Most underrated guitarists?

[pokerfan]

Rolling Stone had an odd top twenty-five...

Statistics show that the average rock fan spends roughly 4.7 hours per year arguing over who’s the greatest guitarist of all time. We asked you who’s most criminally left out of those discussions — in other words, who are the most underrated guitarists ever? Here are the results:

1. Prince
2. Kurt Cobain
3. Neil Young
4. George Harrison
5. Ace Frehley
6. Mike McCready
7. Lindsey Buckingham
8. Mick Taylor
9. Nels Cline
10. Johnny Greenwood
11. Tom Verlaine
12. Carrie Brownstein
13. Mick Jones
14. Robert Fripp
15. Johnny Marr
16. John Frusciante
17. Izzy Stradlin
18. Daniel Johns
19. Vernon Reid
20. Robbie Robertson
21. Mick Ronson
22. Billy Corgan
23. Elliott Smith
24. Eddie Hazel
25. Phil Keaggy

[KamaAina]

1. Oh joy. Another Corgan thread.

:eyes:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

31. Yes indeedy!

Although I'd love to see him higher on the ilst (see: Starla http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnFeCex032g) at least it is worthy recognition. Although I disagree with the Prince selection.

[rucky]

2. Billy Zoom

Doug Martsch
Kevin Shields

[Tikki]

21. Billy Zoom and

I could listen forever to East Bay Ray's (Raymond John Pepperel ) guitar.

[DFW]

3. VERY odd 25. And who says the greatest guitarists had to be rock guitarists

Leo Kottke is no rock guitarist, but he left his mark on acoustic guitar like forever.

[pokerfan]

4. Yesterday's ZZ Top thread got me thinking about this

I half expected Billy Gibbons to be on the list but perhaps he has too much recognition to qualify.

[av8rdave]

13. As did Chet Atkins and Tommy Emmanuel

[Amerigo Vespucci]

5. You'll notice Joe Walsh isn't on that list...

...several years ago, Rolling Stone had an infamous "Greatest Guitarists Of All Time" cover story.

Joe Walsh wasn't even mentioned, but a significant number of "lesser lights" were.

He was interviewed after the article came out and said that he was hurt to have been ignored.

And for the record, Billy Corgan's sizable ego more than compensates for any areas in life in which he is "underrated." Her is perhaps one of the most overrated performers of our times.

[jobycom]

9. So for this list they decided he was too highly rated to be included.

:rofl: That sounds like my life these days. I sympathize, Joe!

[Tommy_Carcetti]

32. Starla. Get back to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnFeCex032g

Or, if you prefer it live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPOv3iyy1qo&feature=related


And, yes of course he has an ego. Doesn't change the fact that the man can shred it like no other.

[Forkboy]

6. Ichirou Agata

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichirou_Agata

I've been into music for a brazillion years, and this guy is wrangling sounds out his guitar that I've never heard before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeNmYvC5rIU&feature=related

[HughBeaumont]

30. Insane to watch live. His stomp box collection is enormous.

Of course, because he didn't stea . . .er . .. write "Smells like Teen Spirit" and Melt Banana is "ewwww, too noisy and Japanese weird" to be paraded around trendzines like Rolling Stone and it's douchier counterpart SPIN, it doesn't count.

[melman]

7. Jimmy McCulloch

or Zal Cleminson

[abq e streeter]

8. Steve Cropper ( understated and underrated), Eric McFadden ( formerly with P-Funk among others)

[driver8]

27. Steve Cropper should be on EVERY "greatest guitarists" list. n/t

[jobycom]

10. Nice to see Lindsey Buckingham on there. I'm curious about Rick Nielson of Cheap Trick

Is he too highly rated or not highly rated enough to be there?

[driver8]

28. I always liked Rick Nielson's playing, but never thought of him as a "great" guitarist.

I'm not sure why, though. He is a good player, but not a flashy player.

He has one of the most amazing vintage guitar collections in the world, too!

