Tufnel

[NeilT]

Nigel Tufnel

He had an unfair advantage.

[Ty in Tampa]

An interview with Ozzy:

"I tried out that Buckethead guy. I met with him and asked him to work with me but only if he got rid of the fucking bucket. So I came back a bit later and he's wearing this green fucking Martian's-hat thing. I said, 'Look, just be yourself!' He told me his name was Brian, so I said that's what I'd call him. He says, 'No one calls me Brian except my mother.' So I said, 'Pretend I'm your mum then!' I haven't even got out of the room and I'm already playing fucking mind games with the guy. What happens if one day he's gone and there's a note saying, 'I've been beamed up?' [Laughs] Don't get me wrong, he's a great player. He plays like a motherfucker!"

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=31127

[Kevin]

Get run over by Mack truck, Hispanicize firstname, put on stupid hat, play guitar on informercial.

All right. All right, mostly I am just mesmerized by his hat, impressed with his profit margin on a stringed boat paddle that probably costs 28 cents to manufacture in Bangladesh, and awed by the length of his fingernails.

[Holly]

He had an unfair advantage.

What, the armadillo in his trousers, or the fact that he towers over Stonehenge?

[David in Jackson]

Excellent.  Pour Down Like Silver is, like, one of my favorite albums ever.


Mine, too.  Great guitar at the dimming of the day.

[Jimbo]

He plays at his club every Monday night in NYC.  I'll be there in August and can't wait.

I hope I can still play the guitar when I'm 92 years old.  Oh wait, I can't play the guitar now.

[strosrays]

Nigel Tufnel

Another great but underrated Texas guitar slinger:  Sandy Squirrel!!  Playing the shit out of that flying V.

And yet they gave the solo to Mrs. Puff.  Damn.

[NeilT]

What, the armadillo in his trousers, or the fact that he towers over Stonehenge?

His amp went to 11, of course.

[Noe]

David Evans ('The Edge' of U2)

Quite possibly the most underated guitarist in rock.

[Curly]

His amp went to 11, of course.

indeed

[Curly]

Prince

[Kevin]

Prince

Ditto that. Forgot about The Purple One.

[David in Jackson]

Willie.

[Curly]

Willie.

Awesome picker.

[Noe]

Neil Schon.  I mentioned him earlier as an over indulging guitarist, but you have to give the one time child prodigy his due.  He can play the guitar quite well in the realm of rock and roll.

[NeilT]

Ranger Doug (who has his own guitar method, and who was separated from Pence at birth)
John Fahey
John Renbourn
Muddy Waters

[Phil_in_CS]

is this an off day or what?

As a bassist, all guitar players are fucking prima donnas

how do you make a guitar player stop playing?

put music in front of him

[Curly]

is this an off day or what?

As a bassist, all guitar players are fucking prima donnas

how do you make a guitar player stop playing?

put music in front of him

who the hell reads music to play guitar?

[Andyzipp]

Monte Montgomery

I was gonna add Brian May, but Astrocreep beat me to it.

[NeilT]

who the hell reads music to play guitar?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_T%C3%A1rrega

[MusicMan]

Quite possibly the most underated guitarist in rock.

Hear, hear.  Listening to any cover band butcher U2 makes you understand just what he brings to the table.

[Holly]

Hear, hear.  Listening to any cover band butcher U2 makes you understand just what he brings to the table.

I liked a quote on Wikipedia attributed to him, where he regards musical notes as "expensive" -- good thinking. It says something when even after 20 years, the intro to a song still brings goosebumps (Where the Streets Have No Name).

[Curly]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_T%C3%A1rrega

Wasn't he blind?

[CarolinaStro]

Tom Morello

[strosrays]

George Harrison
Robert Johnson
Lennon/McCartney (as writers)
Charlie Christian
BB King

Lennon had his moments, a lot of stuff on the White Album and Abbey Road, and his early solo LPs.  He wasn't as technically gifted as some, but he had a ton of "feel."

Also, mentioning him gives me a perfect excuse to post probably the best cartoon parody of a famous rock band I've ever seen.  Some sly references, subtle and not (the Yoko Ono thing is classic), and a gazillion lyrics resets.  I only posted the second half because that is where all the "meat" is.  For anyone not familiar with The Powerpuff Girls, well, you'll just have to figure it out for yourself.

[Jimbo]

Wasn't he blind?

He fell into an irrigation channel and went blind. WTF?

[JackAstro]

...and Buckethead

His wikipedia entry notes that "his penis is approximetly 27 in. on soft". This is why I trust wikipedia implicitly.

[Andyzipp]

His wikipedia entry notes that "his penis is approximetly 27 in. on soft". This is why I trust wikipedia implicitly.

It IS a great source for all sorts of research.

[Ron Brand]

Wayne Bennett
Billy Gibbons
T-Bone Walker
Lightnin' Hopkins

Gosh, no one listed Yngvie Malmsteen. And neither am I.

[NeilT]

Wasn't he blind?

According to Wikipedia, his sight was damaged.  You're thinking of Blind Willie McTell.

[Bench]

According to Wikipedia, his sight was damaged.  You're thinking of Blind Willie McTell.

Or Blind Lemon Jefferson.

[Ron Brand]

Blind Blake?

Where does Barbecue Bob fit in?  Or Robert Jr. Lockwood, for that matter.  Elmore James?  Hound Dog Taylor?

[matadorph]

Getting away from the predictable responses.....

Bob Stinson
Joey Santiago
Ira Kaplan
Nils Cline
J Mascis
John McLaughlin

[Ron Brand]

Jake E. Lee
Zakk Wylde
Uli Jon Roth
Tony Iommi

RITCHIE BLACKMORE.

[gwat]

Monte Montgomery

Monte is pretty impressive. I've known him since he as about 13. He was pretty good then. Self-taught.

Some of my favorites.
Adrian Belew
Tommy Bolin on Billy Cobham's Spectrum album especially.
Mike Stern
Zappa
Steve Morse
Al DiMeola
Jim Weider (I've just "discovered" this guy, he's only been around forever)
and my top two.
Michael Gurley - Dada (If you have never heard anything but Dizz Knee Land by these guys, check out their 1st 3 albums.
                      Pretty fucking good. Gurley was my favorite slinger until I found
Scott freakin' Henderson. Solo or with Tribal Tech. Check out "Hole Diggin'" on his Dog Party album.

[Ron Brand]

Warner Hodges.

[Ron Brand]

The only way to have a wankfest as big as this thread would be for all these guys to be on stage.

[astrofan]

Eddy Shaver

Chris Smither isn't bad, but not as good as Eddy

I don't remember seeing Johnny Winter on the list either

[T. J.]

He plays at his club every Monday night in NYC.  I'll be there in August and can't wait.

Don't look for a whole lot from Les in the show.  I saw that show 4 years ago and while he was hilarious (nothing like an 88 year old man hitting on 20 year olds), he doesn't play a whole lot.  He mainly hits a few "twangs" at the end of the song.  Still, amazing to see.

[Lurch]

Alex Lifeson
John Petrussi

[Outlawscotty]

Monte is pretty impressive. I've known him since he as about 13. He was pretty good then. Self-taught.

I myself know Monte since kid status (and still talk to his mother)and agree.  Otherwise Its Slash for Rock.  You have to listen to realize; not 'hear' EVH or other mainstream.  Another could be Neno Bettencourt.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

 Brad Paisley, since nobody mentioned him. I hate to admit it 'cause I mostly don't like his songs but he can fuckin' play his ass off.

[Ron Brand]

Seiji.  He has a lock and loll license.  Jet-O Beer!

[Outlawscotty]

Brad Paisley

and thought this was a serious discussion.

I, for the life of me, cannot get with the majority of suggestions.  Maybe it's the style of play or the expectations, but I really can't recind? my prior vote.

[Noe]

RITCHIE BLACKMORE.

There is a blast from the past!  Blackmore was the favorite of all my friends in High School.  Deep Purple was the band of choice, even above Led Zepplin.

BTW - I liked Phish for a while because of Trey Anastacio.  He is a wizard with the guitar, but I admit that you just have to be in the mood for Phish and Anastacio.  Pretty darn good nonetheless!

http://www.phish.com/

[chuck]

It IS a great source for all sorts of research.

Hell no. That's why I go to conservapedia.com. That's where I find the real truth. Sadly, they don't seem to have an entry for Bucklehead so I can't tell you for sure how big a dick he is.

Anyway, my list:

1. Dude from Slayer.
2. Dude from Stryper
3. Ace Frehley

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Brad Shepherd of the Hoodoo Gurus. (I think his amp goes up to 12)

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

and thought this was a serious discussion.

I, for the life of me, cannot get with the majority of suggestions.  Maybe it's the style of play or the expectations, but I really can't recind? my prior vote.

I know. Speaking of Montgomery's, Wes was pretty good. And I think a great deal of these rock-n-roll guys owe a tip of the cap to Dave Davies or at least his Auntie's knitting needle.

[strosrays]

Paul Kossoff?  Anyway, the guy from Free ("All Right Now") who committed suicide with his mum.

Wayne Bennett
Billy Gibbons
T-Bone Walker
Lightnin' Hopkins

I was thinking about the last two yesterday evening.  And it made me realize I'd forgot the late, great Johnny Copeland.  Probably one of the best I ever saw, in person.

Also reminded me Houston and the surrounding area has produced a shitload of great guitarists over the years.

[Limey]

I don't care if his guitar playing causes Isralei-Palestinian peace.  I don't care if it cures smallpox, AIDS, and the common cold.  I don't even care that he laid the wood to Jessica Simpson.

Waiting on the World to Change is insufferable, inexcusable whining for what seems like 2 hours.  It's enough to keep him off the list.

He did write "Your Body is a Wonderland" in praise of JLH.  Shit music but exceptional subject matter.

[JimR]

Paul Kossoff?  Anyway, the guy from Free ("All Right Now") who committed suicide with his mum.



I was thinking about the last two yesterday evening.  And it made me realize I'd forgot the late, great Johnny Copeland.  Probably one of the best I ever saw, in person.

Also reminded me Houston and the surrounding area has produced a shitload of great guitarists over the years.

i saw Lightnin' Hopkins years ago in some tiny spot in Austin. awesome.

[Limey]

Stig O'Hara

[JackAstro]

Jim Heath (Reverend Horton Heat)
Pete Townshend
Mike Ness
Joe Strummer
Rick Nielsen
Brian Setzer

Bo F'ing Didley

[strosrays]

There is a blast from the past!  Blackmore was the favorite of all my friends in High School.  Deep Purple was the band of choice, even above Led Zepplin.

I thought of Blackmore.  He should be included just for coming up with the riffs in "Smoke On The Water", "My Woman From Tokyo", and "Rat Bat Blue", if nothing else.

I didn't list him, though.  I think I take off too many points for his later association with Ronnie James Dio and the like, and that fucking "Man on the Silver Mountain" shit.  That song is one of those earworm things where I really, really hate the song, but once it is in my head, it won't leave for weeks.

