[StoneColdGOP]

OK... On further inspection, Stevie Ray Vaughn not only deserves to be on the list, but to be ranked in the top 12.

[Uncle Meat]

I'd like to throw a few more names in the hat nobody's mentioned.Michael Shenker of UFO,brother Rudolph of the Scorpions,Tommy Bolin,before he got all screwed up on smack,Randy Bachman of Guess who,BTO fame,Mick Box and Ken Hensley of Uriah Heep and Gary Rossington of course.

[LizardQueen]

On further inspection, Stevie Ray Vaughn not only deserves to be on the list, but to be ranked in the top 12.

Agreed. I couldn't believe he wasn't on the list at all. IMHO he should be in the top 5.

I'm wondering if the voters voted on speed alone. To me, that's a bogus measure of what a great guitarist is. Sure, speed is important but phrasing and what you "say" with the music is just as important. Otherwise it's like judging who is the most powerful orator solely based on how fast they can talk! Do we really think auctioneers are insipiring and creative speakers? ::grin::

Stevie was not only fast, he had great phrasing and at times it seemed the music was coming *through* him from somewhere else rather than from him. To me, that's the sign of a great guitar player.

LQ