Rolling Stone's 250 Greatest Guitarists!

byFrankB-1

6.6K followers

1 year ago

Hi WA Friends

I just finished reviewing the Rolling Stone Magazine''s Oct 13, 2023 list of "The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." 1Rudy1 (Thanks, Rudy!) PM'ed it to me. I read it carefully every time it comes out, and I'm always somewhat baffled as to the order.

How The List Was Created

Here' what Bard has to say:

The Rolling Stone Magazine list of the 250 greatest guitarists of all time was created by a panel of over 200 experts, including musicians, journalists, and producers. The panel was asked to consider a variety of factors, including technical skill, influence, and innovation, when making their selections.

The list was compiled over a period of several months, and the panel members were given the opportunity to revise their selections multiple times. The final list was determined by a vote of the panel members.

Rolling Stone has stated that the list is not intended to be definitive, but rather a reflection of the opinions of the experts who participated. The list has been praised by some for its diversity and inclusivity, and criticized by others for its omissions and subjective criteria.

Apparently:

1. The panel members were given the opportunity to revise their selections multiple times.
2. The final list was determined by a vote of the panel members.

Rolling Stone has not publicly disclosed who served on the panel for the 2023 list of the 250 greatest guitarists of all time.

Problems With The List

As a guitar player for about 55 years, the biggest problems I always have with the list are the way the players are ordered and the glaring omissions.

For example, Tommy Emmanuel and Ted Nugent did not make the list! What??

I've seen Tommy perform in person six times. If there's someone who can outplay him on acoustic guitar, I'd like to meet that person. He's also a monster electric player.

Ted Nugent, also known as "The Motor City Madman," is an exceptional rock guitar player. Ted is also not in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, but Miles Davis is; not to belittle Miles, who was a musical genius, but it's the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

The List

Here is the list in order of "worst to best":