And, goddammit, I think I just put it in there again.

i saw Lightnin' Hopkins years ago in some tiny spot in Austin. awesome.

Yes.  When I was about eight, the old man dragged me out to a local juke joint called Effie's A Go-Go one night to see him.  I didn't know what was going on, but he kept saying, "Pay attention.  This is one of the greats."

Years later, I was in Antone's to see Albert Collins, the "Master of the Telecaster", and BTW Hopkin's cousin.  We were sitting at one of those small round tables right in front of the stage, piling up the empty longnecks, and between sets The Iceman would come sit at our table and sip beer and shoot the breeze.  As you said, awesome.

[Bench]

Years later, I was in Antone's to see Albert Collins, the "Master of the Telecaster", and BTW Hopkin's cousin.  We were sitting at one of those small round tables right in front of the stage, piling up the empty longnecks, and between sets The Iceman would come sit at our table and sip beer and shoot the breeze.  As you said, awesome.

Speaking of relatives of the greats, I caught Guitar Shorty (Hendrix's brother-in-law) at the Beaumont Blues Festival last fall. He's not turning cartwheels anymore, but he put one hell of an entertaining show.

[strosrays]

I know slinging an axe is mostly a manly thing, but it bothers me I only came up with one guitarist from the distaff side on the original list, and I don't think I've seen any others posted since.

It's kind of a shame it has to be a separate category, but anyway

Great Chick Guitarists
Anita Robinson (Viva Voce, listed earlier)
Nancy Wilson
Chrissie Hynde
June Millington
Joan Jett
Allison Robertson (The Donnas)
Liz Phair
P.J. Harvey
Lita Ford
...
...
...

Somebody help me out here.

[Noe]

I know slinging an axe is mostly a manly thing, but it bothers me I only came up with one guitarist from the distaff side on the original list, and I don't think I've seen any others posted since.

It's kind of a shame it has to be a separate category, but anyway

Great Chick Guitarists
Anita Robinson (Viva Voce, listed earlier)
Nancy Wilson
Chrissie Hynde
June Millington
Joan Jett
Allison Robertson (The Donnas)
Liz Phair
P.J. Harvey
Lita Ford
...
...
...

Somebody help me out here.

Define "great"...

http://www.outsideleft.com/main.php?updateID=291

[Rebel Jew]

i saw Lightnin' Hopkins years ago in some tiny spot in Austin. awesome.

he and townes van zandt are my two favorite texas musicians ever.  lightnin's song "ida may" is as good a song as i've ever heard.

[Bench]

Define "great"...

http://www.outsideleft.com/main.php?updateID=291

Wow. What a bizarre and fascinating list.

I have never heard of Ruyter Suys or Nashville Pussy, but I am very intrigued.

[Ty in Tampa]

I know slinging an axe is mostly a manly thing, but it bothers me I only came up with one guitarist from the distaff side on the original list, and I don't think I've seen any others posted since.

It's kind of a shame it has to be a separate category, but anyway

Great Chick Guitarists
Anita Robinson (Viva Voce, listed earlier)
Nancy Wilson
Chrissie Hynde
June Millington
Joan Jett
Allison Robertson (The Donnas)
Liz Phair
P.J. Harvey
Lita Ford
...
...
...

Somebody help me out here.

Joni Mitchell is an incredible guitarist, especially with odd tunings and such.

[Noe]

Wow. What a bizarre and fascinating list.

I have never heard of Ruyter Suys or Nashville Pussy, but I am very intrigued.

I fell out of my chair laughing reading the paragraph about Juliana Hatfield.

[strosrays]

Define "great"...

http://www.outsideleft.com/main.php?updateID=291

That article didn't list the fabulous Wendy O. Williams?

Any list that omits the Plasmatics' guitarist is obviously bogus.

[Noe]

That article didn't list the fabulous Wendy O. Williams?

Any list that omits the Plasmatics' guitarist is obviously bogus.

Maybe the author has a thing against electrical tape?

[JackAstro]

If Allison Robertson qualifies as a great guitarist, we are going to have to expand this list by several orders of magnitude. I'd add Kim Shattuck (The Muffs) on her own merits, and Brody Dalle of The Distillers just for being somewhat more proficient than Ms. Robertson.

[Limey]

I fell out of my chair laughing reading the paragraph about Juliana Hatfield.

The article mentioned Lisa Loeb but didn't chart her.  Some people say that one can have a "prissy bookworm turns into berserk sex fiend" fantasy about her.

Nice catch with Kelly Deal.

I'm surprised there also wasn't room for PJ Harvey.  Some people say that one can have a "berserk sex field-looking chick turns out to actually be a berserk sex fiend" fantasy about her.

[Limey]

If Allison Robertson qualifies as a great guitarist, we are going to have to expand this list by several orders of magnitude. I'd add Kim Shattuck (The Muffs) on her own merits, and Brody Dalle of The Distillers just for being somewhat more proficient than Ms. Robertson.

Why doesn't some chick rock band simply call themselves "The Vaginas" and have done with it?

[Astroholic]

Why doesn't some chick rock band simply call themselves "The Vaginas" and have done with it?

Funny, I was watching Borat last night and that dudes use of the term Vaginas was cracking me up. 

p.s.
Don't tell me how it ends, I have not see it all yet.

[geezerdonk]

Robbie Robertson

[JackAstro]

Funny, I was watching Borat last night and that dudes use of the term Vaginas was cracking me up. 

p.s.
Don't tell me how it ends, I have not see it all yet.

Rosebud was his sled.

[gwat]

I know slinging an axe is mostly a manly thing, but it bothers me I only came up with one guitarist from the distaff side on the original list, and I don't think I've seen any others posted since.

It's kind of a shame it has to be a separate category, but anyway

Great Chick Guitarists
Anita Robinson (Viva Voce, listed earlier)
Nancy Wilson
Chrissie Hynde
June Millington
Joan Jett
Allison Robertson (The Donnas)
Liz Phair
P.J. Harvey
Lita Ford
...
...
...

Somebody help me out here.

Jane Getter, ex of SNL. Incredible guitarist, female or no.

[MusicMan]

Why doesn't some chick rock band simply call themselves "The Vaginas" and have done with it?

Because they'd always be an opening act?

[Astros Fan in SoCal]

Rosebud was his sled.

The chick is a guy.

Rosebud was his sled.

[Ty in Tampa]

The chick is a guy.

He's dead.

[Astros Fan in SoCal]

I know slinging an axe is mostly a manly thing, but it bothers me I only came up with one guitarist from the distaff side on the original list, and I don't think I've seen any others posted since.

It's kind of a shame it has to be a separate category, but anyway

Great Chick Guitarists
Anita Robinson (Viva Voce, listed earlier)
Nancy Wilson
Chrissie Hynde
June Millington
Joan Jett
Allison Robertson (The Donnas)
Liz Phair
P.J. Harvey
Lita Ford
...
...
...

Somebody help me out here.

Carrie Brownstein

[NeilT]

The chick is a guy.

http://www.threadless.com/product/844/Spoilt#zoom

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

i saw Lightnin' Hopkins years ago in some tiny spot in Austin. awesome.

Anyone mention Gatemouth yet?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I know slinging an axe is mostly a manly thing, but it bothers me I only came up with one guitarist from the distaff side on the original list, and I don't think I've seen any others posted since.

It's kind of a shame it has to be a separate category, but anyway

Great Chick Guitarists
Anita Robinson (Viva Voce, listed earlier)
Nancy Wilson
Chrissie Hynde
June Millington
Joan Jett
Allison Robertson (The Donnas)
Liz Phair
P.J. Harvey
Lita Ford
...
...
...

Somebody help me out here.

Bonnie Raitt

[gwat]

Dudes, again.
Bill Nelson - Be Bop Deluxe
Steve Wilson - Porcupine Tree
The Hellecasters (3 Nashville-type studio dudes) Will Ray, John Jorgenson, & Jerry Donahue
The late, great Roy Buchanan
David Grissom
Danny Gatton (on Austin City Limits, he played slide with his longneck until it frothed all over the neck of his
ax, then put a bar towel over his hand and finished an amazing solo, picking through the towel as he cleaned
up the mess.) Unfortunately, also dead by his own, talented hand.

Anyone mention Gatemouth yet?

One of my employees was his drummer/road manager for 8 years.

[BudGirl]

I know slinging an axe is mostly a manly thing, but it bothers me I only came up with one guitarist from the distaff side on the original list, and I don't think I've seen any others posted since.

It's kind of a shame it has to be a separate category, but anyway

Great Chick Guitarists
Anita Robinson (Viva Voce, listed earlier)
Nancy Wilson
Chrissie Hynde
June Millington
Joan Jett
Allison Robertson (The Donnas)
Liz Phair
P.J. Harvey
Lita Ford
...
...
...

Somebody help me out here.

Bonnie Raitt

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Why doesn't some chick rock band simply call themselves "The Vaginas" and have done with it?

Oh come on, there's lot of bands with vagina in the name or some variation. There's the Imaginary Floating Vaginas, the Bleeding Viginas, Vagina Face, and Vaginal Tree Foot... to name a few.  Oh wait... you said "chick rock band." Well, Vaginal Tap and Vagina Jones, come to mind.

[Mike]

I'm glad someone did mention Jeff Beck, I'd throw in Mick Taylor as well

I usually try not to start non-bb threads, but...

There's no MLB, I'm bored, and I'm trying to steer clear of politics and religion.  So I tried to think of the next best thing we could all fight like cats and dogs about.

"Greatest" can mean whatever you want it to mean.  Personally, I am aiming for an ideal combination of technical chops, an ear for rhythm and melody, commercial success ('obscure' does not necessarily = great... some people are obscure for good reason), innovation, and a distinct style almost instantly recognizable even by the casual fan.

This is not nearly all of them, or even all of my choices, but just to get started:

(In no particular order)
Chuck Berry
Bo Diddley
Jimi Hendrix
Duane Allman
Andy Gill (Gang of Four)
Neil Young (hard rock version, w/Crazy Horse)
SRV
Jimmy Page
Robert Fripp
Eddie Hazel (Funkadelic)
Joe Walsh
Roy Buchanan
Buddy Guy
Joe Perry
Keith Richards (technically a rhythm guitarist most of the time)
Peter Green (early Fleetwood Mac)
Angus Young
Brian 'Head' Welch (Korn)
Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The HBs)
Mick Jones (Clash and BAD, not Foreigner)
Mick Ronson (David Bowie, Ian Hunter)
Mick Taylor (mid-period Stones)
Billy Gibbons
Thurston Moore
Andy Summers
Freddie King
B.B. King
Curtis Mayfield
Dickey Betts
Robbie Robertson
Albert Collins
David Evans ('The Edge' of U2)
Anita Robinson (Viva Voce)
Peter Hayes (BRMC)

and so on...

.

