Your guitar heroes [Archive] - MacRumors Forums

xsedrinam

Aug 8, 2006, 12:15 AM

Well I go back a way, so my list is not in any particular order, but I've heard nearly all of them live and have either CDs or DVDs and some 78s and 45s. Here's my list of heroes. I'll probably think of some others, but these come to mind for a start.

Batio - noted as world's fastest shredder
Malmsteen - neo classical metal (he's fast too)
Clapton - the way he's come in and among the blues boys
Hendrix - just 'cause he was
BBKing - gotta love BB
Robert Johnson - grand daddy
Stevie Ray
Jimmy Page
John Frusciante
John Cipollina
Santana - but he's gotten so predictable (so put him on the bottom if you want to)
Buddy Guy
Les Paul
Van Halen
Phil Keagy (virtually unknown and with a finger missing, but Hendrix described him as the best)
Kamakawino'ole - I can listen to him doing 'Over the Rainbow' all day
Zappa
Mayer - I still say he's underrated and is young, but he's a 'comer'.
Bonamassa

Sure enough, I forgot to put Tino Gonzalez and Brian May

Agent Smith

Aug 8, 2006, 12:41 AM

The Edge...master of the effects pedal(s).

mike3k

Aug 8, 2006, 11:41 AM

Jimi M'baye (lead guitarist for Youssou N'dour). He gets some amazing sounds by imitating traditional instruments. Listen to the opening of "Birima".

rjfiske

Aug 8, 2006, 12:02 PM

Brian Setzer. His covers of Sleepwalk (off The Dirty Boogie) and Malaguena (off Ignition!) are awesome.

rjf

TourBusLive

Aug 8, 2006, 12:16 PM

I agree with the above. I Just wanted to add David Gilmour. I saw him twice back in April. Awesome!

Also, I saw Robin Trower recently. I was not familiar with his music at all, but he has quite a following. well known for his guitar playing and effects. There is a thread on my web site about him and some pics of his gear. Pretty cool stuff.

http://tourbuslive.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=7

http://tourbuslive.com/index.html

bowens

Aug 9, 2006, 12:01 PM

Joe Satriani. That was easy. Although, I've been playing a lot more acoustic stuff lately. I reall like the style of Jack Johnson.

wisredz

Aug 9, 2006, 12:38 PM

It's curious noone's written steve vai yet...
Satch and Steve are the guys who made me start playing guitar, after seeing the '96 G3

decksnap

Aug 9, 2006, 12:42 PM

My vote goes for buckethead. He may be the most talented guitarist CURRENTLY alive. If you haven't heard him play, definitely check him out.

~Shard~

Aug 9, 2006, 12:55 PM

Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix rank right up there for me. "Friday Night in San Francisco", a live act performed by Paco De Luca, John McLaughlin & Al Di Meola, is one of my favorite albums as well though - amazing skill. And hell, throw in Slash from GNR as well... :eek: :cool:

netdog

Aug 9, 2006, 01:04 PM

While I agree with many of the above, no list is complete without...

Jerry

http://www.bigmagic.com/pages/blackj/garcia.jpg

I still miss him.

Nobody (along with Hendrix and McLaughlin perhaps) influenced my playing more.

MattG

Aug 9, 2006, 01:15 PM

Joe Satriani. That was easy. Although, I've been playing a lot more acoustic stuff lately. I reall like the style of Jack Johnson.

Cool

Just out of curiosity, what's your favorite Satch album?

gonyr

Aug 9, 2006, 01:19 PM

I'd have to say Slash, Van Halen, and Mark Knopfler. And toss in one more that I'm surprised nobody mentioned yet, Eric Johnson.

LeeTom

Aug 9, 2006, 01:22 PM

Jimmy Page
Tom Verlaine (Television)
Mick Ronson (Ziggy Stardust and other Bowie greats)

Loge

Aug 9, 2006, 01:27 PM

My favourites would be

Al di Meola
John McLaughlin
Allan Holdsworth
Larry Carlton,

among others.

BoyBach

Aug 9, 2006, 01:34 PM

Jimi Hendrix
Slash
Jimmy Page
Nuno Bettencourt

:cool:

bowens

Aug 9, 2006, 02:39 PM

Cool

Just out of curiosity, what's your favorite Satch album?

Not really an album (I'm not sure if it was released on cd) but a DVD. The G3 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738900370/002-7598141-8296860?v=glance&n=130) concert with Satriani, Vai, and Johnson. Red house is amazing.

Edit: Woohoo!!! 200 posts!!!

http://www.rocketgrande.com/images/pootacular/hooray.jpg

63dot

Aug 9, 2006, 03:07 PM

bb king
hendrix
clapton
gilmour
hammett
van halen
satriani
vai
pass
santana
frehley

lesser known but also great influences:

peppino d'agostino
david wilcox (who is also my favorite folk music songwriter)
mimi fox
bruce kulick, who along with gilmour are as good as any rock guitarists but seem to be underrated

and many, many others

63dot

Aug 9, 2006, 03:32 PM

Just out of curiosity, what's your favorite Satch album?

god, anything he plays on...surfing with an alien changed my perception of what a person can do on guitar

and i also like his cool shades and $1800+ dollar guitar that i could never afford :)

Dillenger

Aug 9, 2006, 04:52 PM

Another one for Phil Keaggy.

AlBDamned

Aug 9, 2006, 04:55 PM

Can't believe none of you have said Frusciante yet!

Others for me are:
Hendrix
Knopfler
Slash
Jimmy Page
Brian May

And more recently since seeing them in Hyde Park, Dave Grohl.

