Vote in Guitar World Poll

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Friday Aug 24, 2012

Robert Johnson may be the father of the blues, but he is not the greatest guitar player ever. Buddy Guy just may be, or at least should be in the running. He is probably the greatest blues guitarist ever.

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Friday Aug 24, 2012

undercoverjoe wrote:Robert Johnson may be the father of the blues, but he is not the greatest guitar player ever. Buddy Guy just may be, or at least should be in the running. He is probably the greatest blues guitarist ever.

But when you look at influence. There would be no blues if it wasn't for Robert Johnson. Just like there would be no country if there was no Hank Williams, or Bluegrass if there was no Bill Monroe, or British invasion if there was no Beatles. They are all the main factors of influence for the the genre they started. For that, it has to go to Robert Johnson.

Don't get me wrong; I love Buddy Guy. He is a master and one of the greatest blues players I have ever heard - Not to mention, a major influence with why I play today.. But, like I said, I think that even Buddy would vote for Johnson on this.

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Friday Aug 24, 2012

Very few people actually ever saw Robert Johnson play, he had a short life and shorter career (died at age 27). Buddy Guy has been a great guitarist for over twice as long as Robert even lived. Buddy first recorded in 1965, so that's at least a career of 47 years.

Buddy has been seen and heard by millions of fans and has probably influenced thousands to pick up a guitar.

Listening to Robert will inspire a blues fan. Listening and watching Buddy will do the same, and inspire many future guitar players.

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Friday Aug 24, 2012

undercoverjoe wrote:Very few people actually ever saw Robert Johnson play, he had a short life and shorter career (died at age 27). Buddy Guy has been a great guitarist for over twice as long as Robert even lived. Buddy first recorded in 1965, so that's at least a career of 47 years.

Buddy has been seen and heard by millions of fans and has probably influenced thousands to pick up a guitar.

Listening to Robert will inspire a blues fan. Listening and watching Buddy will do the same, and inspire many future guitar players.

still, if it wasn't for Johnson there would be no Blues.

Now I want to listen to Buddy Guy. I think I will ..

Gallowglass · Post by **Gallowglass** » Friday Aug 24, 2012

f.sciarrillo wrote:...still, if it wasn't for Johnson there would be no Blues. Now I want to listen to Buddy Guy. I think I will ..

I wouldn't say that...Johnson himself owed a debt to the likes of Son House, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Skip James, and Lonnie Johnson (who themselves owed a debt to similar musicians before them). Johnson was VERY influential, but I wouldn't say he invented the blues or that there would be no blues without him.

StumbleFingers · Post by **StumbleFingers** » Friday Aug 24, 2012

Robert Johnson has become sort of a symbolic figure who represents all those early traveling bluesmen, known and unknown.

Like Joe said, he wasn't particularly well-known or influential during his career. He was an inspiration to white blues guitarists like Clapton and Page, but by that time the blues didn't sound like Robert Johnson any more.

The blues as we know it today sounds much more like T-Bone Walker:

Call It Stormy Monday

And T-Bone was born BEFORE Robert Johnson, as was Howlin' Wolf. People think that Johnson paved the way for guys like Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, but they were contemporaries. There was a wealth of blues music at that time. (Check out Wolf's mentor, Charley Patton. What a voice!)

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Friday Aug 24, 2012

Gallowglass wrote:
f.sciarrillo wrote:...still, if it wasn't for Johnson there would be no Blues. Now I want to listen to Buddy Guy. I think I will ..
I wouldn't say that...Johnson himself owed a debt to the likes of Son House, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Skip James, and Lonnie Johnson (who themselves owed a debt to similar musicians before them). Johnson was VERY influential, but I wouldn't say he invented the blues or that there would be no blues without him.

I never heard of those guys, Jason. You just gave me some more people to look up. Thanks

StumbleFingers wrote:Robert Johnson has become sort of a symbolic figure who represents all those early traveling bluesmen, known and unknown.

Like Joe said, he wasn't particularly well-known or influential during his career. He was an inspiration to white blues guitarists like Clapton and Page, but by that time the blues didn't sound like Robert Johnson any more.

The blues as we know it today sounds much more like T-Bone Walker:

Call It Stormy Monday

And T-Bone was born BEFORE Robert Johnson, as was Howlin' Wolf. People think that Johnson paved the way for guys like Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, but they were contemporaries. There was a wealth of blues music at that time. (Check out Wolf's mentor, Charley Patton. What a voice!)

That T-Bone Walker song is AWESOME! thanks for sharing it. I am going to look for some more stuff of his.

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Friday Aug 24, 2012

Some more T-Bone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGk72L652K4

StumbleFingers · Post by **StumbleFingers** » Monday Aug 27, 2012

In a real barn burner, Friday's matchup saw Robert Johnson (50.89%) edge out Buddy Guy (49.11%). He faces Jimmy Page next.

Today we have Les Paul vs. Django Reinhardt:

http://www.guitarworld.com/poll-greates ... -reinhardt

The winner faces Brian May. We should have some really interesting battles this week. Some of the upcoming matchups are Van Halen/Rhoads, Satch/Vai, and Hendrix/Gilmour.

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Monday Aug 27, 2012

StumbleFingers wrote:In a real barn burner, Friday's matchup saw Robert Johnson (50.89%) edge out Buddy Guy (49.11%). He faces Jimmy Page next.