[gwat]

Work is certainly getting in the way of a good time today. I'm about to throw the keys to the 2nd in
command, put on a Hawaiin shirt, and find a place to watch the Astros try to figure out Zambrano as
"Broad-End" Jennings seeks win number two.
Some more,
Alan Holdsworth
Derek Trucks-Allman Bros
Warren Haynes-Govt Mule/Allman Bros
Paul Barrere-Little Feat
Todd Rundgren

[Holly]

Work is certainly getting in the way of a good time today. I'm about to throw the keys to the 2nd in
command, put on a Hawaiin shirt, and find a place to watch the Astros try to figure out Zambrano as
"Broad-End" Jennings seeks win number two.
Some more,
Alan Holdsworth
Derek Trucks-Allman Bros
Warren Haynes-Govt Mule/Allman Bros
Paul Barrere-Little Feat
Todd Rundgren

Eh. Little Feat is one of my favorite bands, but calling Paul Barrere "great" is a big ol' stretch. If anyone, from that group, it should obviously be Lowell. Fred Tackett's a better guitarist than Barrere (who does slide "pretty well" but is otherwise, just kind of a good servicable ensembleman).

[Ty in Tampa]

Derek Trucks-Allman Bros
Warren Haynes-Govt Mule/Allman Bros

These two, along with Oteil Burbridge, have made the ABB a must see act for me, and I'm not even into the whole 'jam' thing. It's as formidable a twin attack as Duane and Dickie.

[xxx]

I have to add to the list--George Lynch, Chris DeGarmo and Warren de Martini

[Guinness]

Steve Howe.  Dave Gilmour.  Thread over.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

fat and stubby fingers never stopped Redd Volkaert from playing like a sun-a-bitch.

[NeilT]

Were there any bad guitarists?

[Holly]

Were there any bad guitarists?

Probably anyone with the Portsmouth Sinfonia. (We can thank Limey's countrymen for that one.)

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Madonna's not any good.

[Rammer33]

Were there any bad guitarists?

apparently not

[gwat]

These two, along with Oteil Burbridge, have made the ABB a must see act for me, and I'm not even into the whole 'jam' thing. It's as formidable a twin attack as Duane and Dickie.

Their DVD, out a couple of years, is a very nice collection of the old and the new Allman Bros.

[Ty in Tampa]

Were there any bad guitarists?

Alice Bowie

[austro]

Wow, I picked the wrong few days to go out of town.

I didn't see anybody mention him, so I will: Gary Wright.

[Towlie]

Jonny Greenwood
Thom Yorke (rhythm guitar)

[strosrays]

The list up to now:

Abbott, “Dimebag” Darrell (Pantera, Damage Plan)
Adamson, Stuart (Big Country)
Allman, Duane (Allman Brothers)
Anastacio, Trey (Phish)
Atkins, Chet (picker legend)

Barriere, Paul (Little Feat)
Beck, Jeff (Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group)
Belew, Adrian (King Crimson, David Bowie)
Bennett, Wayne (Bobby “Blue” Bland, Buddy Guy)
Berry, Chuck (rock and roll progenitor)
Bettencourt, Nuno (Extreme)
Betts, Dickey (Allman Brothers)
Blackmore, Ritchie (Deep Purple, Rainbow)
Bolin, Tommy (solo virtuoso)
Brown, Gatemouth (blues legend)
Brownstein, Carrie (Sleater-Kinney)
Buchanan, Roy (solo virtuoso)
Buckethead (solo, sessions, weirdo)
Burton, James (Elvis Presley, session)

Campbell, Mike (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
Christian, Charlie (blues legend)
Clapton, Eric (God)
Cline, Nels (solo virtuoso)
Collins, Albert (blues legend)
Copeland, Johnny (blues legend)
Cray, Robert (Robert Cray Band, blues)
Cropper, Steve (Booker T. & The MGs, Steely Dan)

Dale, Dick (twang legend)
Dalle, Brody (The Distillers)
Davies, Dave (Kinks)
DeGarmo, Chris (Queensrÿche)
Diddley, Bo (blues, rock and roll progenitor)
Di Martini, Warren (Ratt)
Di Meola, Al (jazzbo)
Donahue, Jerry (The Hellecasters)

Esteban (what can one say. . . he’s Esteban!)
Evans, David “The Edge” (U2)
Everman, Jason (Nirvana, Soundgarden)

Fahey, John (solo virtuoso)
Felder, Don (Eagles)
Flatt, Lester (picker legend)
Ford, Lita (Runaways, solo)
Fox, Oz (Stryper)
Frehley, Ace (KISS)
Fripp, Robert (King Crimson, League of Gentlemen, solo)

Garcia, Jerry (Grateful Dead)
Gatton, Danny (solo, session work)
Getter, Jane (SNL Band, jazzbo)
Gibbons, Billy (ZZ Top)
Gill, Andy (Gang of Four)
Gillis, Brad (Ozzy, Night Ranger)
Gilmour, David (Pink Floyd)
Green, Peter (founder, Fleetwood Mac)
Greenwood, Jonny (Radiohead)
Grissom, David (Joe Ely, John Mellencamp)
Gurley, Michael (Dada)
Guy, Buddy (blues legend)

Hammett, Kirk (Metallica)
Hanneman, Jeff (Slayer)
Harrison, George (Beatles)
Harvey, P.J. (solo)
Hayes, Peter (BRMC)
Haynes, Warren (Govt Mule, Allman Bros.)
Hazel, Eddie (Parliament-Funkadelic)
Heath, Jim (Reverend Horton Heat)
Henderson, Scott (Tribal Tech, jazzbo)
Hendrix, Jimi (Experience, god)
Hodges, Warner (Jason & The Scorchers)
Holdsworth, Alan (jazzbo)
Hopkins, Lightnin' (blues legend)
Howe, Steve (Yes, Asia)
Hynde, Chrissie (Pretenders)

Iommi, Tony (Black Sabbath)

James, Elmore (blues legend)
Jett, Joan (Runaways, Blackhearts)
Johnson, Eric (solo virtuoso)
Johnson, Robert (blues icon)
Jones, Mick (Clash and B.A.D., not Foreigner)
Jorgenson, John (The Hellecasters)

Kaplan, Ira (Yo La Tengo)
King, Albert (blues legend)
King, B.B. (blues legend)
King, Freddie (blues legend)
King, Kerry (Slayer)
Knopfler, Mark (Dire Straits)
Kottke, Leo (solo)

Lee, Jake E. (Ozzy Osbourne)
Lennon, John (Beatles)
Lifeson, Alex (Rush)
Lockwood, Robert Jr. (blues legend)
Lynch, George (Dokken)

Mascis, J. (Dinosaur, Jr.)
Malmsteen, Yngwie (Guitar Hero II©)
May, Brian (Queen)
Mayer, John (solo)
Mayfield, Curtis (Impressions, funk progenitor)
McCartney, Paul (Beatles)
McLaughlin, John (Mahavishnu Orchestra, jazzbo)
McTell, “Blind” Willie (blues legend)
Millington, June (Fanny)
Mitchell, Joni (solo)
Montgomery, Monte (solo)
Moore, Thurston (Sonic Youth)
Morello, Tom (Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave)
Morse, Steve (Dixie Dregs, Kansas)

Nelson, Bill (Be-Bop Deluxe)
Nelson, Willie (legend)
Ness, Mike (Social Distortion)
Nielsen, Rick (Cheap Trick)
Nugent, Ted (Amboy Dukes, solo virtuoso, carnivore)

O'Hara, Stig (The Rutles)

Page, Jimmy (Led Zeppelin)
Paisley, Brad (solo picker)
Paul, Les (inventor, progenitor)
Petrucci, John (Dream Theater)
Perkins, Luther (Johnny Cash)
Perry, Joe (Aerosmith)
Phair, Liz (solo doyenne)
Prince (Revolution, solo)

Raitt, Bonnie (solo virtuoso)
Ranger Doug (Riders In The Sky)
Ray, Will (The Hellecasters)
Renbourn, John (Pentangle)
Rhoads, Randy (Ozzy Osbourne, pilot)
Rich, Don (Buck Owens)
Richards, Keith (Rolling Stones)
Robertson, Allison (The Donnas)
Robertson, Robbie (The Band)
Robinson, Anita (Viva Voce)
Ronson, Mick (David Bowie, Ian Hunter)
Roth, Uli Jon (Scorpions)
Rundgren, Todd (Nazz, Utopia, studio whiz)

Santana, Carlos (solo virtuoso)
Santiago, Joey (Pixies)
Satriani, Joe (solo virtuoso)
Schon, Neil (Santana, Journey)
Setzer, Brian (Stray Cats)
Shattuck, Kim (The Muffs)
Shaver, Eddy (solo)
Shepherd, Brad (Hoodoo Gurus)
Slash (Guns ‘n’ Roses)
Smither, Chris (solo)
Stern, Mike (jazzbo)
Stinson, Bob (Replacements)
Strummer, Joe (The Clash, Mescaleros)
Summers, Andy (Police)

Taylor, Hound Dog (blues legend)
Taylor, Mick (mid-period Rolling Stones)
Thompson, Richard (Fairport Convention, solo virtuoso)
Thunders, Johnny (New York Dolls)
Townshend, Pete (The Who)
Trucks, Derek (Allman Bros.)

Vaughan, Stevie Ray (solo legend)
Verlaine, Tom (Television)
Volkaert, Redd (Merle Haggard)

Walker, T-Bone (blues legend)
Walsh, Joe (James Gang, Barnstorm, solo virtuoso, Eagles)
Waters, Muddy (blues legend)
Weider, Jim (latter-day The Band, Graham Parker)
Welch, Brian 'Head' (Korn)
White, Jack (White Stripes)
Wilson, Nancy (Heart)
Wilson, Steve (Porcupine Tree)
Winter, Johnny (Winters Brothers, solo virtuoso)
Wray, Link (rumble legend)
Wylde, Zakk (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society)

Yorke, Thom (Radiohead)
Young, Angus (AC/DC)
Young, Neil (Crazy Horse)

Zappa, Frank (Mothers of Invention, solo)

[Towlie]

ahhh Jimi 

[Tralfaz]

Please add Paul Weller of The Jam to list immediately.

[chuck]

My serious contribution to the list is Clarence White.

[ybbodeus]

No love for our own fellow Texan Buddy Holly?

[Ty in Tampa]

Let's don't leave out Mrs. Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi.

[Noe]

O'Hara, Stig (The Rutles)

Out-Freaking-Standing! 

Stig, meanwhile, had hidden in the background so much that in 1969, a rumor went around that he was dead. He was supposed to have been killed in a flash fire at a waterbed shop and replaced by a plastic and wax replica from Madame Tusseaud's. Several so-called "facts" helped the emergence of this rumor. One: he never said anything publicly. Even as the "quiet one," he'd not said a word since 1966. Two: on the cover of their latest album, "Shabby Road," he is wearing no trousers, an Italian way of indicating death. Three: Nasty supposedly sings "I buried Stig" on "I Am The Waitress." In fact, he sings, "E burres stigano," which is very bad Spanish for "Have you a water buffalo?" Four: On the cover of the "Sergeant Rutter" album, Stig is leaning in the exact position of a dying Yeti, from the Rutland Book of the Dead. Five: If you sing the title of "Sergeant Rutter's Only Darts Club Band" backwards, it's supposed to sound very like "Stig has been dead for ages, honestly." In fact, it sounds uncannily like "Dnab Bulc Ylno S'rettur Tnaegres." Palpable nonsense.