IJ Reilly

Aug 9, 2006, 05:04 PM

63dot

Aug 9, 2006, 06:01 PM

Not a player myself, but since nobody else has, I've got to throw in Richard Thompson. He seems to be universally admired by people who do play. Another great "old-timer" who doesn't get remembered much anymore is Jeff "Skunk" Baxter.

both are highly regarded in players' circles

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Baxter

doobies and steely dan, among others for jeff baxter

richard thompson is a rare player who is equally well thought of in acoustic and electric guitar playing

----Bowie----

Aug 9, 2006, 06:27 PM

Robbie Robertson
Django Reinhardt

IJ Reilly

Aug 9, 2006, 07:41 PM

both are highly regarded in players' circles

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Baxter

doobies and steely dan, among others for jeff baxter

richard thompson is a rare player who is equally well thought of in acoustic and electric guitar playing

Never was a Doobie Brothers fan, but Baxter made important contributions to the early Dan records. He's mentioned in my recommended tunes reviews ("My Old School" -- one of the greatest pop singles ever).

Thompson is an all-round great player, and a fine song writer besides.

mcarnes

Aug 9, 2006, 07:54 PM

James Hetfield. One of the most underrated guitar players out there.

xsedrinam

Aug 9, 2006, 08:00 PM

Can't believe none of you have said Frusciante yet!
Well I go back a way, so my list is not in any particular order, but I've heard nearly all of them live and have either CDs or DVDs and some 78s and 45s. Here's my list of heroes. I'll probably think of some others, but these come to mind for a start.
.....John Frusciante....
I did, but I can't believe I forgot to mention Satriani. Nice to see someone else spotted Keaggy, too.

KingYaba

Aug 9, 2006, 08:42 PM

Jon Schaffer, Mark Tremonti, Kirk Hammett (thus Joe Satriani because he taught him) and thats all I can tthink of

decksnap

Aug 9, 2006, 10:48 PM

I guess nobody mentioned Shawn Lane yet... one of Buckethead's biggest teachers.

nsutt22

Aug 9, 2006, 10:54 PM

Gilmour... Comfortably numb

Cameront9

Aug 9, 2006, 11:14 PM

Jimi Hendrix will forever be the most important guitarist that ever was or is, IMO.

Pete Townshend comes a close second, to me. Not a phenomenal player, but certainly acrobatic. His music is pretty damn good, too.

AlBDamned

Aug 10, 2006, 05:03 AM

I did, but I can't believe I forgot to mention Satriani. Nice to see someone else spotted Keaggy, too.

Ah you did, sorry. I didn't spot him in that list.

Hyde Park, London, 2004:

sunfast

Aug 10, 2006, 05:12 AM

Slash - he's hilarious.

bowens

Aug 10, 2006, 08:12 AM

A couple more. Neither are really guitar players but amazing none the less. First, Chris Thile who plays mandolin for Nickel Creek (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=2356919). I'm convinced that he is the best mandolin player in the world. If you ever get a chance to see them live, GO! You will be blown away. Second, Robert Randolph. He is amazing on the pedal steel guitar. He plays kind of a blues/rock style. Check him out. Robert Randolph (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=955096)

Compile 'em all

Aug 10, 2006, 08:16 AM

Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Kirck Hamet.

HiRez

Aug 10, 2006, 08:51 AM

No love for Alex Lifeson of Rush? Also Stanley Jordan, Steve Howe (Yes), Joey Santiago (Pixies), and Steve Hackett. Already mentioned was Stevie Ray, prolly my favorite of all time.

Palad1

Aug 10, 2006, 08:55 AM

Richie Blackmore :D

TourBusLive

Aug 10, 2006, 07:36 PM

Has anyone mentioned

George Harrison
Jerry Cantrell
Tom Morello (hero, maybe?)

treblah

Aug 10, 2006, 08:04 PM

No Duane Allman lovin'? :eek:

iGary

Aug 10, 2006, 09:00 PM

Are you guys stoned? :confused:

Alex Lifeson!

http://www.thecanadianmusicscene.com/jpgfiles/rushalex.jpg

xsedrinam

Aug 10, 2006, 09:48 PM

Anybody mention Billy Gibbons, yet?

Thanks, Hazlehurst, MS.
"The most important blues musician who ever lived." --Eric Clapton

HiRez

Aug 11, 2006, 12:13 AM

Are you guys stoned? :confused:

Alex Lifeson!Hey Gary, I did mention him! I'm glad someone else can see his greatness!

iGary

Aug 11, 2006, 08:01 AM

Hey Gary, I did mention him! I'm glad someone else can see his greatness!

Ooops!!

I didn't see - I only did a search and find for his name on the first page of this thread. :o

63dot

Aug 11, 2006, 01:43 PM

Are you guys stoned? :confused:

Alex Lifeson!

http://www.thecanadianmusicscene.com/jpgfiles/rushalex.jpg

that's not alex lifeson at all, that's that fat cop from the donut shop in texas who stole his body and identity :)

..or come to think of it, it's william shatner with a goatee

xsedrinam

Aug 11, 2006, 03:00 PM

that's not alex lifeson at all, that's that fat cop from the donut shop in texas who stole his body and identity :)

..or come to think of it, it's william shatner with a goatee
I thought it was Glen Campbell, before taxes. :p

bartelby

Aug 11, 2006, 03:14 PM

Blixa Bargeld

63dot

Aug 11, 2006, 04:45 PM

I thought it was Glen Campbell, before taxes. :p

strange politics, overdrinking, and quitting the beach boys aside, glen is actually a great lead guitarist and could, believe it or not, probably step for alex on a rush show if alex is late somewhere...at a donut shop

chasemac

Aug 11, 2006, 05:29 PM

Recognize the youngster on the left?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epXeC40P80o

ejb190

Aug 11, 2006, 07:08 PM

Another one for Phil Keaggy.