Today we have Les Paul vs. Django Reinhardt:

http://www.guitarworld.com/poll-greates ... -reinhardt

The winner faces Brian May. We should have some really interesting battles this week. Some of the upcoming matchups are Van Halen/Rhoads, Satch/Vai, and Hendrix/Gilmour.

I went with Les Paul.

I don't think Robert Johnson will beat Jimmy Page, then with the way it is has been turning out, I wouldn't be surprised if he did. Those other ones are going to be tough.

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Thursday Aug 30, 2012

Where are the updates for this? There hasn't been one posted yet this week. I looked on Guitar World's website, and I can't find a link to it?

Gallowglass · Post by **Gallowglass** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2012

After a whole week with nothing, this was finally posted this morning. I meant to post it earlier, but just now got the time. It's a rundown of the "Sweet Sixteen" that are left.

http://www.guitarworld.com/greatest-gui ... et-sixteen

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Tuesday Sep 04, 2012

Gallowglass wrote:After a whole week with nothing, this was finally posted this morning. I meant to post it earlier, but just now got the time. It's a rundown of the "Sweet Sixteen" that are left.

http://www.guitarworld.com/greatest-gui ... et-sixteen

Took them long enough.

Gallowglass · Post by **Gallowglass** » Wednesday Sep 05, 2012

f.sciarrillo wrote:...Took them long enough.

Definitely, but consider the fact that that magazine is run by a bunch of musicians...it's a wonder it even functions at all.

RobTheDrummer · Post by **RobTheDrummer** » Wednesday Sep 05, 2012

How is Dave Mustaine on there? He beat Pettrucci? That's crazy!

Maybe I'm biased....

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Wednesday Sep 05, 2012

RobTheDrummer wrote:How is Dave Mustaine on there? He beat Pettrucci? That's crazy!

Maybe I'm biased....

Shocker, huh? This next round is going to be good ....

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Wednesday Sep 05, 2012

Gallowglass wrote:
f.sciarrillo wrote:...Took them long enough.
Definitely, but consider the fact that that magazine is run by a bunch of musicians...it's a wonder it even functions at all.

This is true. I can't wait for this thing to start back up.

StumbleFingers · Post by **StumbleFingers** » Wednesday Sep 05, 2012

It's back in a big way... Eddie vs Randy today!

http://www.guitarworld.com/poll-greates ... ndy-rhoads

This bracket makes my brain explode. Van Halen, Rhoads, Satch, Vai.

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Wednesday Sep 05, 2012

StumbleFingers wrote:It's back in a big way... Eddie vs Randy today!

http://www.guitarworld.com/poll-greates ... ndy-rhoads

This bracket makes my brain explode. Van Halen, Rhoads, Satch, Vai.

Yes, at this point, its a question of which cult of wannabees is biggest.

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Wednesday Sep 05, 2012

StumbleFingers wrote:It's back in a big way... Eddie vs Randy today!

http://www.guitarworld.com/poll-greates ... ndy-rhoads

This bracket makes my brain explode. Van Halen, Rhoads, Satch, Vai.

This is going to be one tough bracket! Wow...

I went EVH on this one. Mainly because he influenced me more than Randy Rhoades. And the shocker right now is that Eddie is ahead! I may have gotten my final two wrong. Wow..

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Thursday Sep 06, 2012

EVH is killing Rhoades in this. 75% to 25%. Wow. This is nothing like I thought it would turn out.

StumbleFingers · Post by **StumbleFingers** » Friday Sep 07, 2012

Today's metal-approved matchup is Tony Iommi vs Dave Mustaine:

http://www.guitarworld.com/poll-greates ... e-mustaine

The other matchup in their bracket is a really interesting one.... Dimebag vs Alex Lifeson.

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Friday Sep 07, 2012

StumbleFingers wrote:Today's metal-approved matchup is Tony Iommi vs Dave Mustaine:

http://www.guitarworld.com/poll-greates ... e-mustaine

The other matchup in their bracket is a really interesting one.... Dimebag vs Alex Lifeson.

I went with Iommi. I am shocked the EVH beat Randy Rhoades. Wow. I wasn't expecting that at all.

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Friday Sep 07, 2012

f.sciarrillo wrote:
StumbleFingers wrote:Today's metal-approved matchup is Tony Iommi vs Dave Mustaine:

http://www.guitarworld.com/poll-greates ... e-mustaine

The other matchup in their bracket is a really interesting one.... Dimebag vs Alex Lifeson.
I went with Iommi. I am shocked the EVH beat Randy Rhoades. Wow. I wasn't expecting that at all.

EVH probably has the largest cult of wannabees, with the possible exception of SRV.

f.sciarrillo · Post by **f.sciarrillo** » Saturday Sep 08, 2012

lonewolf wrote:
f.sciarrillo wrote:
StumbleFingers wrote:Today's metal-approved matchup is Tony Iommi vs Dave Mustaine:

http://www.guitarworld.com/poll-greates ... e-mustaine

The other matchup in their bracket is a really interesting one.... Dimebag vs Alex Lifeson.
I went with Iommi. I am shocked the EVH beat Randy Rhoades. Wow. I wasn't expecting that at all.
EVH probably has the largest cult of wannabees, with the possible exception of SRV.

That is possible, but either way, I am shocked.