Eric Idle is a genius!

[HudsonHawk]

and thought this was a serious discussion.

Anyone who thinks Brad Paisley can't play has never *seen* Brad Paisley play.  He can fuckin' shred.  That's no lie.


Haven't seen the best guitarist playing today mentioned....John Petrucci of Dream Theater.  Also haven't seen Stanley Jordan on the list. 

[HudsonHawk]

Were there any bad guitarists?

Yes.  One is sleeping with my wife.

[gwat]

Les Dudek not yet mentioned.

[JimR]

Yes.  One is sleeping with my wife.

very tolerant of you.

[strobum]

Doug Martsch (Built to Spill)
Johnny Marr (The Smiths)
D Boon and Mike Watt (Minutemen)
East Bay Ray (The Dead Kennedys)
Greg Ginn (Black Flag)
Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction)

[gwat]

How could we forget...

Terry Kath - Chicago
Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser - Blue Oyster Cult
Frank Marino - Mahogany Rush
Pat Travers
Robin Trower
Kim Thayil - Soundgarden
David Hidalgo, Cesar Rosas, Louie Perez all of Los Lobos
Junior Brown and his GitSteel
Kazumi Watanabe - Jazz, Blues
Derek "Big House" O'Brien - Austin Blues, The Cobras
Doyle Bramhall II - Arcangels
Adrian Gurvitz - Gun, Three Man Army, Baker-Gurvitz Army
John Goodsall - Brand X
Reeves Gabrels - Tin Machine
Denny Freeman
Randy California -Spirit, Kaptain Kopter and the Fabulous Twirly Birds
Denny Diaz - Steely Dan (remember the solo on Boddhisatva?)
John FREAKING Scofield
Pat FREAKING Metheny


Thanks strosrays. Cool thread. I am definitely checking out the ones on your list with whom I am not familiar.

[HudsonHawk]

very tolerant of you.

Yeah, I've been trying to get him to practice, but he's a lazy SOB.

[Lurch]

Peter Frampton

[coop]

A few other guitarists that immediately come to mind that are more than worthy of making that list considering it is pretty much all encompassing are:

Andy Timmons
Ian Moore
Rik Emmett
Bruce Cockburn
Paco De Lucia
Frank Gambale
Doug Doppler
Albert freakin Lee

[coop]

Oh and I can't believe that Steve Vai or Paul Gilbert haven't been mentioned.

[guitarcec]

a couple that I haven't seen on the list so far...

Phil Keaggy
Dean DeLeo - STP
Keith Urban - same as Brad Paisley. amazing guitarist, even though i hate country
Sheryl Crow - got left of the "vagina" list. she's actually a very good player
Peter Stroud
Ross Childress - was the reason Collective Soul was any good
Dan Vickrey and David Bryson - Couting Crows
Brent Barcus - Shania's touring guy
Kevin Eubanks
Stuart Garrard - Delirious
Jonny Lang
Jay Joyce
Michael Ward - Wallflowers original guitarist
John Ellis - Tree 63

[Noe]

a couple that I haven't seen on the list so far...

Phil Keaggy

Excellent!  Keaggy is not mentioned much because of his work in the Christian music scene, but he is outstanding.  He cover of Steve Green's "Like Waking Up" is still one of my favorite for the haunting weaving of the crying guitar he plays.  There was an album my brother-in-law once had that featured Keaggy and others who did some studio work together to produce a semi-tribute to the Beatles.  I can't remember the name, so I'm going to have to go find it again.  It was one of the best guitar work I've heard from studio musicians ever and the fact that it was all of them using the same type of Beatles original instruments was outstanding.

[Rebel Jew]

a couple that I haven't seen on the list so far...

Phil Keaggy
Dean DeLeo - STP
Keith Urban - same as Brad Paisley. amazing guitarist, even though i hate country
Sheryl Crow - got left of the "vagina" list. she's actually a very good player
Peter Stroud
Ross Childress - was the reason Collective Soul was any good
Dan Vickrey and David Bryson - Couting Crows
Brent Barcus - Shania's touring guy
Kevin Eubanks
Stuart Garrard - Delirious
Jonny Lang
Jay Joyce
Michael Ward - Wallflowers original guitarist
John Ellis - Tree 63

this thread needs to end.  how did we get to a collection of glam country, cock rock, blooooze rock, cocktail jazz, and shiny roots rock guitar players?  should we just list any guitar player who's ever played a wicked solo dude?  are you really a great guitar player because you plays a guitar and makes a oh oh serious face at the same time?  this thread has become like listing the greatest baseball players of the last 30 years and coming up with "dale murphy, steve garvey, gary carter, kirby puckett, ronald mcgwire, david eckstein, mark grace, dennis eckersley, will clark, mike scott, carlton fisk, joe carter, oil can boyd, pascual perez" and then just continuing and continuing with every player who ever pumped his fist after hitting a home run or striking somebody out.

[Mike]

A few more Walter Trout(Blues Guitarist), Jorma Kaukonen, Hubert Sumlin,Larry Carlton

The list up to now:

Abbott, “Dimebag” Darrell (Pantera, Damage Plan)
Adamson, Stuart (Big Country)
Allman, Duane (Allman Brothers)
Anastacio, Trey (Phish)
Atkins, Chet (picker legend)

Barriere, Paul (Little Feat)
Beck, Jeff (Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group)
Belew, Adrian (King Crimson, David Bowie)
Bennett, Wayne (Bobby “Blue” Bland, Buddy Guy)
Berry, Chuck (rock and roll progenitor)
Bettencourt, Nuno (Extreme)
Betts, Dickey (Allman Brothers)
Blackmore, Ritchie (Deep Purple, Rainbow)
Bolin, Tommy (solo virtuoso)
Brown, Gatemouth (blues legend)
Brownstein, Carrie (Sleater-Kinney)
Buchanan, Roy (solo virtuoso)
Buckethead (solo, sessions, weirdo)
Burton, James (Elvis Presley, session)

Campbell, Mike (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
Christian, Charlie (blues legend)
Clapton, Eric (God)
Cline, Nels (solo virtuoso)
Collins, Albert (blues legend)
Copeland, Johnny (blues legend)
Cray, Robert (Robert Cray Band, blues)
Cropper, Steve (Booker T. & The MGs, Steely Dan)

Dale, Dick (twang legend)
Dalle, Brody (The Distillers)
Davies, Dave (Kinks)
DeGarmo, Chris (Queensrÿche)
Diddley, Bo (blues, rock and roll progenitor)
Di Martini, Warren (Ratt)
Di Meola, Al (jazzbo)
Donahue, Jerry (The Hellecasters)

Esteban (what can one say. . . he’s Esteban!)
Evans, David “The Edge” (U2)
Everman, Jason (Nirvana, Soundgarden)

Fahey, John (solo virtuoso)
Felder, Don (Eagles)
Flatt, Lester (picker legend)
Ford, Lita (Runaways, solo)
Fox, Oz (Stryper)
Frehley, Ace (KISS)
Fripp, Robert (King Crimson, League of Gentlemen, solo)

Garcia, Jerry (Grateful Dead)
Gatton, Danny (solo, session work)
Getter, Jane (SNL Band, jazzbo)
Gibbons, Billy (ZZ Top)
Gill, Andy (Gang of Four)
Gillis, Brad (Ozzy, Night Ranger)
Gilmour, David (Pink Floyd)
Green, Peter (founder, Fleetwood Mac)
Greenwood, Jonny (Radiohead)
Grissom, David (Joe Ely, John Mellencamp)
Gurley, Michael (Dada)
Guy, Buddy (blues legend)

Hammett, Kirk (Metallica)
Hanneman, Jeff (Slayer)
Harrison, George (Beatles)
Harvey, P.J. (solo)
Hayes, Peter (BRMC)
Haynes, Warren (Govt Mule, Allman Bros.)
Hazel, Eddie (Parliament-Funkadelic)
Heath, Jim (Reverend Horton Heat)
Henderson, Scott (Tribal Tech, jazzbo)
Hendrix, Jimi (Experience, god)
Hodges, Warner (Jason & The Scorchers)
Holdsworth, Alan (jazzbo)
Hopkins, Lightnin' (blues legend)
Howe, Steve (Yes, Asia)
Hynde, Chrissie (Pretenders)

Iommi, Tony (Black Sabbath)

James, Elmore (blues legend)
Jett, Joan (Runaways, Blackhearts)
Johnson, Eric (solo virtuoso)
Johnson, Robert (blues icon)
Jones, Mick (Clash and B.A.D., not Foreigner)
Jorgenson, John (The Hellecasters)

Kaplan, Ira (Yo La Tengo)
King, Albert (blues legend)
King, B.B. (blues legend)
King, Freddie (blues legend)
King, Kerry (Slayer)
Knopfler, Mark (Dire Straits)
Kottke, Leo (solo)

Lee, Jake E. (Ozzy Osbourne)
Lennon, John (Beatles)
Lifeson, Alex (Rush)
Lockwood, Robert Jr. (blues legend)
Lynch, George (Dokken)

Mascis, J. (Dinosaur, Jr.)
Malmsteen, Yngwie (Guitar Hero II©)
May, Brian (Queen)
Mayer, John (solo)
Mayfield, Curtis (Impressions, funk progenitor)
McCartney, Paul (Beatles)
McLaughlin, John (Mahavishnu Orchestra, jazzbo)
McTell, “Blind” Willie (blues legend)
Millington, June (Fanny)
Mitchell, Joni (solo)
Montgomery, Monte (solo)
Moore, Thurston (Sonic Youth)
Morello, Tom (Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave)
Morse, Steve (Dixie Dregs, Kansas)

Nelson, Bill (Be-Bop Deluxe)
Nelson, Willie (legend)
Ness, Mike (Social Distortion)
Nielsen, Rick (Cheap Trick)
Nugent, Ted (Amboy Dukes, solo virtuoso, carnivore)

O'Hara, Stig (The Rutles)

Page, Jimmy (Led Zeppelin)
Paisley, Brad (solo picker)
Paul, Les (inventor, progenitor)
Petrucci, John (Dream Theater)
Perkins, Luther (Johnny Cash)
Perry, Joe (Aerosmith)
Phair, Liz (solo doyenne)
Prince (Revolution, solo)

Raitt, Bonnie (solo virtuoso)
Ranger Doug (Riders In The Sky)
Ray, Will (The Hellecasters)
Renbourn, John (Pentangle)
Rhoads, Randy (Ozzy Osbourne, pilot)
Rich, Don (Buck Owens)
Richards, Keith (Rolling Stones)
Robertson, Allison (The Donnas)
Robertson, Robbie (The Band)
Robinson, Anita (Viva Voce)
Ronson, Mick (David Bowie, Ian Hunter)
Roth, Uli Jon (Scorpions)
Rundgren, Todd (Nazz, Utopia, studio whiz)

Santana, Carlos (solo virtuoso)
Santiago, Joey (Pixies)
Satriani, Joe (solo virtuoso)
Schon, Neil (Santana, Journey)
Setzer, Brian (Stray Cats)
Shattuck, Kim (The Muffs)
Shaver, Eddy (solo)
Shepherd, Brad (Hoodoo Gurus)
Slash (Guns ‘n’ Roses)
Smither, Chris (solo)
Stern, Mike (jazzbo)
Stinson, Bob (Replacements)
Strummer, Joe (The Clash, Mescaleros)
Summers, Andy (Police)

Taylor, Hound Dog (blues legend)
Taylor, Mick (mid-period Rolling Stones)
Thompson, Richard (Fairport Convention, solo virtuoso)
Thunders, Johnny (New York Dolls)
Townshend, Pete (The Who)
Trucks, Derek (Allman Bros.)

