Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists

[Punkinhead]

I'll be the first to admit that metallica has lost all luster since justice, but just listen to master of puppets, or ride the lightning, hell listen to any one of their first four albums. That's why Kirk Hammet is at number 11. He's a great guitarist and he definately ranks up there.

I dont think anyone is disputing the fact that Hammett is a good guitarist but, he's not even in the top 5 or 10 in heavy metal let alone of all time. Mustaine and Friedman are both better, Randy Rhoads was better, Steve Vai is definitely better, Zakk Wylde, I believe is better, Eddie Van Halen, Kerry King, James Murphy & Chuck Schuldiner(Death is the epitome of metal guitar, with Slayer)etc, etc,....

I would put Kirk Hammett on a level with about Dimebag Darrell, maybe even less than that, cause Dimebag's writes his own guitar parts, and always has. Either way, he is a great guitarist...there are just so many out there that are better.

[Ron]

Zero...
I agree. The inclusion of Jack White made me sick. Rolling Stone's apparent infatuation with bands like Wilco, The Strokes, and the White Stripes pushed me to the brink. I cancelled my subscription when they started comparing the Strokes to the Beatles.
Rolling Stone is not about music anymore, it's about popularity and bands that are apparently marketed on their extreme LACK of talent.

[Big Jim]

I was disapointed that Joe Walsh was not on the list, and Phil Keaggy. Each had a distinct, innovative style and each fronted power trios in the 60s and they're both still around today. Maybe not top 10 candidates, but certainly above many on that stupid list.

[bassist_25]

I don't hold "Best of" list such as this one in very high regards to begin with. Usually the basis of these lists are more about who's ass the major industry critics are kissing at the time, rather than who's worked the hardest, plays the best, writes the best , ect. It's kind of like the Grammys, American Music Awards, ect. It's about who made the record industry the most money that year. (Isn't it ironic that Santana never won a grammy until "Supernatural"?) Right now The White Stripes are the darlings of the rock critics. (I don't really understand what's so "innovative" about playing Robert Johnson riffs through a fuzz face, on top of a drummer who's yet to perform a fill and still keep in time) So they are going to get royal treament in the music press. Rolling Stone is considered a major music media outlet, so of course Jack White's going to get a mention. Hendrix and Clapton are always going to get high spots because it's politically correct, Vai, Satch, Petrucci, and Malmsteen are not even going to be mentioned because they are "wankers" (a big no-no to pretentious rock critics), Robben Ford and Allen Holdsworth are to obscure to get noticed, Chet Atkins and Merle Travis aren't hip enough to get honored, and I doubt the average RS reader knows who Wes Montgomery and Andres Segovia are. It's all about ratings and I guess I can't blame them. Part of marketing is targeting demographics. If RS wants to do them, who am I to tell them what to do?

Wow, didn't mean to sound so cynical. *LOL*

[Danette]

When I saw the print edition of this issue I about died! David Gilmour was rank #82?? Randy Rhodes #85??? Eddie Van Halen # 70??? I want some of what they've been smoking!!! I also was real curious how they compiled the list. According to the real small grey box on the bottom on the lead page of the print article it stated :

Compiled by David Fricke and the editors . Written by Ben Edmonds, Jenny Eliscu, David Fricke, Bob Kemp, Gary Kot, Joe Levy, Tom Moon, Parke Puterbaugh, Mac Randall, Rob Sheffield.

This farce of a list was brought to you by the same jokers who put the Olson Twins on the cover. Ok.. I can almost hear all the hormone driven guys panting now but I mean c'mon?!?!? They may be cute to look at but seriously - WTF have they done to deserve the cover of Rolling Stone?? This is isn't Teen People or Tiger Beat. RS has definately sold out!

Maybe it would be a good idea for those "editors" to know just how much of a joke the magazine has become.

letters@rollingstone.com

[ZappasXWife]

Here's my opinion about that somewhat WRONG list:
1. I agree with ImGrimm, while I love those 3 musicians, its probably not for their guitar chops
2. Carlos Santana AND Frank Zappa should be much higher, in fact, I would put Carlos in the top 5. And Frank was great on guitar...
3. Jack White? I like the Stripes a lot, but he's not that great as a guitarist, is he?
4. Hey 313, your comment about Funkadelic...ever heard Maggot Brain? Its far-out...
5. Where's the girls? Bonnie Raitt instead of Joan Jett might be a good start.
5. Last but not least...where is Felix Kos?

[Banned]

4. Hey 313, your comment about Funkadelic...ever heard Maggot Brain? Its far-out...

Awesome stuff! Sounds like a lost recording of Hendrix freaking out with Jimmy Page producing. Who would expect a 10-minute guitar solo on a funk record? R.I.P. Eddie Hazel.

[313]

Zappa,
No, I have never heard that P-Funk song. Actually, I wasn't condemning Eddie Hazel's inclusion on the list. Just giving a nod to local guitarist by the name John Hazel. Anyone who remembers local rockers Nitro will agree that John is a great guitarist.

[the herald]

everyone has their own favorite guitar players that reach inside and touch their soul and give them goosebumps players that play with 110% i think thats what the top 100 should be based on, i have no idea who voted for this but its all &^$^$##@%$^%$^%$&^ up!!!!!!!!! the whole kurt cobain thing for instance i admit i have all the nirvana albums and its cool music maybe# 79 cool or something right????? but cmon not in the top 20. this topic is very interesting however because some of these comments i totally agree with and others i totally disagree. heres some of my faves, hendrix, page, gilmour, srv, roy buchanon, allman, navarro, corgan, lifeson, robert smith, the edge, garcia, santana, kws, trower,rhodes,hanes, young, clapton, thayil, hammet, van halen,darron edmiston, felix kos, jason feathers, and many others but as with everyone our choices are are usually based upon what artists we grew up listening to and who touched us thye most not necessarily how many scales they know or how good they are at hammer ons but who can make the guitar come alive and pierce right through you!!!! opinions???????

[Mackovyak]

My $.02.....
What about the Kos brothers??????? FYI, Hammet wrote all solos for Metallica. That's the main reason he was brought in. Do your homework a little more.

[Punkinhead]

I remember reading an article where Mustaine refers to how pissed off he is about Kirk Hammet getting rookie of the year on guitar. His reasoning was that the solos on Kill 'Em All and the songs were for the most part written by him.

Besides, it's all a moot point in my mind. He is not the best metal guitarist even when it comes to just soloing. But a true great guitarist(in my mind) does a hell of alot more than just solo.....

[ragztem]

Well, I must agree that the list, is well inaccurate, hell whose to say #1 is really right? how in the world can you compare hendrix to clapton and clapton to kirk hammett, there is so much more to think about then shear how many notes can i do in a second....

.....BUT

BIG OOPS NOT ON LIST!! Dave Mustaine, Marty Friedman, Andy Summers, Satriani, Vai, SLASH??, chet atkins??, Peter Frampton, Alex Lifeson, or John Petrucci?? SHEESH!

[ragztem]

and i think the editors of rolling stone achieved exactly what they wanted from the article................ just look at our 3 pages of posts.......got me drift??

[Punkinhead]

and i think the editors of rolling stone achieved exactly what they wanted from the article................ just look at our 3 pages of posts.......got me drift??

I have nothing better to do anyways....lol