The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time according to rolling stone

[Gianthogweed]

Here's my top 10

1. Trey Anastasio - Just love his style. No one else sounds like him. Listening to his solos just fills me with extreme guitar bliss.
2. Steve Hackett - Definitely the most versatile guitarist I've ever heard. Innovator of finger tapping. And don't judge him only by the stuff he did in Genesis. His solo albums show his true skill and versatility.
3. Steve Howe - Almost tied with Hackett because he is almost as versatile. And I do think he composes better guitar solos than Hackett. He also has a very original and distinctive sound, like Anastasio.
4. Jan Akkerman - This guy's playing is just sick. He really shreds **** up. Listen to any live version of Focus's Hocus Pocus on Youtube. It's never the same, but always awesome.
5. David Gilmour - Kind of the opposite of Jan. His playing is slower and simpler, but with more feeling than I've heard in any other guitarist.
6. Jimi Hendrix - Wasn't sure whether to include him, as his guitar playing technique never really impressed me as much as his showmanship with the guitar. Pete Townshend also deserves a mention for this, but didn't feel it necessary to include him on the list.
7. Duane Allman - Included him mainly for his slide guitar skill, but also for the way he and Dickey Betts harmonized their solos. In fact, I would have included Betts as well simply for Jessica and Ramblin' Man, but felt it would have been redundant.
8. Frank Zappa - Again, like Hendrix, this is more for showmanship than technique, but I really dig his playing on Apostrophe. I almost didn't add him until I realised how much I tried to play like him sometimes.
9. Robert Fripp - I never used to like his style, but couldn't deny his talent. But as I improved my guitar playing, I found myself drawing more influence from him than I thought, more in his approach towards guitar playing rather than his actual technique.
10. Maury Muelheisen - I had to include this underrated classical guitarist who helped make Jim Croce's folk rock songs sound so good. Many of the first songs I learned on acoustic guitar were Croce songs, and it was hearing his guitar parts that made me want to learn it.

[Randal]

I remember when I first seen Jack White on the list. I laughed so hard. I have been trying to teach myself how to play the guitar and the White Stripes is the only band I can play a hand full of songs from. I am really bad!

[TommyGunn54]

Ok, I realize that everyone has a different opinion, but I find Rolling Stone's list to be complete garbage. It's missing many great guitarists, including Dave Murray of Iron Maiden, and Buckethead, among others. Also, I found many people to be misplaced. I do not consider Jimi Hendrix to be that great. He had some good songs, but I believe he is held in high regard for reasons other than his talent. I will disagree with one person on here that Kirk Hammett should be up in at least the top 40 or 30...he could shed a mean ax, just listen to Blackened. Also, WTF is Eddie Van Halen doing down at 70? He's definately in the top 10.

[m00p]

thank gawd its in no order. first 5 should go like this

1. Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin
2. Kirk Hammlet of Metallica
3. Jimi Hendrix
4. Eddie Van Halen
5. Slash of Guns n Roses

[awesomesauce]

Just another reason to not read Rolling Stone. Their writers can't think up a single review or article without namedropping at least 5 different popular bands, they're stuck in the past and refuse to believe anything done more than 15 years ago is relevant or important to the music world, and their lists of the greatest songs, guitarists, etc. all sound eerily similar to that one kid everyone hates who likes to namedrop songs and bands he's never heard of outside of Guitar Hero.
They cannot for the life of them understand rap or hip-hop, despite both being undeniably important parts of the music scene, they hail bands and songs no one cares about anymore as the greatest ever because they're old and being old makes them cool. Kurt Cobain being on that list is a prime example. Say what you want about Nirvana, but I wouldn't put him on a list of the 1000 greatest guitarists. He did nothing special on the guitar. The reason why we know Nirvana now is because of their role in bringing grunge to the forefront of 90s rock, and in ending the hair metal days of the 80s, not because Cobain was a legendary shredder or a soulful player. Rolling Stone has become old and senile, like Grandad sitting on the front porch in his rocker, waving his cane at those damned kids playing baseball in the street.

[c6insd]

Rolling Stone has become old and senile, like Grandad sitting on the front porch in his rocker, waving his cane at those damned kids playing baseball in the street.

Easy there - my grandfather was a better guitarist than half of Rolling Stone's list.

[LittlePandora]

wtf Slash isn't even on there. I have a question-WHAT THE HELL ARE THE ROLLING STONE WRITERS ON?!?!

[7_returns]

17. Jason Becker - Cacophony, David Lee Roth Band, Solo
32. Marty Friedman - Cacophony, Megadeth, Solo

The only guitarists who matter.

[wlorcb]

That's a terrible list.
How can Keef be #10 when Mick Taylor isn't even on the list.

[Arramis]

Kurt Cobain #12 and Eddie Van Halen #70? Did RS magazine actually ask anybody in the music industry to vote? Or did they just brainstorm the names of guitar players? Joni Mitchell?!?!?! better than Angus Young? Oh yeah lots of rockin' guitar solos in folk music.