Vaughan, Stevie Ray (solo legend)
Verlaine, Tom (Television)
Volkaert, Redd (Merle Haggard)

Walker, T-Bone (blues legend)
Walsh, Joe (James Gang, Barnstorm, solo virtuoso, Eagles)
Waters, Muddy (blues legend)
Weider, Jim (latter-day The Band, Graham Parker)
Welch, Brian 'Head' (Korn)
White, Jack (White Stripes)
Wilson, Nancy (Heart)
Wilson, Steve (Porcupine Tree)
Winter, Johnny (Winters Brothers, solo virtuoso)
Wray, Link (rumble legend)
Wylde, Zakk (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society)

Yorke, Thom (Radiohead)
Young, Angus (AC/DC)
Young, Neil (Crazy Horse)

Zappa, Frank (Mothers of Invention, solo)

[JimR]

this thread needs to end.  how did we get to a collection of glam country, cock rock, blooooze rock, cocktail jazz, and shiny roots rock guitar players?  should we just list any guitar player who's ever played a wicked solo dude?  are you really a great guitar player because you plays a guitar and makes a oh oh serious face at the same time?  this thread has become like listing the greatest baseball players of the last 30 years and coming up with "dale murphy, steve garvey, gary carter, kirby puckett, ronald mcgwire, david eckstein, mark grace, dennis eckersley, will clark, mike scott, carlton fisk, joe carter, oil can boyd, pascual perez" and then just continuing and continuing with every player who ever pumped his fist after hitting a home run or striking somebody out.

do not rain on the parade, Joey. it is all a matter of taste. no one's opinion in this thread is wrong.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Django Rienhardt
Merle Travis
Barney Kessel
Wes Montgomery

Only four of the most influential guitarist EVER! Do I need to put "Fuckin'" between their first and last names to make their omission seem more grievous!

[coop]

Some others not yet on this list:

Steve Lukather
Vinnie Moore
Gary Moore
Trevor Rabin
Michael Hedges
Dave Matthews
Mick Ralphs
Gordon Lightfoot

[94CougarGrad]

Trying to figure out who's been left out... Mark Knopfler? David Lindley?

[Holly]

Trying to figure out who's been left out... Mark Knopfler? David Lindley?

Got Knopfler on the first page. Most of these names strike me as boutique/semi-obscure.

[Noe]

Got Knopfler on the first page. Most of these names strike me as boutique/semi-obscure.

Yeah, I agree.  If guys like Gordon Lightfoot start to make a thread about Blues/Rock and Roll axe men, it's reaching just a tad.  I mean, why not include Jim Croce, who was much better than Lightfoot.  And some of the jazz musicians were a reach too.  May as well include Lee Ritenhuer (sp?) and Pat Matheny, not to mention Acoustic Alchemy.  I don't think this was meant to reach those portportions.

[JimR]

Yeah, I agree.  If guys like Gordon Lightfoot start to make a thread about Blues/Rock and Roll axe men, it's reaching just a tad.  I mean, why not include Jim Croce, who was much better than Lightfoot.  And some of the jazz musicians were a reach too.  May as well include Lee Ritenhuer (sp?) and Pat Matheny, not to mention Acoustic Alchemy.  I don't think this was meant to reach those portportions.

it appears to me that there are only two people in this hemisphere who are not great guitarists: me and that guy who is sleeping with HH's wife.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

it appears to me that there are only two people in this hemisphere who are not great guitarists: me and that guy who is sleeping with HH's wife.

I'm perhaps the worst guitar player ever. I've been playing for 39 years, since I was 12, and haven't gotten better since I was 13. I've known people that pick up a guitar for the first time and six months later they're better than I'll ever be. Sisyphus could show me a thing or two about progress.

[JimR]

I'm perhaps the worst guitar player ever. I've been playing for 39 years, since I was 12, and haven't gotten better since I was 13. I've known people that pick up a guitar for the first time and six months later they're better than I'll ever be. Sisyphus could show me a thing or two about progress.

AH HA! you are the one who is sleeping with HH's wife.

[HudsonHawk]

AH HA! you are the one who is sleeping with HH's wife.

I thought it was a little crowded last night. 

[JimR]

I thought it was a little crowded last night. 

nothing worse than a cold burnoose on your back.

[HudsonHawk]

nothing worse than a cold burnoose on your back.

The good thing is, my wife doesn't realize how bad I am.  I play her a few things, and she's fairly impressed.  She has no frame of reference. 

[JimR]

The good thing is, my wife doesn't realize how bad I am.  I play her a few things, and she's fairly impressed.  She has no frame of reference. 

i'll bet she was quite impressed to learn that you own the bar.

[Astroholic]

The good thing is, my wife doesn't realize how bad I am.   

In bed or playing the guitar?

[JimR]

In bed or playing the guitar?

rim shot

[austro]

Wow, I picked the wrong few days to go out of town.

I didn't see anybody mention him, so I will: Gary Wright.

Well, this is embarrassing, because Gary Wright is an ass-clown.  I meant Gary Moore.

No, I have no idea what caused me to think "Oh my god, I wonder if I posted the wrong name."

[Ron Brand]

No, I have no idea what caused me to think "Oh my god, I wonder if I posted the wrong name."

Something interrupted your ride on the dream weaver train.

[gwat]

Well, this is embarrassing, because Gary Wright is an ass-clown.  I meant Gary Moore.

No, I have no idea what caused me to think "Oh my god, I wonder if I posted the wrong name."

I noticed that on your original post. Gary Wright, with Spooky Tooth, is not really an ass-clown, or a guitar player. He played a keyboard that was built to look like a guitar. Spooky Tooth was a cool, old band, with more than several tunes which I enjoy. Gary Wright, as a solo dude..., well, his music reflected the times in which he played. Gary Moore was kind of a hired-gun type, had some very good moments with Thin Lizzy, as well as some solo work that got quite a bit of play.

[Ron Brand]

IGary Moore was kind of a hired-gun type, had some very good moments with Thin Lizzy, as well as some solo work that got quite a bit of play.

...and now plays some of the most soulless blues this side of Jeff Beck.  Victims of the Future was pretty good though.

[Navin R Johnson]

Jerry Reed

[gwat]

Jerry Reed

Are we starting this again, I can do it.
Robin Ford
Sonny Landreth

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Balsac the Jaws of Death
Hillel Slovak
Glen Campbell
Duane Eddy
Ry Cooder
Andres Segovia
Johnny Ramone

[JackAstro]

Johnny Ramone was great? Really? Do you mean in terms of influence, or actual prowess?

[gwat]

Darryl Stuermer
Ted Hall
Brett Garsed
Tony McPhee
Pete Ham
Rod Price
Mick Box
Charles Byrd
Ray Gomez

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Johnny Ramone was great? Really? Do you mean in terms of influence, or actual prowess?

Influence and prowess. You try standing with you legs spread out like an exaggerated Bagwell stance, lower the strap so the guitar hangs at knee level and play power chords at breakneak speed. Really, it's a matter of taste. I prefer him to about 95% of this ongoing list. 

[JackAstro]

You try standing with you legs spread out like an exaggerated Bagwell stance, lower the strap so the guitar hangs at knee level and play power chords at breakneak speed.

I have, I've succeeded, and I still consider myself a terrible guitarist. Even so, you're right, at least insofar as he was wonderful to listen to and inspired 3 decades of imitation.

[tophfar]

Johnny Ramone was great? Really? Do you mean in terms of influence, or actual prowess?

this list has turned into whatever guitarist has played for whatever band you have heard of.  meh.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

this list has turned into whatever guitarist has played for whatever band you have heard of.  meh.

Goddammit that happend along time before I posted the name of the late great Johnny Ramone. You unappreciative tin ears. Have you no taste, no analysis, no sense of history, a fucking clue? Then this list was a joke from the get go. meh, indeed.

[Lurch]

I'm stunned we've managed to get 9 pages deep without someone bringing up their own Guitar Hero prowess.  And... Go

[tophfar]

Goddammit that happend along time before I posted the name of the late great Johnny Ramone. You unappreciative tin ears. Have you no taste, no analysis, no sense of history, a fucking clue? Then this list was a joke from the get go. meh, indeed.

relax numnuts, i didnt particularly mean to quote you, if you notice it was about 3am and i was a little drunk.  it was a comment about the thread in general.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

relax numnuts, i didnt particularly mean to quote you, if you notice it was about 3am and i was a little drunk.  it was a comment about the thread in general.

At any given time the tension of my balls has an indirect correlation to their apathy.

[Houston]

Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac) called and wanted his name added. I said we'd think about it.

[drew corleone]

You try standing with you legs spread out like an exaggerated Bagwell stance, lower the strap so the guitar hangs at knee level and play power chords at breakneak speed.

I do this when I play Guitar Hero. I can really shred that little plastic sonofabitch.

[HudsonHawk]

I do this when I play Guitar Hero. I can really shred that little plastic sonofabitch.

I have a friend who is a fantastic guitar player...a real "musician", rather than the "picker" that I am.  He absolutely sucks at Guitar Hero and it drives him nuts, especially songs he can really play on a real guitar.  His wife beats his ass at it.  He gets so mad.

[Craig]

I have a friend who is a fantastic guitar player...a real "musician", rather than the "picker" that I am.  He absolutely sucks at Guitar Hero and it drives him nuts, especially songs he can really play on a real guitar.  His wife beats his ass at it.  He gets so mad.

FWIW, "Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80s" is being released this week. I wasn't sure there were 30 songs from the 80s that rocked, but I guess they found some.

[drew corleone]

HH... I've got a friend that's the same way. He is horrible at that game. I'm good, but not great, and even though I couldn't do jack shit with a real guitar, I can dominate his ass at GH. Personally I'd rather be able to play the actual guitar, but hey, knobby fingers with little to no dexterity are much less of a hinderance when you only have five fat buttons, as opposed to six narrow strings.

Craig... yep, tomorrow. Some of them are from from "rocking," but they have Skid Row's "18 and a Life," which is more than enough reason for me to plunk down $50, especially as I'm trying to rid myself of the disappointment that was "NCAA 2008."