250 – Andy Summers (The Police)
249 – Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes)
248 – Robbie Kreiger (The Doors)
247 – Ricky Wilson (The B-52s)
246 – Paul Simon
245 – Leslie West (Mountain)
244 – Edilio Paredes
243 – Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner (The National)
242 – Lindsey Jordan (Snail Mail)
241 – Keith Urban
240 – Erin Smith (Bratmobile)
239 – Duane Eddy
238 – Doug Gillard
237 – Jennifer Batten
236 – Greg Sage (The Wipers)
235 – Laura Marling
234 – John McGeoch
233 – H.E.R.
232 – David Williams
231 – Etta Baker
230 – Gustavo Cerati (Soda Stereo)
229 – Barbara Lynn
228 – Steve Jones (Sex Pistols)
227 – Glenn Branca
226 – El Kempner (Palehound)
225 – Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith and Wayne Kramer (MC5)
224 – Marv Tarplin (Smokey Robinson)
223 – Joseph Spence (from The Bahamas)
222 – Molly Tuttle
221 – James Blood Ulmer
220 – Courtney Barnett
219 – Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing (Judas Priest)
218 – Lzzy Hale (Halestorm)
217 – Thomas McClary (Ther Commodores)
216 – Steve Hackett (Genesis)
215 – Kurt Vile
214 – Keiji Haino
213 – Lucy Dacus
212 – José Feliciano
211 – Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
210 – Kaki King
209 – Gary Clark Jr.
208 – Amadou Bagayoko
207 – Justin Broadrick (Godflesh)
206 – Hugh McCracken (Steely Dan)
205 – Eric Johnson
204 – Lynn Taitt
203 – Grant Green
202 – Vince Gill
201 – Garry ‘Diaper Man’ Shider (Parliament)
200 – Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram
199 – Bombino (from Niger)
198 – Jerry Reed
197 – Nuno Bettencourt
196 – James Taylor
195 – Greg Ginn (Black Flag)
194 – Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy)
193 – David Lindley
192 – Lita Ford
191 – Chalmers Edward ‘Spanky’ Alford
190 – Lightnin’ Hopkins
189 – Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains)
188 – Marnie Stern
187 – Marc Ribot
186 – Steve Lukather
185 – Peggy Jones
184 – Eldon Shamblin (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys)
183 – Roy Buchanan
182 – Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith (Bob Marley)
181 – Larissa Strickland (Laughing Hyenas)
180 – Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
179 – Ernest Ranglin
178 – Skip James
177 – Rodrigo y Gabriela
176 – Sadie Dupuis (Speedy Ortiz)
175 – Rory Gallagher
174 – Marty Stuart
173 – Paul McCartney
172 – Chrissie Hynde
171 – D. Boon (The Minutemen)
170 – Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music)
169 – Jessie Mae Hemphill
168 – John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service)
167 – James Williamson (Iggy & The Stooges)
166 – Johnny Winter
165 – Rokia Traoré (from Mali)
164 – Dave Davies (The Kinks)
163 – Wah Wah Watson
162 – Rosinha de Valença (from Brazil)
161 – Tim Henson (Polyphia)
160 – Kim and Kelley Deal (The Breeders)
159 – John Lennon
158 – Johnny Thunders
157 – Pat Metheny
156 – Carl Perkins
155 – Yvette Young (Covet)
154 – Bill Frisell
153 – Otis Rush
152 – Ani DiFranco
151 – Pete Cosey (Miles Davis)
150 – Marissa Paternoster (Screaming Females)
149 – Ron Asheton (The Stooges)
148 – Ike Turner
147 – Memphis Minnie
146 – Mike Bloomfield
145 – Dickey Betts
144 – Odetta
143 – Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo)
142 – João Gilberto
141 – Fredrik Thordendal (Meshugga)
140 – Stephen Stills
139 – Susan Tedeschi
138 – Teenie Hodges (Al Green)
137 – Liz Phair
136 – Joe Perry (Aerosmith)
135 – Roger McGuinn (The Byrds)
134 – Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü)
133 – Robert Cray
132 – Nils Lofgren
131 – Dimebag Darrell (Pantera)
130 – Joe Walsh
129 – Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper)
128 – Bob Stinson (The Replacements)
127 – Steve Vai
126 – Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
125 – Viv Albertine (The Slits)
124 – Mike McCready and Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam)
123 – Steve Howe (Yes, Asia)
122 – King Sunny Ade
121 – Dick Dale
120 – Warren Haynes (Gov’t Mule)
119 – Donita Sparks (L7)
118 – Adrian Belew
117 – Albert Collins
116 – Ana da Silva
115 – Nels Cline
114 – Robert Quine
113 – Allen Collins and Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
112 – Rowland S. Howard
111 – Kelley Johnson (Girlschool)
110 – Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac)
109 – Mick Ronson (David Bowie)
108 – Merle Travis
107 – Clarence White (The Byrds)
106 – Peter Buck (R.E.M.)
105 – Slash
104 – Ali Farka Touré (from Mali)
103 – Nancy Wilson (Heart)
102 – Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
101 – John Fogerty
100 – Kerry King (Slayer)
99 – Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders)
98 – Link Wray
97 – Stephen Malkmus (Pavement)
96 – Mark Knopfler (Dire Strais)
95 – Mary Timony (Helium)
94 – Joe Satriani
93 – Leo Nocentelli (The Meters)
92 – Wata (Boris)
91 – Cat Coore (Third World)
90 – Mdou Moctar (from Niger)
89 – Lou Reed
88 – Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
87 – Poison Ivy (The Cramps)
86 – Sonny Sharrock
85 – Larry Carlton
84 – Muddy Waters
83 – Adrian Smith and Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
82 – Wes Montgomery
81 – Bert Jansch
80 – Derek Trucks (Tedeshi-Trucks Band/Allman Brothers)
79 – Ernie Isley (Isley Brothers)
78 – Charlie Christian
77 – Willie Nelson
76 – Joan Jett
75 – Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple/Rainbow)
74 – J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.)
73 – Hubert Sumlin (Howlin’ Wolf)
72 – John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra)
71 – Franco Luambo
70 – Django Reinhardt
69 – Robbie Robertson (The Band)
68 – Les Paul
67 – Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine)
66 – Ry Cooder
65 – T-Bone Walker
64 – Carrie Brownstein (Sleeter-Kinney)
63 – Richard Thompson
62 – Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac)
61 – John Mayer
60 – Scotty Moore (Elvis Presley)
59 – Robert Fripp
58 – Alex Lifeson (Rush)
57 – Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth)
56 – Johnny Marr (The Smiths)
55 – Mick Taylor (The Rolling Stones)
54 – Bonnie Raitt
53 – Trey Anastasio (Phish)
52 – John Lee Hooker
51 – Tom Verlaine (Television/solo)
50 – Elmore James
49 – PJ Harvey
48 – Curtis Mayfield
47 – The Edge (U2)
46 – Frank Zappa
45 – Steve Cropper
44 – Johnny Ramone (The Ramones)
43 – Jonny Greenwood and Ed O’Brien (Radiohead)
42 – Vernon Reid (Living Color)
41 – Bo Diddley
40 – John Fahey
39 – Chet Atkins
38 – Angus Young and Malcolm Young (AC/DC)
37 – Pete Townshend (The Who)
36 – Elizabeth Cotten
35 – Eric Clapton
34 – Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)
33 – Brian May (Queen)
32 – Jack White (White Stripes)
31 – George Harrison
30 – Neil Young
29 – Eddie Hazel (Parliament)
28 – David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
27 – Buddy Guy
26 – St. Vincent
25 – John Frusciante
24 – James Burton
23 – James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
22 – Albert King
21 – Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)
20 – Stevie Ray Vaughan
19 – Freddy King
18 – Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)
17 – Mother Maybelle Carter
16 – Robert Johnson
15 – Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones)
14 – Prince
13 – Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
12 – Jimmy Nolen (James Brown)
11 – Carlos Santana
10 – Duane Allman (Allman Brothers)
9 – Joni Mitchell
8 – B.B. King
7 – Nile Rodgers
6 – Sister Rosetta Tharpe
5 – Jeff Beck
4 – Eddie Van Halen
3 – Jimmy Page
2 – Chuck Berry
1 – Jimi Hendrix

Who Are In Your Top Ten List?

There's no right or wrong answer, and narrowing the list down to only ten players is almost impossible!

It depends on how you approach music. For example, do you prefer guitar virtuosos or songwriters that play guitar, etc? I value "creative technical ability" above all else in a guitarist.

It seems that Jimi Hendrix always makes number one, who I idolize. Haha

This would most likely be my top ten favorites (The Jimi vs. Jeff for position one is really a tie, in my mind):

1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Jeff Beck
3. Eddie Van Halen
4. David Gilmour
5. Tony Iommi
6. Steve Vai
7. Jimmy Page
8. Angus Young
9. Eric Clapton
10. Eric Johnson

How about you? Tell me your top ten favorites, ... AND

Keep On Rockin'!
Frank

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