Me too! Saw Keaggy live (Invention Tour with Wes King and Scott Dente). The album was good, but the concert blew my socks off!!!!

xsedrinam

Aug 11, 2006, 07:23 PM

Recognize the youngster on the left?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epXeC40P80o
Whoa! That's hilarious. Glad he got the Led out.

iGary

Aug 11, 2006, 07:27 PM

I thought it was Glen Campbell, before taxes. :p

h8ters

:p

dead phish head

Aug 11, 2006, 07:40 PM

John Butler
Keller Williams
Larry Keel
Dave Matthews
Tim Reynolds
Tom Morello
Jerry Garcia
Derek Trucks
Jack White
Jimi Hendrix
Alex Lifeson
Stevie Ray Vaughn
Howlin' Wolf
Jimmy Page
Satriani
Vai
Malmsteen
Edward Van Halen
John Petrucci
Buckethead
Warren Haynes
Trey Anastasio
Bill Nershi
plus a lot more...

neocell

Aug 11, 2006, 08:13 PM

All the major guys who have influenced me are listed, though a couple more:
Randy Rhodes
Zakk Wylde

Satriani and Jimi would have to be the most influential though

quigleybc

Aug 11, 2006, 08:51 PM

Trey Anastatio when he is sober

Gilmore (duh)

Hendrix (duh x2)

Jack White

Dime Bag Darryl

Garcia

xsedrinam

Aug 11, 2006, 09:19 PM

All the major guys who have influenced me are listed, though a couple more:
Randy Rhodes
Zakk Wylde

Satriani and Jimi would have to be the most influential though
Man, I thought Zakk was mentioned, but looking back, I don't see him anywhere else. He has to be up there, though.

h8ters :p
Nah. I loves me some Witchita Lineman and stuff™.

KingYaba

Aug 12, 2006, 02:24 AM

http://www.melodicrock.com/live/IcedEarth01_BYH2004.jpg
ownage!

Jon Schaffer and Ralph Santolla (Ralph been replaced recently)

DZ/015

Aug 12, 2006, 02:50 AM

There are many greats, but the greatest by far, without equal, was Andres Segovia. The greatest guitar player ever.

matthew24

Aug 12, 2006, 03:57 AM

:) S ;) R :rolleyes: V :)

Flenz

Aug 12, 2006, 05:36 AM

Prince, Slash and Brian May (and Flenz) :p

Flenz

MacRy

Aug 12, 2006, 06:03 AM

John Squire (The Stone Roses). Made me take up the guitar.

http://www.compsoc.nuigalway.ie/~rog/images/john.jpg

iGary

Aug 12, 2006, 11:36 AM

John Squire (The Stone Roses). Made me take up the guitar.

http://www.compsoc.nuigalway.ie/~rog/images/john.jpg

It sucks that that band imploded. :(

dead phish head

Aug 12, 2006, 12:36 PM

Trey Anastatio when he is sober
HA...I don't think I have ever seen Trey sober....

Sirus The Virus

Aug 13, 2006, 06:32 PM

Steve Vai - The best guitar player alive
The Edge - Master of texture and effects

Dros

Aug 13, 2006, 06:45 PM

Robert Quine had a distinct, explosive sound. Listen to "Love comes in spurts" and "Betrayal takes two" on the Richard Hell and the Voidoids album "Blank Generation".

wmmk

Aug 13, 2006, 07:37 PM

The Edge
BB King
John Petrucci
George Harrison
Steve Howe

Fiveos22

Aug 13, 2006, 10:55 PM

James Hetfield. One of the most underrated guitar players out there.

He's gotta be one of the best rhythm guitarists out there, steady as a rock even through the fastest riffs.

No one has said Yngwie Malmsteen yet! Sure the dude may be total self-absorbed jerk, but I've never heard anyone else run through arpeggios as quickly and accurately as he does.

Also, I just saw Melvin Taylor (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll) yesterday at a club in Evanston and he was pretty slick.

xsedrinam

Aug 13, 2006, 11:25 PM

...No one has said Yngwie Malmsteen yet! Sure the dude may be total self-absorbed jerk, but I've never heard anyone else run through arpeggios as quickly and accurately as he does....<snip>

He's been mentioned at least twice, and rightfully so.

punkmac

Aug 13, 2006, 11:37 PM

Just curious to hear from all the other guitar players (or not...doesn't matter) on MacRumors: who are your guitar heroes? I'm 24 and started playing guitar in high school. When I was first learning, it was Mark Knopfler, Joe Satriani and Eddie Van Halen who really inspired me. How about you all?

Johnny Ramone

Johnny Thunders

He Who Cannot Be Named (The Dwarves)

punkmac

Aug 13, 2006, 11:41 PM

Robert Quine had a distinct, explosive sound. Listen to "Love comes in spurts" and "Betrayal takes two" on the Richard Hell and the Voidoids album "Blank Generation".

Yes, Yes! Those songs mean so much! My wife was going into labor with my second son while listening to the Richard Hell...in detail " Betrayal Takes Two"!

jalagl

Aug 13, 2006, 11:45 PM

Yngwie Malmsteen
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Van Halen
Steve Vai
Jeff Beck

There are many greats, but the greatest by far, without equal, was Andres Segovia. The greatest guitar player ever.

I picked up classical guitar after hearing Segovia play Albéniz' Leyenda. Definitely Segovia deserves to be on the list as well. :D

Mike Teezie

Aug 14, 2006, 12:38 AM

Excellent thread!

David Gilmour
Jimmy Page
Jimi Hendrix
Mike Einziger
Santana (Abraxas and III era)

Many more, but those are the main ones.

MacRy

Aug 14, 2006, 01:38 PM

It sucks that that band imploded. :(

The record label certainly didn't help.......or the infighting between Squire and Brown :)

iGary

Aug 14, 2006, 01:40 PM

The record label certainly didn't help.......or the infighting between Squire and Brown :)

I saw them here in Baltimore at Hammerjacks. A great show.

And yeah, no one was really helping anyone.

BoyBach

Aug 14, 2006, 02:26 PM

The record label certainly didn't help.......or the infighting between Squire and Brown :)

Or the drugs...

zelmo

Aug 14, 2006, 02:36 PM

For technical brilliance:
STEVE MORSE
John Petrucci
Joe Satriani
Steve Vai
Eddie Van Halen

For heart:
STEVE MORSE
Steven Rothery
Eric Johnson
Joachim Lievano
David Gilmour

mactastic

Aug 14, 2006, 07:04 PM

Can't believe we got halfway through page two before Warren Haynes name came up...