[JackAstro]

FWIW, "Guitar Hero: Rocks the 80s" is being released this week. I wasn't sure there were 30 songs from the 80s that rocked, but I guess they found some.

This makes for a fine and decent threadjack.

Songs from the 80s that Rocked

Rules:
1) Limit one song per poster, per hour
2) Must be recognizable to a majority of those familiar with songs from the 80s that rocked
3) Must meet vague, subjective standards of rocking, dependent upon majority opinion

Drew got us rolling, I'm picking up the baton...

Skid Row - "18 and Life"
Twisted Sister - "We're Not Gonna Take It"

[Astroholic]

This makes for a fine and decent threadjack.

Songs from the 80s that Rocked

Rules:
1) Limit one song per poster, per hour
2) Must be recognizable to a majority of those familiar with songs from the 80s that rocked
3) Must meet vague, subjective standards of rocking, dependent upon majority opinion

Drew got us rolling, I'm picking up the baton...

Skid Row - "18 and Life"
Twisted Sister - "We're Not Gonna Take It"

Crue - Too fast for love

[Houston]

If you're talking about guitar riffs, I nominate the Beastie Boys' "No Sleep Til Brooklyn."

This makes for a fine and decent threadjack.

Songs from the 80s that Rocked

Rules:
1) Limit one song per poster, per hour
2) Must be recognizable to a majority of those familiar with songs from the 80s that rocked
3) Must meet vague, subjective standards of rocking, dependent upon majority opinion

Drew got us rolling, I'm picking up the baton...

Skid Row - "18 and Life"
Twisted Sister - "We're Not Gonna Take It"

[T. J.]

Skid Row - "18 and Life"
Twisted Sister - "We're Not Gonna Take It"
Crue - Too fast for love
Beastie Boys - No Sleep 'til Brooklyn

Back in Black

[Limey]

Skid Row - "18 and Life"
Twisted Sister - "We're Not Gonna Take It"
Crue - Too fast for love
Beastie Boys - No Sleep 'til Brooklyn
AC/DC - Back in Black

Pretty much anything by U2 including, but not limited to, "Pride", "In the Name of Love", "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "New Year's Day" and "Where the Streets Have No Name".

[guitarcec]

Pretty much anything by U2 including, but not limited to, "Pride", "In the Name of Love", "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "New Year's Day" and "Where the Streets Have No Name".

U2 - "Mysterious Ways"

[Limey]

U2 - "Mysterious Ways"

Bzzzzzzt!  1991.

[guitarcec]

Bzzzzzzt!  1991.

aargh! as soon as i posted it, i thought to myself, "damn, that may have been in the 90's" and did a quick search. i was just about to edit the post when you buzzed me. you are quick on the trigger, limey...

[Limey]

aargh! as soon as i posted it, i thought to myself, "damn, that may have been in the 90's" and did a quick search. i was just about to edit the post when you buzzed me. you are quick on the trigger, limey...

That's what my wife says...

[Andyzipp]

Rock of Ages... Def Leppard

At least when Friday Night Videos was all the rage...

[MusicMan]

GnR, "Welcome to the Jungle"

[BudGirl]

GnR, "Welcome to the Jungle"

I liked Paradise City better.

[T. J.]

aargh! as soon as i posted it, i thought to myself, "damn, that may have been in the 90's" and did a quick search. i was just about to edit the post when you buzzed me. you are quick on the trigger, limey...

(Pssst....you could buzz him back for breaking JackAstro's rules.)

[Astroholic]

(Pssst....you could buzz him back for breaking JackAstro's rules.)

Iron Maiden - Flight of Icarus (amoung many others from Bruce and the boys) 

[drew corleone]

(Pssst....you could buzz him back for breaking JackAstro's rules.)

"Breakin the Law," Judas Priest.

[guitarcec]

(Pssst....you could buzz him back for breaking JackAstro's rules.)

why, thank you.

Pretty much anything by U2 including, but not limited to, "Pride", "In the Name of Love", "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "New Year's Day" and "Where the Streets Have No Name".

bzzzzzzt! rule #1...

[drew corleone]

why, thank you.

bzzzzzzt! rule #1...

Does that work with the Levels of Clark?

[Ron Brand]

Living Colour, Cult of Personality

[Astroholic]

Living Colour, Cult of Personality

Police - Synchronicity

[HudsonHawk]

Wow, talk about your timely...I have recently put together a little CD with some of my all time favorite guitar songs on it to give away at a birthday party.  It's by no means all my favorite songs, but it is a handful of them, and cover a various range of things.  This is by no means my "top list" or anything, just a few tunes that I like to hear:

Eruption - Van Halen
Cliffs of Dover - Eric Johnson
Sweet Child O Mine - Guns N Roses
Lighthouse Keeper - Cross Canadian Ragweed
Freeway Jam - Jeff Beck
Frankenstein - Edgar Winter
Over The Hills And Far Away - Led Zeppelin
Black Mountain Rag - Doc Watson
Four Walls of Raiford - Lynyrd Skynyrd
I'm A Steady Rollin' Man - Robert Johnson
Texas Flood - Stevie Ray Vaughn
Highway Song - Blackfoot
The Unforgiven - Metallica
Stairway To Heaven - Stanley Jordan

[JackAstro]

The list so far (apologies to you multiple-list entrants, I had to make a judgment call as to the most rockin' of your options)

Skid Row - 18 and Life
Twisted Sister - We're Not Gonna Take It
Crue - Too fast for love
Beastie Boys - No Sleep 'til Brooklyn
ACDC - Back in Black
U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday
Def Leppard - Rock of Ages
Guns N' Roses - Welcome to the Jungle
Guns N' Roses - Paradise City
Iron Maiden - Flight of Icarus
Judas Priest - Breakin' the Law
Living Colour - Cult of Personality
Police - Synchronicity
Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child o' Mine

I'm adding the seminal Quiet Riot masterpiece, Cum on Feel the Noize.

I need a ruling on Synchronicity. Great song(s) and all, but I'm not sure that qualifies as rockin'. Pretty much everyone else on the list thinks that Sting is a pussy.

[Andyzipp]

The list so far (apologies to you multiple-list entrants, I had to make a judgment call as to the most rockin' of your options)

Skid Row - 18 and Life
Twisted Sister - We're Not Gonna Take It
Crue - Too fast for love
Beastie Boys - No Sleep 'til Brooklyn
ACDC - Back in Black
U2 - Sunday Bloody Sunday
Def Leppard - Rock of Ages
Guns N' Roses - Welcome to the Jungle
Guns N' Roses - Paradise City
Iron Maiden - Flight of Icarus
Judas Priest - Breakin' the Law
Living Colour - Cult of Personality
Police - Synchronicity
Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child o' Mine

I'm adding the seminal Quiet Riot masterpiece, Cum on Feel the Noize.

I need a ruling on Synchronicity. Great song(s) and all, but I'm not sure that qualifies as rockin'. Pretty much everyone else on the list thinks that Sting is a pussy.

Synchronicity II was rockin'.  The other Synchronicity was not so much.

[Ron Brand]

I'm adding the seminal Quiet Riot masterpiece, Cum on Feel the Noize.

I need a ruling on Synchronicity. Great song(s) and all, but I'm not sure that qualifies as rockin'. Pretty much everyone else on the list thinks that Sting is a pussy.

Sting is a pussy.

And Quiet Riot was neither seminal nor was that a masterpiece, IMO.  It was a weak cover of the seminal masterpiece by one of the greatest pub rock bands ever, Slade.  Noddy Holder rules.

[JackAstro]

Sting is a pussy.

And Quiet Riot was neither seminal nor was that a masterpiece, IMO.  It was a weak cover of the seminal masterpiece by one of the greatest pub rock bands ever, Slade.  Noddy Holder rules.

Fine, you're uninvited from my next Quiet Riot party, jerk. It still rocked, and it was from the 80s.

[Ron Brand]

Jerk?  Dude, you're still invited to my next Sladeathon. 

[strosrays]

"Love Removal Machine"

[HudsonHawk]

Jerk?  Dude, you're still invited to my next Sladeathon. 

As long as you don't make me attend either.

[strosrays]

"New Orleans Is Sinking"

[strosrays]

"Golden Ball And Chain"

[JackAstro]

Jerk?  Dude, you're still invited to my next Sladeathon. 

Perhaps I overreacted. Will there be cake and lemonade?

[Ty in Tampa]

"New Orleans Is Sinking"

The Hip. Nice.

[JackAstro]

Damn it, strosrays, one per hour. You will be credited with The Cult. Thank you, come again.

[strosrays]

"I Love A Man In A Uniform"

[Ty in Tampa]

Damn it, strosrays, one per hour. You will be credited with The Cult. Thank you, come again.

It is his thread you hijacked. Maybe he's just pissing on it.

[Limey]

Sting is a pussy.

And Quiet Riot was neither seminal nor was that a masterpiece, IMO.  It was a weak cover of the seminal masterpiece by one of the greatest pub rock bands ever, Slade.  Noddy Holder rules.

Amen...and amen!

[Ron Brand]

"Golden Ball And Chain"

Outstanding choice, sir.  I went to their reunion/benefit June 2 in Nashville.  Best Scorchers show ever.

[Limey]

"I Love A Man In A Uniform"

Is this a song or a confession?  (NTTAWWT)

[Ron Brand]

Perhaps I overreacted. Will there be cake and lemonade?

Yeah, but the way I make it it always comes out tasting like Shiner.

[strosrays]

"Sold Me Down The River"

[JackAstro]

Nice.

[strosrays]

"A Girl Like You" (Smithereens)

[strosrays]

"I'm An Adult Now" (TPOH)

[Ron Brand]

The Cult, "Rain"

[Andyzipp]

Thunderstruck
Hot for Teacher
Run For The Hills

[JackAstro]

Thunderstruck
Hot for Teacher
Run For The Hills

What a fucking trio. This is what the people came for.

[Limey]

Can I now add "Message of Love" by The Pretenders?  Thank you.

[Ron Brand]

What a fucking trio. This is what the people came for.

Aw, c'mon.  You know you got chills the first time you saw Eddie onstage.

[BudGirl]

Tush-ZZ Top

[JackAstro]

Aw, c'mon.  You know you got chills the first time you saw Eddie onstage.

No, I'm being serious. I don't think you can do much better than those 3.

[Andyzipp]

Stone Cold - Rainbow
Wait - White Lion

[CarolinaStro]

This makes for a fine and decent threadjack.

Songs from the 80s that Rocked

Rules:
1) Limit one song per poster, per hour
2) Must be recognizable to a majority of those familiar with songs from the 80s that rocked
3) Must meet vague, subjective standards of rocking, dependent upon majority opinion

Drew got us rolling, I'm picking up the baton...

Skid Row - "18 and Life"
Twisted Sister - "We're Not Gonna Take It"

Master of Puppets, One, Fade to Black or basically anything from pre-Black Metallica

[Ron Brand]

No, I'm being serious. I don't think you can do much better than those 3.

