Lots forget that before they became a pop/rock band, Fleetwood Mac had Peter Green and Jeremy Spencer playing amazing blues/rock guitar. They also cut a record in Chicago (on Chess I believe) with Muddy Waters, Howling Wolfand other notables. Check out a CD recorded live at the Shrine Audiorium (in LA) from a 1969 concert. A sleeper that is good as any English guitar rock/blues from that era. Another that people forget about is Quicksilver Messenger Service -- several guitar players but John Cippolina stands out. The definitive San Francisco guitar sound from the late 60's. For pure speed, Alvin Lee (Ten Years After). Who can forget the opening riff on "Going Home"?
Greatest Guitar Band
I thought just before Christmas I'd get a good thread going. IMHO,the greatest guitar band was the Yardbirds, not because E Clapton,or J Beck, or J Page was in it but because Chris Deja, and Paul Samwell-Smith were great rhythm and bass guitarists that could rock and keep up with the above. Plus Jim McCarty the drummer could keep the group in line and fine harmonica work from Keith Relf(ok not the greatest vocalist, more of a finesse singer).They had it all, I cannot think of another band that had three great guitarists in the band at one time(J Beck, C Deja, P Samwell-Smith). In 1967, when J Beck and J Page were in the band togther as co-lead guitars, they were the lead in band for the rolling stones, they just blow them away,ok, that is not a fair comparison considering the rolling stones still cannot play their instruments very well. But in comparison to say Led Zepplin, LZ did not have a rhthym guitarist(except J Page would overdub that part on recordings). That made them sound not as well rounded live as far as guitar work is concerned. I am not saying LZ was a bad band on the contrary,they put on probably the best show ever, but I do not consider them a guitar band per se. Besides, J Page stole vitually from his former band anyway. Remember "How Many More Times" is a repackaged version of the YBs "Smokestack Lightning", a Howlin Wolf tune. YBs version is in my mind the best rock song ever. So what do you think????