Hendrix, Allman, King Ranked as Top Guitarists

Reuters ^ | 8/25/03

[Mr. Mojo]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Late rock musicians Jimi Hendrix and Duane Allman lead the list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time in the upcoming issue of Rolling Stone magazine.

Hendrix, who invariably tops such polls, received a glowing tribute from Who guitarist Pete Townshend, who wrote that he "made the electric guitar beautiful."

Townshend recalled that one of Hendrix's shows was "so profoundly powerful" that he found himself holding hands with fellow devotee and guitarist Eric Clapton.

Allman was hailed by the magazine for transforming "the poetry of jamming" with the Allman Brothers Band, the Atlanta rock group he founded with younger brother Gregg in 1969.

B.B. King, who turns 78 next month, came in at No. 3. "His string-bending and vibrato made his famous guitar, Lucille, weep like a woman," the magazine said.

Clapton landed at No. 4, followed by Delta bluesman Robert Johnson. Rounding out the top 10 were Chuck Berry, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Ry Cooder, Jimmy Page, and Keith Richards.

The survey is featured in the next issue, which hits streets on Friday.

The No. 100 spot went to Kim Thayil of defunct Seattle rock band Soundgarden. Townshend himself was No. 50. Two women made the list: Joni Mitchell at No. 72 and Joan Jett at No. 87.

Stax session guitarist Steve Cropper, who was judged the No. 2 guitarist in a Mojo magazine survey in 1996, was good enough for only No. 36 in Rolling Stone's estimation. Two spots behind him was Fleetwood Mac's Peter Green, who had been No. 3 on the Mojo list.

[Mr. Mojo]

Guitar ping

[Mr. Mojo]

[swarthyguy]

Let's not forget Roy Buchanan, RIP.

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In my opinion Allan Holdsworth is the greatest guitar player to hit the scene in the last thirty years. Few people can even figure out his chords and lead lines and fewer can imitate them.

[Mr. Mojo]

[CholeraJoe]

*ping

[Mr. Mojo]

Let's not forget Roy Buchanan, RIP.

The true master of the Telecaster (apologies to Albert Collins). The guy just shreded on that thing. Too bad he couldn't write a decent song, though.

But my favorite Telecaster player (and one of my favorite guitarists) is James Burton.

[Osage Orange]

Wondering if Al DiMelieo sp. was on that list...?

If he wasn't...he should have been.

Fwiw-

[Yardstick]

"I'm a ram, I'm a ram..."

I wonder where Jeff Beck's spot on this list is. I'd probably put him above Clapton and Allman, and neck-and-neck with Hendrix.

[Alberta's Child]

Duane Allman was certainly among the best. Though in some photos I can't tell the difference between him and Oddball (Donald Sutherland) of "Kelly's Heroes" fame.

[beelzepug]

Did Mark Knopfler or Eddie Van Halen make the list?

[Mr. Mojo]

Jeff Beck.....I'd probably put him above Clapton and Allman, and neck-and-neck with Hendrix.

For jazz-rock, yes. ...But not for blues-rock.

[GSWarrior]

I hope Robert Fripp made the list.

[dfwgator]

Pat Metheny better be on the list. Most people know him for the Group stuff, but he does a lot of straight-ahead,even avant garde stuff in the vein of Ornette Coleman. BTW he's got a great new album out, it's just him on a solo baritone guitar.

[Mr. Mojo]

Duane Allman was certainly among the best. Though in some photos I can't tell the difference between him and Oddball (Donald Sutherland)

LOL....yep, there's certainly a strong resemblance.

[Fzob]

Duane Allman was great, but so was Jorma on acoustic

[swarthyguy]

Beck was always flash IMO, apart from BeckBogart and Appice.

Not enough melody tho' WIRED was a great album.

[Mr. Mojo]

WIRED was a great album.

"Blue Wind," ..."Head for backstage pass," ....."Lead Boots"...

Excellent album

[activationproducts]

Fripp probably didn't. Too many folks have only heard of guys like Clapton, Hendrix, and Van Halen. Most rock fans do not have developed musical palates. They spend too much time listening the same boring blues licks in 4/4 time.