Most of my faves have already been mentioned, but hat tip to those who mentioned Lifeson, Zappa, Garcia, deLucia, Vaughn, Allman, and Butler.

I'd add Sonny Landreth, Robert Cray, BB King, and John Lee Hooker and Jerry Douglas to that list as well.

Also, to whoever recommended Chris Thile -- well done. As long as we're veering into other stringed instruments as well, I'd add Bela Fleck and the late Vasser Clements...

killr_b

Aug 14, 2006, 07:22 PM

It upsets me just a little that we're on post 77 and no one has mentioned

The Late, Great "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott.

The best guitar player to emerge in the last 14 years. R.I.P. Dime.

Other greats not listed here,
Kerry King
Scott Ian
Matt Heafy
Mick Thompson

mactastic

Aug 14, 2006, 07:42 PM

It upsets me just a little that we're on post 77 and no one has mentioned

The Late, Great "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott.

The best guitar player to emerge in the last 14 years. R.I.P. Dime.

Check post #54. ;)

wmmk

Aug 14, 2006, 10:45 PM

As long as we're veering into other stringed instruments as well, I'd add Bela Fleck and the late Vasser Clements...
Speaking of Bela Fleck and players of other stringed instruments, Victor Wooten is great.

JackSYi

Aug 14, 2006, 11:55 PM

George Harrison & Eric Clapton.

killr_b

Aug 15, 2006, 07:51 AM

Check post #54. ;)

Check. Guess search didn't find it 'cause it's spelled wrong. ;)

But still, post 54... :(

nnick

Aug 16, 2006, 01:05 PM

J. Mascis - Dinosaur Jr.
John Kimbrough - Walt Mink
John Fruciante - RHCP's

These guys do not get enough credit.

63dot

Aug 16, 2006, 05:34 PM

George Harrison & Eric Clapton.

hey, did you see the bangladesh benefit concert on public tv a few days ago?

harrison, clapton, with leon russell, billy preston, ringo, and dylan?

wow, those guys were great together

i loved clapton and harrison trading off lead guitar solos on "while my guitar gently weeps" live...but on the beatles record in the studio, it's all clapton on the lead solo, but it was great to see the concert where george added his distictive signature lead style to clapton's well known lead style

i can't remember any other time where i have seen this dual lead

of course, many have seen or heard clapton with bb king, buddy guy, or duane allman

jne381

Aug 21, 2006, 01:41 PM

Perhaps I've missed it, but it doesn't look like anybody has listed Keith Richards. Keith is by far the greatest rock guitarist ever. Though he is so well know for his rock life style, and he is not a flash player like most others mentioned, he blows them all away. Just listen to the rhythm guitar on any Stones album from Beggars Banquet all the way to 1981, he is a master of the groove.

calculus

Aug 21, 2006, 01:51 PM

How about bass players. Here's a few of mine...

Jack Bruce
McCartney
Bernard Edwards
Charles Mingus
Andy Fraser

deggs37

Aug 21, 2006, 03:33 PM

You guys are missing Marty Friedman and Jason Becker

chasemac

Aug 21, 2006, 04:35 PM

Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, Angus Young, & Duane Allman to name a few.

WannabeMacUser

Aug 21, 2006, 04:36 PM

Alexi Laiho
Dimebag Darrell
Dave Mustaine
Malmsteen
Joe Satriani
Many, Many others.

chris200x9

Aug 21, 2006, 05:01 PM

HENDRIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! omg omg.... HENDRIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o

(note the sarcasm)

Star Destroyer

Aug 21, 2006, 06:01 PM

Flat out:
Claudio Sanchez and Travis Stever
Jimmy Page
Dave Murray
Brian May
:)
I feel better now

kzlambert

Aug 21, 2006, 07:19 PM

Has to be Mark Knopfler for me, seem many of his live performances as apart of Dire Straits and his solos are amazing. Not my generation, but I just appreciate, not only his ability to play, but his adaptations of the original tracks :)

These 2 live albums are musts.. Alchemy and On the night by Dire Straits :)

chasemac

Aug 21, 2006, 07:25 PM

kzlambert

Aug 21, 2006, 07:27 PM

Yes, I have to agree. Yet neither of these albums are available in the iTunes store.:confused:

That is a disapointment, more people should be exposed to them.. I wish more artists released live albums...I have a weakness for live music (performed well of course)

63dot

Aug 21, 2006, 07:34 PM

zelmo

Aug 22, 2006, 07:54 AM

Flat out:
Claudio Sanchez and Travis Stever

Superb guitar duo.

jbembe

Aug 22, 2006, 11:08 PM

Eric Clapton in Cream
Eric Clapton in Derek & The Dominos
Eric Clapton Solo

and then

Santana
SRV
Hendrix
Robert Randolph
Jimmy Page
BB King
Keith Richards
Pete Townsend

lord patton

Aug 22, 2006, 11:28 PM

Glad to see Dimebag gettin' his props. Best metal guitarist ever. Just on another planet, man.

Can't argue with Segovia, but for live performances, my classical vote is for Pepe Romero. I've never seen a classical guitarist play so effortlessly, and look like he's having so much fun (normally us classical cats look like we're pinchin' a loaf). Pepe's recordings aren't awesome, though.

Yngwie can go perform acts on teenage boys for all I care. But Gilmour is awesome, B.B. rules, and so is everyone else who makes music for listenin'.

Edit: cheers to y'all who mentioned Marty Friedman, Jason Becker, and Larry Carlton.

mactastic

Aug 23, 2006, 06:33 PM

That is a disapointment, more people should be exposed to them.. I wish more artists released live albums...I have a weakness for live music (performed well of course)
Oh, check out Gov't Mule then. The Deepest End CD/DVD set is simply amazing.

jbembe

Aug 23, 2006, 07:30 PM

Oh, check out Gov't Mule then. The Deepest End CD/DVD set is simply amazing.