I agree, it's tough.  How about:

Start Me Up
Crazy Train
Dude (Looks Like a Lady)

[toddthebod]

Rock of Ages... Def Leppard

If I was going to pick one Def Leppard song it would be "Bringing on the Heartbreak."

[toddthebod]

And if we are still talking about great 80s rock songs, I'm going to take "Juke Box Hero" by Foreigner.

Foreigner was playing a small venue in Englewood, NJ where I live and my wife got us front row seats as a birthday present.  I was pretty skeptical when she gave them to me, but they rocked -- and Jason Bonham was their drummer.

[astrojo]

Aldo Nova - Fantasy

[HudsonHawk]

Thunderstruck

1990's

Hot for Teacher

Hardly "rocked"

Run For The Hills

I assume you mean Run *To* The Hills, but now THAT rocked!

[Ron Brand]

1990's

Hardly "rocked"

I assume you mean Run *To* The Hills, but now THAT rocked!

Ok, sub For Those About To Rock or Shoot To Thrill for Thunderstruck.  The rest of the Hot For Teacher rocks about like most VH but the double bass definitely does rock well.  Run To The Hills is pretty much how I like to remember Maiden's high point.  Not bad.

[Houston]

Stone Cold - Rainbow

It's funny you mentioned that song because I heard it today for the first time in about 20 years. It still sounds great!

I'd also add anything by Zebra from that era.

[Andyzipp]

1990's

Hardly "rocked"

I assume you mean Run *To* The Hills, but now THAT rocked!

Replace Thunderstruck with If You Want Blood, and I'll beg the forgivness of the resident music snob but I stand by Hot for Teacher.

[Lurch]

Dr. Feelgood

Tom Sawyer (damn your rules)

[BudGirl]

Great White-Once Bitten Twice Shy  Not my favorite off that album, but a fun one at the time.

Whitesnake-Here I Go Again  You have to admit this song can kick ass, at least Tawny can.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Big Bottom - Spinal Tap
Killer Klowns from Outer Space - The Dickies
Buckle Down - The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Can Your Pussy Do the Dog - The Cramps

[Astroholic]

Big Bottom - Spinal Tap
Killer Klowns from Outer Space - The Dickies
Buckle Down - The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Can Your Pussy Do the Dog - The Cramps

Jane's Addiction - Jane Says
Fastway - Say what you will  (Piss on the rules, everybody else is. Baaaaaaaaaaaa!)

Oh and I agree that Sting is a pussy, but what does that have to do with anything.

Prince - When Doves Cry

[94CougarGrad]

"Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits, for the guitar intro if nothing else.

Yeah, yeah, Sting's in the song, but he's just a ghost who wants his MTV.

[Astroholic]

"Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits, for the guitar intro if nothing else.

Yeah, yeah, Sting's in the song, but he's just a ghost who wants his MTV.

Kinks - Destoyer

[Bench]

Big Bottom - Spinal Tap

Speaking of Spinal Tap, here is an amusing list of the best "fake" bands: http://www.earvolution.com/2007/07/ten-best-bands-that-never-existed.asp

[MikeyBoy]

Speaking of Spinal Tap, here is an amusing list of the best "fake" bands: http://www.earvolution.com/2007/07/ten-best-bands-that-never-existed.asp

How did Poison not make the top 10?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Gary's Got a Boner - The Replacements
The Longest Day - The Del Fuegos
Zoo-Music Girl - The Birthday Party
68 Guns - The Alarm
Everywhere I Go - The Call

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

How did Poison not make the top 10?

Really, those guys were the empitome of fakers.

[MusicMan]

If I was going to pick one Def Leppard song it would be "Bringing on the Heartbreak."

I have to go with "Pour Some Sugar on Me".  It epitomizes '80s rock.

[T. J.]

Fine, you're uninvited from my next Quiet Riot party, jerk. It still rocked, and it was from the 80s.

Is it this Friday?  (They're playing at Sam Houston Race Park after the races.)

ETA:  Also, in keeping up with another "band" mentioned in this thread, you can chat with Poison front man Bret Michaels in an hour (11:00 a.m. central) on the Washington Post website:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/07/20/DI2007072001786.html?nav=hcmodule

[Bench]

Is it this Friday?  (They're playing at Sam Houston Race Park after the races.)

ETA:  Also, in keeping up with another "band" mentioned in this thread, you can chat with Poison front man Bret Michaels in an hour (11:00 a.m. central) on the Washington Post website:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/07/20/DI2007072001786.html?nav=hcmodule

Yeah, he has new "flava of love" type TV show. A real abortion of taste and decency.

[coop]

Tom Sawyer
Sunday Bloody Sunday

[toddthebod]

I have to go with "Pour Some Sugar on Me".  It epitomizes '80s rock.

Yeah.  But I actually like "Bringing on the Heartbreak."  I wasn't choosing it because the song epitomized the worst rock decade ever. 

[Noe]

Speaking of Spinal Tap, here is an amusing list of the best "fake" bands: http://www.earvolution.com/2007/07/ten-best-bands-that-never-existed.asp

The Partridge Family should be in there somewhere.  And I personally think The Rutles deserve to be #1.  Spinal Tap is a direct steal from The Rutles and Eric Idle's brilliance.  It's like saying "Threes Company" was a top ten comedy show and "Man About the House" is a close second.  It's the other way around.

[Astroholic]

Yeah.  But I actually like "Bringing on the Heartbreak."  I wasn't choosing it because the song epitomized the worst rock decade ever. 

This current decade is shaping up to be the worst rock decade IMO.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Replace Thunderstruck with If You Want Blood, and I'll beg the forgivness of the resident music snob but I stand by Hot for Teacher.

If You Want Blood was 1979 on Highway to Hell.  But I like where you are going with this. 

Personal Choices:
La Villa Strangiato - Rush
Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd

[strosrays]

"Everywhere That I'm Not" - Translator
"Say You Will" - Blanket of Secrecy
"Every Word Means No" - Let's Active
"Praying Mantis" - Don Dixon
"Big Blue Sky" - Northern Pikes
"Don't Worry Baby" - Los Lobos
"Sweet Fire of Love" - Robbie Robertson (w/U2)
"It's A Man's Man's Man's World" - The Residents
"Don't Nobody Move (This Is A Heist)" - Tony Powers

[Limey]

The Partridge Family should be in there somewhere.  And I personally think The Rutles deserve to be #1.  Spinal Tap is a direct steal from The Rutles and Eric Idle's brilliance.  It's like saying "Threes Company" was a top ten comedy show and "Man About the House" is a close second.  It's the other way around.

...and how the Monkees isn't there, is beyond me.  See also Vanilli, Milli.

I've never even heard of 9, 8 or 7.  At least one of those has to go to make room for Buckaroo Banzai and the Hong Kong Cavaliers!

[Noe]

...and how the Monkees isn't there, is beyond me.  See also Vanilli, Milli.

I've never even heard of 9, 8 or 7.  At least one of those has to go to make room for Buckaroo Banzai and the Hong Kong Cavaliers!

And if I took his criteria to heart, I'd include Eddie and the Cruisers in the list as well.  I'm with you on the list itself.  I would not have chosen the Bloom County parody band.  Good call on the Monkeys by the way.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

There's a clear difference between the kind of fake bands that are assembled based on looks or some degree of acting abilty like the Monkees, compared to a cartoon band wth voice over audio supplied by session musicians like Josie and The Pussycats, compared to actors with musical talent doing a satire of a rock-n-roll band, like Spinal Tap. I think the list is the product of a lazy mind and bogus... aw, hell, it was still kind of a fun read anyway.

[hostros7]

This current decade is shaping up to be the worst rock decade IMO.

Not that I disagree...but just out of curiosity what body of work do you consider when you think of the rock of this decade?

I think in the mainstream, archetype, top record selling sense, I tend to agree with you, but its a more difficult/complex argument if you maybe take in to consideration the erosion of rock vs. the alteration of the popular culture landscape. 

[Astroholic]

Not that I disagree...but just out of curiosity what body of work do you consider when you think of the rock of this decade?

I think in the mainstream, archetype, top record selling sense, I tend to agree with you, but its a more difficult/complex argument if you maybe take in to consideration the erosion of rock vs. the alteration of the popular culture landscape. 

There are only a few bands that I like right now.  Velvet Revolver, The White Stripes,  Radiohead, The Killers, The Strokes, nickelback (some is okay), and even Green Day (though I like the earlier stuff much better).  It seems like all we are getting now is pop or rap.  Country music has eroded even faster.  My Daughter (7) is getting into music and I am trying to be open minded with what she likes (Gwin Stefini, Naked Brothers Band, etc), but most of that is truly crap.  I have turned her on to My Generation of music (Late 60's - 90's grunge) which I think is much better. I realize that some of that music is not appropriate for her age, I am selective. 
I am starting to sound like my parents more and more everyday.  MutherFucker.

[strosrays]

I am starting to sound like my parents more and more everyday.  MutherFucker.

Goddamn right, it's a beautiful day.

[CarolinaStro]

Not that I disagree...but just out of curiosity what body of work do you consider when you think of the rock of this decade?

I think in the mainstream, archetype, top record selling sense, I tend to agree with you, but its a more difficult/complex argument if you maybe take in to consideration the erosion of rock vs. the alteration of the popular culture landscape. 

Rock is not dying but it is changing at a quicker pace so that is harder to identify the band of an era.  The last three decades you could see things evolving from Zeppelin, Van Halen, Metallica, Pearl Jam to Rage Against the Machine.  Now it is too fragmented (which may be a good thing) to identify a period with a specific band or type of band.

[Noe]

Goddamn right, it's a beautiful day.

My son reminds me how much I sound like a Dad every day.  Simply by being a thirteen year old son going on 21 (in his own mind).  I try to be patient, cool, level-headed, brilliant, a mentor, a friend, a father... but what comes out of my mouth is my Dad's voice yelling "Stop that!" almost every time.

I have to learn to embrace it or change that.  My wife is voting for me to change it.  My son (I think) doesn't really care, either way he's still going to be thirteen going on 21 and push buttons all day long.  Sometimes he says some of the funniest things to me too, but I have to fight the urge to laugh with him at me.  It just ain't right.

[Lurch]

There are only a few bands that I like right now.  Velvet Revolver, The White Stripes,  Radiohead, The Killers, The Strokes, nickelback (some is okay), and even Green Day (though I like the earlier stuff much better).  It seems like all we are getting now is pop or rap.  Country music has eroded even faster.  My Daughter (7) is getting into music and I am trying to be open minded with what she likes (Gwin Stefini, Naked Brothers Band, etc), but most of that is truly crap.  I have turned her on to My Generation of music (Late 60's - 90's grunge) which I think is much better. I realize that some of that music is not appropriate for her age, I am selective. 
I am starting to sound like my parents more and more everyday.  MutherFucker.

Audioslave rocked and should have for many years more.  Fuck.  Not much more new and different in the aughts, though.