[Redstone]

11. The guy who did the solo in "aqualung." Clive Davis, I think?

Redstone

[Amerigo Vespucci]

12. Nope. Clive Davis is / was head of Arista Records.

The Aquaung edition of Tull:

* Ian Anderson: Vocals, acoustic guitar, flute
* Martin Barre: electric guitar, descant recorder



* John Evan: piano, organ, mellotron
* Jeffrey Hammond (as "Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond"): bass guitar, alto recorder and odd voices (and backing vocals on "Mother Goose")
* Clive Bunker: drums and percussion
* Glenn Cornick: bass guitar (played with the band at rehearsals for the album in June 1970, some of which may also have been recording sessions, although he is not credited on the album).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqualung_%28Jethro_Tull_album%29

:toast:

[The Midway Rebel]

14. Prince is pretty awesome on guitar:

Rolling Stone magazine is overrated though.


:P

[pokerfan]

39. Is Prince really underrated, though?

Winner of seven Grammy Awards and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

:shrug:

[The Midway Rebel]

43. Yes, because he isn't known for being a guitarist and he smokes some bitchin' licks.

The whole list is bullshit though 'cause Joan Jett ain't on there along with about 25 other underrated guitarist. imho.

[cemaphonic]

49. OTOH, Prince is kind of a musician's musician

He tends to be rated quite highly by guitar geeks, and Eric Clapton says he's the best living guitarist. But it is true that among the general listening population, Prince isn't really known as a guitar whiz (which is a bit odd, considering how popular Purple Rain was).

[mikeSchmuckabee]

15. Pigboy Crabshaw/Elvin Bishop

[Kat45]

16. Elliot Easton

A couple of years ago I went to see The New Cars, which was basically The Cars, minus Ric Ocasek, plus Todd Rundgren. My boyfriend and I were both blown away by Elliot Easton's playing, with one solo being particularly awesome. We were talking later about how we never had any idea that he was that good a guitarist.

[BurtWorm]

17. Wow! A Rolling Stone Guitar poll with a woman on it!

:applause:

Viva Progress!

[spiritual_gunfighter]

18. No Buck Dharma?

He got kinda lame and flashy later on, but the early Blue Oyster Cult records have some really amazing and inventive guitar stuff courtesy of Buck Dharma, and he was a great songwriter, he wrote Don't Fear The Reaper.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

37. BUCK!!!!!!!

You are correct, this list is incomplete without Mr. Roeser. I'm an unabashed BÖC fan to this day. I read an interview that Buck wrote all of his solos and licks as if they were horn parts. I've always thought some of the best stuff he did were some of the deep cuts on Fire of Unknown Origin and Spectres.

First time I saw him live I was amazed at how little of a dude he was.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

40. Yeah I have seen BOC 6 times

they are one of my all time favorite bands. You are right the guitar stuff on Spectres, especially is some of his best work IMO. Yeah he is a really small guy for sure.

[martymar64]

59. Buck is a guitar god.

My favorite is his solo at the end of "Dominance and Submission" from Secret Treaties. It kicks ass on so many different levels.

[Robeson]

19. Martin Barre.

[Radical Activist]

20. My cousin Dave.

No one appreciates him like they should.

[Sebastian Doyle]

22. Phil Keaggy actually made a Rolling Stone list?

I'm shocked they have ever heard of him. It's impossible to narrow something like guitar playing down to say one guy is "the best of all time", but Phil belongs in the top 5. And if you don't like his songs about Jesus, he's done a lot of instrumental stuff.

Here he is, just messing around with his ebow..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwq0i6jP7dQ

[HopeHoops]

23. Steve Hackett (Stephen Richard Hackett) of Genesis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Hackett

[CBGLuthier]

24. Prince is ALWAYS mentioned as an underrated guitarist

So doesn't that mean that actually everyone thinks he is a great guitarist so he can't really be underrated.

I guess the word underrated is difficult to parse when applied to people who make a living making music.

I know that George Harrison and Neil Young are both great guitarists in their own way.

I also know that nothing will convince me that anyone from KISS is any good at anything other than theatrics and self promotion.

[Mudoria]

25. Bill Nelson of the also underrated Be Bop Deluxe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzZUyTpmy3g

[6000eliot]

51. Excellent choice.

I would also add Davey Johnston from Elton John's band and Mick Ronson from Bowie's.

[kayakjohnny]

26. Not quite sure how he fits on this list, but I sure used to like the guy's playing.

Tommy Bolin





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Bolin


Especially a song called "Post Toastee"...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DBzlLWGHtE


(song gets good from 2:22 to the end)

[driver8]

29. Many of my favorites on this list -- Marr, Mick Taylor, Nels Cline.

Just wondering what the definition of "underrated" is?