Derek and the Dominos live at the fillmore is great, so is The Who Live at Reeds

SuperSnake2012

Aug 23, 2006, 10:20 PM

Eric Clapton, Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield, Jimi, JPJ :cool:

steviem

Aug 25, 2006, 11:50 AM

:eek:

Sorry, swap The Edge (imo totally overrated) with Tom Morello Of Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave

Morello works so much better with effects, and doesnt depend on them to cover up a lack of talent.

Maybe the Edge could be put in a 'Famous Stetson and Beanie wearer' thread

Reaver

Aug 26, 2006, 02:58 AM

Jimi Hendrix
Slash
Jimmy Page
Clapton
Santana
BB King
Stevie Ray Vaughn

R.Youden

Aug 26, 2006, 04:11 AM

I dont play the guitar (I tried once to learn but I failed miserably!). But to me the most influential guitarist has to be Brian May from Queen. Not only is he a great guitarist and someone who is so committed to his work but he is also a really damm nice guy. I have spoken to him on a couple of occasions and he is so down to earth and so approachable that when you speak to him he makes you feel like the famous person in the conversation.

As someone once said: Brian May, the nice guy of rock 'n' roll.

Gets my vote any day.

TourBusLive

Aug 28, 2006, 01:22 PM

So, I think I mentioned Jerry Cantrell as one of my guitar heroes a couple of pages back. I got a chance to see him play, again.

We just saw AIC last week, and I got some photos of the show. Check the link out if you are intereseted.

ENJOY!

http://tourbuslive.com/albums/Alice%20In%20Chains_8-18-06/index.html

Josias

Sep 3, 2006, 08:20 AM

John Mayer (how can any people even consider anyone to be crazier than him?:D )
My bigbrother. Teaches me so much.;)
Dave Matthews. Maybe not very technically advanced in most disciplines, but he is crazy.

ecopod

Sep 6, 2006, 04:27 PM

Okay I know it's subjective but I can't believe Rory Gallagher aint in this list yet, probably best known in UK but has to be the most natural guitarist ever, I'm convinced he didn't know what he was going to do next.

Rock/blues style from an Irishman, that has to be best.

MattG

Sep 6, 2006, 04:28 PM

ecopod

Sep 6, 2006, 04:34 PM

Also forgot to throw in Neil Young, not everyone's cup of tea but in certain circumstances, late at night something like Powderfinger really hits the spot.

Got a few Rory discs, can't pick a favourite, like most music all depends what mood I'm in at the time.

KevKaos

Sep 7, 2006, 08:39 AM

There have been alot of great guitarist through the years, including many of the old blues artist such as Robert Johnson, but the one guitarist I can never get tired of listening to is Stevie Ray Vaughn.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v636/KevKaos/stuff/stevie-ray-vaughan04.jpg

nagshay1818

Sep 7, 2006, 11:35 PM

John Scofield is a pure genious

nagshay1818

Sep 7, 2006, 11:38 PM

Stevie is too predictable

dejo

Sep 7, 2006, 11:40 PM

How about bass players. Here's a few of mine...

Jack Bruce
McCartney
Bernard Edwards
Charles Mingus
Andy Fraser

Here's some of mine:

Geddy Lee
Tony Levin
Les Claypool
Flea
Billy Sheehan
John Entwistle

xsedrinam

Sep 8, 2006, 12:41 AM

Stevie is too predictable
:confused: I have to rail on this. Your ears are too predictable. If not THE most, he's at least one of the most intense and creative masters, ever. Most ALL the licks you're accustomed to hearing played which may have become "predictable" to your ear, originated from Vaughn's mixture of intensity and genius. He played them before they became predictable.

Demoman

Sep 8, 2006, 01:01 AM

It blows me away that so many people are completely oblivious to the men who created the foundation for so many of the great players you admire; Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Howlin' Wolf, Michael Bloomfield, Otis Rush, Harvey Mandrel...

If you do not know these musicians, you are (in many ways) lucky. You can go score some of their music and discover it for the first time. You will not be disappointed. These are the men that Clapton, Page, Gilmore, Santana, Beck, Hendrix, etc pay homage to. Not because they were the first, they were the best.

markiv810

Sep 8, 2006, 02:03 AM

My favorite guitar heroes (guitarists) are:

David Gilmour
Paul McCartney
Eddie Van Halen
Jack White
George Harrison
Kurt Cobain
Steve Vai
Paul Gilbert (Did not see his name mentioned by anyone)
Eric Johnson
Kirk Hammet
Darren Malakian
John Mayer
Saul Hudson

Silencio

Sep 27, 2006, 03:53 AM

Vini Reilly.

killmoms

Sep 27, 2006, 05:23 AM

The one who always pops to my mind is Jón Þor Birgisson of Sigur Rós. He's not one of those crazy "shredders" or players of crazy solos, but the sounds he wrings out of his guitar with a cello bow and reverb pedal are amazing. I love the guitar as an instrument of texture, which explains my love for post-rock. ;)

Judas

Sep 27, 2006, 09:43 AM

Dave Matthews is king!!!

Silencio

Sep 27, 2006, 12:03 PM

I love the guitar as an instrument of texture, which explains my love for post-rock. ;)

Michael Karoli of Can was the master of this style of playing and a huge influence across the post-rock spectrum.

Also, John McGeoch pioneered the driving but textural style of guitar in post-punk in Siouxsie and the Banshees and Magazine.

Both players are sorely missed.

