20 GREATEST Rock Guitar Players of the Past 50 Years
FINALLY, after Months of research and agonizing, having studied dozens of lists from Gibson.com to Rolling Stone to Guitar World Magazine… Here’s our top 20 of the past 50 years. Rock only... No blues, Jazz or pop, although Clapton has Blues chops, he qualifies as a ROCK guitar player. Please comment at will…
Written 12.10.10
Revised 1.21.2012
1) Edward Van Halen (Van Halen)
2) Eric Clapton (The Yardbirds, Derek and the Dominos, Cream, Solo)
3) Jimmy Page (The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin)
4) Eric Johnson (G3, Solo artist)
5) Keith Richards (Rolling Stones)
6) Jimi Hendrix (Solo) - [[Spelling corrected]]
7) Jeff Beck (The Yardbirds, various, solo)
8) Joe Satriani (various, G3, solo)
9) Steve Howe (Yes, Asia, GTR, solo)
10) Steve Vai (David Lee Roth band, Billy Idol, G3, Solo)
10) The Edge (U2)
11) Neal Schon (Journey)
12) Pete Townsend (The Who)
13) George Harrison (Beatles)
14) David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
15) Joe Walsh (Eagles, solo)
16) Brian May (Queen)
17) Brad Gillis (Night Ranger)
18) Andy Summers (Police)
19) Rodolf Shenker (Scorpions)
20) Matthias Jabs (Scorpions)
Almost made list: Chuck Berry (solo)**, Alex Lifeson (Rush), Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Randy Rhodes (Black Sabbath), Richie Blackmour (Deep Purple), Prince, Angus Young (AC/DC), Johnny Marr (The Smiths).
**Chuck Berry was moved from the top 20 on Friday, December 10, 2010 be virtue of a comment that much of Chuck's key guitar-work occurred in the 50's, thus outside of the 50 year timeline. Chuck's post 1960.
Worthy of debate: Slash, Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Robbie Krieger (The Doors)
Critics Judging Criteria:
1) Uniqueness
2) Solos
3) Rock-Ness
4) Versatility
5) Memorable Riffs
NOTE: 80% of the TOP 10 FROM the ALL-TIME Greatest Rock Guitar Players according to Gibson Guitars list are included above.
Thanks to: Guitar Magazine, Guitar World, Rolling Stone, Gibson Guitars (Gibson.com)
It seems unthinkable that Alex Lifeson did not make the top 20. Maybe he does belong, but before you comment, be sure to READ the Critics Criteria above to make sure you understand how the List Lounge Critics Panel made their choices.
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6 comments:
There's an EASY DQ in this list - Chuck Berry's peak popularity was in the 1950s, more than 50 years ago. Definitely no argument with him being on the overall list, but it's an easy out when and if you need it. Otherwise, while I might personally want to re-order, I can't argue with anyone on the list. Well done.
Great List. Agree with Chuck comment. Like some of the guys who get overlooked like Satriani. VAI should replace Chuck B.
Chuck has been moved to out of the top 15 based on the fact that many of his key tunes were in the 1950's, thus outside of the 50 year window. He still makes the "almost" top 15 list below. Hard to keep list to 15!!! For sure. George Harrison now makes the list as a result. Unreal that he was not in the top 15, but so much of the Beatles tunes were shared by the three guitar players and McCartney's piano expertise.
Lifeson deserves to be top 15. Look at the facts man.
Based on the videos we watched this week. JOE SATRIANI deserves to be top 5. "Always with you, Always with me" puts him up there with Van Halen -- Me saying that. AND Neil Schon (Journey) is easily top 5 all-time. RE-DO THE LIST! PROVE ME, IF YOU DISAGREE.
Good move putting Eric Johnson higher on list. He's one of the best ever.
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