Most of these players have had enormous success.

[NoGOPZone]

33. A lot of good names there

I'd include Randy California, Gary Shider, and also Bert Averre of the Knack.

A lot of studio players don't get the credit they should. Pete Carr and Jimmy Johnson of Muscle Shoals, Bob White, Ed Willis and Joe Messina of the Funk Brothers

[Mendocino]

44. Randy California was the first

I thought of.

Others-

Nils Lofgren

Lowell George

Steve Marriot

[Doc_Technical]

34. Ted Turner and Andy Powell

members of Wishbone Ash.

[Enthusiast]

35. +1!

They were awesome!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsdXh8eBcts&feature=related

[Enthusiast]

36. And this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg6zqejXvqI

[Joe Fields]

38. Dickie Betts is quite underrated, IMO

[Zorra]

57. He sure is. I'm learning some of his solos right now.

Very cool licks, often with a unique country swing feel. Just learned the solo to Ramblin' Man. It's perfect for the song, happy and very pretty and well thought out, you gotta get the feel and hit it perfect in order for the phrasing to sound right, because there are a lot of quick short stops falling right smack on the notes that Berry is playing on the bass. Dickie has a real strong country influence.

He's definitely a master.

[Xipe Totec]

41. He! Sabicas!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2VROY01EAg

[SoxFan]

42. Johnny Marr, Will Sergeant, Peter Buck

Johnny Marr combines brilliant technique with an appreciation for atmosphere.

Will Sergeant (Echo & The Bunnymen) is the master of electronics and effects; if you appreciate moody post-punk creepiness, you love him, if love shredders or guitarface blues rockers, you'll never get it.

Peter Buck is somehow underrated, even after 25 years in a platinum-selling act. Stipe's weirdness always overshadowed him, but REM's best work is always carried by Buck's remarkable work. He also has contributed some excellent guitar and mandolin perfomances to acts such as Billy Bragg and Concrete Blonde.

On edit: Jake Evans, from Britpop acts Bad Lieutenant and Rambo & Leroy, is one of the better new guitarists I've heard in a while.

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

[blue neen]

45. I like this guy:

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

Roy Buchanan :) :toast:

[ArnoldLayne]

46. David Gilmore

[ArnoldLayne]

47. Syd Barrett of The Pink Floyd- 1966-1968

[ArnoldLayne]

48. Dickie Betts of The Allman Brothers Band

[mitchum]

54. Absolutely! Personally, I rate his guitarplaying far higher than his songwriting

[cemaphonic]

50. Cobain?

Good songwriter and decent enough rhythm player, but nothing special. If they really wanted a good rhythm player that gets overlooked among all of the leads, Pete Townshend would be a much better choice. Good call on Eddie Hazel though. That guy could do it all - Hendrix style bluesy leads, precise funky rhythm vamps, country-style fingerpicking, etc.

[kid shelleen]

52. Another vote for

Zal Cleminson

Thee amazing Mr Dharma. (Last time we saw BOC, Buck was in fine form, playing better than I've ever seen him play. He even autographed my Tyranny & Mutation CD insert. I was Gob Smacked to say the least! Nice guy.

Martin Barre

I'll add Barry Tashian and Roger Steen.

[Skip Intro]

53. I'm gonna say Ace Frehley, because I know no one else will.

And yeah, I mean it, Ace Frehley. Very underrated. Can't listen to Kiss Alive and not tell me so.


http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/24712169/Ace+Frehley+1191559726fpk6.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqu989gxEFg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtPRKT9ck7s

[mitchum]

55. Pete Cosey, Phil Manzanera, James Williamson, and the late Sonny Sharrock

[Mendocino]

56. Nancy Wilson

Heart is an underated band.

[martymar64]

58. Buck Dharma (Blue Oyster Cult)

He is a virtuoso. Plain and simple.

[Mopar151]

60. Why the obsession with rating or rankings

FWIW, I think several of the players listed here are f'n brilliant - but there is enough room in the workd for Buck Darhma, Dickey Betts, and Tom Verlaine.

[Systematic Chaos]

61. Allan Holdsworth

Completely blows away most of Rolling Stone's list, but so few people have heard of him.

And true, most of his material is very much jazz fusion, but he has made numerous ventures into the rock realm in his more than 40-year career.