And has nobody mentioned Kevin Shields yet? Really? :confused:

KingYaba

Sep 28, 2006, 06:49 PM

I forgot to mention Kerry King. hahahahaahah :cool:

kgarchar

Sep 28, 2006, 10:56 PM

i highly doubt anyone here has heard of him, but Thomas Erak of the Fall of Troy is my idol

devman

Sep 29, 2006, 03:01 AM

Larry Carlton
Jimmy Page
George Benson
David Gilmour
Ritchie Blackmore
Jay Graydon
Robben Ford

jréh

Sep 30, 2006, 08:53 AM

eric clapton in cream is amazing. jimmi Hendrix was the best. i really like steve ray vaughn. it seeems that all the best guitarist are old. where are the new good guitarists?

iGary

Sep 30, 2006, 09:12 AM

Just thought I'd post a picture of Alex Lifeson from his Flock of Seagulls phase. :D

http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/underground/6756/alex5.jpg

:eek:

heyonian

Sep 30, 2006, 11:37 AM

My guitar heroes...

Rivers Cuomo
Dan Yemin
George Harrison
Elliott Smith
David Gilmour

OwlsAndApples

Oct 6, 2006, 12:10 PM

It's gotta be for me:
Graham Coxon
Dave Gilmour
Nick Zinner
Matt Bellamy
Russel Lissack
Jonny Greenwood
Carl Barat

:) makes me smile just looking at them...

kgarchar

Oct 6, 2006, 09:05 PM

anyone heard of the fall of troy in here?

check them out if you're into shredding

also, dragonforce is mad shred music

stuh84

Oct 7, 2006, 08:17 PM

Tom Englund (Evergrey)
Henrik Dahnage (Evergrey)
Nils Norberg (Nocturnal Rites)
Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom)
Michael Romeo (Symphony X)
Fredrik Thordendahl (Meshuggah)
Jeff Loomis (Nevermore)
Brian May (Queen)
Eric Roche R.I.P.
Eva Cassidy R.I.P.

These guys (and gal) have a huge influence on the music I create, from the heaviest to the softest, they all come through, and yet they taught me the best form of flattery is to create your own idea's rather than just rehashing whats been done before...otherwise, why not just listen to what has been before again?

ilikeninjas90

Oct 11, 2006, 10:00 PM

jimi hendrix and colin greenwood

dsnort

Oct 11, 2006, 10:08 PM

Stevie Ray Vaughn and Billy Gibbons. Hendrix gets honorable mention.

SMM

Oct 11, 2006, 10:15 PM

ThunderLounge

Oct 11, 2006, 11:04 PM

Eric Clapton
Jimmy Page
Ace Frehley
Eddie V
Randy Rhoads
George Lynch
Dave Murray
Steve Vai
Gooding (if you haven't heard 'em, it's goodingband.com)

Pickers and blues, so many to choose from.

ilikeninjas90

Oct 11, 2006, 11:43 PM

i forgot clapton

what a player

SMM

Oct 12, 2006, 12:01 AM

I did not see any of you mention Michael Bloomfield. That is really a shame. If this thread was being posted by the 100 best guitar players in the world, Michael's name would be on almost everyone. The sad fact is, few young people even know who he was. I am going to write a short bio. If you are not interested, you can skip the rest.

Something incredible happened after WWII on the Chicago's south-side, the emergence of the electric blues. Prior to that, blues had mainly been acoustic. But, a group of incredible musicians changed music forever by 'plugging in'. They were guys like Muddy Waters, BB and ALbert King, Little Walter, Otis Rush, Howlin' Wolf and the list goes on (a very long list). This music was being played in all black clubs and was unknown almost everywhere else.

In the early '60's, there were a number of young white kids who heard this music on their transistor radios at night. A small group of them were able to 'sneak' into some of these clubs and listen. They were Harvey Mandel, Roy Ruby, Paul Butterfield, Steve Miller, Barry Goldberg, Nick Gravenitis and Michael Bloomfield. All of them were just beginning their music careers, but they were also extremely talented.

At first they were a novelty; a bunch of very young white kids from well-off families. Paul Butterfield and Michael Bloomfield were not content to just listen to the music. They would jump on stage, plug in and sit in with the likes of Muddy Waters and the Wolf. Soon they became accepted, then appreciated.

By the time he was 19, Michael was managing a blues club name the Fickle Pickle. He would go out into the ghetto's searching out old blues men from the '20's and '30's, guys that had just disappeared and most thought were dead. Mike would clean them up and get them gigs at his club. And, while they were playing, Michael would be studying their every move; learning at the feet of the men who had originally created the style. This is something that cannot every be created again and partially explains Michael's incredible mastery of the blues guitar.

In the meantime, Paul Butterfield was lighting it up at a club known as Big John's. His original band was him on harp, Elvin Bishop on guitar, Sam Lay on drum and Jerome Arnold on bass. Everyone of these men are legends in blues. The band was doing so well, it caught the attention of Albert Grossman, Bob Dylan's manager. He signed the band and Paul asked Michael to join. They also added a very talented keyboard player Mark Naftalin.

The Paul Butterfield Blues Band was absolutely ground-breaking. If you are unfamiliar with them, you have missed one of the top echelon of 'influential groups' ever assembled. They were the first band to use dual lead guitarists. Their music transcended rock, blues, jazz, soul and even Indian music. They were the first band to use long instrumentals.

In the late '60's, the band moved to San Francisco. They were a regular at the Fillmore. They stunned audiences by their musicianship. The 'Frisco' sound was really not good musically. The airplane, quicksilver, the dead, Santana, etc were all taught by the PBBB. Bill Graham ran the Fillmore where most of the big names played. He was very close to Michael Bloomfield. One day he told Michael, "You are the greatest guitar player I have ever seen." Mike responded, "If you think I am good, you should hear the guys who taught me".

A short time later, BB King was booked at the Fillmore. Others would follow. Michael had broken the barrier between the black blues giants and the music mainstream. BB said, "It was Michael who gave us our chance".

Bloomfield left the PBBB to form his own group, the Electric Flag. members were Bloomfield, Gravenitis, Buddy Miles, Barry Goldberg and Pete Straza. They were a huge hit at Monterey. But, Michael was always uncomfortable with success and attention. The band broke up.

