By Steve Newton
Google “100 greatest guitarists” these days and what shows up at the top is a total joke. It’s the high ‘n’ mighty Rolling Stone‘s list of the so-called finest, posted from 2015.
And man does it suck.
But what do you expect from the same bozos who oversee the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
“We assembled a panel of top guitarists and other experts to rank their favorites and explain what separates the legends from everyone else,” reads the intro to the list, but they aren’t foolin’ anyone. What kind of “top guitarists” and “experts” would dare compile a list of the world’s best pickers and put the godlike Rory Gallagher way down at number 57? They dumped him two spots behind axe master John Lennon, fer chrissakes.
What the fvck!?
They made Jimi Hendrix number one–which I don’t have a problem with–but then they screwed up royally again when they put Jeff Beck at number 5, behind Eric Clapton (2), Jimmy Page (3), and Keith Richards (4). Come on! Keith Richards? I love Keef‘s playing as much as the next guy, but he doesn’t hold a candle to Beck. Nobody who’s still breathing does.
It was great to see Duane Allman take the number 8 spot, but there’s no way Stevie Ray Vaughan (12) should have been kept out of the Top 10. Even though Quadrophenia is my fave album of all time, I believe Pete Townshend (10) should have been bumped to make way for Stevie.
Other amazing players who should have ranked much higher than they did were Peter Green (58), Johnny Winter (63), and Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, who only snuck in at number 98.
Equally shocking is the number of deserving guitarists who got left off the Top 100 entirely, people like Roy Buchanan, Danny Gatton, Michael Schenker, Alvin Lee, Warren Haynes, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Sonny Landreth, Robin Trower, Gary Moore, Rick Derringer, Steve Howe, Eric Johnson, John Fogerty, Joe Bonamassa, Steve Morse, Steve Lukather, Jorma Kaukonen, Guthrie Govan, Brian Setzer, Tommy Emmanuel, Lenny Breau, and Hank Marvin.
And speaking as a proud Canadian, how about Jeff Healey?
The brainiacs at Rolling Stone could have easily made room for at least a few of those instead of wasting valuable space on the likes of Lou Reed (81), Joni Mitchell (75), Roger McGuinn (95), Bruce Springsteen (96), and Paul Simon (93).
Paul Simon’s a “greater” guitarist than Gary freakin’ Moore? Piss off, Rolling Stone.
On the bright side, I was happy to see that a few of my faves who sometimes fly under the guitar-hero radar got chosen, in particular Dick Dale (74), Link Wray (45), Duane Eddy (64), Hubert Sumlin (43), Mike Campbell (79), Otis Rush (53), and the mighty Mick Ronson (41).
Here’s my list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists (that I’ve interviewed), followed by the 50 greatest ones I wished I had interviewed. Please keep in mind that I’m not a jazz expert, so I didn’t include obvious picks like Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Lenny Breau, and Django Reinhardt. I’m a rock and blues guy, so that’s what my lists reflect.
Bring on the nasty, mean-spirited comments!
INTERVIEWED:
10 Link Wray
11 Mick Ronson
12 Gary Moore
13 Derek Trucks
14 J.J. Cale
20 Tony Iommi
21 Joe Satriani
22 Slash
24 Robin Trower
26 Uli Jon Roth
27 Brian May
28 Leslie West
29 Alex Lifeson
30 Eric Johnson
32 Steve Vai
34 Joe Perry
35 Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser
38 Steve Morse
40 Dick Dale
43 Otis Rush
45 Ronnie Earl
46 Robben Ford
48 Jeff Healey
50 Steve Howe
51 Albert Lee
52 Jake E. Lee
56 Paul Gilbert
59 Tosin Abasi
62 Wayne Kramer
63 Ace Frehley
64 Jonny Lang
67 Walter Trout
69 Robert Cray
72 John Sykes
74 Andy Powell
77 Will Bernard
78 Rick Nielsen
81 Kim Simmonds
82 Don Wilson
83 Zakk Wylde
87 Glenn Tipton
88 Steve Clark
90 Marc Bonilla
91 Don Ross
93 Kim Mitchell
94 J. Mascis
95 Dave Murray
96 Leo Kottke
97 Dave Alvin
98 Buddy Cage
100 Jack Semple
NOT INTERVIEWED:
1 Jimi Hendrix
2 Rory Gallagher
3 Johnny Winter
4 Duane Allman
5 Eddie Van Halen
6 Jimmy Page
7 Keith Richards
8 Peter Green
9 Eric Clapton
10 Randy Rhoads
11 Chuck Berry
12 Freddy King
13 Ritchie Blackmore
14 Steve Cropper
15 Mike Bloomfield
16 Angus Young
17 Neil Young
18 Prince
19 Alvin Lee
20 Frank Zappa
21 John McLaughlin
22 Ry Cooder
23 Duane Eddy
24 George Harrison
25 Pete Townshend
26 Elmore James
27 Robert Johnson
28 Mark Knopfler
29 Paul Kossoff
30 Scotty Moore
31 Jerry Garcia
32 Ronnie Wood
33 Terry Kath
34 Jorma Kaukonen
35 Bill Nelson
36 T-Bone Walker
37 Hank Marvin
38 Steve Lukather
39 Jan Akkerman
40 Tommy Bolin
41 Lonnie Mack
42 Brian Setzer
43 Hubert Sumlin
44 Mick Taylor
45 Dimebag Darrell
46 Joe Walsh
47 Martin Barre
48 Robbie Robertson
49 Kirk Hammett
50 James Burton
DISCLAIMER: I do realize that there are no “greatest guitarists”. I mean, the whole idea of ranking musicians according to who’s “best” is idiotic. But still, it’s fun readin’ this shit, right?
Those who would rather hear my interviews with the world’s greatest guitarists than read them can subscribe to my Patreon page and eavesdrop on my uncut, one-on-one conversations with such fine pickers as:
Dave Martone, 2020
Colin James, 1995
Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown, 1998
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
David Lindley, 2002
Marty Friedman of Megadeth, 1991
Nancy Wilson of Heart, 2006
Jeff Golub, 1989
Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars, 2001
Steve Hackett from Genesis, 1993
Buddy Guy, 1993
Steve Lynch of Autograph, 1985
Don Wilson of the Ventures, 1997
Trevor Rabin of Yes, 1984
Albert Lee, 1986
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Robert Cray, 1996
David Gilmour from Pink Floyd, 1984
Jeff Healey, 1988
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
Elliot Easton from the Cars, 1996
Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Randy Hansen, 2001
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam, 2007
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule, 1998
Robben Ford, 1993
Joe Satriani, 1990
Vernon Reid of Living Colour, 1988
Zakk Wylde of Pride & Glory, 1994
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
…with hundreds more to come