[chuck]

I've made this observation before and I'm sure I'll have the opportunity to make it again, but goddam this is an acid-washed, white high-top Reebok sort of crowd. Anyone here other than strosrays ever hear of Paul Westerberg? 80's songs that rocked? Jesus.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I've made this observation before and I'm sure I'll have the opportunity to make it again, but goddam this is an acid-washed, white high-top Reebok sort of crowd. Anyone here other than strosrays ever hear of Paul Westerberg? 80's songs that rocked? Jesus.

People like what they like for a lot of reasons.

Some people liked styling with a mullet and driving their bitchin' carmaros to the tanning salons to pick up their big haired, peroxide blond, too much make-up on, skin-tight stoned-washed-denim blue-jeans wearing girlfriend, then scoring at the trailer park before heading out to the Crue & Poison rawk show at the colosseum.

Color Me Impressed....

Who's Paul Westerberg, cool guy?

[Astroholic]

People like what they like for a lot of reasons.

Some people liked styling with a mullet and driving their bitchin' carmaros to the tanning salons to pick up their big haired, peroxide blond, too much make-up on, skin-tight stoned-washed-denim blue-jeans wearing girlfriend, then scoring at the trailer park before heading out to the Crue & Poison rawk show at the colosseum.

Thems were the good old days.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Lead singer to the replacements.  I was introduced to him by the "Singles" sound track.  I like him.  But he doesn't rock.

[Ty in Tampa]

But he doesn't rock.

Check the first 5 'mats discs. He rocks.

[JackAstro]

I've made this observation before and I'm sure I'll have the opportunity to make it again, but goddam this is an acid-washed, white high-top Reebok sort of crowd. Anyone here other than strosrays ever hear of Paul Westerberg? 80's songs that rocked? Jesus.

Yes, we could spend all day making lists of bands like The Replacements, Husker Du, Fugazi, Descendents, etc. Terribly sorry for wanting to embrace a list of mainstream 80s rock like ACDC, Iron Maiden, Guns N' Roses and the like. Seemed like a decent diversion.

[toddthebod]

Not that I disagree...but just out of curiosity what body of work do you consider when you think of the rock of this decade?

I think in the mainstream, archetype, top record selling sense, I tend to agree with you, but its a more difficult/complex argument if you maybe take in to consideration the erosion of rock vs. the alteration of the popular culture landscape. 

Agreed.  Top-40 music sucks -- the whole American Idol thing doesn't do it for me.  But I have found a lot of music this decade that I really like.  It may not be the same type of music that I listened to in the 70s or 80s (and frankly I have a hard time listening to a lot of the classic rock nowadays because it bores me), but it is still very good.  The Fratellis cd is great.  The new Ryan Adams cd is freaking awesome.    

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Lead singer to the replacements.  I was introduced to him by the "Singles" sound track.  I like him.  But he doesn't rock.

Oh that Paul Westerberg... the "Singles" soundtrack guy. Oh him. That one. Hmmmmm.

Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash. Hootenanny. Let It Be, Tim, Pleased to Meet Me, Don't Tell a Soul, All Shook Down.

And the "Singles" sountrack?

Anyway. Carry on.

[hostros7]

Agreed.  Top-40 music sucks -- the whole American Idol thing doesn't do it for me.  But I have found a lot of music this decade that I really like.  It may not be the same type of music that I listened to in the 70s or 80s (and frankly I have a hard time listening to a lot of the classic rock nowadays because it bores me), but it is still very good.  The Fratellis cd is great.  The new Ryan Adams cd is freaking awesome.    

Agreed.  I will have to check out the new Ryan Adams CD, as I have most of his others.  Other "newer" music I enjoy: Raconteurs, Futureheads, Cold War Kids to name a few.  Can't wait for ACL. White stripes and Cold War Kids playing Sunday night at Stubbs

[Ron Brand]

I've made this observation before and I'm sure I'll have the opportunity to make it again, but goddam this is an acid-washed, white high-top Reebok sort of crowd. Anyone here other than strosrays ever hear of Paul Westerberg? 80's songs that rocked? Jesus.

Life is far too short for empty pejoratives.  This is play.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

Oh that Paul Westerberg... the "Singles" soundtrack guy. Oh him. That one. Hmmmmm.

Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash. Hootenanny. Let It Be, Tim, Pleased to Meet Me, Don't Tell a Soul, All Shook Down.

And the "Singles" sountrack?

Anyway. Carry on.

Easy killer.  I said the soundtrack introduced me to his music.  I didn't say I didn't learn about or don't like The Mats.  What can I say, when the Replacements were putting out most of their music I was either in single digits, age wise, or over-seas.  All they used to show in the late 80's was Madonna, Milli Vanilli, Terrence Trent Darby, and european Death Metal.  For anyone familiar with that era in Germany, Formal Eins used to dominate their music world.  Awful, awful, AWFUL show.

[Ty in Tampa]

Easy killer.  I said the soundtrack introduced me to his music.  I didn't say I didn't learn about or don't like The Mats.  What can I say, when the Replacements were putting out most of their music I was either in single digits, age wise, or over-seas.

And yet you still say Westerburg doesn't rock? He may not now but he did in the '80s and that be the context.

[Noe]

My fondest memory of rocking 80s music was Bryan Adams.  Took my girlfriend to her very first rock and roll concert in the 80s to go see the Canadian's show at Astroworld.  Front row seats.  Best time ever!

Cuts Like A Knife

I ended up marrying that girl, now my wife of 22 years.  About the same time Biggio broke into the majors.

[S.P. Rodriguez]

And yet you still say Westerburg doesn't rock? He may not now but he did in the '80s and that be the context.

The Mats rock.  Westerburg seems to have morphed into a different beast, if you are asking me.  Is this a question of Westerburg or The Mats?  Maybe it's splitting hairs but I could give you an example of David Gilmore w/ Pink Floyd and solo act.  I don't think I'd call his  solo music "rockin'".  Floyd, on the other hand, does rock.  I guess it's a matter of opinion. 

[Ty in Tampa]

The Mats rock.  Westerburg seems to have morphed into a different beast, if you are asking me.  Is this a question of Westerburg or The Mats?  Maybe it's splitting hairs but I could give you an example of David Gilmore w/ Pink Floyd and solo act.  I don't think I'd call his  solo music "rockin'".  Floyd, on the other hand, does rock.  I guess it's a matter of opinion. 

This thread deserves to die this way. Where else can it go?

[austro]

This thread deserves to die this way. Where else can it go?

Well, in an attempt to remain true to the thread's roots, I'd like to submit one more name that I haven't seen pop up: Rory Gallagher. When he was on his game, he was tremendous.

[Bench]

Well, in an attempt to remain true to the thread's roots, I'd like to submit one more name that I haven't seen pop up: Rory Gallagher. When he was on his game, he was tremendous.

It's tough to play with just a sledgehammer and a melon. Kudos to him.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

And Leslie West of Mountain, or Alvin Lee of Ten Years After.

[Andyzipp]

And Leslie West of Mountain, or Alvin Lee of Ten Years After.

Okay, now we're ready to change the title of this thread to "anyone who ever played a guitar".

[JimR]

Okay, now we're ready to change the title of this thread to "anyone who ever played a guitar".

or thought about playing one. my Arthur Godfrey suggestion is looking better and better.

[MusicMan]

Okay, now we're ready to change the title of this thread to "anyone who ever played a guitar".

Kermit the Frog could really rock the uekelele.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Kermit the Frog could really rock the uekelele.

I thought Tiny Tim was overrated, though.

[Craig]

I thought Tiny Tim was overrated, though.

I can totally shred "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" when I'm playing "Ukelele Hero."

[MusicMan]

I can totally shred "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" when I'm playing "Ukelele Hero."

"Cowbell Hero" would smash all known video-game sales records.

[chuck]

Life is far too short for empty pejoratives.  This is play.

Perhaps. Are you on the Soup?

[austro]

"Cowbell Hero" would smash all known video-game sales records.

I think we need more cowbell.

[Ron Brand]

Perhaps. Are you on the Soup?

I'm on one, but I'm not sure which one you're referring to.

[strosrays]

I thought Tiny Tim was overrated, though.

Yeah, kinda like Lief Garrett.  Not Gitarzan, though.  That cat could swing. . .

[toddthebod]

My fondest memory of rocking 80s music was Bryan Adams.  Took my girlfriend to her very first rock and roll concert in the 80s to go see the Canadian's show at Astroworld.  Front row seats.  Best time ever!

Hey I was at that show.  I also saw him earlier at a show at AstroArena.  KLOL had a expo a couple of days before and he played a few songs there.

The best show that I ever saw at Astroworld was the Go Gos ("serious BBQ tour").

My first three dates with my wife were concerts:  (1) the Radiators; (2) the Ramones; (3) the Dead Milkmen.  They were all great concerts.

It's too bad that she doesn't like going to concerts anymore -- especially where there is no seating.

[chuck]

I'm on one, but I'm not sure which one you're referring to.

JATS list.

[Ron Brand]

JATS list.

Sweet!  Good to find a fellow fan.  Yes, I'm on THAT Soup.

Were you able to go to the reunion show?

[chuck]

Sweet!  Good to find a fellow fan.  Yes, I'm on THAT Soup.

Were you able to go to the reunion show?

No, I was out of the country. It sounds like it was a great time.

[Ron Brand]

No, I was out of the country. It sounds like it was a great time.

I've been to a lot of shows and I've never, ever seen anything like it.  They recorded it, so the audio should be made available sometime.

[chuck]

I've been to a lot of shows and I've never, ever seen anything like it.  They recorded it, so the audio should be made available sometime.

Did you manage to see them back in the 80's? (Speaking of 80's music that rocked...) They were fucking unreal back then. I assume my experience in discovering them was a lot like the average Limey moving blithely from the Status Quo to the Sex Pistols. I mean, you are just disoriented as hell. And loving it.

If they captured any of that old spark then, yes, I can imagine that they were astounding to watch. I saw a number of youtube clips of the show, by the way.

[Ron Brand]

Yeah, I was fortunate enough to see them several times in the 80s, maybe only a couple of times in the 90s.  At the reunion they started out full-on and cranked it up from there.  Not to mention the incredible emotional freight of the whole Perry thing, which made it ten times more meaningful.  At the end, after all the encores, Perry wouldn't leave.  He got back behind the kit and started banging around, asking where everybody was and telling them they needed to get back on stage - which they did, to play Country Roads.  It was so obvious that Perry didn't want to stop because this was probably the last time they'd ever play together and it was beyond incredible.  I don't know how he did it other than force of will, because he is really frail.

After that, leaving everything they had on the stage, they all came out and signed autographs, chatted, etc. until everybody got chased out close to 4am.  We went backstage and talked to Perry for a little bit and he had nothing left.  He was able to come out and sit down for a couple dozen fans after about 45 minutes of rest.

It's difficult to explain to people just how amazing they were live.  There are very, very few acts that can compare to their level of energy.  Plus, they're just terrific folks.  I love that band.