Somewhat later, Michael met up with an old friend from the Dylan days, Al Kooper. With Steven Stills, they recorded an impromptu jam session named Super Session. Mike was again thrust into the limelight. For the next several years, Michael was involved with a great number of projects and legendary musicians, but always mindful to remain low key. However, amongst musicians, he was considered as good a guitar player that existed.

In 1981, Michael Bloomfield was found dead in his car from a drug overdose.

A-Dog

Oct 25, 2006, 05:25 PM

Mick Ronson (David Bowie guitarist, early 70's)
John Frusciante (RHCP, solo)
John McLaughlin
Robert Fripp
Tom Verlaine & Richard Lloyd (Television)
Hendrix
Wes Montgomery

wmmk

Oct 25, 2006, 11:22 PM

Robert Fripp

ah yes. how could i forget fripp!?!?!?

beatzfreak

Oct 26, 2006, 04:17 PM

For me, it's

Hendrix
Clapton
Paco De Lucia
Al Di Meola
Steve Howe
Early Santana with Neal Schon

dylan

Oct 26, 2006, 04:57 PM

Adam Jones
Mark Knopfler
Jimmy Page
Slash
David Gilmour
Jeff Martin
Robert Fripp

Netzhaut

Nov 2, 2006, 10:33 PM

As I consider myself a rhythm guitarrist for the most part, my heroes are somewhat different from the ones mentioned in this thread:
Philip Chevron (The Pogues)
Scotty Moore
Steve Cooney (Australian guy that mostly plays with Irish Trad musicians)
Jonathan Richman
Billy Bragg
Richard Thompson
Peter Buck (REM)
John Darnielle (The Mountain Goats)
Keith Richards AND Ron Wood
Pete Townshend

Honorable mentions:
Sneaky Pete Kleinow (Pedal Steel)
David Lindley (everything with strings)

Cheers, Netzhaut

Geetar

Nov 6, 2006, 06:50 AM

The well-eclectic list:

Alan Holdsworth (UK: "In the Dead of Night")
Steve Hackett (Genesis: "Trick of the Tail")
Bill Nelson (Bebop Deluxe: "Live in the Air Age')
Pat Metheny (PMG: "Travels")
Michael Hedges (anything!!)
Trevor Rabin (Yes: "Union")
Terje Rypdal (If Mountains Could Sing)
Kim Mitchell (Max Webster: "A Million Vacations")
Alan Murphy (Go West: "Go West")
Davey Johstone (Elton John: "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road")
Joni Mitchell (!) ("Shadows and Light")
John Mitchell (!!) (Frost: "Milliontown")
David Torn ("Cloud About Mercury")
Derek Trucks ("Live at Georgia Theatre")

vendettabass

Nov 6, 2006, 09:08 AM

its all about the 80's with slash, van halen, sambora & mars!

scoupe94

Nov 15, 2006, 01:06 AM

Marty Friedman
Josh Homme
Chuck Schuldiner
Satch
Eric Clapton
Billy Howerdell

Chris Poland?... anyone?

Duff-Man

Nov 17, 2006, 11:45 PM

Duff-Man says...oh, so many to choose from...lets see what comes to mind at this moment in time....uhhhh...

Neil Young - he many not play a lot of notes but he plays the right ones - k.i.s.s.!
Tom Verlaine (and R Lloyd) - these guys play off each other so well
John Wesley - best known lately for his live work with Porcupine Tree
Robert Fripp
Dave Davies - 1964, You Really Got Me 'nuff said.
Michael Rother
Michael Karoli - (R.I.P.) - from german band Can
Geordie Walker - from Killing Joke, another non-lead guitarist..no solo's here folks, just great riffs
Berit Fridahl - mostly known for her work with Heather Nova - she rocks!
Robin Guthrie - he created all those great atmospheric sounds with the Cocteau Twins
Bill Nelson - of Be Bop Deluxe fame from the 70's but still recording today...*the* master of the e-bow!

Geez...I could go on and on....oh yeah!

vectormasked

Nov 18, 2006, 06:32 PM

Well I have tons of respect for guitarists like SRV, Trey Anastasio, Clapton, Randy Rhoads, and all the other ones that people tend to always name...but I am not gonna pretend to be cool and pretend they have influenced me and my playing. They have however, influenced the guitatrists that have influenced me.

Here's my list:
-Mike McCready and Stone Gossard (definetely the two guitarists that I have followed the most)
-Slash (Appetite for Destruction ....need I say more?)
-Billy Corgan
-Jerry Cantrell
-Adam Jones (Listing to him has made appreciate more the sound, the melodies, the mood that can achived with a couple of simple chords. I kind stopped caring about playing solos and practicing scales and stuff coz of him.
-Fredrik Thordendal (just can't get enough of the odd time signatures)
-Dave Navarro
-John Frusciante (beautiful raw sound. Not too many guitarists can simply use a guitar, a cord and a crappy amp and still sound amazing)
-Tom Morello

product26

Nov 30, 2006, 05:03 AM

-Adam Jones (Listing to him has made appreciate more the sound, the melodies, the mood that can achived with a couple of simple chords. I kind stopped caring about playing solos and practicing scales and stuff coz of him.

-Tom Morello

WORD

Caezar

Dec 2, 2006, 11:14 AM

I am by no means a guitar-connoisseur and I would like to listen to more guitar.

I only have CDs from Satriani and I like tunes like "Flying in a blue dream" or "Borg sex" (stupid name, I know), with lengthy guitar solos.

What else would you recommend in this genre?

rogerw

Dec 2, 2006, 03:57 PM

how 'bout Eddie Hazel - Funkadelic - Maggot Brain anyone?

g6120

Dec 23, 2006, 07:12 PM

Neil Young
Eric Clapton
Jimi Hendrix
Leo Kottke
Chet Atkins
Pat Metheny
Doc Watson
Joey Santiago (Pixies)
Edge
Stevie ray
Lightnin' Hopkins
Stephen Stills
Frank Zappa
Duane Allman
and so many more.....

dllavaneras

Dec 23, 2006, 09:41 PM

John Petrucci
Tom Morello (too bad Audioslave is totally holding him back ;))

That's it for now. There's a gazillion more, though, I'll add them later when I'm completely awake

VicRattlehead

Dec 24, 2006, 03:04 AM

Dave Mustaine

http://members.tccoa.com/vicratlehead/daveplay.gif

Marty Friedman

chris poland!!

decksnap

Dec 24, 2006, 10:14 AM

vyse7676

Jan 4, 2007, 02:29 PM

jason becker and marty friedman id have to say are what inspired me most

themacmonk

Jan 4, 2007, 05:11 PM

Great thread. :) Lots of great guitarists mentioned here. For what it's worth, here's my list.

The top five:

Ty Tabor, King's X - As far as I'm concerned, a perfect combination of tone and technique. Absolutely killer tone, and knows just how MANY notes to play for each particular song - not too many and not too few.

Pat Metheny - Saw him live from the front row in a small dance hall in Omaha in the early 80's. I couldn't have been more than fifteen feet from him. I've seen many, many, many guitarists live and Pat was one of the best I ever saw. Everything from touching, lyrical melodicism to pure blazing speed, and not a note wasted.

Jeff Beck - I never heard anybody who could do more with a single note than Jeff. He can say more with one note than handfuls of shredders. :)

Michael Schenker, UFO and MSG - IMO the penultimate Euro metal guitarist. Another one of those guys who can play either a few or a lot of notes, but each note has meaning. There are many players named already in this thread who owe a LOT to Schenker's influence.

Peter Frampton - Yes, PETER FRAMPTON. ;) VERY underrated player. Probably stuck behind a 70's pop star image, but he is a very good, VERY tasteful player.

Also at the top of the list:

Phil Keaggy - This guy is amazing. Maybe even better on acoustic than he is on electric.

Allan Holdsworth - I love his tone and technique. I'd love to have his flexibility with the left hand (who needs two hands on the neck? :) ).

Robin Trower - Love that thick, smooth Strat tone.

Nuno Bettencourt - Another player stuck with an image (80's hair metal), but he is a GREAT player. Another one of the best guitarists I ever saw live.

Steve Vai - either Vai or Satriani could go here, really. I've seen both of them three or four times each (once together in G3). Vai can be hit and miss, but when he's on he is AWESOME.

There are a lot of other names I could add, including a few guys nobody EVER seems to mention (Django Reinhardt, Roger Fisher and Jimmy Lyon come to mind), but the names above are the ones whose CDs I'd want with me if I were stranded on a desert island. :)

Mac'Mo

Jan 4, 2007, 07:46 PM

hendriX

Tarkovsky

Jan 4, 2007, 08:17 PM

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez. He's not a masterful technichian, but he uses the guitar in new ways when people were starting to get boring with it. His licks reflect an entirely musical approach as opposed to "I'm the guitarist and I do this". Love the latin influences. Done without cheese. holding time with the Mars volta is quite a feat. Virtually invented emo, before it was overtaken by greasy teenagers. Instinctive use of non 4/4 beats in songwriting. And of course his Afro, or Spicfro. Whatever you wanna call it.

brogers

Jan 4, 2007, 09:23 PM

What about Angus Young? I did not see anyone mention Angus. I find his blend of rock and blues to be amazing. Besides, I love the Chuck Berry duck walk thing he does. Yeah, Angus for me....has to be Angus.

br

BenHagerty

Jan 30, 2007, 06:58 AM

thurston moore, Obviously and also lee ranaldo

matt311rocks

Feb 1, 2007, 09:59 AM

Thurston and Lee of course , Cedric and Omar, Jack White, Nels Cline and John Frusciante. I won't go into the past (i.e. Hendrix, Beck, etc.).

redmeister

Feb 1, 2007, 03:39 PM

kirk hammett from metallica, comes up with crazy solo after solo. so fast and hard to play

tom morello from rage against the machine/audioslave. he constantly comes up with new ways to make a guitar sound awesome and unique (remember when he used a wrench on it for people of the sun?)

rallycars

Feb 2, 2007, 11:18 PM

Big up to the guys who mentioned Django Reinhardt, Stanley Jordan, Jeff Beck, Brian May, John Scofield, and Wes Montgomery amongst so many other over-rated cop-outs and wankers. Also Charlie Christian, Joe Pass, Herb Ellis and earlier Charlie Hunter.

BCains

Feb 3, 2007, 01:38 AM

In no particular order:
Les Paul, Jeff Beck, Mike Einziger, Tom Morello, Johnny Greenwood.

GnarleyMarley87

Feb 3, 2007, 01:43 AM

mike einziger:apple:

rallycars

Feb 4, 2007, 03:52 PM

How could I possibly have forgotten the master of bluegrass guitar, (and previously vocals) Tony Rice? Brian Sutton is also a great newer bluegrass guitarist.

ovalwindow

Feb 13, 2007, 01:28 AM

There are some real gems in this thread. Here is more good news...

1) Tommy Bolin
2) Walter Trout
3) Jan Akkerman
Honorable mention: Jimmy Herring

I must be getting old, I can't believe none of these guys were mentioned before in this thread.

TheDance511

Feb 13, 2007, 01:31 AM

I have been playing guitar for 5 years i'm 18 now...umm Jimmy paige and Eric Clapton by far...then Kurt Cobain...he is simple but he was just so expressive and so deepthere was soemthin about him...and then Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth..great musicians

sass13

Aug 5, 2008, 04:16 AM

Just starting and i want to play the blues like Seasick Steve (www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUzmZvwMNsw) or Stephen Dale Petit (www.myspace.com/guitararama)

SDLSteve

Aug 27, 2008, 08:14 PM